External Project Evaluator - EMBRACE Project

2. Purpose of the Evaluation

The overall purpose is to assess the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, and to provide actionable recommendations to inform future programming and donor engagement.

Specific objectives:

Assess whether the project achieved its intended outcomes and outputs.

Evaluate the quality and appropriateness of the approaches used (vocational training, entrepreneurship support, Literacy sessions, gender-sensitive inclusion).

Measure project contributions to resilience, livelihoods, and social cohesion.

Evaluate and record successes of businesses from entrepreneurship sessions participants.

Identify lessons learned and best practices for scale-up or replication.

Conduct a market study based on the findings of the evaluation and provide recommendations or a proposal for a potential follow-up project aligned with the evaluation results.

3. Key Evaluation Questions

The evaluation should address, but not be limited to, the following:

Relevance: How well does the project respond to the needs of target groups (youth, women, vulnerable households)?

Effectiveness: To what extent were the objectives and outcomes achieved? What factors contributed to or hindered success? Any recommendations?

Efficiency: Were resources (human and material) used in a timely and cost-effective way?

Impact: What changes (intended/unintended, positive/negative) have occurred in beneficiaries’ lives, the community, markets, etc.?

Sustainability: What mechanisms are not in place to ensure continuity of results and provide recommendations on possible measures to enhance project sustainability? Next steps?

Cross-cutting: How did the project integrate gender, protection, climate change and conflict sensitivity? 

4. Methodology

The evaluator is expected to propose a robust, mixed-methods approach, which may include:

Desk review of project documents (proposal, LogFrames, baseline, monitoring data, reports).

Key informant interviews with staff, stakeholders, trainers, and participants.

Focus group discussions with beneficiaries (youth, women, trainers, community members).

Household/participant surveys to capture quantitative outcomes.

Case studies of success stories or challenges.

Participatory and gender-sensitive methods are strongly encouraged.

5. Deliverables

Inception Report (evaluation design, methodology, tools, work plan)

Draft Evaluation Report with preliminary findings and recommendations

Validation Workshop with ADRA staff and stakeholders

Final Evaluation Report including the market study and recommendations or proposals for future projects

6. Timeline

The evaluation is expected to take place over 4–6 weeks (from contract signing to submission of the final report). The expected start date is November 1st, 2025 and completion by December 15, 2025.

7. Required Qualifications

Proven experience in evaluating livelihoods, vocational training, or education projects.

Strong understanding of gender, youth engagement, and entrepreneurship programming in fragile contexts.

Experience with mixed-methods evaluations and participatory approaches.

Excellent analytical and report writing skills in English (surveys with participants should be conducted in Arabic, the reporting should be in English).

Previous work experience in Lebanon or the MENA region preferred.

8. Management and Logistics

The evaluation will be managed by ADRA Lebanon’s MEAL Department.

ADRA will facilitate access to project documents, staff, and field sites.

The evaluator/firm is responsible for their own logistics, translation, and data collection arrangements.

9. Application Process

Technical proposal (understanding of TOR, proposed methodology, work plan)

Financial proposal (budget in USD, inclusive of taxes and all costs)

CVs of proposed team members

1 sample of previous evaluation reports

10. Eligibility and Legal Requirements

All applying organizations must demonstrate legal registration and compliance with Lebanese financial regulations. Applicants are required to:

Provide a copy of their valid registration with the Ministry of Finance (MOF)

Submit proof of VAT registration, if applicable to their operations

Failure to provide the above documentation will result in disqualification from the selection process.

11. Selection Criteria

The supplier will be selected based on the following criteria.  An interview may be arranged and conducted, when needed.

Relevant Experience and Technical Expertise 20%

Understanding of the Assignment 10%

Qualifications of Key Personnel 30%

Cost-Effectiveness 30%

Past Performance and References 10%

12. Safeguarding, Protection, and Ethical Considerations

ADRA Lebanon upholds a strict zero-tolerance policy toward any form of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, or harm (SEAH) against children, vulnerable adults, or any other person. The selected evaluator or evaluation firm is required to adhere to ADRA’s Safeguarding and Protection Policy, Code of Conduct, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards throughout the evaluation process.

All interactions with project participants, especially women, youth, and vulnerable groups must be conducted in a respectful, safe, and confidential manner. Enumerators and evaluators must ensure:

Informed consent is obtained prior to any interview, focus group, or data collection activity.

Confidentiality of respondents are maintained at all times.

Data protection protocols are followed to prevent misuse or disclosure of personal information.

No photographs, recordings, or personal details are collected without explicit consent.

Any safeguarding concern, suspicion, or incident observed during fieldwork must be immediately reported to ADRA Lebanon’s Safeguarding Focal Point using the established reporting channels.

The evaluator/team will receive a briefing on ADRA Lebanon’s safeguarding principles before commencing field activities. Non-compliance with these standards may lead to termination of the contract.