Developing a Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Framewo...

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Developing a Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Project “Equal Rooting: Greater gender Equality in Palestine”

Implemented by:

Alianza Por La Solidaridad (APS)

Funded by:

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - SIDA

ENTITY: FUNDACIÓN ALIANZA POR LOS DERECHOS, LA IGUALDAD Y LA SOLIDARIDAD INTERNACIONAL (ALIZANZA)

INTRODUCTION

Alianza por la Solidaridad (ApS) is a Spanish NGO existing since more than 30 years and present in the Middle East since 1993. Since 2009 it has developed a process of sectorial and geographical targeting for its interventions, which meant the prioritization of women’s rights and gender equality.

Alianza por la Solidaridad (ApS) in the Middle East works within three main lines of action:

Prevention and response for Gender Based Violence, individual and community approach.
Women´s economic empowerment.
Women´s participation and active citizenship.

Alianza maintains stable local partners with whom it works in a sustained manner and deepening not the relations and regular contacts through the office in the field, but a fluid communication and analysis of the changes caused by the protracted conflict-related crisis and humanitarian situation in Palestine. Alianza works closely with its partners and supports their work in a manner that represents Alianza and the partner’s values. ApS has extensive experience and expertise on women´s rights and there is a high degree of knowledge about the environment and only relation with the population, civil society organizations, other humanitarian actors and local public entities. Alianza por la Solidaridad is member of Action Aid Federation since Jun 2018.

Alianza por la Solidaridad (ApS) is the recipient of a grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - SIDA for the implementation of the project “Equal Rooting: Greater gender Equality in Palestine” in partnership with four local organizations:

Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA) in West Bank (Hebron & Bethlehem).
The Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) in Gaza Strip.
Women's Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) in West Bank (Ramallah).
The Palestine Information and Communications Technology Incubator (PICTI) in West Bank (Ramallah).
Alianza is seeking a committed and experienced professional individual and/or consultancy company to demonstrate their skills and experience required to to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework and train partners staff of organization on the use of the MEAL framework and tools.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Organization: Alianza por los Derechos, la Igualdad y la Solidaridad Internacional (ApS)

Alianza has been present in the Middle East since 1993 and has had a permanent office in Jerusalem to coordinate its activities in Palestine since 1998. Alianza has been developing sectorial and geographical targeting for its interventions since 2009, focusing on the prioritization of women’s rights and gender equality in the Middle East. Alianza’s main line of action is the promotion of sexual and reproductive rights, and fighting against gender-based violence (GBV). Alianza maintains stable relations with local partners, with whom it works in a sustained manner. Alianza works to deepen the relations and regular contacts through its presence in the field, and continuously seeks to establish a fluid communication with its local partners to ensure timely analysis of the changing humanitarian situation in Palestine.

Alianza has extensive experience and expertise in women´s rights activities, and there is a high degree of knowledge about the local context through close ties with the population, civil society organizations, other humanitarian actors and local public entities. This project proposal is a product of the above, and framed by the approaches, objectives and lines of action envisaged in the strategy proposed by local partners.

Action Aid and Alianza share the idea that when people become aware that their future is in their hands and when they organize to challenge power structures and contribute to the betterment and changing of institutions, changes can succeed. These changes should take place on a global scale in order to generate maximum impact, and they should be rooted in the political values of solidarity and internationalism. In addition, for Action Aid and Alianza, Social justice, gender equality, and climate justice succeed through individual and collective actions that actively change inequitable and unjust power relationships, either hidden, visible, or invisible, from the home to local, national, and international spaces. The empowerment of people that live in poverty and marginalization and of women and youth is a crucial part of creating these changes. Collective efforts and fights are stronger when they bound together through solidarity, campaigns, and common causes between communities, organizations, and social movements and other allies to influence local and global institutions and public policy.

2.2 The Project: “Equal Rooting” GREATER GENDER EQUALITY IN PALESTINE

The project “Equal Rooting: Greater Gender Equality in Palestine is currently being implemented in two areas (West Bank and Gaza Strip) jointly with PFPPA, CFTA, PICTI and WATC for a duration of three years from the 1st of January 2022 to the 31st of December 2024. The objectives of the project are:

General Objective: To contribute to foster gender equality in the oPt through a comprehensive

program based in three results:

1: Increased access to specialized, survivor-centered services, especially Sexual and Reproductive Health and GBV multisectoral protection services

2: Promoted actions for women's economic autonomy and women´s economic rights.

3: Strengthened the capacities of women to exercise their active citizenship by reinforcing their role as advocacy agents in the promotion of their rights.

2.3 Justification

Alianza por la Solidaridad (ApS) is aware of the importance of keep up with a good M&E system. The process of collecting and analysing date helps to know if the project has fulfilled its objectives. In addition it help us to assess how well the project was performed and be able to decide on the possibility of developing further interventions based on the results of such analysis. New think that a good M&E plan/system transparency and accountability can be achieved, therefore stakeholders and related partners can learn from their own work and base on their own experience. Having a good M&E plan in place for the project will help us recognize problems and obstacles early enough to be able and intervene.

At the same time, we think that a good M&E plan for the project will allow us use the available resources efficiently. By monitoring closely, the project, we will be able to answer to needs that appear during the implementation that require resources. Also, we will be able to recognize areas where resources are not used, or the contrary, are in need of additional resources.  In ApS we are keen of learning from our mistakes, and having a good M&E plan in place will help us doing so. This also is related to our partners, who share with us their lessons learnt, their conclusions and ideas which are essential for future interventions. This allows us to build future interventions on the ones completed, so as to create a continuous process that contribute to the aimed changes and impact.  At the same level of importance, this helps us taking the right programmatic decisions based on evidence.

DESCRIPTION TERMS OF REFERENCE
Purpose of the Consultancy:
Alianza is seeking a committed and experienced MEAL specialist consultant (individual/company)  to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework including Data Collection tools for the project “EQUAL ROOTING”: Greater Gender Equality in Palestine. The consultant will provide the MEAL PLAN for 2 years , and bring technical advice on monitoring evaluation and how to achieve and measure results. The consultant will train the  team of the 4 partner organization  of the project on the Monitoring and Evaluation tools and will also help the project team in identifying potential lacks and will suggest necessary recommendations for readjusting indicators and tools.

METHODOLOGY AND WORKPLAN
Methodology
The consultancy will comprise the following phases:

Conduct meetings with Alianza’s project manager to review the current implemented M&E tools for the project.
Review the present tools and provide feedback
Give suggestions for enhancement
Design new tools to be discussed and presented

Conduct meeting with the staff of the 4 partner organizations:
A-Review the current tools used by partners and take note of its strengths, weaknesses  and practicability, and any other issue that arrives

B- Conduct basic discussion with the staff of the partner organizations on proposed enhancement of the tools

C- Assess the suggestions and proposals made by the partners on the tools based on their experience to recognize the gaps/needs and suggestions

Review the results based framework, log frame and performance monitoring plans/ Meal Matrix for the project and prepare draft revisions for approval by the Project Manager;
 

Train the staff of the 4 partner organizations on the use and reporting of the M&E tools
Conduct a training the contains elements of sustainability such as the theoretical part of M&E to make sure that this information is sustained and used not only on this project but in all their work
Make sure that the training offers space for the participants to practice the acquired knowledge
Use the enhanced tools and present them during the training to be used, discussed and made familiar to the participants staff of the partner organizations

3.2 Time Framework

The consultancy is expected to start 28th of August 2023 and go on until  28th of Sep 2023. The duration of the consultancy can slightly adjusted upon request and prior approval from the two parties. After the kick off meeting, the consultant will present a detailed work plan in an inception report.

3.3 Deliverables and Responsibilities

All materials must submitted in the languages specified:

Inception Report (English).
M&E tools in both Arabic and English Languages.
MEAL MATRIX
Training delivering (Arabic).
Training Report

4 REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSULTANT/TRAINER AND ECONOMIC OFFER

4.1  Qualifications and Competencies

Master’s degree in social science preferably in development planning, economics or management.
Knowledge and experience in designing M&E plans and conducting evaluations of more than five years.
Experience in the field of M&E for GBV related projects
Experience in the field of M&E in employability related programs.
Experience in the field of M&E in economic empowerment related programs.

Teaching, training and/or coaching experience.
Proficient in written and spoken in Arabic and English Languages.
Ability to plan and meet requirements on time.
Mastering computer skills especially Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Office software and other programs for processing data.
Excellent interpersonal skills.

4.2 Application Submission and Deadline 

The individual/consulting team must submit a technical and financial offer (maximum of 10 pages) including the following:    

Methodology, and work schedule. 
Objectives of the consultancy. 
Scope (temporary, etc.). 
CV of the individual/ consulting team. 
Past relevant experiences. 
Detailed budget of the offer in EURO (The budget must be presented in a table format with an indication of the following: fees, travel expenses, space rental, hospitality/lunch services, printing material, printing certificates, stationery, transportation of participants and any other expenses, with the breakdown of the price per unit and the number of units). 

Note: we would like to encourage applicants to conduct any activity related to this consultancy in the halls of women’s civil society organizations (WCSOs) community based women’s organizations (CBWOs) especially organizations lead by women or lead by marginalized groups (e.g. people with disability).

The consultancy budget must include all deliverables and translation in Arabic and English of all materials produced. The consultant is required to ensure the implementation of onsite training in the West Bank and offsite training in Gaza Strip . The consultant should include the prices for the printing of training materials, space rental and hospitality. Knowing that income tax will deducted at 10% of the contract value if individual consultant and that the project is, VAT exempted.

Interested applicants must send the technical and financial proposal (in English) by email to Dalia Nassar: [email protected] and to Victoria Delfino:   [email protected] no later than Thuesday, 7th of August 2023 at 15:59 PM local time in Palestine and include “Monitoring and Evaluation Consultancy” in the subject. Applications received after this date will not considered. Only applicants/consulting team who have the required qualities, experience, and skills will considered.