Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) Technical Evaluation Terms of Reference March March 2014

Transcription

1 Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) Technical Evaluation Terms of Reference March March 2014 Outlined below are terms of reference for an evaluation of the Participation and Practice of Rights (PPR) organisation from March 2012 March This evaluation period encompasses PPR s activity during our current grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies. 1. Context The Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) organisation supports marginalised groups to assert their right to participate in social and economic decisions which affect their lives. PPR s objectives, as outlined in our funding application to The Atlantic Philanthropies (September 2011), are to: - develop a clear understanding of the most appropriate framework for testing a model of a participative human rights-based approach to achieving social justice; - change policy and practice in identified focused areas; - contribute to the international body of evidence by providing tangible examples of local and national change; - develop participative work with all relevant stakeholders to create accountability mechanisms using the framework of national and international human rights instruments; - enable marginalised and disadvantaged communities to use these accountability mechanisms to improve public services; - develop measures of monitoring and enforcement - such as benchmarks and indicators based on international human rights standards - to assist in holding duty-bearers to account, and in measuring PPR s local and national impact; - develop an integrated work programme and communication strategy which allows the learning to be shared and disseminated on an ongoing basis. This is in order to identify groups and organisations who wish to use the approach and to develop a wider audience; - develop a series of tools and resources which can be used to support groups who wish to replicate the approach; - identify ways of testing how the approach may be replicated on the island of Ireland and other jurisdictions, including those where PPR s role would be more that of strategic direction and the application of shared learning than - as is currently the case in Northern Ireland - practical implementation; - identify how the approach may be replicated by a wider range of groups and organisations both nationally and internationally; - continue to build the capacity of existing participants to enable them to embed and sustain the HRBA on their issues; - develop and maintain a professionally managed decision-making structure whose ethos and working methods will reflect the participation and rights principles we expound. 1

2 2. Overview a) Evaluation Focus Amongst the key evaluation questions which the PPR wishes to address are the following: Activities & Outcomes - To what extent has there been progress towards the outcomes and activities, outlined in the September 2011 application to The Atlantic Philanthropies, during the grant period? Where specific outcomes have not been pursued or met, why has this occurred? Has PPR adapted to ensure the objective is being met in other ways, and how successful has this been? Organisational Sustainability - To what extent has the governance, operational capacity and sustainability of the PPR been built in an effective manner during the current grant period? What progress has been made towards PPR s goal of being a sustainable organisation capable of supporting marginalised groups? Match Funding Requirements - What progress has the PPR made towards meeting its match fundraising targets, and what have been the major factors that have contributed to and/or impeded its fundraising capacity? b) Methods PPR envisages that the qualitative methods used to answer the key evaluation questions will include: - interviews with PPR staff, management committee, groups, and participants in PPR training; - review of primary and secondary documentary sources to include an appraisal of: Progress Report to funders; quality of research and policy outputs; quality of communications materials and of press and media coverage; quality of fundraising applications submitted; a wide range of public and internal materials to be furnished by PPR; a wide range of speeches, presentations, articles and workshops provided by PPR to national and international organisations/outlets PPR also envisages the collection and analysis of quantitative data on: - PPR publications and internal discussion documents; - Objectives set in Progress Report to funders (including levels of participation in various PPR-led activities and events); - extent of press and media coverage; - funds raised. c) Budget The budget for the evaluation should not exceed 7,000 inclusive of VAT. Costs incurred by individuals/organisations in the preparation of responses to this call for proposals are the responsibility of the responding individuals/organisations and will not be reimbursed by PPR. 2

3 d) Desired Outputs Some of the expected outputs include: A detailed outline of the proposed evaluation report, to be submitted to the PPR for comment and approval; A substantive interim report for July 2013 in preparation of a further application to The Atlantic Philanthropies; Provision to PPR of a full draft of the evaluation report, to be discussed at a meeting with representatives of the PPR; A detailed evaluation report including a full account of the methodology used, persons and agencies consulted, findings, and lessons learnt; A presentation of the report to representatives of the PPR, including the possibility for representatives of the PPR to seek further clarification regarding its findings. e) Intended Audience The evaluation will be for use, primarily, by the PPR and The Atlantic Philanthropies. It will also be accessed by other existing and potential PPR funders. 3. Guidelines for Submission Completed tenders must be submitted by 5pm, Monday 10 th December 2012 to Avril Dennison, Participation and the Practice of Rights, 2 nd Floor, 133 Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1FG. The appointed evaluators will supply a substantive interim draft report for discussion with the PPR at the beginning of July 2013 with a final report submitted in March The appointed evaluator must submit a timetable for the duration of the tender period, and PPR reserve the right to terminate the contract in the event of a failure to adhere to the timetable, which is attributable to the successful bidder. Selection will be carried out by a panel designated by the PPR Management Committee. Candidates should submit a proposal, not to exceed 10 single-spaced pages (excluding CVs, and references). The following areas must be included in the proposal: a) Evaluation Methodology Submissions should include a plan for addressing each of the evaluation questions in terms of how it is intended to collect the various forms of data, and analyse them to evaluate project implementation and outcomes. Include details on how the evaluator will work with PPR s Evaluation Sub-Group to collect data and any other relevant information. b) Evaluation Timeline Include a timeline outlining the list of activities (including data collection) and scheduled outputs throughout the evaluation timeframe. c) Qualifications Provide the following: CVs of all those involved in the proposed evaluation, including a brief background on the work of the organization. Descriptions of previous experience in evaluation generally and specifically in the areas of human rights or social justice initiatives, and organisational development. Descriptions of your approach to project management 3

4 Samples or references to previous materials. d) Professional Fees and Proposed Total Costs Prepare a budget, including incidental costs and professional fees, to achieve evaluation outputs. The budget must reflect all evaluation costs. e) References Provide references from at least two clients. Ownership of Data All intellectual property rights arising from the results of the Evaluation shall be the property of PPR. The successful tenderer will be required in the contract to assign all intellectual property rights created as a result of the Study to PPR. PPR will remain the sole owner of all data and end-products, irrespective of whether or not the project is terminated prior to its completion. 4. Selection Process and Related Information a) Amendments to Terms of Reference Questions about the Terms of Reference may be submitted to PPR by to avril@pprproject.org at any time until the proposal deadline on 10 th December If there are several highly qualified tenderers, a list of finalists may be selected and interviewed during the week of 17 th December PPR reserves the right to amend the Terms of Reference at any time. The evaluator will be notified as soon as possible should this become necessary. In case of any doubt or differences of opinions as to the items or services to be furnished as part of this evaluation, or the interpretation of the provisions of the Terms of Reference, the decision of PPR shall be final and binding upon all parties. b) Selection Criteria Candidates will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the following: 1. Evaluation Methodology: a. Understanding of the evaluation requirements and potential challenges b. Suitability of proposed approach c. Proposed timetable for delivery of various outputs 2. Related Criteria: a. Knowledge of the human rights and domestic policy environment b. Understanding of the political context c. Awareness of the work of PPR d. Understanding of issues impacting organisational sustainability from a NGO perspective e. Value for money 3. Previous Relevant Experience: a. Similar work undertaken within the Non-Governmental Organisations, or related experience 4

5 PPR reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted, and the contents of the proposal of the successful evaluator will become part of the contractual obligations if agreement is reached. 5