Terms of Reference (Full) Final Evaluation for the Project: FORSATY

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1 Terms of Reference (Full) Final Evaluation for the Project: FORSATY

2 Search for Common Ground (Search) is seeking a consultant or a team of consultants to run a final evaluation for the project, Favorable Opportunities to Reinforce Self-Advancement for Today s Youth (FORSATY). Search is seeking to conduct the project s final evaluation from February to April 2019, with the aim of measuring the change brought about by the project among its target groups and beneficiaries. The project, which ends on February 15, 2018, focuses on providing youth with the skills and channels of communication for constructive civic engagement to effect concrete and positive changes in their own communities. About Search for Common Ground Search s mission is to transform the way individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict--away from adversarial approaches and toward collaborative solutions. We seek to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. Headquartered in Washington DC, USA, and Brussels, Belgium, and with field offices in 36 countries, we design and implement multifaceted programs that aim to transform conflict. About the Project The FORSATY program is a 24 month initiative that seeks to promote the bottom-up civic engagement of urban youth and reinforce their constructive participation in local governance. Project Objectives and Outcomes The specific objectives of this initiative are: 1. To develop and expand real and virtual spaces for debate, inspiration, and exchange of information among marginalized youth regarding citizenship, participation in local public and civic governance, local initiative-taking, and countering violent extremism. 2. To inform and sensitize youth and other marginalized and at-risk target populations in the principles and mechanisms of good governance, citizenship, democracy, human rights, and life-skills. 3. To offer marginalized urban youth the opportunity to contribute to local public governance through the implementation of local democracy assessments and roundtables with local officials. The project targets: 100 youth members of the Youth Leadership Councils in Tangier, Tetouan, Al Hoceima and Fnid q 30 members of the participants of the N twaslo Group in Al Hoceima 12 local officials previously supported the YLC activities (3 in each city) PAGE2

3 The Final Evaluation Objectives of the Evaluation The global objective of this final evaluation is to capture the change brought about by the project in supporting youth civic engagement Tangier, Tetouan, Al Hoceima, and Fnid q More specifically, the final evaluation has the following objectives: 1. Evaluate the project's performance in terms of achieving its objectives and expected results; 2. Evaluate the implementation of the main activities of the project; 3. Evaluate procedures and processes for setting up the project as described in the project proposal; 4. Evaluate changes assigned to the project and lessons learned; 5. Identify the difficulties encountered during the realization of the project. This final evaluation will be led by an external consultant (individual or team). Search reserves the right to approve the final methodology before data collection begins. The findings of this final evaluation will be shared with International Organization for Migration, (IOM) and USAID in Morocco, and will be published on Search s website to allow a larger dissemination and utilization. Evaluation Questions The evaluation questions will be developed by the external consultant on the basis of questions designed at the baseline study stage of the project, and will specifically seek to identify what approaches and activities have achieved results, and what approaches and activities have been less efficient, relevant, or sustainable. 1 General evaluation questions should seek to measure : Effectiveness: 1. How successful was the project in reaching its set goal objectives/outcomes? 1.1 How successful was the project in creating spaces for debate and exchange of information among youth regarding citizenship? 1.2 To what extent did the project build the capacities of youth members of the Youth Leadership Councils to contribute to local public governance? 2. What were the factors that contributed to the achievement or non-achievement of project objectives and outcomes? 3. Did the project allow for the development of tools, specific methodologies or guides? Did those tools, guides, or national strategies contribute to the achievements of the project? Were the tools and trainings appropriate for youth? 1 Based on DAC Principles for Evaluation of Development Assistance. PAGE3

4 Relevance: 1. Was the project relevant to the context of youth contribution to local governance the North of Morocco? Does the knowledge and support gained through the youth s participation in the program help to facilitate their integration with and contribution to local governance? 2. To what extent were the project objectives relevant, and to what extent did they contribute to the achievement of the goal? 3. What is the relevance of the project activities from the perceptions of the beneficiaries and sub-beneficiaries? 4. Did the project team make adaptations to the implementation plan in a timely manner in order to ensure the relevance of the project to the context, needs of beneficiaries, etc? Impact: Sustainability: 1. How did the project impact the capacity of youth to undertake effective civic engagement? 2. How did the project training impact local officials to be more sensitized to youths concerns? 3. Did the project training affect the perception of local officials toward youth? 4. To what extent did the youth change their attitude to local governance? How did they change their attitude? If they did not change their attitude, why not? 5. Were there any undesirable impacts from the project? 6. To what extent will the benefits of the project continue after donor funding ceases? 1. To what extent were the changes introduced by the project long term and sustainable? 2. How will the Local Democracy Assessment contribute to the sustainability of the project? Is there information to indicate if the local officials involved will use the report after the project ends? 3. Are the local official willing to continue working with youth? What could have been done differently to promote project sustainability in the future? In addition to the above lines of inquiry, the evaluation is expected to collect information against the major project indicators below and any other indicators that might be deemed relevant: % increase of local officials authorities' perception towards youth (, better communication, interest of youth in politics?...) % community stakeholders who report improved perceptions of youth s engagement in local governance as a result of mini-projects. (agent of change, visible contribution to society, connector vs dividers) % of National YLC Conference participants who indicate that the Conference provided them with positive future perspectives. PAGE4

5 Methodology and Scope The evaluation methodology, covering implementation of the project in Tangier, Tetouan, F nidq and Hoceima, will be proposed by the external consultant, and finalized with Search s support. On the basis of the methodology and tools developed for the project s baseline study, the external consultant will be responsible for developing the methodology and tools for the final evaluation. Methodology The sample size should be adequate and representative of the target groups. In addition, the evaluation should employ both quantitative and qualitative participatory methods to establish the project evaluation. It will draw on the following sources and data collection methods: Desk study review. Project documents including project narrative, baseline, log frame, quarterly reports 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 (FGDs). FGDs with the project s direct and indirect stakeholders. Survey. A representative survey to collect numerical information related to the study s key questions while providing sound comparison with the baseline findings. Reflection days for data collection and validation. Deliverables Search expects the following deliverables from the external consultant: An evaluation plan detailing a proposed methodology, calendar, and written evaluation tools for a final evaluation. Data collection and oversight of the data coding process. Analysis of the data collected and production of a draft evaluation report (in English) for review by Search staff and other stakeholders. A final report in English (40-45 pages max in length, excluding appendices) that consists of: o Executive summary of key findings and recommendations o Table of contents o Objectives, methodology, and limitations of the study o Research findings, analysis, and conclusions with associated data presented (should be structured around the main objectives/evaluation criteria) o o Conclusions and recommendations for future action Appendices, which include detailed research instruments, list of interviewees, terms of references and evaluator(s) brief biography Submission of the databases to Search. PAGE5

6 Logistical Support Depending on the methodology adopted, the consultant may need to organize his or her own logistics. However, Search will support the consultant in identifying the best options. In addition, Search will share the following elements with the external consultant: Background materials including the project proposal and logframe, the M&E plan, quarterly reports, and other materials as requested by the external consultant The methodology, tools, and report of the baseline study Other quantitative and qualitative data collected by Search staff during implementation the project Timeframe The evaluation should be conducted in February - April 2019 (flexible dates). The table below provides details with regard to the calendar. Activities Dates Signature of contract with the consultant February 22 Development of the methodology and tools by the consultant March 8 Data Collection (end) March 22 First draft of the evaluation report submitted by the consultant to Search April 5 Search shares its comments on the first draft with the consultant April 17 Final evaluation report submitted by the consultant to Search April 24 Requirements The evaluator for this project should have the following skills and experience: Proficiency in English and Arabic (written and spoken); More than 5 years of experience in conducting final project evaluations, preferably in peacebuilding or a related sector; Experience working with international organizations; Experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods including survey design and analysis, interviews, and focus groups; Understanding of and experience working on security sector related topics; Evaluation methods and data collection skills; Ability to be flexible with time and work schedule for travel. PAGE6

7 2 In addition, the consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles : Comprehensive and systematic inquiry. Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she should make clear the limitations of the review and its results. Competence. Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of his or her professional training and competence. Honesty and integrity. Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information. Respect for people. Consultant should respect the security, dignity, and self-worth of respondents and program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age, and ethnicity. In addition, the consultant will respect Search s evaluations standards, to be found in Search s evaluation guidelines: Applications To apply, interested candidates (individuals or teams) are requested to submit the following documents: Curriculum vitae Short biography(ies) of the candidate(s) A technical proposal proposing a methodology for the evaluation A financial proposal for the completion of the aforementioned deliverables A copy of one evaluation conducted by the candidate(s) in English 2 references contact details All application materials must be submitted through the Bamboo HR portal before February 10, Incomplete application packages will not be considered. Candidates will be evaluated by Search based on the following selection criteria: Technical proposal Financial proposal Experience and expertise of the consultant in DME and the project s thematic Fluency in English and Arabic 2 Adapted from the American Evaluation Association Guiding Principles for Evaluators, July 2004 PAGE7