Final Evaluation of Syria Area-Based Integrated Recovery (SABIR) – Phase IV At Expertise France

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II. BACKGROUND

  1. Context

After 13 years of conflict, an estimated 15.3 million people are in need of assistance in Syria, with areas such as Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor, Hassakeh, and eastern Aleppo among the most severely affected. Basic services, including health, education, water, and electricity, remain disrupted and fragmented, particularly for the most vulnerable population groups, including women and children. The continued influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees places additional pressure on overstretched service providers.

Economically, households have faced severe hardship as the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) rose to over SYP 3.2 million in late 2024 and remained above SYP 2 million into 2025, pushing families into negative coping strategies such as child labor, reduced food consumption, and reliance on informal credit . The agricultural sector, which once employed up to 50% of the workforce before 2011, has suffered a near-total collapse due to prolonged conflict, climate change, and structural weaknesses. Years of conflict have severely damaged irrigation systems, led to groundwater depletion from unregulated drilling, and left large stretches of farmland uncultivated or inaccessible due to contamination and landmines. At the same time, farmers face skyrocketing fertilizer prices, widespread shortages of quality inputs, poor access to veterinary care, and limited feed for livestock, all of which threaten food security and rural livelihoods. These challenges continue to undermine agricultural production and raise serious concerns about food security and the country’s ability to sustain its own food supply.

  1. Project profile

Project title

Syria area based integrated recovery – phase 4 (SABIR IV)

Donors

French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs

Project budget

5,000,000 Euros

Project duration

Start date:

01/03/2024

End date:

28/02/2026

Project locations (# of projects granted)

Al Hassakah, Shadadi( 5 projects)

Raqqa and Mansurah (9 projects)

Deir ez-Zor, Rweished (5 projects)

Supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Syria Area Based Integrated Recovery (SABIR) project is implemented since 2020, aiming at improving (I) access to essential services through public infrastructures rehabilitation (II) promoting access to livelihoods and income generation through agriculture, livestock, technical and vocational education and training, entrepreneurship supports and finally (III) fostering social capital by delivering tailored capacity building activities to local partners. Since the phase 4, the project also aims at strengthening social cohesion among communities in the target areas.

The SABIR project’s overall intended impact is to contribute to addressing the post-crisis recovery challenges to pave the path towards sustainable development. The sub-objective of SABIR IV is to build more resilient local communities towards greater stabilization in the northeast of Syria.

Theory of Change

Against this background, SABIR will contribute to overcoming post-war challenges, enabling local communities to be more resilient, and supporting the progressive recovery of essential services and local economy. The project’s theory of change (TOC) is: IF communities affected by conflict and climate shocks have better access to improved basic services such as water for domestic and irrigation purposes, electricity and public infrastructure; IF rural and urban households have improved livelihoods, a diversified access to food and increased income; IF social cohesion is strengthened at the community level; and IF local communities, stakeholders, and implementing partners have strengthened knowledge and capacity to respond to community needs; THEN local communities will transition from poor living conditions and instability to resilient, sustainable socio-economic conditions and equitable economic growth in the areas covered by the project.

Overall Objective:

More resilient local communities pave the way towards greater stabilization in the Northeast of Syria.

Specific Objectives:

Living conditions and human security of people affected by the crisis in the northeast of Syria are improved through an integrated area-based and gender inclusive approach, focusing on access to basic services, livelihoods, and local actors empowerment

SABIR project’s overall intended impact is to contribute to addressing the post-crisis recovery challenges to pave the path towards sustainable development. The project aimed at achieving specific objective through the following components:

  • Access to basic services is enhanced through the rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
  • Local communities have improved access to inclusive and sustainable livelihoods opportunities.
  • Social Cohesion has increased in areas where a diversity of communities and sociodemographic live.
  • The capacities of local partners are strengthened to implement project activities and improve community engagement.

List of activities implemented:

A. Rehabilitation of public infrastructure:

Activities that could improve access to essential services such as: (i) water supply for domestic and irrigation purposes complemented by climate smart techniques; (ii) electricity infrastructures:

  • Rehabilitation of water stations.
  • Rehabilitation of irrigation networks and canals.
  • Rehabilitation of small groundwater wells/equipping wells with solar energy systems.
  • Rehabilitation of electricity networks/installation of new lines and transformers.

Main Achievements (A)

  • Rehabilitation of 27 electric transformers.
  • 8 wells drilled and supplied with necessary equipment for agriculture cooperatives.
  • 144 farmers/livestock breeders benefited from rehabilitated irrigation canals.

B. Livelihoods and Economic Recovery:

Activities that could improve access to livelihoods and income generation for local households, including sustainable agricultural and non-agricultural livelihoods through input materials, climate-smart techniques, extension, and training to create an enabling environment for efficiency and sustainability of interventions:

  • Provision of agricultural inputs.
    • Supporting the agriculture of fodder crops for piloting to cope with the water scarcity and climate change.
      • Training farmers in innovative agriculture techniques.
      • Supporting environmental principles; household composting, organic farming, intercropping, crop rotation, etc.
      • Provision of vaccines, veterinary care and training to livestock farmers.
      • Provision of technical and vocational training/apprenticeship.
      • Provision of small grants (in-kind) to expand startups.

Main Achievements (B)

  • 2600 farmers received support through agriculture inputs and tools.
  • 600 farmers supported the use of climate smart techniques in their farming.
  • 75 Female beneficiaries involved in income generating activities.
  • Two farmer associations were supported through agriculture equipment.
  • Establishing an Awassi sheep association and providing support to 70 farmers through training, fodders, and vaccinations.

C. Social Cohesion

SABIR IV newly emphasized social cohesion in the project areas. Three projects granted to implement related social cohesion activities in order to complement the area-based approach. These projects delivered various activities, including but not limited to social cohesion initiatives, capacity building for youth and dialogue sessions.

Main Achievements (C)

  • Over 10,000 individuals are involved in social cohesion related activities.
  • 35 initiatives implemented in the project target locations.

D. Strengthening local capacity of partner organizations:

  • Establishing Community Based Committees (CBCs) through SABIR IV to build stronger links with local communities where the activities are implemented. These CBCs would ensure good coordination, outreach and communications with communities, conflict resolution during all project cycle from beneficiary selection to handover of the implemented activity.
  • Provide training to CBCs on coordination mechanisms, community dialogue, conflict management and resolution, and accountability.
  • Provide Capacity building activities and support to CSO partners to enhance their capacity at the organizational level as well as improving their technical knowledge on climate change, food security, and modern agriculture.

Main Achievements (D)

  • A total of 119 local partners’ staff participated in capacity building training on logistics, governance, MEAL and proposal writing.
  • 4 community-based committees participated in capacity building training.
  • 50[1] partner staff also trained on climate change, food security and modern agriculture.

Partnership and Implementation Modality

SABIR IV contracted with 19 local organizations to implement project activities in the target locations. Local partners went through a comprehensive selection process based on the overall project design and approach. Local partner projects were categorized per SABIR component, rehabilitation, livelihood, agriculture, and social cohesion. Each organization approached a specific component to ensure area-based integrated approach.

[1] This is still ongoing, expected to be completed by the end of October 2025

How to apply

Applications should include:

1) Technical proposal/offer: motivation, methodological approach, and human resources (CVs for key personnel should be attached).

  1. The consultancy firm and the team leader should have the following:
  • Local or international organizations experience with a capacity to operate in Syria independently from the contracting organization.
  • Have an active network of workers and contacts within Syria.
  • Previous experience conducting evaluation works in NES (with track record and references)
  • At least 2 previous experiences conducting evaluation works on livelihoods and/or infrastructure rehabilitation project (with track record and references).
  • At least 2 previous experiences conducting evaluation works in NES and/or Syria (with track record and references).
  • Coordinated team, through existing TPM, NGO, or association of able individuals.
  • Demonstrated systematic and consistent roles and responsibilities between the team members.
  • Demonstrated experience with quantitative and qualitative research, data management and statistical data analysis.
  • Strong understanding of humanitarian and evaluation ethics and a commitment to ethical working practices.
  • Action-oriented and evidence-based approach and strong drive for results.
  • Highly developed self-management and communication skills.

Team leader:

  • Master degree or higher in public policy, political science, public administration, economics, development studies or other relevant field.
  • Minimum 10 years’ experience, in design, monitoring, management and evaluation of development projects and programs in MENA region
  • Experience in leading evaluation teams. Excellent inter-personal, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication skills
  • Experience in working with government agencies (central and local), civil society organizations, international organizations, and Donors in Syrian context.
  • Experience working in Food Security Livelihoods, organizational capacity building in developing countries.
  • Experience in Syrian context and understanding of development context and challenges in Syria is an advantage.
  • Excellent command of the English language, spoken and written.

2) Planning schedule: As part of the technical offer, the framework contractor should submit the assignment workplan plan (to be finalized in the Inception Report).

3) Detailed Financial proposition; including all costs related to travel, logistics, etc., the financial proposal should not exceed 30,000 EUR.

4) A sample of previous works

5) Names/references of past clients

  • All inquiries related to this call for submissions must be sent via email to erbil.office@expertisefrance.fr no later than October 18th, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Baghdad time). Expertise France will provide responses to all submitted questions within five (5) working days, or sooner where possible. To ensure proper processing, the email subject line must be clearly stated as: Question_SABIR.
  • Interested applicants are required to submit their applications, along with all supporting documents, no later than October 27th, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Baghdad time) to erbil.office@expertisefrance.fr, with the email subject line clearly stating:SABIR Final Evaluation.
  • Please be informed that our email server can receive files up to a maximum size of 9 MB. Applications exceeding this limit will not be delivered to the tender email address. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to compress your application into a ZIP file or submit it via an easily accessible online platform to ensure successful delivery.

Comprehensive application materials, including the full Terms of Reference, all required submission forms, and the accompanying template, are provided in their entirety at the following link for your review and completion: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10IcLyPeIthVlQcInlq8kbH_mVZvcDiwv?usp=sharing