Call for Final Evaluation – Consultant Terms of Reference

The Rene Moawad Foundation requests your proposal for the following Final Evaluation Consultant for the “Strengthening Exports of Fruits and Vegetables from Lebanon to European and Regional Markets” Project funded by the Kingdom of Netherlands specified in this attached Request for Proposal (RFP) and Terms of Reference (TOR).

GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE EVALUATION

Objective: To make an assessment, as systematic and objective as possible, of the above mentioned project, its design, implementation and results.

The aim is to determine the relevance and fulfillment of objectives, developmental efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. The evaluation should provide information that is credible and useful.

Principles underpinning the approach to the evaluation are:

• Impartiality and independence of the evaluation process from the programming and implementation functions.

• Credibility of the evaluation, through use of appropriately skilled and independent expert and the transparency of the evaluation process, including wide dissemination of results.
• Usefulness of the evaluation findings and recommendations, through timely presentation of relevant, clear and concise information.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION

Result 1: The project activities are evaluated through the following criteria relevance, effectiveness, sustainability and impact.

Result 2: Recommendations for improving each of the criteria are shared (especially for the next phase of the project)

Result 3: A suggested action plan corresponding to each recommendation is included in the evaluation report

The evaluation report should then provide conclusions and recommendations on the following questions:

• Effectiveness: To which degree did the activities meet the objectives and results set out in the project (as outlined in the logical framework)?
• Matching needs: Did the project/activities meet relevant needs of the beneficiaries?
• Relevance: Was the project designed in a way that is relevant to reach its goals?
• Alignment: to which extend the project is in line (and using) with international relevant standards.
• Efficiency: is the project run in an efficient way?
• Sustainability: Are the results achieved so far sustainable?
• Internal coherence: Were the result indicators and their means of verification adequate? What possible adjustments would the consultant recommend?
• Gender mainstreaming: To which extent did the project succeed in including a gender perspective?
• Impact: Where there any unforeseen positive/negative effects of the activities?
• Which unmet needs did the evaluator identify that would be relevant for RMF to look into in an eventual continuation of the project?
• Identify lessons learned and provide recommendations.

PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT

1. Education: Advanced university degree in Agriculture or rural development or any other relevant discipline.
2. Technical capacity: the consultant(s) with practical experience in the following project fields.
   • Agriculture and rural development, and development of enterprise support institutions.
   • Value-chain assessment and development
   • Organizational capacity assessment
   • Minimum 3 years proven experience in development project evaluation and/or humanitarian programs implemented by international aid organizations
   • Fluent English and good writing skills (the report should be in English)
3. Demonstrated experience in dealing with the agricultural and business sectors in Lebanon.

APPLICATION

Interested candidates should submit:

• An up to date CV
• Technical sample of an evaluation report done by the candidate
• References to a previous research.