External Evaluator Consultant - Beirut

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental and nonprofit organization, founded in 1956, that works in more than 30 countries around the world. DRC has been operating in Lebanon since 2004, working with Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, as well as Lebanese communities affected by the war in 2006. DRC is committed to basic humanitarian principles; including impartiality and neutrality, and offers the highest standards of accountability to the people it serves. DRC is inviting candidates to apply for an “External Evaluator” consultancy to evaluate the Phase I and midterm Phase II of the project “Protection of Women at Risk in Lebanon” funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC. Project context Discrimination against women in general and gender based violence in particular are widespread in the Middle-East. Lebanon is not spared from these phenomena, despite the fact that the promotion of women’s rights seems like it is more active than in other regional countries. Lebanon is a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which was ratified in September of 2002 with a number of reservations (article 16). However, the enforcement of the law remains very challenging in many conservative areas. Violence, socio-economical vulnerability and access to the market are some of the most challenging problems facing vulnerable women; violence is even more acute among displaced communities mainly due to a legal vacuum (Lebanon did not sign the 1951 refugee convention). Refugee women (Syrians, Palestinians, Palestinian refugees from Syria and other nationalities) and Migrant Domestic Workers in particular face particular protection risks.   Project description Empowerment of women at risk in Lebanon phase I The purpose of phase I of the project was to empower women at risk and/or victims of SGBV by a prevention and protection-oriented response, based on livelihood support and designed to help promote the economic and personal self-reliance of 300 vulnerable women, and to raise awareness of duty-bearers about SGBV and human trafficking. Project output 1:  Advocacy on violence against women through awareness raising activities aimed at survivors’ communities.. Project output 2: Assistance of 200 women at risk through a holistic package of support services delivered in a newly established centre in Saida. The services will include psychosocial and legal counseling, life skills, and vocational training. Project output 3: Coordination and capacity building of local NGOs delivering services to domestic migrant workers through the establishment of a consortium of NGOs. Empowerment of Women at Risk phase II The purpose of phase II of the project is to enhance the coping mechanisms of women at risk and/ or victims of SGBV Project output 1: Coping mechanism of 550 women at risk and/or victims of SGBV are enhanced, by strengthening the assistance to women at risk living in 6 Lebanon targeted areas with a focus on Refugee Women Project output 2:   Capacity of local stakeholders to sustain coordination is consolidated by consolidating the work of the national body advocating National action on rights of Migrant Domestic Workers (Consortium of NGOs) Objectives of the external evaluation of the project The objective of the evaluation is to assess the process of the project, its achievements and its impact on the beneficiaries.  Methodology -       Review all relevant project documentation including project proposals, annual work-plans, project progress reports, annual project reports, reports of the project -       Conduct key informant interviews to gather primary data from  project stakeholders using a structured methodology -       Focus Group discussions with project beneficiaries and other stakeholders. -       Observations during project field visits (using checklist) to identify aspects of the project that could be improved or removed   Deliverables -       Evaluation proposal based on TOR and pre-field work consultations with project staff and the DRC Lebanon M&E Coordinator -       A work plan delivered 5 days after the start of the consultancy including the following: Scope of work Evaluation schedule and plan (design of team, schedule of tasks, activities and deliverables/reports) Analytical framework (incorporating project objectives, logframe, indicators, and project reports with the proposed methodology) Proposed methods Proposed sources of data Data collection procedures The work plan should be agreed upon by the SDC and the DRC -       An evaluation report – submitted in draft form within 30 days of the field research and finalized 10 days after receiving comments from SDC and DRC on the initial draft. The report should include the following: Description of the evaluation methodology Key findings, linked to evidence and data collected during the evaluation research phase Conclusions and recommendations for the program – these should identify key lessons learned and key steps for project development Analysis of opportunities to provide guidance for future programming Appendices: Charts, terms of reference, field visits, people interviewed, documents reviewed Qualifications and skills -       Masters degree in international and/or community development, social work, or research methods. Five years of relevant professional experience in these areas and/or monitoring and evaluation may be accepted in lieu of a Masters. -       Fluent Arabic and excellent working knowledge of English (written and verbal) -       Extensive knowledge in community development programming, protection, social work, as well as project evaluation -       Experience working with and evaluating program indicators and impact for international donors, and local or international NGOs    Application Guidelines:  Applications should include a detailed CV and a cover letter that addresses the applicant’s motivation for applying.  Please forward the application, in English, marked "External Evaluator Consultant" to the following e-mail address: vacancy@drclebanon.dk.  The deadline for submission is Feb 18 2014