MID TERM REVIEW OF YGLOBAL’S PROJECT ‘GLO-3778 QZA-20/0112: TOGETHER BUILDING GLOBAL JUSTICE AND PEACE’

INTRODUCTION

This Terms of Reference (ToR) provides the framework for the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Norad-funded Program titled ‘Together building global justice and peace’ (Agreement number GLO-3778 QZA-20/0112). The Program was initiated in April 2020 and is due to end in December 2023. This MTR is taking place after 21 months of implementation.

SCOPE OF MTR

The MTR is being undertaken as part of the contract agreement with Norad signed in April 2020 (clause 9.1 in the Norad agreement). It will assess programmatic progress and challenges at the outcome level, with measurement of the output level achievements and gaps and how/to what extent these have affected outcome-level progress in accordance with the approved results framework. A major focus will be on youth participation and engagement at policy level. Another emphasis will be on contribution of the program results towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as program adaptability to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MTR will document results achieved in Tanzania. It will contribute to results-based management through a participatory approach that documents results achieved, challenges to progress, and contributions to the creation of a more conducive environment for addressing needs of the target groups. The MTR will be commissioned to an external consultant with support from YGlobal and its partner in Tanzania.

MTR OBJECTIVES

The MTR will mainly focus on Relevance (including youth participation and SDGs) as well as Effectiveness of the program implementation during April 2020 to December 2021 and will assess such delivery at the output and outcome levels, taking into account factors both internal and external to the project’s performance. The MTR team will:

• Analyze the relevance of the programmatic strategy and approaches, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
• Determine if the Program is on track to achieve anticipated outcomes. This will be done based on the changes and adaptations in relation to the COVID-19 related implications.
• Analyze the engagement of young people in local, national and international policy advocacy, with an emphasis on analyzing youth empowerment.
• Based on the performance of the Program to date and the current socio-political and economic as well as COVID-19 context, document lessons learned and recommend any necessary mid-term adjustments needed to meet expected and realistic project outcomes and impact and enhance sustainability. Moreover, also make recommendations for future programming.

SUBJECT OF THE REVIEW

The overall goal of the Program is to empower youth to actively participate in promoting justice and peace towards ending poverty. The Program focuses on four interconnected thematic areas that strengthen and complement each other and are also aligned with the UNSDGs: Gender Equality, Climate Action, Justice and Peace and Reduced Inequalities. Each thematic area has long-, medium- and short-term outcomes, which are also referred to macro (policy level), meso (community level) and micro (individual/household level) levels.

Impact: Empowered youth actively participate in building justice and peace

Macro: Youth are engaged in policy advocacy and decision making

Meso: Youth create change in the community

Micro: Youth have coping mechanisms to address individual and social challenges

Budget per year (approximate): 8.8 million NOK

Brief information about the partners in focus:

YGlobal (KFUK-KFUM Global) is a youth focused development and solidarity organization closely connected to its two owner-organizations, KFUK-KFUM Norge and KFUK-KFUM Scouts. YGlobal consists of a highly qualified and multinational staff of about 17, mainly young staff. The staff has extensive experience working with and for youth in advocating for and realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, YGlobal has expertise in financial and results-based management, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.

YGlobal’s funding comes from Norad, Norec, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BUFDIR, Operasjon Dagsverk and through own fundraising, and currently collaborates with partners in Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Madagascar, and South Africa. YGlobal is closely connected with the global YWCA/YMCA-networks, which are found in over 140 countries and reach about 70 million children, youth and women across the globe. Most of YGlobal’s work abroad is through local YMCAs or YWCAs.

Youth Peacemaker Tanzania: YPM is a youth-oriented organization, which provides space for interreligious, intergenerational, international, and interracial platforms to all members in its areas of work. The organization empowers youth in building strong communities that can stand for peace and justice by demanding basic social rights for fighting poverty in Tanzania. Since its inception in 2014, YGlobal has worked in close partnership with YPM on thematic areas of: Economic justice with an emphasis on forming saving and investment groups, social audits, business development and entrepreneurship; Democratic Rights focusing on Subject to Citizen (S2C) as a tool for empowering youth to gear advocacy campaigns as well as for engaging them in policy advocacy and decision making; and Environmental Protection and Climate Change stressing on creating climate clubs, tree plantation, encouraging green businesses and raising youth concerns in both local and international platforms on the topic.

Intended users and uses of the evaluation:

The partners in this program are the main user of this review, for documentation of results and for learning for further program development. Norad and other Norad partners can also be users of the evaluation. Other donors may also find the MTR useful, such as Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. YGlobal will use the lessons learnt and recommendations made in the MTR report to draft its future applications to Norad and other donors.

Approach and Methodology

A variety of methods will be used in the MTR. The MTR will consist of a desk review, visit to the program locations, in-depth interviews with partner’s staff, and in-depth interviews with their respective key stakeholders and participants (particularly young people).

Travel restrictions and other COVID-19 restrictions may limit the possibility of travelling. Under such circumstances, alternative ways of performing the evaluation will be sought, such as doing data collection and interviews using digital communication technology or using a network of consultants.

Mid Term Review Consultancy Budget

Interested applicants must put together a cost-efficient budget which reflects realistic costs, including consultancy fees, possible travel costs and other costs related to the elaboration of the report. The estimated budget for MTR in Tanzania is 40,000 NOK.

Profile of the MTR consultant / review team

Requirements:

• The reviewer(s) should have extensive and proven experience in carrying out evaluations of international development projects, programs and organizations including with a strong focus on participatory methods. If the evaluation is performed by a team, the team should have one team leader who holds the overall responsibility and is main point of contact.
• The reviewer(s) should have background in relevant fields, such as social science, international relations, human rights, psychosocial support, etc, and hold university degrees.
• Excellent analysis (both qualitative and quantitative) and report writing skills.
• Genuine understanding of civil society engagement, organizational development and advocacy.
• Good knowledge and experience on the UNSDGs, particularly on these thematic areas: gender equality, climate action, reduced inequalities, justice and peace and inclusion.
• Good knowledge of and experience from the region.
• The MTR report will be a source of learning for the partners. The reviewer(s) should have experience with this type of communication.
• Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to YGlobal’s principles and ethical guidelines.

The roles and responsibilities of YGlobal and partner organizations in facilitating the evaluation

YGlobal will make resources and documents available for the evaluation team:

• Project descriptions (program application 2020-2023 including results framework and budgets, contract agreement between YGlobal and Norad as well as any other documents shared with Norad)
• Mid Term Review Report 2018
• Annual reports from YGlobal to Norad
• Strategy of KFUK-KFUM Global 2020-2024
• Strategy documents of partner organizations
• Partner agreement contracts 2020 and 2021
• Contact information for relevant persons in YGlobal and the other partner organizations

The focused partner organizations will be available for interviews and will provide contact information for relevant stakeholders: program youth participants, staff and volunteers. Other written material relevant to the program may also be provided by the partners. The MTR budget is part of Norad’s funding allocated for program follow up and M&E.

Deliverables/Reporting and dissemination requirements

Inception Report containing summary of understanding of the project with reference to initial information and research collected, a detailed work plan, final methodology with proposed review tools/instruments, limitations if any, responsible persons and timeframes.

Draft MTR Report with initial findings and recommendations.

Final MTR Report should not be longer than 15 pages (excluding the appendices, TOC and executive summary) and should incorporate the following:

1. Table of contents.
2. An executive summary that can be used as a document in its own right. It should include the major findings and summarizes conclusions and recommendations.
3. The objectives of the review.
4. The main research questions and derived sub-questions.
5. A justification of the methods and techniques used and any bias or limitations of the review.
6. A presentation of the findings and the analysis thereof, clearly indicating the evidence base and giving concrete examples of qualitative findings.
7. Discussion of the findings and conclusions, which will analyse the various research questions.
8. Recommendations should be clearly related to conclusions but presented separately.
9. Recommendations should be practical and, if relevant, divided up for various actors and stakeholders.
10. Report appendices should include: ToR, technique used (list of questions, methodology, sampling approach, etc.), list of abbreviations, list of documents and bibliography, composition of evaluation team (if there is a team).

Proposed timeline

Bids submission information

Interested applicants must send a proposal for undertaking the evaluation to YGlobal, Grants Coordinator, Sadaf Wali Shah at sadaf@yglobal.no by 28^th November 2021. Any questions can also be directed at this email address.

The application should contain:

• Profile of the lead consultant(s) with traceable references and copies of/links to CVs and previous writing and published materials.
• A layout and a breakdown of how the consultant(s) understand and plan carry out the assignment.
• Professional fee quotation indicating envisaged actions, the requested fee for the work in the job description.
• Motivation letter.