LevizAlbania is the Local Democracy project of the Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation (SDC) implemented by a consortium of (i) Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA), (ii) Partners Albanian and (iii) Co-Plan. Since 2015 LevizAlbania has contributed to enhancing local democracy, through grants for Non-for-Profit Organizations (NPOs), informal groups, and citizens, supporting their demand for transparent and accountable local governance, and efficient public services. In Phase II LevizAlbania continues to support civic actors countrywide, including women and youth, through a bottom-up approach. The project supports coalition-building to incite structural and systemic change at local and national level and promote positive practices in support of local democracy. The project uses media as an advocacy tool to amplify the demands of stakeholders. Synergies with other SDC and donor projects maximize results of the support provided to Albanian good governance at local level.
Overall Objective: Contribute to improved evidence-based decision-making in supporting local democracy, civic engagement and activism in Albania.
This consultancy will aim to inform key decision-making of LevizAlbania Consortium, SDC and other donors in Albania, by providing evidence to better support local democracy, civic engagement and activism.
Specific Objective 1: To conduct grants external evaluation (Call for Applications nr. 6 and Rapid Response)
The grants external evaluation will provide an overall assessment of the projects implemented through grants awarded in Call for Applications Number 6 and Rapid Response during the first year of the Phase II of Leviz Albania.
The grants external evaluation will be implemented with the expectation that it will contribute to assessing the Outcomes, Results and Outputs of Leviz Albania, identifying challenges of implementation as well as evidencing key lessons learned. The grants external evaluation will generate and share recommendations for any follow up of Leviz Albania, Consortium and/or SDC to improve the future interventions and strategies.
The grants external evaluation will serve the dual and mutually reinforcing purposes of accountability and learning. For accountability, the evaluation will assess, and report on, the performance and results achieved (intended or unintended, positive or negative). For learning, the evaluation will determine the reasons why, and how, certain results occurred the way they did, draw lessons and derive good practices with pointers for learning from them. Lessons learnt from this final evaluation are intended to be utilized to refine and improve the implementation of future activities of Leviz Albania. Although both elements of accountability and learning are to be assessed, the emphasis in this evaluation is to be on learning.
The grant external evaluation should be aligned with the standard evaluation dimensions of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. The three primary objectives are to: (i) Assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the grant projects; (ii) gather evidence on the Leviz Albania performance and lessons learned; and (iii) Provide recommendations for improving, if necessary, and for replicating good practices. Specifically, the evaluation should:
- Assess the achievements of the grant projects vis a vis the project overall objectives and expected results as foreseen in the Project document and yearly work plan and log frame
- Review the effectiveness of the grant project interventions
- To assess the relevance of the grant project as according to the Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Albania 2018 – 2021 and Project Document of Leviz Albania Phase II.
- To assess the possible impact and sustainability of grant interventions
- To assess the efficiency of resource utilization (human and financial) and project management capacities
- Identify lessons learned and findings from the grant implementation, draw conclusions and generate recommendations for Leviz Albania
- Assess and report on:
- media use by grantees as an advocacy tool
- gender perspective mainstreaming in grants and effects on reducing gender inequalities
- use by grantees on the Value-Added Support Services
The evaluation should provide an overall assessment of the 46 grants awarded during year 1 of the Phase II of Leviz Albania. These grants had different implementation periods which extended from February 2020 to April 2021, including projects in 31 municipalities and 5 National Projects.
Specific Objective 2: To conduct an assessment of experiences supporting individuals and informal groups through grant schemes and coaching
The selected consultant is expected to design and lead the conduction of a rigorous assessment of experiences in supporting individuals and informal groups through grant schemes and coaching.
The experience assessment should aim to consolidate and disseminate knowledge on if and how the support provided so far to individuals and informal groups (by Leviz Albania but not only) achieves to sustainably increase the activism level by creating a higher number of active citizens.
Specific Objective 3: To develop a tracer system for periodical analysis and coaching of individuals, informal groups and civil society actors
In close collaboration with Leviz Albania, the selected consultant should design and implement a tracer system for periodical analysis and coaching of individuals, informal groups and civil society actors supported with grants. The periodic tracing and analysis of grantees should allow Leviz Albania to improve the ongoing support it provides.
In pursuing these objectives, the selected consultant is expected to maintain a gender equality perspective, complying with the Gender Mainstreaming Policy of Leviz Albania.
The Consultancy should be finalized within a period of 13 months starting from 1st October 2020 to 31st December 2021. A total of 56 working days are estimated for this assignment.
Interested candidates should present:
- A technical offer (max. 10 pages) comprising:
- Proven understanding of the objective of the evaluation and the Terms of Reference (ToR);
- Brief description of the methodology and tools proposed;
- A chronogram showing details for the realization of each of the phases under each Specific Objective.
- A financial offer (Cost breakdown)
- An updated CV
- At least one previous evaluation report
- Contacts of 3 references
Applicants should send the complete documentation in electronic form to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. E' necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo., by September 23th, 2020.
For any inquiries please contact LevizAlbania by email Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. E' necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo..