Consultancy - Baseline Assessment

Euromed Feminist Initiative is implementing a multi-county project “Strengthening access to protection, participation and services for women refugees, IDPs and host communities”, funded by the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis – MADAD. The overall objective is to  improve the livelihood, agency and legal and social protection for Syrian women refugees, IDPs and host communities in the region in Lebanon, Iraq/Kurdistan Region – Iraq (KR-I) and Jordan.

EFI-IFE wishes to establish a baseline assessment against which the impact of the action will be measured.  The baseline assessment will allow proper measurement of the progress of the project in the three countries of implementation. In each project country the assessment will provide relevant data from the targeted geographical areas, disaggregated by social markers such as sex, age, ethnicity, and refugee status. It will also give analyses to inform and identify effective criteria for the selection of the actors to be engaged during the implementation of the activities. Furthermore it will assess from gender perspective existing policies and mechanisms to establish the needs and identify the gaps in regards to achieving the objectives of the project.

The project seeks to bring to policy level the immediate needs of the most vulnerable women, combining emergency response with development of long term capacities. This will be achieved through a two-pronged approach: on the one hand the immediate needs will be addressed by provision of comprehensive and accessible services, supported by community outreach in Lebanon and Iraq / KR-I, and through provision of decent work opportunities in Jordan; on the other hand, the action will support sustainability of achievement in the field of gender equality on both local and national level, beyond the emergency response. Inclusive, long term development in the three countries will be supported through enhancing the engendering of policies and strategies in general and on the crisis response in particular, by linking them. Development will occur more broadly on the national policy level, by enabling the establishment of the National Gender Observatory in Lebanon, supporting the implementation of National Action Plan for UNSCR1325 (NAP1325) in Iraq and creating an environment that will favor improvement of women’s employment and career development in Jordan. Comprehensive approach and cross sector activities will contribute to bridging the gap between the realities of women in the local communities, national policies and international women’s rights mechanisms.

The overall objective of the project is to improve the livelihood, agency and legal and social protection for Syrian women refugees, IDPs and women in host communities in Lebanon, Iraq / KR-I and Jordan.

The project seeks to bring to policy level the immediate needs of the most vulnerable women, combining emergency response with development of long term capacities. This will be achieved through a two-pronged approach: on the one hand the immediate needs will be addressed by provision of comprehensive and accessible services, supported by community outreach in Lebanon and Iraq / KR-I, and through provision of decent work opportunities in Jordan; on the other hand, the action will support sustainability of achievement in the field of gender equality on both local and national level, beyond the emergency response. Inclusive, long term development in the three countries will be supported through enhancing the engendering of policies and strategies in general and on the crisis response in particular, by linking them. Development will occur more broadly on the national policy level, by enabling the establishment of the National Gender Observatory in Lebanon, supporting the implementation of National Action Plan for UNSCR1325 (NAP1325) in Iraq and creating an environment that will favor improvement of women’s employment and career development in Jordan. Comprehensive approach and cross sector activities will contribute to bridging the gap between the realities of women in the local communities, national policies and international women’s rights mechanisms.

The specific objectives of the project are:

1. Security and resilience for Syrian women refugees, IDPs and women from host communities in Lebanon and Iraq/KR-I is enhanced through supporting and coordinating comprehensive and structured services and referral mechanisms;
2. National institutions, policy frameworks and legislation are more gender sensitive and gender equality and empowerment are sustainably enhanced;
3. Improved livelihood of women Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan and contribution made to eliminating practical, social, cultural and legal barriers to their employment.

There are seven expected results:

R 1. Women have greater and safer access to comprehensive multi-sectoral services - legal, psychosocial, SRR, GBV related services;

R 2. Syrian women refugees and women in host communities are empowered with better knowledge of their rights and access to protection;

R 3. Institutional capacity, awareness and cooperation are enhanced to mainstream gender in national policies and address discriminatory legislation;

R 4. Public awareness and support are strengthened for women’s rights, zero tolerance on GBV, and for change of discriminative legislation;

R 5. Syrian women refugees and women in host communities are empowered with better skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the labour market;

R 6. Syrian and Jordanian women have greater access to work opportunities within the labour market;

R 7. Women are better aware of their working right and more able to obtain work permits, and get the support from their families and communities; 8. Supportive services to women in labour market are improved.

Areas in which the activities of the project will take place:

1. Lebanon: Mount Lebanon, Akkar, North Lebanon, Beirut and Saida.
2. Iraq/KR-I: Baghdad, Salaheddin, Najaf, Karbala, Diyala (Khanaqeen), and Mosul (Salamiyah). 
3. Jordan: Jerash, Ajloun, Deir Alla, Azraq City and camp, and East Amman.

IFE-EFI welcomes applications from qualified consultants to perform the baseline assessment of the above-mentioned project. The assessors will collect relevant data and information in each of the project countries that shall be used to measure the indicators for achieving objectives and results. The baseline assessment will constitute the basis to measure the project performance during the implementation and after the end of the project. It will provide gender disaggregated (where possible) quantitative and qualitative data and analysis to complement the log-frame of the project and ensure proper monitoring and evaluation throughout the project period. The assessors will develop a detailed methodology for the baseline assessment, which will highlight aspects such as the research design, sampling strategy and data collection in the targeted areas of the project and tools to be used, as well as a strategy in which both primary and secondary data will be analysed. The final report will comprise of both quantitative and qualitative data, which will be used to measure the action’s progress in achieving its targets and objectives throughout the project timeframe. The assessors will also work on developing monitoring tools to adequately measure results and objectives. The tools will be harmonised (where possible) in order to be able to conduct cross-country comparisons. A short and user-friendly manual will be developed as an annex to the final report to guide M&E teams in properly implementing monitoring tools in a harmonised manner.

The baseline assessment will enable the following:

1. Provide benchmark information to measure project achievements and outcomes based on the project log-frame particularly in the following points:

   - Access of women and girls both refugees/IDPs and in host communities in Lebanon and Iraq/KR-I to comprehensive psychosocial and legal services
   - Level of knowledge of women and girls in targeted areas in Lebanon and Iraq/KR-I have regarding their rights including sexual and reproductive rights
   - Level of awareness of men and boys regarding VAW in the targeted areas in Lebanon and Iraq/KR-I
   - The capacities of service providers in the targeted centres and institutions in Lebanon and Iraq/KR-I on the issues of GE, GBV and other-related topics
   - The extent to which a gender perspective is applied in the governmental response to the protracted Syrian refugee crisis in the three countries
   - Present national policies and frameworks linked to women’s rights and gender equality in the three countries, and level of application in the governmental responses to the Syrian crises: identify gaps and/or barriers
   - Access to economic justice and labour market opportunities, and awareness of economic rights of women both refugees and from host communities in Jordan
   - Capacities of targeted women in Jordan to enter the labour market and agency to become financial independent and
   - Concrete needs of local communities to ensure that women and refugees have access to decent work opportunities are provided with gender sensitive working environments in the labour market

2. Assess the extent to which gender is integrated into existing governmental policies and mechanisms in Lebanon, especially those linked to the Syrian Crisis Response. This data will allow the National Observatory in Lebanon to set its work agenda and identify and prioritise discriminative policies and laws as well as propose alternatives and proper way of implementation
3. Verify the adequacy of the project’s log-frame with realities observed on the ground and with the rights holders, and provide input to assist in adapting the activities to be implemented if necessary.
4. Identify tools, channels, best practices that can be used in the framework of the project regarding service provision, awareness raising and advocacy.
5. Review the existing project’s theory of change (TOC) and refine according to the baseline findings.

The baseline assessment design should:

• Ensure the application of quantitative and qualitative techniques, and data collected should be gender-disaggregated.
• Provide a methodological emphasis able to validate the four levels of analysis: I) findings, II) analysis based on the data, facts and information III) conclusions and IV) recommendations.
• Offer a standard interpretation, taking into account the dimensions of the project (design, structure, resources, processes and outcomes), and which interprets the causes and contributing factors

The assessment will comprise the following phases:

1. Design and Desk Review: During this phase, the assessors will:
- Examine all the documentation and obtain a detailed understanding of the project, as well as hold preparatory meetings with those in charge of running the project including the Regional Steering Committee.
- Establish specific objective of the assessment within the context in which the project operates, including the sources and conditions of access to information, and identify key informants.
- Operationalize the key questions through indicators and propose appropriate techniques for the collection of information
- Refine the methodological instruments and data collection tools, and their feasibility in terms of collecting and processing data.

At the end of this phase, the following deliverables should be completed:
 

- An inception report highlighting the objectives and scope of the assessment 

- An assessment matrix comprising: 

   - Assessment criteria and relevant questions

   - Indicators that operationalize these questions

   - Proposed techniques and information gathering tools for each case.

- A detailed methodology for the assessment which will include data collection methods and tools, sampling and recruitment strategy, data analysis, and ethical procedures followed as well as a refined workplan for the assessment.

2. Fieldwork: Field work will be carried out in the different areas where intervention activities are planned and also in local partner management, planning and administration units, as these centralised units are a key element of field work.

3. Preparation of the report: The report should be drafted in accordance with the recommendations set forth in section 6 of this document. A final draft will be drawn up to be reviewed and discussed by all parties until a definitive report is produced. Once the final report has been produced, it will be submitted to EFI and to the donor.

Results of the assessment should be presented in a way that differentiates facts from interpretations. Conclusions (factual findings regarding the criteria and factors evaluated), and recommendations (suggestions to improve the cause-effect relationship and design logic of the intervention, information systems that should be implemented, etc.) will be presented.

At the end of this phase, the following deliverables should be completed:

• A Draft Final Baseline Report.
• A Final Baseline Report based on the structure highlighted in the TOR and including all annexes such as the M&E manual and the project’s theory of change.
• A Workshop with M&E teams to share M&E tools developed.
• All raw data from the survey will be provided to EFI as a part of the final deliverables of the assessment.

The final baseline report should not exceed 50 pages (not including appendices), and will include an executive summary of a maximum of 5 pages. After the submission of the report in electronic format, 2 printed copies final report will be presented together with 2 CDs containing copies of the reports in electronic format.  All documentation produced will be written in English. The draft report will be discussed by the Regional Steering Committee until a final report is produced.

Euromed Feminist Initiative requires that the Assessment is conducted by a team of 6 persons with 3 main assessors, of whom a Team Leader is assigned, and 3 assistants. Each of the main assessors will have full control and responsibility of each of the project countries.