Mid-Term Review (MTR) and Final Evaluation Consultant

Terms of Reference (ToR) for External Consultant

Mid-Term Review (MTR) and Final Evaluation

Project: Community Mobilization for Positive Change in Child Labour and GBV

Implementing Partner: INITIATE
Funded by: Regional Development and Protection Program for Jordan and Lebanon (RDPP III) under the Embassy of Denmark in Beirut

1. Background

The project, Community Mobilization for Positive Change in Child Labour and GBV, aims to improve the protective environment for children and women at risk of exploitation and abuse in Lebanon. Implemented by INITIATE,  The Theory of Change for this project is that if families, communities, and community leaders in environments where children and women are at risk of exploitation, abuse, and gender-based violence, are provided with the skills, knowledge and opportunity to protect children and women's rights, then they will benefit from an improved protective environment in which they can enjoy their rights. The project focuses on four key outcomes:

1. Increased knowledge among parents and community members on child labour, gender equality, and child protection.
2. Enhanced capacity of CBOs and teachers to identify and refer child labour and GBV cases.
3. Advocacy and policy dialogue to support positive change in child labour.
4. Strengthened institutional capacity of INITIATE and CBOs to respond to community needs.

The project runs from February 2024 to December 2026.

The purpose of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) and Final Evaluation is to evaluate the project’s overall impact, effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability. These evaluations will provide critical insights into the achievement of intended outcomes and inform future programming. They will also assess the level of integration of the MTR recommendations (for the ETR), examine lessons learned and best practices, and evaluate the degree of influence on policy and advocacy initiatives.

Additionally, the evaluations will measure the project’s impact on reducing community tolerance of child labour and GBV, strengthening local protection mechanisms, and enhancing the responsiveness and sustainability of CBO-led interventions within target communities.

To ensure accountability, learning, and adaptive management, an external consultant is sought to conduct a Mid-Term Review (MTR) in mid-2025 and a Final Evaluation in late 2026. The reviews will assess progress, challenges, and recommendations for improvement, using the OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria (Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, and Sustainability).

2. Objectives of the Review

Mid-Term Review (MTR)

1. Assess progress towards achieving project outcomes and outputs.
2. Evaluate the Theory of Change (ToC)—whether the assumed pathways to change remain valid.
3. Identify what is working well, what is not, why , how we can fix it with proposed solutions and recommendations for improvement.
4. Assess risks and assumptions (e.g., security, community engagement, private sector cooperation).
5. Review management, coordination, and adaptive strategies in response to contextual challenges.

Final Evaluation

1. Evaluate the overall impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of the project.
2. Assess whether the project achieved its intended outcomes and objectives.
3. Examine lessons learned and best practices for future programming.
4. Review advocacy outcomes and policy influence (e.g., engagement with stakeholders, policy changes).
5. Assess the sustainability of CBO capacities and community-level changes.
6. Assess the extent to which the Mid-Term Review (MTR) recommendations were integrated and whether corrective actions were effectively implemented in response to the MTR findings.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Conduct a desk review of project documents (proposal, reports, M&E data).
• Field visits to project locations (Beirut, Bekaa, North, South, Saida).
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with INITIATE staff, CBOs, teachers, parents, and stakeholders.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with beneficiaries (parents, children, community leaders).
• Validation workshops to present preliminary findings.
• OECD DAC Criteria-Based Analysis (see below).

OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria

Criteria

Key Questions

Relevance

Does the project align with the needs of beneficiaries and national priorities? Are activities still appropriate given the context?

Effectiveness

To what extent have the project’s objectives been achieved? What factors contributed to success or failure?

Efficiency

Were resources (financial, human, time) used optimally? Could outcomes have been achieved with fewer resources?

Impact

What are the observed or potential long-term effects of the project? How has it influenced child labour, GBV, and gender equality?

Sustainability

Will the benefits continue after the project ends? Are CBOs and communities empowered to sustain changes?

4. Methodology

• Mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative).
• Comparative analysis of baseline vs. mid-term/end-line data.
• Participatory methods (community feedback, stakeholder consultations).
• Gender and conflict-sensitive approaches to ensure inclusivity.

5. Deliverables

For MTR (Due: August 2025)

1. Inception Report (workplan, methodology, data collection tools).
2. Draft Report (findings, preliminary recommendations).
3. Validation Workshop (presentation to INITIATE, RDPP Team & stakeholders).
4. Final MTR Report (max 30 pages, executive summary, actionable recommendations).

For ETR (Due: March 2027)

1. Draft and Final Reports (as above, with emphasis on impact and sustainability).
2. Lessons Learned Document (for future programming).

6. Timeline

Activity

MTR Timeline

ETR Timeline

Desk Review & Inception

June 2025

November 2026

Field Data Collection

July 2025

December 2026

Draft Report Submission

August 2025

January 2027

Validation Workshop

September 2025

February 2027

Final Report Submission

October 2025

March 2027

7. Consultant Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in evaluating child protection, GBV, or advocacy projects.
• Familiarity with OECD DAC criteria and Lebanon’s humanitarian context.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Fluency in English (Arabic an asset).

8. Budget & Logistics

• The consultant will propose a financial offer covering fees, travel,communication and logistics.
• INITIATE will facilitate field coordination and meetings but will note be responsible for the transportation of the conultant as it should be covered in the proposed financial offer.