Evaluation of HD’s peacemaking intervention in Ukraine (2014-2021) At Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a private diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and independence. Its mission is to help prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation. HD is soliciting bids for the evaluation of its intervention in Eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Background

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) has operated in Eastern Ukraine since early 2014. The organization leads various dialogue initiatives that focus on developing creative ideas for the official negotiations process, and runs several cross-contact line (CCL) initiatives that aim to develop practical solutions and innovative ideas for both short-term stabilisation and long-term sustainable peace, and to improve the situation for people on the ground in the conflict zone. More specifically, these initiatives have the following objectives:

· Promote constructive, direct exchanges on matters of common concern, and develop practical solutions to joint problems (for example the ecological emergency)

· Provide local and national decision-makers with recommendations for improving the humanitarian and economic situation on both sides of the contact line.

· Build trust and defuse tensions in order to improve people-to-people links amongst conflict-affected populations;

· Prepare the ground for eventual reconciliation, reintegration, and/or improved coexistence based on the reality of the situation and perspectives on the ground.

HD’s CCL initiative cover a range of topics relevant to reintegration and conflict resolution. These include the environment, inclusivity, and civil society dialogue. While thematically diverse, HD ensures that the initiatives are integrated and mutually reinforcing in order to create a more holistic vision for the future of Donbas, and give local actors and decision-makers the best chance to respond to common threats and opportunities.

Purpose and scope

HD wishes to commission an evaluation of its intervention in Eastern Ukraine since 2014. The findings and recommendations will support HD’s efforts to demonstrate the value of its work, draw out any relevant lessons for HD more broadly, and will inform any necessary adaptation to its strategic approach, future engagement and funding sources. The evaluation also falls within the scope of HD’s goal to strengthen and operationalize its environmental peacemaking practice.

The evaluation will assess the relevance, performance, and impact of HD’s intervention in the country, and will cover the intervention in its entirety: this includes reviewing the political track of HD’s intervention, and the work around the various topics addressed in the CCL, with a specific attention for the ecological dialogue.