ARTICLE 19 is looking for an experienced consultant to conduct an end evaluation on its five-year strategy, the Expression Agenda (XpA). ARTICLE 19’s overarching strategy aims to guide interventions globally between 2016 – 2021. This multifaceted strategy comprises global impacts, outcomes and regional outcomes. These are disbursed over five themes related to freedom of expression: Civic Space, Digital, Media, Protection and Transparency. Coinciding with the XpA Agenda is ARTICLE 19’s gender strategy, called “The Mx Method” which cross-cuts the XpA’s five thematic pillars.
This end evaluation will have a predominantly summative focus and will be the primary vehicle to hold ARTICLE 19 accountable to itself as well as to a range of donors and stakeholders. We will ask the evaluator assess significant impacts and gaps, to identify best practices, lessons, and challenges related to implementing the XpA.
2. Scope and Focus of the evaluation:
This evaluation will have a predominantly summative focus and will be the primary vehicle to hold ARTICLE 19 accountable to itself and a range of donors and stakeholders. The strategy is large, spanning multiple themes and global regions, so while we do ask the evaluator to assess global impact, the primary focus will be on identifying best practices, lessons and challenges related to implementing the XpA.
Furthermore, ARTICLE 19 will begin developing a new organisation-wide strategy in early 2021. For this reason, conclusions and recommendations should be articulated in a way that can contribute to our future strategic thinking. **
The evaluation should also take into account the voices of the communities we serve and issues surrounding gender and diversity within the countries and spaces we operate, alongside key stakeholders in multi-national fora and partner organisations. Specifically, we will ask the successful evaluator to:
● Assess our progress towards global impact of our international strategy: We would like the evaluator to identify significant global impacts achieved at the international, regional and national levels, as well as identifying significant gaps. This assessment should be completed with reference to the framework in Annex A. Note ARTICLE 19 will provide internal reviews, donor reporting and logistical support for this.
● Contributions of ARTICLE 19’s regional offices and teams: XpA’s Global Outcomes are driven not only by the international framework, but also through regional outcomes outlined in seven regional strategies. The consultant will be asked to review contributions from regions. Note, ARTICLE 19 will provide logistical support in acquiring documentation and interview informants from the regional teams.
● Lessons learned and failures: The focus of this section concerns learning lessons on what has affected delivery of our strategy and its impacts and if and how ARTICLE has adapted. We would like the evaluator to identify lessons to help us understand what has and has not worked to guide future ARTICLE 19 strategic planning. As part of this, we would like the consultant to assess the degree to which our strategic framework and project management processes supported delivery of results/external impact.
● Core evaluation questions:
PART A – Results:
1) Impact:
a. What were the most significant impacts achieved through XpA over the past five years regionally and globally, what were the gaps in the impact, and what do they tell us about XpA’s performance?
b. Were there any unintended or negative outcomes from XpA, and why did they occur?
c. How well have we succeeded in fostering partnerships in countries, regions, institutions and spaces in which we work?
d. How well have we ensured diversity and inclusivity in our efforts to deliver XpA both externally and within our offices?
2) Relevance: How relevant has the XpA been to the communities we serve, partners, and to ARTICLE 19’s international and regional staff?
3) Effectiveness: Can best practices in implementing XpA be identified? Can poor practices be identified and how could we do better next time?
4) Sustainability: To what extent are results sustainable in the long term?
PART B – Learning:
1) Considering the above, what key lessons can ARTICLE 19 learn to improve our future long-term strategies?
3. Minimum requirements for an evaluator(s):
● Extensive experience of conducting evaluations of a similar type including programmes implemented by international organisations, whose scope includes engaging stakeholders at a range of international institutions/bodies
● Experience of working within the human rights, civil society, advocacy and/or policy change arenas
● Good understanding of more than one of ARTICLE 19’s five themes – Civic Space, Digital Human Rights, Media Freedom, Protection and Transparency
● Good understanding of evaluating gender-mainstreaming
● Fluent in written and spoken English.
Other desirable skills
● Online facilitation experience**
● Knowledge of complex, multi-country grant arrangements in INGOs**
● Experience of working in one or more ARTICLE 19 target countries**
● Fluent in either Arabic, French, Spanish, or Portuguese**
The consultant(s) must provide an up-to-date CV, and at least two recent references.
6. Timeframe, planning and budget
Management structure: The consultant will be managed by an advisory panel, that will include ARTICLE 19’s Senior monitoring, evaluation and learning officer, who will also provide logistical support.
The evaluation period will be between late October 2020 and February 2021, with a final version of the evaluation report completed no later than March 1st 2021. The consultant is expected to plan the number of days worked on the evaluation during those times with the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning Officer. However, we ask the consultant to be available for a debriefing session following submission of the final report.
As part of the proposal, the evaluator is asked to provide a budget including the estimated time needed and hour/day rate and other expected expenses. Budget available for the evaluation is a maximum of £20,000 (including VAT).
Interested applicants should send their expression of interest and budget to George Morris, Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer ([email protected]) by 15th October 2020.
How to apply
To apply, please email [email protected] for the full terms of reference.
You will be required to submit a proposal that corresponds to the specifications outlined in the terms of reference. The application should include a short narrative outlining how the consultant will respond to the proposal. It should include a brief outline of the proposed methodology and a proposed breakdown of costs. Applicants should also provide two recent references, and CVs.
The deadline for proposals is midnight UK time on Thursday 15th October 2020. Please email [email protected] with your proposal.
To help us with our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.