Back Independent Evaluation Consultant for the Project “Support to the Follow-up of Electoral Recommendations in the Western Balkans”

Background:

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is seeking an experienced consultant (hereafter ‘evaluator’) to undertake an objective and independent evaluation of the project “Support to the Follow-up of Electoral Recommendations in the Western Balkans”. The evaluation will take place between May 2020 and July 2020. The number of working days envisaged for the assignment – 21.

ODIHR is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension of security. It is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law.

ODIHR has a long history of working with the OSCE participating States on the follow-up of electoral recommendations. It regularly presents final reports and recommendation “in-country” following an election, as a means to maintain constructive dialogue with the authorities and to discuss ways in which it can assist electoral reform.

In June 2017, ODIHR launched the project “Support to the Follow-up of Electoral Recommendations in the Western Balkans” to assist five OSCE participating states in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), as well as Kosovo, in bringing the conduct of elections closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections (there is no consensus among OSCE participating States on the status of Kosovo and, as such, the Organization does not have a position on this issue. All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244). Further details of the project can be found at http://www.osce.org/odihr/support-to-elections-in-western-balkans.

The expected results of the project are:

• The capacity of election management bodies to conduct elections in an administratively effective, politically impartial, and transparent manner is enhanced.
• The accuracy of voter lists and voter registration processes is increased, including through effective co-ordination with existing population registers and meaningful consultation of voter lists for all electoral stakeholders.
• The knowledge and capacity of media regulatory bodies to regulate and monitor media conduct during elections, thereby contributing to a pluralistic and fair campaign environment, are improved.

The project “Support to the Follow-up of Electoral Recommendations in the Western Balkans” is co-financed by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency.

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

The aim of the evaluation is to: a) assess the emerging impact and success of the project; b) assess the sustainability of the various project outputs; c) identify lessons learned and good practices that can inform future similar activities as well as inform the development of follow-up programmes and projects in the same thematic area throughout the OSCE region. The evaluation will seek to understand whether the design is optimally linked to achieving the intended objective, taking into account external factors that were contributing to or were constraining the delivery of outcomes.

Lessons from the implementation of the project shall be analyzed to issue recommendations on how ODIHR can improve implementation of similar projects in the future on and how to more efficiently and effectively use resources available for ODIHR’s engagement in the relevant programmatic areas. The evaluation will have therefore a backward-looking and a forward-looking dimension.

The evaluation will include all relevant activities undertaken between June 2017 (launch of the project) and July 2020.

The evaluation will also consider how the project design, implementation and delivery took into account the different needs of women and men and how it impacted them. In doing so, it will also provide recommendations on how to further improve gender mainstreaming in future activities.

METHODOLOGY

The evaluation will be based on the five Development Assistance Criteria (DAC) as laid out in the DAC Principles for evaluation of Development Assistance (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability), and two additional ODIHR criteria of added value and coherence. The evaluation will include special consideration of the political objectives of the OSCE, the intergovernmental nature of the Organization and the political and administrative context in which ODIHR operates. The evaluation will be also carried out following “Evaluation methodological approach”, defined by the European Union
(https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/evaluation_guidelines/minisite/en-project-and-programme-evaluations.).

The focus of the evaluation will be on the project beneficiaries, i.e. groups or entities with whom ODIHR has interacted under the auspices of the project implementation directly or indirectly and whom it can be anticipated that the project implementation has been able to influence.

A detailed evaluation design will be developed by the evaluator and should make use of a mix of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools: desk review, field visit, surveys and interviews (in person and/or over the phone), questionnaires, as well as review of other documentation such as financial information. If necessary, an interpreter will be provided by ODIHR for on-site visits and telephone interviews.

The desk review will mainly include the following type of documents: project documentation, meeting and training reports, agendas, presentations and training materials, and participant feedback forms.

The evaluation foresees up to two field visits, to be selected in consultation with ODIHR.

The evaluation should be carried out with full consideration of the safety and confidentiality of all persons participating in the project.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Evaluation phases

Main activities

1. Introductory phase - First half of May 2020 (3 working days)
   · Review and analysis of project documents
   · Collection of additional information about the project and a list of contact persons/organizations from ODIHR staff
   · Interview ODIHR staff

2. Desk phase - Second half of May 2020 (4 working days)
   · In depth analysis of documents
   · Development of evaluation questions and criteria
   · Development of tools and methods
   · Agreeing with ODIHR on precise evaluation questions and methodology – submission to ODIHR in writing

3. Field and data collection phase - May 2020 – June 2020 (8 working days)
   · Conducting up to two field visits
   · Surveys/field interviews/phone interviews
   · Presentation of the emerging findings

4. Data analysis and report writing phase - Second week of July 2020 (4 working days)
   · Analysis of responses, documentation
   · Drafting of report and submission to ODIHR

5. Report presentation visit and finalization - 20 July 2020 (1 working day)

   Warsaw or via teleconference
   · Presentation of draft report to ODIHR
   · Discussion, feedback and agreement on adjustments
   Finalization of report and Submission to ODIHR - 25 July 2020 (1 working day)

Total number of days: 21

DELIVERABLES

The evaluator should submit the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Detailed evaluation plan:
Following the introductory phase, the evaluator will draft specific evaluation questions, which will be agreed with the ODIHR’s Project Co-ordination Unit (PCU). The plan should also include a proposed timeframe and work plan for the conduct of the evaluation (Deadline: within two weeks after completion of the introductory phase).
Deliverable 2: Concise report on emerging finding from the field and data collection phase. (Deadline: 30 June 2020)
Deliverable 3: Evaluation Report with the following:
-Executive summary that provides a clear, concise presentation of the evaluation’s main conclusions, key recommendations and salient issues identified;
-Description of the methodology used;
-Responses to the evaluation questions (observations, findings, conclusions and recommendations);
Analysis of lessons learned and good practices, including specific recommendations to ODIHR.
(Deadline: second week of July 2020)
The report shall also contain at least the following annexes:
-List of persons interviewed and sites visited;
-Data collection tools (copies of surveys and questionnaires);
-A bibliography or list of references;
-The TOR for the evaluation.

All deliverables shall be submitted to PCU in accordance with the agreed timeline. PCU will review the quality of the deliverables submitted and request any improvements necessary to reach the professional standards required.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations or other relevant disciplines. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Extensive experience (minimum 7 years) of designing/implementing and conducting evaluations, in particular of projects implemented at the international level in the fields of human rights and democracy assistance.
• Election related expertise and good knowledge of the international and regional standards for democratic elections.
• Thematic knowledge of human rights, including topics such as rule of law, human rights education and gender equality would be advantageous.
• Experience working in the Western Balkan region, preferably related to designing/implementing or conducting evaluations;
• Experience in gender mainstreaming programmes and projects.
• Professional knowledge of English; knowledge of local languages of the project countries would be advantageous.
• Ability and professional experience of inter-cultural environments and professional conduct with significant political tact.
• Experience with the OSCE would be an advantage.

Remuneration Package:
Remuneration will depend on the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and be in accordance with OSCE established rates. Payment will be made upon receipt of deliverables with a breakdown of the activities carried out and the number of days worked for each of them. Travel expenses will be covered by ODIHR according to OSCE travel policy.