Selat Wasel II Final Evaluation Consultant

1. Background

1.1 Organization Overview

Search for Common Ground (Search) is a non-governmental organization working to transform the way societies deal with conflicts. We have acquired over 30 years of experience in peacebuilding and are based in 53 local offices worldwide. We strive to build sustainable peace for generations to come by working with all sides of a conflict, providing the tools needed to work together, and finding constructive solutions. While conflict is inevitable, violence is not! Our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Instead of tearing down an existing world, we focus on constructing a new one. We do this through a type of peacebuilding called “conflict transformation.” We shift the everyday interactions between hostile groups of people, so they can work together to build up their community, choosing joint problem-solving over violent means. Search first worked in Lebanon in 1996, and we opened up our office in Beirut in 2008. Since then, our activities and capacities have grown significantly. We rely on local staff as well as local partner organizations in order to ensure our work is culturally sensitive, sustainable and well-grounded in the Lebanese context.

For more information, visit www.sfcg.org and https://www.facebook.com/sfcg.lebanon.

1.2. Intervention Summary

Search for Common Ground is implementing a 9-month project scheduled to conclude in December 2018. The overall goal of the project: Strategic networks of mediators are established to sustainably support and address fault lines within targeted communities. We will contribute to this goal through the two following specific objectives:

1.   Specific Objective 1: Expand and support dialogue and communication channels for civil society actors and community members across dividing lines

2.   Specific Objective 2: Strengthen the capacities of actors and key community members to mediate conflict across strategic fault lines

2. The Final Evaluation

2.1. Objectives

Search is conducting a Final Evaluation for Selat Wasel 2 project activities. The intended evaluation should be based on the OECD-DAC peacebuilding evaluation criteria, investigating below set of questions, and utilizing and/or addressing the performance indicators described in the project document. The final evaluation will also consist of a comparative assessment towards the baseline findings. The evaluation is expected to provide quantitative and qualitative information related to key project outcome indicators.

a. Audience

The primary audience of the study will be Search, Project participants and direct stakeholders, and the peace building community at large.

The secondary audience will be the donor, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), which will use the findings and recommendations to strengthen its current project and future programming.

b. Methodology

 Approach

The Search approach to the study is grounded in the guiding principles of our work: participatory, culturally sensitive, committed to building capacity, affirming and positive while honest and productively critical, and valuing knowledge and approaches from within the context. Search and the hired consultant will agree upon a joint set of standards when negotiating the final contract of agreement.

The below principles should be taken into account:

• Inclusiveness—the methodology should include a wide range of viewpoints, specifically gender and age-sensitivity when applicable.
• Mixed-method approaches—both qualitative and quantitative methods need to be present in the methodology.
• Rigor of evidence—gathered information needs to be reliable and transparent
• Ethics—the methodology needs to consider ethics in order to insure that the evaluation is fully objective.

Methodology & Scope of study:

The study will investigate the two principal target groups: Project direct stakeholders, such as the Field Officers and project participants, and indirect stakeholders, such the wider Syrian community of the targeted areas.

The sample size should be adequate and representative of the target groups. In addition the study should employ both quantitative and qualitative participatory methods to conclude the project final evaluation.

 It will draw on the following sources:

• Desk study review: It is important to review project documents, logical framework and other relevant sources of data to complete the assessment.
• Key informant interviews: Interviews will be conducted to gather in depth information on key questions.
• Focus group discussions: to gather in depth information regarding the key questions described above.
• Community Surveys: Surveys should be distributed to members of the community including men, women, and youth groups and others as appropriate to collect numerical information related to the study’s key questions.

1.Implementation Information

1. a. Evaluation Team

The consultant will work closely with Search Lebanon DM&E Manager who will be ensuring that all milestones are met. He will also act as focal point on all issues including logistics and recruitment of local researchers by the consultant, and will sign off on the final papers in consultation with the MENA Regional DM&E Specialist and with the final approval of the Lebanon Country Director.

1. b. Deliverables

• Within Ten days from signing the contract, the consultant should submit an Inception report, which clearly defines the evaluation methodology, such as clear outlines for the focus group discussions, KII questions, survey questionnaires and research timeline with specific deadlines for each deliverable. The inception report should also clearly explain the sampling methodology and sample size for the quantitative survey and a clear and logical number for the KIIs. The inception report and the data collection tools need formal approval from Search before starting the data collection in the field.

• A draft Final Evaluation report to be submitted within 10 days of completion of the data collection for review and comments from Search country team and the Regional DME specialist. The review and feedback of the report could be more than one round depending on the quality of the report and the extent to which the comments and suggestions from first round have been incorporated.

• Restitution meeting in Beirut with Search country team, DME specialist, and donor, to present the preliminary findings of the study.

• A Final Evaluation to be submitted after incorporating the comments of Search. The report should be written in English, 20-25 pages excluding annexes, consisting of:

• Cover page, Search will provide sample cover sheet for reference
• Table of contents, list of acronyms, abbreviations and list of tables and charts.
• Executive summary of key findings and recommendations – 3-4 pages.
• Background information and context analysis presented per key criteria with a brief description
• Methodology with clear explanation of sampling and limitations, KIIs, participants’ selection and data analysis approach.
• Research findings, analysis, with associated data presented, where appropriate in clear graphs or charts. The findings can include subsections for each research criteria.
• Conclusion and Recommendations.
• The recommendations should be framed according to each section of project.
• Appendices should include collected data, detailed description of the methodology with research instruments, list of interviewees.

• Once the draft is submitted and reviewed, Search may decide based on the quality of the draft whether the consultant may be required to revise the draft, working closely with Search DM&E manager as necessary.

• The report should be submitted electronically in a MS – Word document. The consultant is responsible for English editing of the final report which should be well formatted. The report will be credited to the evaluator and potentially placed in the public domain at the decision of Search.

• All handwritten and electronic transcripts of interviews and KIIs, hard copies of survey questionnaires, photographs taken during the assessment and any equipment received from Search for the purpose of the study should be submitted to Search. Furthermore all information generated during the study will be the sole property of Search and is subject to submission to Search along with the final report, prior to the end of the contract.

• c. Estimated Working days:
• As per the below deadlines, Search estimates the consultant would need between 45 and 50 working days to conclude the study.

2. Deadlines

 Consultant recruitment deadline: October 15, 2018

• Deadline for finalizing the data collection tools: October 25, 2018
• Deadline for finalizing data collection: November 26, 2018
• Deadline for the draft report: December 9, 2018
• Deadline for the final deliverables: December 21, 2018

The above deadline might be modified if the project timeline was modified.

3. Logistical Support

 Search Lebanon will provide the consultant with logistical support through:

• Ensuring that the consultant receives key documents in a timely manner
• Helping to set up the data collection needed arrangements
• Arranging meetings with the project team and key staff
• Providing administrative support such as photocopying, fax machines, and office space

4. The Final Evaluation Consultant

Consultant’s Qualifications

Search Lebanon seeks an experienced consultant with the following qualifications:

• Excellent written and spoken English skills required, including demonstrated ability in writing briefing papers and other information products, and fluency in Arabic
• Master’s Degree in a related area, preferably in Middle Eastern studies, conflict resolution, international studies, peace-building, human rights or related area
• At least 7 years of experience in research, and monitoring & evaluation of which a minimum of 5 years of related experience conducting project final evaluations,
• Extensive experience working on the context in Syria and on the Syrian refugee crisis
• Experience in developing and managing Focus Group Discussions, Interviews, and Surveys
• Experience in conflict transformation and peacebuilding
• Ability to be flexible with time and work schedule
• Attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines
• Capable of establishing and recruiting, on their expense, a network of local researchers who will assist in conducting the assessment and mapping
• Able to read, digest and accurately analyze large amounts of information, provide succinct summaries and explain the significance of that information
• Previous experience working with Syrian civil society and in a similar project is considered an advantage
• Proven ability to negotiate multiple relationships with various partners for research purposes
• Demonstrated writing and analytical skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills;
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability;