EXTERNAL EVALUATION CONSULTANCY FOR WOMEN S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN LEBANON EXTENSION PROJECT TERMS OF REFERENCE December 2017
1. About us The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women provides women in developing and emerging economies with the skills, technology, networks and access to financial services that they need to become successful small and growing business owners, so that they can contribute to their economies and have a stronger voice in their societies, resulting in a brighter future for the women themselves and their communities as a whole. Since it was established in 2008, the Foundation has directly reached over 136,000 women across more than 90 countries through its Mobile Technology, Mentoring Women in Business and Enterprise Development programmes in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Middle East. Tens of thousands more benefit indirectly as the women we support go on to become role models, create new job opportunities and invest additional income back into their families and communities. The Foundation has also published ground-breaking research on mobile technology for business growth and is undertaking high level advocacy to broaden the scope for women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging markets. 2. Background The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is looking to contract a consultant to design and deliver a rigorous external evaluation of its Women s Economic Empowerment in Lebanon - Extension (WEEL- E) project. The WEEL-E project launched in January 2017 as a collaboration between the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Al Majmoua and Fair Trade Lebanon. The aim is to support a total of 150 women in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon to advance their livelihoods and economic opportunities. The group consists of 100 small producers and artisans in Lebanon, including Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese women in the host community, and 50 established women entrepreneurs. The group of 100 small producers and artisans are receiving support to build their confidence and capabilities. We are providing this group with a combination of technical training and business management training, which also includes support in areas such as gender and risk management. The 50 established women entrepreneurs are participating in a tailored support programme to help them grow their businesses, which includes advanced technical training, individual coaching, individual financial service advisory, linkages to markets and networking events. 3. Scope of the consultancy The purpose of this evaluation is to provide an independent assessment of the extent to which the extension of the project has met its goal of supporting women to advance their livelihoods and economic opportunities in Lebanon. The primary focus of the evaluation is on learning and understanding the changes which resulted from the project, reflecting on progress and achievements, and highlighting recommendations for future programming. To guide the scope of the evaluation, the consultant will seek to respond to the questions below as well as conduct an assessment in line with the OECD-DAC criteria. These questions are intended to be a guiding framework, and will be refined in conjunction with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Al Majmoua and Fair Trade Lebanon.
Key questions to address in the evaluation will include: Have the project outcomes been achieved, and were there any unintended outcomes? How, when, and for whom did the project make a difference? How significant was this difference? Did project outcomes also extend to indirect beneficiaries? What was this impact, and how significant was it? What were the most effective methodologies and approaches used to bring about changes to the women s lives? What components of the methodologies and approaches can be used to maintain changes going forward? What has worked and what has not worked so well? What lessons have been learnt? Note the evaluation shall provide distinct analyses for the three main groups targeted through the project. We are particularly keen to understand the experience of Syrian refugees. The main audiences for this evaluation are the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Al Majmoua, Fair Trade Lebanon and other partners and key stakeholders, as well as the women supported through the project. The evaluation will be used by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women to inform the quality and content of support provided to women in future enterprise development projects. 4. Deliverables The following deliverables are expected during and at the end of the consultancy: Initial kick-off meeting/call with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women to discuss/agree the scope of the evaluation. An inception report which will detail the evaluation work plan and methodology for qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, including data collection processes and tools, etc. Presentation of findings to the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Al Majmoua using PowerPoint at a validation workshop. The presentation should highlight the main findings of the evaluation. A draft report including all preliminary analysis, findings, lessons learnt, conclusions and recommendations, which will be refined following feedback from both project partners. Final evaluation report including findings, lessons learnt, conclusions and recommendations, and case studies. The due dates for all deliverables will be finalised by the consultant with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women prior to submission of the inception report/work plan. 5. Methodology We seek the most robust evaluation approach that is appropriate for the scope of the evaluation, the resources allocated, and the intended audience. Evidence shall be from both primary and secondary sources using qualitative and quantitative data. The proposed methodology will employ (but not be limited to) the following approaches:
Review of project documents, including the original proposal, monitoring and evaluation framework, monitoring data, and project reports. Desk research on women s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in Lebanon. Field visits in the Bekaa region in Lebanon to collect quantitative data through an endline survey with all 150 women in the project. Field visits in the Bekka to collect qualitative data with a sample of women from the project. Consultation with implementation partners and stakeholders in the United Kingdom and Lebanon. 6. Scoring criteria for consultant selection Criterion Details Weight Experience of designing research and evaluations on women s economic empowerment projects A record of designing and delivering rigorous research and evaluations in English and Arabic. Sound knowledge and understanding of the entire project cycle and the ability to evaluate the quality of each project stage. Competencies in data collection and analysis related to socio-economic variables, quantitative and qualitative research. 30% Experience working on women s empowerment Proposed methodology Financial proposal In-depth expertise in women s empowerment in developing and emerging economies, in particular Lebanon. Previous experience of working on women s entrepreneurship projects. The consultant must work in consultation with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Al Majmoua to develop the methodology. The consultant must display the ability to identify gender-specific indicators relating to women entrepreneurs and design/develop adapted methods to the local context. The most economical proposal that meets the expectations of the work will be selected. 20% 20% 30% 7. Timeframe The consultancy is expected to commence in January 2018 and run through March 2018.
8 Payment terms The payment terms will be agreed with the consultant prior to contracting. The consultant is expected to provide her/his own office space and working equipment. In addition, the consultant is expected to cover the cost of insurance, travel, communication and any expenses associated with the consultancy within the available budget. 9. Instructions for submission All submissions must be sent to recruitment@cherieblairfoundation.org no later than 12:00 noon GMT on 8 January 2018. Prospective consultants are expected to submit technical and financial proposals in English including the following: Profile of consultant/firm, clear demonstration of previous experience in conducting external evaluations Understanding of the Terms of Reference Approach and methodology Work plan Proposed budget in GBP and inclusive of VAT. Appendices to the proposal must include: CVs of the evaluation team Three references from similar projects undertaken by the consultant(s), including e-mail contacts and phone numbers. Questions and clarifications regarding the Terms of Reference should be sent to recruitment@cherieblairfoundation.org.