External Evaluator

Evaluator for an External Evaluation A Citizens Agenda: Towards Institutionalizing Public Participation in Political Decision Making   Background and Rationale Wide citizen consultation and participation in national policymaking is a key component for ensuring democratic reform in Lebanon. Therefore, International Alert, FRAME, and Legal Agenda combined efforts and consulted with the Lebanese Parliamentary Administration to design a citizen-led public participation model that traverses restrictive parliamentary bylaws and allows for the dissemination of evidence-based citizen priorities, with particular emphasis on under-represented segments of the Lebanese population, including non-partisan actors, women, and youth. To contribute to stronger democratic processes and more sustainable, effective and legitimate democracy, Alert piloted a citizen-led public participation and engagement program, to expand the space for citizen participation in policy-making, promote pluralism across geographic and sectarian boundaries, and to demand better and more responsive decision-making from elected representatives. Identifying common priority issues through local discussion groups and disseminating the issues, along with legal briefs, would assist in building a common thread that unites citizens in an issues-based common platform presented through a series of national forums. To date, the Alert, Frame, and Legal Agenda teams successfully conducted 24 facilitated dialogue sessions across Lebanon’s districts. These sessions engaged 295 participants recruited by local NGOs, who wished to participate in the project. After local discussions were completed and documented, a preliminary report including Citizens’ reform priorities was drafted outlining common priority reform areas in which the views of these stakeholders converged. At this stage, Legal Agenda drafted short briefs on 11 of the issues identified in the discussion groups including: waste management, urban planning, housing, employment, education, corruption, lack of law implementation, traffic, medical care, water and decentralization. The legal briefs include legislative history, status quo, and options for reform. These briefs were presented at the six facilitated dialogue sessions on the province level with Legal Agenda as key participants. One session was held in each of the six provinces, which brought together 47 key representatives that participated in the first phase of discussions. The provincial meetings served to narrow the 11 issues to four issues for further elaboration by allowing participants to vote on the 4 issues they deemed most appropriate to be discussed at the national level: Lack of law implementation, waste management, corruption, and healthcare. In turn, Legal Agenda will prepare more in depth legal briefs (6-10 pages) on each of the four priority issues. Their role will be to provide necessary legal and judicial background information and assist in channeling the discussions towards practical legal and policy aims as well as to disseminate the findings through their monthly publication. Purpose, overview of Objectives and tasks to be achieved This external evaluation is an assessment of outcomes achieved through the implementation of the Citizens’ Agenda activities that started in April 2014 and was supposed to end by January 2016. Due to the changing political climate, a nine-month extension was requested and most of its activities were implemented by October 2016. As part of the remaining activities, a final event will be held in Beirut on October 28 to open up a debate on options for policy reform and public consultation in Lebanon.  The external evaluation aims to assess the level of achievements in the activities of the project outlined in the M&E plan, as well as to derive lessons learned on public consultation in the Lebanese political system. It aims at measuring the pace and quality of implementation, variances, and the reached outcomes. Additionally, the evaluation aims to extract lessons learned from the project, and will be used to set recommendations for future programming. The objectives of this assessment is to collect data and provide information base about the Lebanese citizens' involvement in the decision making process through suggesting policy reforms and generating public debates; against which we will be able to assess the project impact and effectiveness. The selected consultant should be able to produce the following deliverables: Developing an  overall End Term Evaluation methodology: The consultant will review secondary documents and develop the ETE methodology . The consultant is expected to share and discuss the methodology with Alert. Developing Research tools, interview guide, survey questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions: The consultant will develop, test and finalize the tools. He/She is expected to discuss the draft tools with Alert and finalise the tools after the testing. Lead on research sample identification and data collection (through questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions). He/she will collect data in each of the six governorates. Key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions will include Lebanese citizens, municipalities, key community leaders and related organizations. Lead analysis of data: The consultant will share the raw data and basic analysis with Alert then he/she will analyse this data and present a summary of the initial findings. Consultant will be responsible for the safe and secure storage and treatment of this data. Present and discuss findings: The consultant will present and discuss the research with Alert staff in consultative meetings in order to refine ideas for recommendations. The consultant will develop a final report bringing together the findings from the literature, quantitative data and qualitative analysis to finalize the report. Tasks to be achieved The Evaluator will work closely with International Alert staff in Beirut. His/her support shall ensure an effective data collection and data analysis using a dynamic and a participative approach with stakeholders and beneficiaries for a clearer reflection of the results of the project.  The selected consultant should be able to produce the following deliverables: Develop the methodology for the evaluation Lead desk review of relevant literature: The consultant will carry out the literature review and submit a written summary. Lead on data collection (through questionnaires, conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders as per the evaluation methodology). The consultant is expected to deliver transcripts and notes, then lead the analysis of this data and share a write-up of the synthesised data. Present an evaluation report: The consultant will deliver a draft report in English to Alert staff for feedback and will refine analysis and recommendations. Present a Final report based on Alert's input. Tasks List Activity Time Frame Desk review 3 days Data collection (interviews, surveys)  7 days Data  consolidation 3 days Data analysis / Write-up 3-4 days Submission draft report 7 December Submission of final report (including Alert feedback) 12 December Experience and Qualifications § University degree in social sciences or relevant fields § Experience of conducting external evaluations in Lebanon § At least three years of experience with familiarity for standards of ethical conduct in research settings  § Strong inter-personal communication skills § Excellent skills in research and data collection § Ability to work both independently and as part of a team § Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism § Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines § Prior experience working on public consultation projects is a plus