Consultant for Evaluability Assessment

1. Consultancy Overview

A Consultant is required by Adyan Foundation to support an evaluability assessment of one of Adyan’s long-running programmes in Lebanon. The evaluability assessment will look at the feasibility, relevance and scope of conducting an impact evaluation of the programme.

The Consultant will be required to conduct a desk review and interviews with Adyan and programme staff. The Consultant will also be required to deliver training and co-facilitate discussions via a small workshop, to increase knowledge and capacity on how to support a potential impact evaluation. The Consultant will also be required to produce a final report outlining findings and recommendations.

The Consultancy will involve approximately 18 days over a period of two months (July – August 2020). If required, all aspects of the Consultancy can be carried out remotely, via video conference.

2. Background & Context

                2.1 Adyan Foundation

Founded in 2006, Adyan is a foundation for diversity, solidarity and human dignity. Registered as an NGO in Lebanon, Adyan works locally, regionally and internationally for pluralism, inclusive citizenship, community resilience and spiritual solidarity, through home-grown solutions in education, media, policy, and intercultural and interreligious relations.

Adyan’s four departments run projects that promote diversity, interreligious collaboration, conflict prevention and education for inclusive citizenship. These include educational clubs in schools, dialogue platforms for religious leaders, media projects including the production and dissemination of short films, and discussion events with experts to create policy papers on issues such as preventing violent extremism.  

                2.2 Adyan’s Foundation’s Development & International Relations Unit

Adyan’s Development & International Relations Unit oversees the development of project proposals, including the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework. Each project framework is also linked to Adyan’s wider M&E framework, and the organization’s strategic plan, which includes goals and targets.

               2.3 About Alwan

One of Adyan’s longstanding programmes is ‘Alwan’, an education initiative for schoolchildren on inclusive citizenship that has been running since 2007. Over the two-year programme, schoolchildren in grades 10 and 11 from 42 schools go through a curriculum of structured learning, led by trained facilitators. Topics covered include overcoming religious stereotypes and generalizations, non-violent communication, respecting differences, active and inclusive citizenship and the positive use of social media. 

The programme also strengthens skills and behaviour change via practical elements, including bringing together groups of schoolchildren from different religious backgrounds for facilitated inter-cultural communication. The Alwan programme concludes by encouraging active citizenship among participants, via the design and implementation of community service projects.

The programme leads to a cohort of empowered, informed and active young citizens. Each cohort becomes part of a wider Alwan alumni network, who are ready to be role models in peaceful coexistence. Over the past 13 years, Alwan has reached a total of 4,716 graduates, 208 educators and 67 schools across Lebanon.

3. Details of Consultancy

                3.1 Summary

The Consultant will support Adyan (the ‘Contracting Organization’) with an evaluability assessment of Adyan’s Alwan programme.

                3.2 Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the evaluability assessment is:

1) to help determine the feasibility, relevance and scope of an impact evaluation of the Alwan programme;

2) to inform the design of the feasible evaluation and;

3) to train Adyan and Alwan staff on evaluation tools and techniques

The objectives of the evaluability assessment are:

1) to produce the basis for decision-making on an impact evaluation of the Alwan programme;

2) to identify any gaps or challenges to the evaluability within such initiative, and to          provide recommendations on required timeline and cost; and

3) to increase the capacity of Adyan and Alwan staff to oversee/support an evaluation of the Alwan programme.

                3.3 Activities

Activity 1: Desk review & data collection (July 2020)

1.1 Activity required by Consultant: Review selected written materials that cover the objectives, activities and achievements of the Alwan program over the course of its implementation

Input provided by Contracting Organization: The Contracting Organization will gather and provide access to all written materials at the start of the consultancy. Upon request by the consultant, the contracting authority will endeavor to source and provide timely access to any other materials that are deemed important for the review.

1.2 Activity required by Consultant: Interview (online / via phone) Adyan staff (approximately three) and Alwan team members (approximately eight). These interviews will supplement the written materials. Online discussions can also be conducted, as a supplementary activity.

Input provided by Contracting Organization: The Contracting Organization will provide contact details of Adyan staff and Alwan team members, and assist with interview arrangements if required.

Activity 1 Output by Consultant: Brief written summary of relevant information from desk review and interviews, which will be used by the Consultant to prepare for the workshop and to inform the final report.

Activity 2: Two-day evaluation workshop with Adyan and Alwan team (early Aug 2020)

2.1 Activity required by Consultant: Prepare workshop materials e.g. training and discussion materials (e.g. Theory of Change). Work with the Adyan DIR Unit to prepare the workshop agenda. The training delivered by the Consultant would involve evaluation tools and techniques, particularly related to impact evaluations.

Input provided by Contracting Organization: The Contracting Authority will take care of all logistical details for and during the workshop.

2.2 Activity required by Consultant: Co-facilitation (together with the Adyan Director of Development & International Relations) of the workshop.

Input provided by Contracting Authority: The Contracting Authority will co-facilitate the workshop, and will create a brief written record of key points, with additional input by the Consultant as needed.

Activity 2 Output by Consultant: Final written record of workshop.

Activity 3: Final report and recommendations submission (Aug 2020)

3.1 Activity required by Consultant: writing of a draft and then final report that uses the findings of the desk review, interviews and workshop to produce a final report that outlines:

                i) objectives and activities of the Alwan programme

                ii) feasibility of carrying out an impact evaluation and recommendations on the timeframe, resources and budget required;

                iii) options for alternative evaluations;

                iv) whether an evaluation would improve the progamme’s performance;

                iv) how a potential impact evaluation’s findings could be used

                v) other recommendations, including next steps

The report will be written in English, to a professional standard. As needed, references to materials used during the consultancy and other external materials will be included as footnotes / as an appendix.

Input provided by Contracting Organization: The Contracting Authority will respond to reasonable requests for additional information and/or clarification in a timely manner. The Contracting Organization will review the draft report and provide prompt feedback and guidance for the completion by the Consultant of the final report.

Activity 3 Output by Consultant: Draft and final written report

                3.4 Timeframe & Number of Days

•             Activity 1: Desk review & data collection (July) = 8 days

•             Activity 2: Two-day evaluation workshop with Adyan and Alwan team (August)= 4 days

•             Activity 3: Final report and recommendations submission (August) = 6 days

•             Total number of days for the Consultancy = 18 days

                3.5 Budget Range

The total budget for this Consultancy is in the range of USD $8,100 - $10,800.

                3.6 Contracting Organization Oversight

Adyan Foundation is commissioning this evaluability assessment and will be responsible for managing it and any following evaluations. The Consultant will report to the Adyan Director of Development & International Relations.

4. Consultant Profile

The Consultant must:

•             Be independent from the Contracting Authority and the Alwan programme.

•             Have a proven track record in delivering high quality and complex impact assessments, and up-to-date knowledge of evaluation tools, techniques and best practices. Experience in the field of inter-religious dialogue, education and peacebuilding field is welcomed.

•             Have considerable knowledge and awareness of the nuances of the inter-religious context and the current social context in Lebanon.

•             Be sensitive to and respectful of religious, social and cultural differences and comfortable with working and communicating across difference, including able to communicate complex ideas in accessible ways and gather data from and with partners across society.

•             Be skilled and experienced in workshop facilitation and group training, including online

•             Have access to their own computer. To note: no hardware/software or IT support will be provided by the Contracting Organization.

•             For Consultants based outside of Lebanon, meaning the workshop and interviews will take place online, the Consultant must have access to fast, stable internet connection and a webcam. For Consultants based inside or outside of Lebanon, the Consultancy will be home-based, and a work station at the Contracting Authority’s office will not be provided.