Mid-Term External Evaluation

Call for Application

The Centre for Human Rights-Addis Ababa University (CHR-AAU) invites you to apply for the task of conducting a midterm evaluation for the second phase of its project titled ‘Support to Human Rights Teaching, Research and Community Engagement of Center for Human Rights (CHR-STRACE II)’ which spans from January 2023 to December 2025.

The application process is competitive and suitable candidates shall be sourced through an open call and chosen based on the requirements listed in the Terms of Reference for the professional service.
Applicants shall submit their technical and financial proposals with their Application letter and CVs, with 10 working days from this post. Submissions should be made to the Center via :(centerforhumanrights@aau.edu.et) with the subject line “Consultant Mid-term Evaluation”. Any enquiries regarding the assignment should be sent to the same email address. 
 

Background 

The Center for Human Rights of Addis Ababa University (CHR-AAU) is currently implementing the second phase of its project: Support Human Rights Teaching, Research, and Community Engagement (STRACE II). In addition to its academic programs and extensive research endeavors, CHR-AAU collaborates on projects with relevant stakeholders focusing on initiatives that promote human rights.

The ongoing project, STRACE II, spans from January 2023 to December 2025 and is financially supported by the embassy of Sweden. It built and expanded upon a previous project that ran from November 2017 to December 2022 with the overarching goal of strengthening CHR-AAU's capacity to realize its mission to institutionalize a human rights culture through Multidisciplinary Human Rights Teaching and Training; Research, Policy, and Practice Collaboration and Diffusion; and Community Based Human Rights Promotion and Protection. The sub-components of the project target the promotion and protection of human rights particularly focusing on five vulnerable groups of people: women, children, persons with disabilities, workers, and migrants.

To achieve the targeted outcomes set for under each subproject and the overarching goals of the STRACE II project, a structured approach to monitoring and evaluation is essential. This involves assessing results, leveraging lessons learned, and aligning activities with the project's objectives and anticipated outcomes. A key component of this strategy is the midterm evaluation designed by the Center. This evaluation serves as a critical tool to assess the project's progress toward its objectives. It provides an opportunity to analyze the effectiveness of the implementation, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that the project remains on track to achieve its goals.

Purpose of the Mid-Term Evaluation

The objective of the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) is to comprehensively assess the Center's progress in implementing the project's activities. The evaluation aims to determine whether the project is on track to meet its objectives and to evaluate the adequacy of interventions in achieving the desired results. Additionally, the MTE will identify any barriers hindering the achievement of results, objectives, and activities. It will also provide recommendations to enhance the project's effectiveness for the remainder of the program period. If necessary, the evaluation will suggest adjustments to the results framework and approved plans to ensure the project's success.

Scope of the Mid-Term Evaluation

The Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) will assess the activities of the STRACE II Project implemented across the five project areas: Addis Ababa, Adama, Ambo, Debrebirhan, and Hawassa project areas of CHR within the timeframe of January, 2023 to July, 2024. The evaluation will be guided by the indicative questions presented below and will generate corresponding findings and recommendations aimed at improving project implementation and guiding future strategic planning of the Center.

The evaluation will focus primarily on the following aspects, with the indicative evaluative questions to be further refined during the inception phase:

Relevance:

• To what extent are the project’s activities and outputs aligned with the Center for Human Rights (CHR) institutional mandate as stated in the project document?

• To what extent are project activities and outputs aligned with the needs and demands of key stakeholders and target groups across the project Areas: Addis Ababa, Adama, Ambo, Debre birhan, and Hawassa?

Effectiveness:

• Assess results and progress in the light of the stated objectives. Based on the project monitoring data and field observations, assess the indications that demonstrate the extent to which target groups have been empowered and the extent to which the various approaches and strategies have been successful. The gender dimension shall be given special attention.

Efficiency:

• Efficiency of the overall management of the project with regards to decision-making, leadership, adaptations, follow-up etc. 

• How efficient the project has been in converting its inputs (funds, expertise, time etc.) to outputs and outcomes? 

• How efficient is the monitoring to measure results and impact in the project? 

• Adequacy of human resources for project implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and learning. 

Sustainability:

• Assess the systems (including knowledge and capacity management systems) that have been put in place to ensure the sustainability of the project. 

• What are the prospects for diversified funding resources? 

• Assess the adequacy of exit strategies and advice on the content if exit strategies are non-existing.

• What are the main challenges in safeguarding the sustainability of the project?

• To what extent have national authorities/stakeholders/beneficiaries been involved in the design, planning, and implementation phases of the project, and to what extent have they gained a sense of ownership of the interventions?

• Assess the extent to which the project has built sustainable capacities and systems within the target groups and stakeholders.

• Identify any risks to the sustainability of project outcomes and suggest strategies to mitigate these risks.

  Methodology

• The suggested methodology will include:

• An in-depth desk study analysis and mapping of all relevant materials and resources.

• Questionnaires and surveys addressed as appropriate to groups of stakeholders at various levels.

• Semi-structured interviews focus group discussions and meetings with Project officers, and relevant stakeholders at CHR HQ and respective project areas, donor representatives, and with various stakeholders, such as implementation partners and beneficiaries.

• Field visits to meet with the local stakeholders, beneficiaries, and partners involved in the implementation of the projects, including interviews with direct beneficiaries, and to determine the relevance and effectiveness on the ground.

   

  For more and detailed information please rifer the following link to confirm

   

   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s8q_E3EKLxRHlwxH7vvsYSEcRMhjgdN5/edit

Required Skills and Experience

• The Midterm Evaluation will be undertaken by a national consulting team/firm with sound experience in reviewing human rights-related projects. 
• The team/Firm must consist of consultants with the following qualification and field of expertise: 
• A combination of interdisciplinary consultant including a minimum of  Master’s Degree in Law, Human Rights or another relevant field and minimum of  7 years of relevant work experience. 

• Experience in conducting project evaluation and review preferably in a human rights promotion and protection projects.

•  Demonstrable knowledgeable of human rights, gender and minority issues;

• Knowledge of the local languages of the project areas is a plus 

• Prior engagement with the Center in conducting research is a plus

• Excellent written and spoken English. 

How To Apply

Application Instruction

Interested and qualified applicants are invited to send their letter of application, CV, a draft technical proposal for the process of conducting midterm evaluation, and detailed financial proposal, to  centerforhumanrightsaau@gmail.com no later than 19th July 2024, with the subject “Consultant: Mid Term Evaluation”