Jordan: Evaluation of "Promoting Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding Program through Economic Empowerment and Civic Engagement for Syrian Refugees and Jordanian

REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE

Evaluation of“Promoting Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding Program through Economic Empowerment and Civic Engagement for Syrian Refugees and Jordanian Women in Jordan” **

1.Background and Purpose

Implemented by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) since 2017 and funded by Bread for the World (BftW), the Promoting Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding through Economic Empowerment and Civic Engagement for Syrian Refugees and Jordanian Women in Jordan - Pilot Project aims to engage Jordanian women together with Syrian refugee women aged 20-45 and priority will be given to widows with orphaned children and young divorced women in both communities. The program is multi-pronged and is using livelihood training as an entry point to support broader peacebuilding and cohesion goals. AFSC has identified two small, local, and reputable Jordanian organizations – Orphans and Widows Society in Mafraq and Erhaba Charitable Society in Irbid- located in geographical areas severely impacted by the crisis and recognized for their past and current involvement with the Syrian refugee crisis.

Our approach to this pilot project is to introduce a safe space for Syrian refugee and Jordanian women to dialogue and work through issues they may have in common while learning peacebuilding, civic engagement and other skills to address these issues within their communities together. These collaborative activities between women from both Jordanian and Syrian refugee groups will encourage and promote social cohesion in their communities.

In this project 360 women participated in the programme; 180 of them were Syrian refugees and 180 were Jordanians. All participants attended 5 cycles of trainings over the course of fifteen months. Each training cycle included a total of 72 participants (36 in Irbid and 36 in Mafraq). The content of a training cycle included three different vocational trainings: cooking, sewing and hair dressing in each of the three-month cycles AFSC partners provide five different social cohesion trainings in addition to the livelihood trainings; These were (Dialogue, Peace building, Conflict analysis, identity and civic engagement) as tools to enhance the social cohesion between the two communities while attending the livelihoods trainings. At the end of each training participants were provided with a small tool kits to start their home-based business and/or joint projects.

The**Theory of Change**is as follows: IF Jordanian and Syrian women confront negative preconceived notions about each other and the communities they represent, while finding common ground on issues that they care about and obtain the necessary tools to civically engage THEN they will be better dispositioned, equipped and prepared to intervene in collective challenges and reduce tensions when they arise in their communities BECAUSE the relationships they foster through understanding and collaboration will create a shared sense of responsibility towards building a more peaceful community.

The project objectives are:

· Jordanian and Syrian refugee women promote conflict resolution.

· Syrian refugee and Jordanian women of selected communities in Mafraq and Irbid contribute to the financial income of their families.

The primary objective of the requested evaluationis to evaluate an ongoing pilot project in order to measure the project outputs, direct outcomes, impact on direct and indirect beneficiaries. In order to find out if it achieved the ultimate goal and the overall objectives of the project, also to establish a reference point from which we can design phase two of the project. By conducting the evaluation, we can measure our progress and have a starting value for indicators and intended results. Findings from the evaluation may also influence any needed adjustments in terms of approaches and strategies in the future projects.

The results of the evaluation will be used to design a new phase of the project taking into consideration the current project components, the evaluation outputs and the community needs. AFSC will share the

evaluation result with the funder (BFTW), then AFSC and based on the evaluation results will design a new project (a second phase) of the current pilot project while factoring in adjustments to the project design and theory of change based on the evaluation recommendations and the lessons learned.

By the time we start this project evaluation AFSC would have achieved more than 60% of the project activities and training cycles which will allow the measurement of the project impact up to this milestone. After that AFSC will put forward a project design that is informed by the evaluation outcomes.

2.Requirements *(see attached Terms of Reference)*

3.ScopeofWork

The evaluator will work with AFSC staff, particularly Iyad Alrashdan (Program Manager) to complete the evaluation. Deliverables include a draft report and a full written report, including annexes, as detailed in the Terms of Reference.

AFSC staff and partners will use the report as a basis for learning, planning, and prioritization of activities, approaches, and strategies of the next project cycle. The evaluation will involve literature review of pertinent program reports and external sources. Program partners and key informants will be involved throughout the evaluation process through individual meetings and focus group discussions. The evaluators will try to ensure that the process provides learning opportunities for AFSC staff and partners. Focus group and individual discussions with partners will use a guided open question format designed to allow maximum opportunity for discussion of different viewpoints.

The evaluator will meet with AFSC staff to present the review design; an outline and timeline of how the program will be evaluated; the evaluation/review matrix, and finalize a timeline for completion of the review. A final evaluation report, which includes an executive summary and pertinent annexes, and which takes into account AFSC staff and partner feedback, must be completed by February 16, 2019.

4.ProposalSubmission Requirements

All proposals must be received by close of business on Dec. 31st , 2018. Proposals received after this time will not be given primary consideration. A cover letter and proposal with budget and timeline should be emailed to ialrashdan@afsc.org as an Adobe PDF file. All other formats will not be considered. Proposals should be no more than five pages in length and should include the complete scope of work and deliverables including the following sections:

a.Organization/EvaluatorBackground

Include the organization and/or individual’s name. Describe the general nature of work and the name of the reviewer that will be conducting the work. Describe any International peacebuilding and development experience, education, skills, and languages. Proposals must include three examples of related work completed and contact information for the organizations served. **

b.Statement ofProposed Work**

State in succinct terms an understanding of the work to be completed. Describe the methodologies proposed to complete the evaluation and a final report including a timetable for completion of specific tasks, the personnel needed to complete tasks, and expectations for support and assistance from AFSC. Describe the work plan for the review. Proposal may also include other activities deemed necessary by the evaluators and specified within the work plan.

While the evaluators are expected to work independently, AFSC staff will assist in facilitating access to evaluation participants, documents, and solving problems and concerns that may develop throughout the course of the review. AFSC staff could help arrange transport and accommodation as needed and with prior approval of the Program Manager.

c.Budget andDeliverables

Provide a detailed budget as well as a description of the specific deliverables that will be submitted and expected schedule of compensation. Total cost should not exceed JOD 4500.

d.Evaluation Schedule

The proposal should include a set of dates available to the evaluator and a preferred timetable taking into consideration that the final report must be completed by February 16^th2019.

e. Additional InformationandComments

Include any other information deemed important, but not specifically required elsewhere.

5.ProposalEvaluation Procedures

After having received the responses to the RFP, the Program Manager and Senior Program Officer will decide on the consultant based on an appropriate selection process in consultation with the DEP Committee.

A signed agreement should be processed with the selected consultant and in accordance with AFSC vendor practices. The will manage the consultant agreement.

6.Profile of the Evaluator

· Fluency in English and Arabic

· Demonstrated technical expertise in livelihoods, social cohesion and civil society.

· More than five years’ experience working in peacebuilding and social cohesion, preferably in Jordan or in the Middle East.

· Deep understanding of the Middle East regional context.

· Solid methodological, research, data collection and analytical skills in developing world or conflict context.

· Strong analytical and facilitation skills.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills in both Arabic and English, specifically ability to write clearly and concisely in English.

· Excellent listening and discernment skills

· Proven experience in evaluating social cohesion, peacebuilding, social justice, livelihoods and/or alternative economies programs.

Interested applicants to submit their questions and TORs request to Iyad Alrahsdan at ialrashdan@afsc.org by December 20^th, 2018. Inquiries by email are preferred; telephone calls can be arranged via email as necessary.