Terms Of Reference Consultancy For Final Econominc Inclusion Project Funded By Giz Evaluation At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANCY FOR FINAL ECONOMINC INCLUSION PROJECT FUNDED BY GIZ EVALUATION

Economic Inclusion Project Funded by GIZ in the target location of Jerash and Amman

1st September 2023 to 31st April 2025

General information

1. . About Humanity & Inclusion

HI is an independent and impartial aid and development organization with no religious or political affiliations operating in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict, and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. Since the organization was first founded in 1982, we have set up development programs in more than 50 countries and responded to many emergencies. Today we have a budget of around 185 million euros, with 3,500 employees worldwide. HI is engaged in an employment policy in favor of persons with disabilities. For further information about the organization, please visit www.hi.org

1.2 About Humanity & Inclusion in Jordan

HI has been operating in Jordan since 2006, implementing projects ranging from the provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services, directly, through service providers or a community-based approach; to inclusive local development, disability movement strengthening through capacity building of organizations of Persons with Disabilities, and multi-stakeholder dialogue, among others.

Under the The Economic Inclusion project HI aims to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian refugees in the Jarash and Wihdat camps through the implementation of livelihood activities and community engagement activities. The project targets 72 persons with 50% persons with disability and at least 50% women from both camps. The project aims to empower participants through two tracks, where they can build their skills and work on community projects aligned with their aspirations. The project will focus on enabling participants to lead in designing their action plans, thereby demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation strategy. Around the core of the activities, the project will establish a supporting system to serve the community through 8 Community facilitators for further participant empowerment and to contribute to facilitating the establishment of an accessible and enabling ecosystem for people with disability.

Community facilitators will serve as key connectors between the project and the community, ensuring successful implementation with linkages with the community. The first strategy focuses on organizing various awareness sessions within the community. Community facilitators will take the lead in planning and conducting these sessions, covering two topics 1- General awareness of people with disabilities and 2- community-based PSS awareness. By organizing and conducting diverse awareness sessions led by Community facilitators, we aim to foster a well-informed community about the rights of people with disabilities and equipped with the knowledge of community-based psychosocial support (PSS) initiatives.

Furthermore, the team will work closely with GIZ to identify the concerned and interested partners in the ITA and will identify two partners to benefit from the service. From there, the team will work with each partner to build an action plan to draw up the outline and set expectations for the assistance period. HI will work to deliver the package for each partner.

Context of the evaluation

2.1 Presentation of the project to be evaluated

Project title: Economic Inclusion – Strengthening the influence of Palestinian Refugees on their living conditions (GIZ)

Implementation dates: 1st September 2023 to 30th April 2025

Location/Areas of Intervention: Amman, Jerash, Specifically Wihdat and Jerash camps

Target Groups: Palestinian refugees living in Wihdat and Jerash including women and persons with disabilities. The project specifically targeted 72 participants from both camps 50% persons with disabilities and at least 50% women. In addition to 8 community facilitators who work as project agents to facilitate several activities within the project. Furthermore the project targets two local NGOs to improve their inclusion practices,

Project Budget: Total: 350 000 Euros

The goal of the project: Community members achieve improvement in living conditions through access to socioeconomic participation

Objectives and Activities:

Objective: Community members including persons with disabilities and women improve their social participation through economic inclusion activities.

Activity 1.1 Market assessment

• Conduct an initial market assessment around both target camps identifying the type of economic activities (including training opportunities and private sector actors) existing around the Jerash and Wehdat camps)
• Design the participatory approach to complement the market assessment with the active participation of community members themselves
• Complement the market assessment with the active participation of target beneficiaries (of the 1st cohort, after being trained in Life skills), identifying potential opportunities for apprenticeships, jobs/direct placements, or training.

Activity 1.2 Outreach, identification of participants (direct beneficiaries)

• Set up targeting criteria for participants (by 2 cohorts of 18 participants per camp, 50% persons with disabilities and 50% women).
• Organize a committee for the selection of 72 participants (based on applications and interviews of candidates, cycles of 2 cohorts of 18 per camp)

Activity 1.3 Life-skills training

• Create 2 groups per cohort (each group 18 people, in each target camp) to conduct the life-skills modules.
• Tailor the topics for the life-skills modules and adjust the necessary tools according to the participants (including one session dedicated to how to set your goal and design your individual action plan and one session for community service)
• Provide the groups with training using hybrid methods between digital and face-to-face.
• Implement 4 Zero-cost initiatives by the Life-skills training participants.

Activity 1.4 PSS group and individual sessions

• Facilitate Self-help Group sessions (with the same established groups as mentioned above) using a community-based psychosocial support approach to improve the social interaction of participants
• According to the needs, provide individual PSS sessions to participants

Activity 1.5 Action plans

• Enable participants to produce their individual action plan
• Provide individual support to participants to finalize their individual action plan

Expected Outcome 2: 72 Community members build assets towards the realization of their identified project

Activity 2.1 Training on Job seeking skills (4 groups of 18 participants for a total of 72 participants)

1. Develop training material
2. Provide the training to 4 groups of 18 participants (2 groups per camp)

Activity 2.2 Business skills training

1. Develop training material for the business skills training with a component for projects with a positive impact on the community
2. Provide the training to the 4 groups
3. Support participants in developing business proposals and presenting their project idea

Activity 2.3 Enroll participants in vocational training and/or on-the-job training

1. Identify vocational and on-the-job training opportunities aligned with the participants’ goals
2. Visit identified training centers and/or potential employers with participants
3. Enroll participants in the selected training
4. Conduct an accessibility assessment of the selected vocational training centers and employers and support them with reasonable light accommodation to be more inclusive

Activity 2.4 Selection of Group Projects which will receive financial support

1. Form a committee to evaluate the projects based on predetermined criteria and standards
2. Provide financial support to the selected group projects
3. Coach the selected groups to launch their business project with the support of the Technical Officer

Expected outcome 3: An enabling and accessible ecosystem is created

Activity 3.1 Selection and capacity building for community facilitators

1. Developed selection criteria for the community facilitators.
2. Selection process of the 8 Community facilitators from the target camps Capacity building of potential community facilitators on disability-related topics such as basic disability inclusion, accessibility, and the right of persons with disabilities (UNCRBD) apprenticeship opportunities Capacity building of the PSS community facilitators on the psychosocial topic related such as cognitive behavioral therapy, problem management plus, and protection,

Activity 3.2 Community facilitators connect participants to economic stakeholders

1. Organize group visits to vocational training centers
2. Connect participants’ interests and identified economic stakeholders with the support of the technical officers
3. Facilitate visits to potential employers
4. Contribute to the local opportunities database for each camp

Activity 3.3 Community facilitators organize information and awareness sessions for families of persons with disabilities

1. Organize information sessions for the families of participants on the right of persons with disabilities and Jordan disability law
2. refer those in need to the psychosocial services for those in need. Refer to the PSS if needed

Activity 3.4 Community facilitators organize PSS awareness sessions

1. Assess the need of the targeted community to understand better the barrier faced by women and men with disabilities that prevent them from accessing work. As a result;
2. Conduct awareness sessions for a specific topic related to the barriers persons with disabilities face within their communities

Activity 3.5 Two Dialogue sessions organized by community facilitators between participants and private sector companies

1. Identify private sector companies with an interest in including people with disabilities
2. Conduct two dialogue sessions to engage the participants with companies (Possible agenda, sharing experiences on employment for persons with disabilities, hiring practices, reasonable accommodation, areas of improvement, networking, etc.)

Expected Outcome 4: Disability inclusion Technical assistance to GIZ partners

Activity 4.1 Conduct an initial assessment

Activity 4.2 Draft a tailored action plan based on the assessment and recommendations

Activity 4.3 Support the implementation of the action plan with technical guidance

1) Provision of ad-hoc training to address the identified gaps and/or to build skills to implement inclusive practices;

2) Ongoing technical advice and coaching while implementing the recommended adaptations and inclusive practices.

2.2 Justification of the Evaluation

HI is planning to implement a final evaluation of the Economic Inclusion GIZ-funded project that serves several purposes, particularly in assessing and measuring the long-term effect (outcomes). The evaluation will capture critical lessons learned from the two years of pilot project implementation and produce recommendations that will be used to improve HI interventions in any future funded projects or potential new phases.

The evaluation will involve various stakeholders, including the beneficiaries, service providers, ministries, volunteers, the project team, and all relevant parties.

Objectives of the evaluation

1. Overall Objectives and Expectations of the Evaluation

The final evaluation aims to assess the Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability, and Impact of the project activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact. Furthermore, the evaluation aims to measure the impact on the beneficiaries and capture the lessons learned to be considered in any future interventions or phases.

3.2 Specific objectives

• Evaluate the project in terms of changes, relevancy, effectiveness, efficiency and accountability to affected population.
• Appraise how the Disability, Gender, and Age policy was integrated and mainstreamed into project cycle phases (initial assessment, design, inception, implementation, and completion).
• Measure the outcomes and objectives of the intervention and project in terms of achievements technical resources, and adaptation to project constraints and challenges
• Provide specific and meaningful recommendations and lessons learned for projects scale-up and replication in next phases based on the achieved results of the intervention.

3.3 Evaluation Criteria and evaluative questions

5 main evaluation criteria will be considered in the evaluation as follows:

1. Changes (Effects, Continuity, Empowerment)

• Does the project contribute to the empowerment of actors, target populations and services?
• Did the project anticipate, plan and formulate the continuity scenario so that the effects would continue after its end?

1. Relevance (Needs, Lessons learned)

• Has the project learned from experience throughout the project cycle?
• Has the project been adequately integrated with other interventions in the intervention area?

1. Effectiveness (Results, Adjustments, Technicality)

• Do the results obtained contribute to the achievement of the project objective?
• Is the monitoring of results regular and has it allowed the necessary adjustments to the project to achieve the objectives?

1. Efficiency (Skills and Optimization)

• To what extent have the resources (human, logistical, financial, technical) available enabled the project to achieve its objectives?
• To what extent were the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders clearly defined and adapted to their expertise?

1. Accountability (Participation, Expression, Information)

• To what extent has the project put in place mechanisms to involve populations?
• Were the mechanisms of feedback and complaints management inclusive regardless of gender, age or disability?

Evaluation methodology and organization of the mission

4.1 Collection Methodology

The proposed evaluation methodology will be based on qualitative data collection methods. Ensuring that the evaluation approach focuses on triangulation between Primary and secondary data sources and qualitative and quantitative data are expected to benefit the evaluation objectives and will include:

• Desk review to inform the successes, and the lessons learnt through the project, in addition to measuring the effectiveness of the intervention.
• Focus Groups Discussions with project participants

Key Informants Interviews with project staff, both camps community representatives , two NGO representatives and any other stakeholders suggested by the evaluator

• A success story for one of the awardees that received grant because of the intervention

4.2 Actors Involved in the Evaluation

• The Regional MEAL Manager, is the authorized person, who oversees the overall evaluation process and ensures the adherence to guidelines and procedures.
• Economic inclusion project manager, is the responsible person to ensure the evaluation process implementation.
• The steering committee of the evaluation which includes:

1. Deputy Country Manager
2. Regional Economic inclusion Specialist
3. EI Project Manager
4. Jordan Senior MEAL Officer
5. Logistics Manager

4.3 Organization of the Mission

• The Evaluation Steering Committee will be responsible for validating the proposed evaluation methodology after the closure of the selection process. In addition, the steering committee must approve the inception report and evaluation methodology prior to the commencement of any fieldwork or any other substantive work.
• The steering committee will be part of the kick-off meeting, presentation of results meeting, and closure of the evaluation.
• The final report shall be reviewed and validated by the steering committee before finalization and publishing

Principles and values

5.1. Protection and Anti-Corruption Policy

• Code of Conduct:

https://hi.org/sn_uploads/document/ID_CodeOfConduct.pdf

• Protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment:

https://hi.org/sn_uploads/document/PI03_HI_Protection-Beneficiaries_EN.pdf

• Child Protection Policy:

https://hi.org/sn_uploads/document/PI02_HI-Child-Protection_EN_1.pdf

• Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy:

https://hi.org/sn_uploads/document/PI04_IP_antiFraud-bribery-corruption-policy_1.pdf

• HI’s Quality Framework(on which all evaluators must base their evaluation):https://hinside.hi.org/intranet/upload/docs/application/pdf/2022-12/posterqualityframeworkhi_pqp_en.pdf
• The Disability – Gender – Age Policy(which must guide the approach and the construction of evaluation tools in the technical offer):

https://hi.org/sn_uploads/document/IP_DisabilityGenreAge_1.pdf

5.2. Ethical measures*

As part of each evaluation, HI is committed to upholding certain ethical measures. It is imperative that these measures are considered in the technical offer:

As part of each evaluation, HI is committed to upholding certain ethical measures. It is imperative that these measures are considered in the technical offer:

• Guarantee the safety of participants, partners and teams: the technical offer must specify the risk mitigation measures.
• Ensuring a person/community-centered approach: the technical offer must propose methods adapted to the needs of the target population (e.g. tools adapted for illiterate audiences / sign language / child-friendly materials, etc.).
• Obtain the free and informed consent of the participants: the technical proposal must explain how the evaluator will obtain the free and informed consent and/or assent of the participants.
• Ensure the security of personal and sensitive data throughout the activity: the technical offer must propose measures for the protection of personal data.

*These measures may be adapted during the completion of the inception report.

5.3. Participation of stakeholders and beneficiaries

Several stakeholders will be involved in the evaluation as follows:

1. Direct beneficiaries: Women, Men with and without disabilities
2. Community Facilitators Volunteers: Volunteers who are involved in the project through implementing the project’s activities at the community level.
3. Vocational Training centers
4. Partner Companies and firms
5. Directorate of Palestinian Affairs

5.4. Others

It is essential that the process of data collection, as well as storage of data, be supported by careful ethical practice, including informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality, do no harm, and protection of data and data storage. Informed consent needs to include awareness of the evaluation data collection process and that the evaluation report may be published and publicly disseminated. Extra precaution must be taken in involving project beneficiaries considering the sensitivity of the thematic issues tackled by this project. To protect the anonymity of communities, partners and stakeholders’ names or identifying features of evaluation participants (such as community position or role) will not be made public.

The evaluator should engage in respecting the following ethical principles:

• Child protection principles;
• Integrity (respect for gender sensitivity issues, especially when performing interviews/focus groups, religion, and beliefs);
• Anonymity and confidentiality;
• Independence and objectivity;
• Veracity of information;
• Coordination spirit;
• Intellectual property of information generated during and by the evaluation (including report and annexes) will be transferred to the evaluation commissioner;
• Quality of reporting;
• Respect for timelines, in case of late submission of the report, HI reserves the right to terminate the contract.
• Project Quality Policy and Project Quality Framework.

Expected deliverables and proposed schedule

6.1. Deliverables

• An inception report refining/specifying the proposed methodology for answering the evaluation questions and an action plan, illustrating target groups & samples sizes, data analysis plan, detailed field work plan and the evaluation evidence matrix – this inception report will have to be validated by the Steering Committee.
• A presentation document presenting the first results, conclusions, and recommendations, to be presented to the Steering Committee.
• A final report of maximum 25 – 30 pages in English (using HI final report template) excluding annexes and that includes the following sections:
• Table of contents.
• Abbreviations list
• Executive summary 3-4 pages (that can be used as a stand-alone document).
• Presentation of the intervention evaluated (about HI, evaluation objectives, activities deployed during intervention)
• Presentation of the evaluation (specific objectives, evaluation questions, methodology, limitations, etc.)
• Results (by evaluation criteria and evaluative question).
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Appendices: ToR, inception report, tools and guides/protocols, profiles/persons interviewed (cartography), bibliography, conflict of interest, photos, etc.
• PowerPoint presentation presenting the key findings and conclusion of the evaluation in English.
• A summary of 4 pages in English that can be used externally.
• Transcript of qualitative data collected (in English).
• Raw and analysed quantitative data

The final report should be integrated into the following template:

[*https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1luCtt__CVPDlBXpRY4CJiwsGZuXyYufY?usp=sharing*](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1luCtt__CVPDlBXpRY4CJiwsGZuXyYufY?usp=sharing*](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1luCtt__CVPDlBXpRY4CJiwsGZuXyYufY?usp=sharing))

6.2. End-of-Evaluation Questionnaire

An end-of-evaluation questionnaire will be given to the evaluator and must be completed by him/her, a member of the Steering Committee, and the person in charge of the evaluation.

6.3. Evaluation dates and schedule

Maximum mission duration*: 30 working days (approximately 50 calendar days)***

It is expected that the evaluation process will take around 2 months for the period 1st of March to the 27th of April. A detailed action plan will be submitted as part of the inception report. The draft final report shall be shared from the evaluator by 13th of April and will be reviewed from HI steering committee by the 20th of April 2025, and the final validated report shall be finalized by the 27th of April 2025 including all other expected deliverables.

Means

1. Expertise sought from the consultant(s)

The evaluation expert (or team of experts) who will undertake this assignment should have the following skills, experience and knowledge:

• Academic background in Economics, Disability, Social Sciences and/or developmental studies with a minimum of a Master’s Degree in the relevant field.
• Solid experience in project evaluation and related methodologies
• Demonstrated Experience in conducting participatory (qualitative and quantitative) evaluation techniques.
• A broad experience in all aspects of project cycle management.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, in general, is an asset.
• Practical knowledge of rights-based approaches and Inclusion.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English
• Speaking skills in Arabic within the evaluation team
• Experience in project evaluation and related methodologies with GIZ-funded projects is a plus

Qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply!

The consultancy team/firm must be available for the implementation of this evaluation, with no or limited other assignments currently ongoing with them.

The scoring of applications will be based on Consultancy Team Experience (20%), Technical Offer (50%) and Financial Offer (30%).

1. Budget allocated to the evaluation

The overall cost of the evaluation including transport costs (international and local), logistics costs, accommodation, and translation costs; with proposals for payment modalities shall be submitted by the evaluator with a detailed budget.

Caution: Please note that the last payment is conditional on the validation of the final report and not on the sending of the final report. By validation, we mean validation of the quality and under no circumstances of the appreciation of the project evaluated.

7.3. Available resources made available to the evaluation team

Document and resource of information:

• Project proposal and logical framework
• Monitoring Box, (PM Box) which includes all project activities within the timeframe. In addition, human recourse involved
• Memorandums of understanding and letters of Agreement.
• Quarterly and final Donor Reports
• MEAL Plan (including MEAL matrix, calendar, and narrative plan).
• HI Operational and monitoring tools, including; Technical Assessments, training reports, pictures, attendance sheets, lessons learned reports, and outcome monitoring reports.
• Evaluation Pack

Submission of applications

Bids from interested individual consultants or firms should include:

– A detailed technical offer that includes the methodology and evaluation plan.

– A detailed financial offer that covers all anticipated costs (withholding tax, travel, accommodation, transportation, insurance, translation, venue, etc.) in EUR or JOD. Hence that HI will cover any transportation allowance for participants of qualitative data collection including venue rental and refreshments.

– A Resume (list of Resumes) detailing relevant skills and experience of the consultant and her/his team of no more than 3 pages each, including contactable referees. In case of a team of experts, the Team Leader must be identified.

– A minimum of two samples of a relevant previous evaluation, preferably for an international donor-funded project in a similar area or context.

– Consultant’s registration certificate (only for companies)

– Evidence that the applicant taxes duties has been paid (only for companies located in Jordan).

– If the lead consultant is planning to recruit national consultants in Jordan to support, please state this and provide details (costs, expertise required)

Note: Humanity & Inclusion reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest or the highest bidder.

Bids must be sent by email to this address: tenders@jordan.hi.org. Please put “Consultancy for final Economic Inclusion funded by GIZ project evaluation – [name of consultant]” in the subject line.

Deadline for submission of applications: Saturday, February 15th, 2025

Applications submitted after the deadline (day or hour) will not be considered.

Selected consultants will be invited for an interview.

Also, candidates who only submit resumes without technical and financial offers will not be considered.

Humanity & Inclusion is committed to protecting the rights of children and opposes all forms of child exploitation and child abuse. HI, contractors must commit to protecting children against exploitation and abuse.