External Evaluation

TERMS OF REFERENCE Evaluation of the Program Entitled  “Community Protection and Empowerment -CoPE”   1.       Background The Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts (ARCPA), commonly known as AL-JANA, was established in Lebanon in 1990 as a local non-governmental organization. ARCPA works with marginalized communities through documenting their enriching experiences and creative contributions and building on them, while at the same time enhancing the capacity of youth towards conflict transformation, active learning, and creative expression. Furthermore, the organization specializes in producing educational and cultural resources based on community experiences and creative contributions. Its programs vary to include interventions focusing on community development and social inclusion, resource mobilization, and active memory. Recognizing the severe impact of the socio-economic conditions prevailing in Lebanon, and especially on the children and youth living in the unprivileged communities, ARCPA / AL-JANA and its five partners, with funding from UNICEF, have envisioned a one-year program designed to complementarily provide children, adolescents, and youth with basic protection and empowerment support systems, reaching out across Lebanon to communities residing in the North, the South, Beirut, and Bekaa. Extending over the period of one year, Community Protection and Empowerment (CoPE) worked to provide children and youth, as well as caregivers, with opportunities to enable a positive change, through a multitude of projects ranging to include capacity building interventions, psycho-social intervention, right-based activities, and free expression platforms. Furthermore, to promote tolerance and acceptance CoPE engaged members of the host community in some of its interventions to help build bridges among all the different parties residing in Lebanon.  2.       Purpose of the Evaluation The purpose of the evaluation is to: -       Assess the preparation process and the planning of CoPE -       Assess key actors’ involvement and CoPE’s benefits -       Assess CoPE’s overall impact over the past year and how it built on previous similar interventions -       Provide recommendations and guidance for the planning of future interventions  The findings and recommendations should indicate CoPE’s strengths and weaknesses, and emphasize lessons learned to be carried forward. 3.       Scope of the Evaluation The evaluation will cover CoPE’s components as implemented by the different partner organizations in support of Palestinian refugee and host communities across Lebanon. It will look at the following main components and should attempt to answer the following underlying non-exhaustive evaluations questions:  3.1    Relevance How relevant is CoPE to the context in which it is being implemented? How relevant is the CoPE to UNICEF’s mission and objectives? How relevant is CoPE to the implementing partners’ missions and objectives? How relevant is CoPE to the target group/ key actors?  3.2    Effectiveness To what extent are the activities chosen and implemented by CoPE effective in relation to the objectives set? Is CoPE’s purpose clear to all key actors? Were indicators set realistic and attainable? Have the targeted results been achieved? What methods were used during implementation and were they effective? 3.3    Efficiency  Has CoPE been planned and implemented in the right way? Was the planning participatory? Was it adequate? How were decisions taken? What methods were used during implementation? Were they efficient? 3.4    Sustainability  How is CoPE contributing towards the sustainable development of the key actors? How is CoPE contributing towards the capacity and institutional building of partners? What financial, material, and staff resources were deployed? Are these resources sustainable? Can a sustainable impact upon the target group in or beyond the immediate program environment be recognized or expected? 3.5    Impact What is CoPE’s intended and unintended impact on the key actors? What are the key actors’ attitudes towards CoPE? What forms of cooperation were implemented and what actors were reached? What is CoPE’s intended and unintended impact on the context in which it was implemented?  3.6    Coverage Did the services reach all of the intended target? Are there complementarities with other programs/ projects being implemented in Lebanon?  4.       Methodology The evaluator/ evaluation team is invited to propose a methodology as part of the inception phase to answer the questions outlined above. Such a methodology should be approved by UNICEF and ARCPA.  Emphasis will be on qualitative approaches to complement the results of whatever quantitative surveys have already been implemented by the partners. At a minimum, the methodology should include a desk review of key program documents, the analysis of existing quantitative data, and qualitative data collection.  5.       Reporting and Contract Deliverables A brief inception report outlining the methodology to be adopted shall be submitted by the evaluator/ evaluation team one week after contract signature. A first draft of the evaluation report shall be submitted in English five weeks following contract signature. A final and revised copy of the evaluation report shall be submitted in English one week after receiving comments from ARCPA. The final report shall include an executive summary not exceeding two pages as well as main findings and recommendations. A sample of data collection tools and guidelines used shall be annexed to the report. A two-page summary of the key findings shall be submitted in Arabic along with the revised copy of the report. In addition to the above, the evaluator/ evaluation team is expected to deliver a presentation outlining the methodology, key findings, and recommendations. 6.       Contract Duration The contract will be for a period of two months from the date of signature. 7.       Financial Proposal The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and must detail all costs to be incurred, including transportation and communication costs.  8.       Evaluator/ Evaluation Team Experience in evaluation and/ or monitoring of development interventions Experience in the management and/ or evaluation of interventions targeting refugees At least 7 years of experience in the implementation and/ or evaluation of development projects in Lebanon    9.       Application Process All applications shall be received in a sealed envelope delivered to the Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts on the following address:   Beirut Arab University Area, Bustani str., Hadba and Bekdach Bldg., 4th floor 01-819970 - 01 819660 P.O. Box:  114/5017   The envelope shall be addressed to CoPE’s Procurement Committee.       Applications received after the deadline or in any other way than listed herein will not be considered.