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Tenders Are Invited For Israel: Evaluation Consultant (Local And International Posting).
Request For Applications For Evaluation Consultant (Local And International Posting)
Contract Data
Period Of Performance: 07 July 2019 - 15 August 2019
Location Of Assignment: Israel And Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank)
1/ The Programme - Cross-Border Agricultural Partnerships: Reconciliation Through Agricultural Cooperation And Development In Israel And The West Bank (February 2017 - April 2019).
Context
The Action Engages Both Palestinians And Israelis In Joint Work, Including Cross-Border Training And Value Chain Development, Joint Policy Analysis, And Action In The Agricultural Sector. This Work Will Result In Increased Mutual Confidence And Maintaining Conditions For The Viability Of A Two-State Solution. Through Cross-Border Agricultural Value Chain Activities And The Resulting Increase In Productivity, Income And Access To Markets, The Project Provides Solutions To Local Practical And Strategic Needs In Terms Of Socio-Economic Development And Quality Of Life Of The Most Conflict-Affected Communities.
It Engages In Several Specific Areas Identified In The Call For Proposals Related To The European Union (Eu) Peacebuilding Initiative: Protection And Management Of Natural Resources (Soil And Water Conservation), Water (Wastewater Reuse For Agriculture), Business (Agribusiness Value Chains), And Removal Of Obstacles To Private Sector Development (Cross-Border Trade Policy). These Initiatives Will Lead To Practical, Sustainable, And Replicable Results That (A) Promote Equality, Trust, And Mutual Benefits; (B) Advocate For Conflict Resolution And Reconciliation; And (C) Demonstrate (And Disseminate) The Practical Potential Dividends Of Peace Through Sustainable Socio-Economic Benefits And Quality Of Life.
The Action Supports The Palestinian National AuthorityS Agriculture Sector Strategy Resilience And Development 2014-2016 And The Olive Oil Sector Export Strategy 2014-2018, Which Were Prepared With Eu Funding And Technical Input.
Key Project Target Groups Are Youth Agronomists; Recent (2-5 Years) Graduates Of Palestinian And Israeli University Programmes; Youth Israeli And Palestinian Farm Innovators; Farmers And Other People Engaged In Agriculture-Related Activities/ Business; And Leaders From Government, Industry, And Academia.
Final Beneficiaries Are 1,200 Palestinians And 800 Israelis Dependent On Agriculture Or Agriculture-Related Enterprises For A Majority Of Their Income.
Description Of The Intervention Logic
The Overall Objective (Oo) Of The Action Is Support And Advance Peacebuilding And Reduce Fear And Mistrust Between Palestinian And Israeli Farmers, Industry Leaders And Government Officials. It Has An Indicator Of Achievement Percentage Of Participants Who Indicate That They Have A Positive Perception About The Other.
The Action Has Two Specific Objectives (So):
So1 Improve Condition For Palestine And Israel Cross-Border Cooperation And Confidence Building In Agribusiness Development. It Has An Indicator Of Achievement So1.1 Percentage Of Participants Who Believe That Economic Cooperation Can Promote Cross-Border Collaboration And Reconciliation Between Palestinians And Israelis.
So2 Improve Joint Grassroots Work In Development Of The Olive, Date And Vegetable Value Chains Across 16 Israeli And 24 Palestinian Communities. It Has An Indicator Of Achievement So2.1 Equitable Development Of 3 Cross-Border Value Chains.
The Action Has Three Expected Results (Er):
Er1.1 - Core Group Of Young Palestinian And Israeli Agronomists Engages In Promoting And Facilitating Cross-Border Trade And Agricultural Development. It Has An Indicator Of Achievement Er1.1.1 # Of Youth Agronomists Who Complete Training And Initiate Peer-To-Peer Activities.
Er1.2 - Ministries Of Agriculture, Olive Oil And Vegetable Councils, Date Producer Associations And Other Professional/Trade Associations Improve Conditions For Cross-Border Value Chain Development Through Policy Dialogue, Trade Facilitation And Action. It Has Three Indicators Of Achievement Er1.2.1 # Of Palestinian And Israel Industry Leaders And Government Officials Who Participate In Policy Dialogue, Er1.2.2 # Of Policy Roundtables With Cross-Border Participation, And Er1.2.3 # Of Joint Policy Memos Produced Through Cross-Border Dialogue.
Er2.1. Creation Of Incentives For Value Chain Actors To Engage In Sustained Economic Cooperation Through The Adoption Of Improved Production, Processing And/Or Marketing In Targeted Sub-Sectors. It Has An Indicator Of Achievement Er2.1.1 # Of Israeli And Palestinian Farmers And Other Value Chain Actors That Apply New Technologies Or Management Practices.
Theory Of Change
The *C-Bap Project*Design Is Based On The *Theory Of Change*That**If**Palestinian And Israeli Youth, Farmers, Industry Leaders And Government Officials Engage In Direct Dialogue, Planning And Activities To Resolve Value Chain Gaps And Barriers; Increase The Exchange Of Inputs And Technology; And Improve Access To Markets (Resulting In More Frequent Interactions And Higher Productivity And Income For Value Chain Actors On Both Sides Of The Border), Thenpalestinian And Israeli Participants Will Experience Greater Understanding And Mutual Trust And Contribute To An Expanded Peace Constituency That Is More Enduring In The Face Of Shocks And Setbacks And Can Address Institutional Barriers To Cooperation.
Expected Impact
The Partners Anticipate That C-Bap Will Have A Positive Long-Term Impact On The Attitudes And Perceptions Between Participating Palestinian And Israeli Beneficiaries. In Addition, Beneficiary Groups Will Gain Knowledge, Skills And Relationships To Enable Improved Incomes. The Specific Expected Impacts Are Outlined Below:
Beneficiaries In Cross-Border Activities
C-Bap Is Designed To Have A Lasting Impact On The Attitudes Of Palestinians And Israelis Toward Each Other. It Is Expected That 90% Of Participants In Cross-Border Activities Will Indicate A Positive Perception About The Other).
Participants Will Experience First Hand The Benefits Of Cross-Border Economic Cooperation. It Is Expected That Based On The Experience With C-Bap Activities 90% Of Participants Will Believe That Economic Cooperation Can Promote Cross-Border Collaboration And Reconciliation And That This Belief Will Guide The Pursuit Of Additional Economic Cooperation Following The Two-Years Of C-Bap.
Youth Agronomists
25 Youth Agronomists Will Be Equipped With Knowledge And Experience Providing Agriculture Extension Services That Will Contribute To Their Ability To Earn And Sustain Incomesthrough Agronomy And To Be Leaders In Their Communities And Professional Field.
Farm Innovators
Through C-Bap, The 400 Youth Farm Innovators Will Increase Their Incomes And Exercise Leadership In Communities. As Farm Innovators Plan And Direct All Project Activities In Communities; They Will Benefit From Opportunities To Interact Directly With The Other Side Through Joint Events And Exchange Visits. This Will Impact Upon Their Ability To Earn And Sustain Incomes Through Agronomy And To Be Leaders In Their Communities.
Farmers
2,400 Farmers And Other Value Chain Actors Apply New Technologies Or Management Practices For Improved Production, Processing And/Or Marketing Which Should Lead To Reduced Costs Of Production And Increased Income.
Value Chains Economic Opportunities
C-Bap Will Contribute To The Equitable Development Of The Olive, Date And Vegetable Value Chains, Enabling Higher Incomes Within These Value Chains.
Policy Dialogue Is Expected To Improve Conditions For Cross-Border Value Chain Development And Ultimately The Volume Of Cross-Border Trade And The Expansion Of Cross-Border Economic Cooperation In The Agriculture Sector.
Preconditions And Assumptions
Project Implementation Rests On Several Assumptions: That The Political Situation Between Israel And The Occupied Palestinian Territories Does Not Weaken; That The Security Situation Remains Stable In The West Bank; That Permits Allowing West Bank Residing Palestinians To Travel In Israel Are Issued In A Timely And Unhindered Manner; That I**Sraelis Are Inclined To Visit The West Bank** Without Declining Due To Security Concerns; That Permits Are Readily Issued By Relevant Israeli Authorities For Trade Related Travel Of Personnel And Products Between The West Bank And Israel; That Influential Industry Leaders And Government Representatives Remain Committed To Improving Conditions For Cross-Border Economic Cooperation; And That Possessors Of Advanced Agricultural Technologies Are Willing To Share Technologies With Their Counterparts.
2/ Goals And Objectives Of The Evaluation
The External Consultant Will Evaluate The Extent To Which The Project Achieved The Above Objectives And Impact In The Project Timeframe Using The Evaluative Framework Outlined Below. The Final Evaluation Will Follow The Evaluation Criteria Of The Oecd/Dac And The Ec. In Addition To Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact And Sustainability, The Final Evaluation Will Also Pay Special Attention To (1) Learning; (2) Proof Of Concept; (3) Replication And Multiplication Of Results; And (4) Coherence With Local, National And Ec Programmes And Policies And Value Added. Final Results Will Be Actively Shared And Disseminated Through An End-Of-Project Workshop And A Final Evaluation Summary Report.
Evaluation Questions
Applicants Should Propose A Methodology They Believe Would Best Address The Needs Of This Evaluation. However, We Suggest The Format Is Based On The Dac Criteria For Evaluating Development Assistance. The Dac Methodology Focuses On 5 Main Themes: Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability, And Impact.
Relevance, Defined As The Extent To Which The Aid Activity Is Suited To The Priorities And Policies Of The Target Group, Recipient And Donor, And Includes The Following Queries:
To What Extent Are The Objectives Of The Programme Still Valid?
Are The Activities And Outputs Of The Programme Consistent With The Overall Goal And The Attainment Of Its Objectives?
Are The Activities And Outputs Of The Programme Consistent With The Intended Impacts And Effects?
To What Extend The Project Is Coherent With Eu And Occupied Palestinian Territories Policies And Programmes?
Effectiveness, Defined As The Extent To Which An Aid Activity Attains Its Objectives, Including:
To What Extent Were The Objectives Achieved / Are Likely To Be Achieved?
What Were The Major Factors Influencing The Achievement Or Non-Achievement Of The Objectives?
Efficiency, Defined As An Economic Term That Signifies That The Aid Uses The Least Costly Resources Possible In Order To Achieve The Desired Results, Answering:
Were Activities Cost-Efficient (Value-For-Money)?
Were Objectives Achieved On Time?
Was The Programme Or Project Implemented In The Most Efficient Way Compared To Alternatives?
Impact, Defined As The Positive And Negative Changes Produced By A Development Intervention, Directly Or Indirectly, Intended Or Unintended, Including:
What Has Happened As A Result Of The Programme Or Project?
What Real Difference Has The Activity Made To The Beneficiaries?
How Many People Have Been Affected?
Sustainability, Defined As The Extent To Which The Benefits Of An Activity Are Likely To Continue After Donor Funding Has Been Withdrawn, Including:
To What Extent Did The Benefits Of A Programme Or Project Continue After Donor Funding Ceased?
What Were The Major Factors That Influenced The Achievement Or Non-Achievement Of Sustainability Of The Programme Or Project?
The Consultant Will Supplement The Key Themes Outlined Above With An Analysis Of The Following:
Learning: What Aspects Of The Project Worked Well? Which Aspects Of The Project Could Be Improved Upon? Why?
Proof Of Concept: Did Foundational Assumptions Underpinning Programme Design Hold True? If Yes, Did They Follow The Anticipated Logical Progression As Captured In The Theory Of Change? If Not, Why Was This?
Replication And Multiplication Of Project Outcomes:Does Project Design Lend Itself To Scale-Up? How Can The Team Capitalise Upon Successes Achieved Moving Forward? Is The Model Applicable To Other Regions In Occupied Palestinian Territories? Are There Significant Differences In Regional V. Urban Outcomes And Impact That Should Be Taken Into Account?
Coherence With Local, National And Ec Programmes And Policies And Value Added: How Was Coordination (Coherence) Achieved, And/Or Why Was There A Lack In Coherence? What Political Factors Were Specifically Responsible For The Coordination Of Assistances Or Relief Items Or What Made The Latter More Difficult? Is Coherence Necessary Or Feasible In The Present Situation At All?
A Value-For-Money Assessment Of A Cross-Disciplinary Joint Action:Analyse The Effectiveness And The Impact Of A Joint-Action In Relation To Resources Invested By Diverse Stakeholders And The Evidence Base For Learning And Replication.
3/ Methodology
The Project Evaluation Will Be Participatory In Nature, And Utilise Qualitative Methods (I.E. Interviews, Focus Groups) To Engage Direct Beneficiaries, Partners Staff, Value Chains And Governments Stakeholders (Including Palestinian Centre For Agriculture Research And Development (Pcard), Israeli Olive Oil Council (Iooc), Palestinian Olive Oil Council (Pooc), Palestinian Vegetables Council (Pvc), Gimi).
The Project Team Will Place Quantitative And Qualitative Data Collected As Part Of Standard Reporting Processes At The Disposal Of The Evaluator, In Addition To Their Own Fieldwork:
Approved Proposal And M&E Plan
Data Collected As Part Of The Project Activities And Reporting, Including Baseline And Endline Surveys
Quarterly And Annual Reports
External Rom Report (Result Oriented Monitoring)
List Of Beneficiaries Organized By Activity
List Of Key Staff Tasked With Project Implementation
Roles And Responsibilities Of The External Evaluator And Nef Uk Team
The External Consultant Shall:
Lead Implementation Of The Evaluative Methodology, Finalised In Coordination With The Nef Uk Team;
Lead Development Of Draft And Final Reports;
Manage All Logistics Related To Scheduling, Transport, And Accommodation;
Present Primary Finding To Nef Uk Team Prior To Finalisation Of Report.
The Below Details The Nef Uk Team In Charge Of Managing The Final Evaluation And Outlines The Roles And Responsibilities Assigned To Each Personnel, And The Support Provided To The Consultant.
Director Of Monitoring, Evaluation, And Learning
Provides Technical Support To Refine Evaluative Methodology.
Comment Upon Findings And Recommendations Prior To The Finalization Of The Report.
Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Provide All Supporting Documentation To Consultant Prior To Launch Of Fieldwork.
Provide Consultant With Contact Information For Individuals Selected For Sample.
Inform Individuals Selected For Sample Of EvaluatorS Intention To Interview Each.
Coordinate Timing Of Review With Nef Uk Staff.
Comment Upon Findings And Recommendations Prior To The Finalization Of The Report.
Technical Team
Comment Upon Findings And Recommendations Prior To The Finalization Of The Report.
Country Director
Comment Upon Findings And Recommendations Prior To The Finalization Of The Report.
Validates Final Evaluation Products.
Programme Officer
Comment Upon Findings And Recommendations Prior To The Finalization Of The Report.
Coordinate Timing Of Review With Nef Uk Staff.
Deliverables
The External Consultant Will Produce A 25-30-Page Report Synthesising His/Her Findings In Arabic Or English. This Report Shall First Be Submitted In Draft Form For Consideration By Nef Uk. A Final Version Of The Report Should Be Provided, Updated To Reflect Feedback Given.
The Report Should Contain The Following Sections:
Executive Summary, Including A Concise Background On The Project, The Purpose Of The Evaluation And Its Main Findings Maximum 4 Pages;
Brief Description Of The Project And Activities Undertaken By The Project Maximum 3 Pages;
Description Of The Approach And Data Collection Methods Employed By The Consultant, Including A Summary Of Main Evaluation Questions And How The Sample Of Participants Was Selected Maximum 3 Pages;
Principle Findings And Analysis By ProjectS Objectives And Results, And By Evaluation Questions And Dac Criteria This Should Be The Bulk Of The Report; Minimum 10-12 Pages
Recommendations To Improve Or Capitalise Upon The Project Model Minimum 2 Pages.
If The Report Is In Arabic, Then A Summary Of The Key Findings And Recommendations In English Should Be Provided, And The Cost For Translation Included In The Budget Proposal.
Note, Any Reports With Significant Duplication Of The Proposal And/Or Evaluation Tor Content As Opposed To Original Analysis Will Be Rejected.
The Following Documents Shall Be Submitted In Annex To The Report And Shall Not Count Toward The Page Count Outlined Above.
Draft Report Submitted Prior To Comments Being Provided;
Presentation And Any Supporting Documentation Shared At The Time Of Project Restitution;
Summary Of Fieldwork, Implementation Schedule, And List Of Individuals Interviewed By Role And Location.
Copy Of All Tools Used In Implementation Of Evaluation.
Timeline
The Final Evaluation Period Will Be Conducted From July 7 (Starting Date) To August 15, 2019 (Final Report), With A Draft Report Submitted By July 31St, 2019.
General Framing Of The Final Evaluation; Discussion Of The Terms Of Reference, Methodology (Starting July 7Th, 2019): 3 Days
Field Work: 15 Days
Draft Report In English Or Arabic, By July 31Th, 2019: 4 Days
Restitution With Project Team: 1 Day
Final Report In English, By August 15Th, 2019: 2 Days
Budget
Total Cost Allocated To The Task Is 12,500.
The Payment Terms Will Be Agreed With The Consultant Prior To Contracting.
The Consultant Is Expected To Cover The Cost Of Insurance, Travel, Communication, Translation (If Report Is Prepared In Arabic) And Any Expenses Associated With The Consultancy Within The Available Budget.
Research Profile And Selection Of External Consultant
The External Consultant Shall Have The Following Qualifications:
Expertise In External Evaluations, Analysis Of Change And Learning Processes;
Expertise In Evaluating Projects That Include Policy Dialogue And Peacebuilding Initiatives, Agricultural Sector And Value Chain Development, Business Development And Economic Cooperation;
A MasterS Degree Or Post-Graduate Studies In Related Technical Field Such As Social Sciences, Public Policy, International Development, With A Focus On Monitoring And Evaluation, Data Collection/Research And Analysis Of Data Would Be A Strong Asset;
Minimum Ten (10) Years Of Experience In International Development Monitoring And Evaluation;
Fluency In Arabic Required; Written And Spoken Professional Working Capacity In English A Plus;
Scoring Criteria For Consultant Selection
Criterion 1
Experience Working On Peacebuilding Initiatives And/Or Agricultural Sector And Value Chain Development (Weight: 25%)
In-Depth Expertise In Evaluating Projects That Include Policy Dialogue And Peacebuilding Initiatives, Agricultural Sector And Value Chain Development (Olives, Dates, Vegetables), Business Development And Economic Cooperation; Specific To Israel And Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank) A Strong Preference.
Criterion 2
Experience Of Designing Research And Evaluations (Weight: 25%)
A Record Of Designing And Delivering Rigorous Research And Evaluations.
Sound Knowledge And Understanding Of The Entire Project Cycle And The Ability To Evaluate The Quality Of Each Project Stage.
Competencies In Data Collection And Analysis Related To Socio-Economic Variables, Quantitative And Qualitative Research.
Criterion 3
Proposed Methodology (Weight: 30%)
The Consultant Will Propose The Broad Methodology And Will Work In Consultation With The Near East Foundation Uk And Partners To Develop The Details Of The Approach.
The Consultant Must Display The Ability To Design/Develop Methods Adapted To The Local Context.
Criterion 4
Education And Experience (Weight: 10%)
Qualifications And Experience Relevant To The Sector.
Criterion 5
Financial Proposal (Weight: 10%)
The Most Cost-Effective Proposal That Meets The Expectations Of The Work Will Be Selected.
How To Apply:
Instructions For Submission
All Proposals Must Be Submitted No Later Than 18:00 Gmt On June 18Th, 2019 Via NefS Website At Https://Neareast.Bamboohr.Com/Jobs/View.Php?Id=23
Prospective Consultants Are Expected To Submit Technical And Financial Proposals In English, And Must Include The Following:
Profile Of Consultant/Firm, Clear Demonstration Of Previous Experience In Conducting External Evaluations;
ApplicantS Understanding Of The Terms Of Reference;
Approach And Methodology;
Work Plan; And
Proposed Budget In Eur, Inclusive Of Vat.
Appendices To The Proposal Must Include:
Cvs Of The Evaluation Team; And
Three References From Similar Projects Undertaken By The Consultant(S), Including E-Mail Contacts And Phone Numbers.
Proposals That Do Not Include All 7 Points Above Will Not Be Entertained.
Questions And Clarifications Regarding The Terms Of Reference Should Be Sent To:
· Jonathan Peters: Jpeters@Neareast.Org
· Laurent Denis: Ldenis@Neareast.Org
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