Country Evaluator

Global Partnership Project for Children and Youth Participation in Peacebuilding

 Terms of Reference – Country Evaluator

 Background

A Global Partnership to support Children and Youth Participation in Peacebuilding involving Save the Children, Search for Common Ground, World Vision, PATRIR and the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) is supporting a multi-country evaluation of children and youth participation in peace building. In Nepal a Country Partnership to Support Children and Youth Participation in Peacebuilding are launching the call for a Country Evaluator in implementing a comprehensive participatory evaluation of peacebuilding projects and programmes done with and for children and youth in Nepal.

 A steering committee has been formed consisting of representatives from Save the Children, Search for Common Ground,  World Vision Nepal, Alliance for Peace, Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal, and Youth Network for Peace and Development Mahotarri. Search for Common Ground Nepal will be the secretariat in implementing the project in Nepal.

 Summary of Position

Under the supervision of the steering committee, the evaluator will be played the leading role for the designing, implementing and reporting process of the project. To enable the evaluation to be carried out, the Country Evaluator will support the formation and work of Local Evaluation Teams involving children, youth and adults.  The Country Evaluator and Evaluation Team (s) will be supported by: the Country Partnership Steering Team and Advisory Team; a Global Lead Evaluator; and a global project manager (based in Save the Children Norway Oslo office). The position will be based in Kathmandu and will include frequent travel to the field. The position will start in 1st week of November 2014 and she/he will be appointed for eight months (with a 1-month probation period). S/he will report to the Global Lead Evaluator and Steering Team, and work closely with the steering committee’s members and local partner(s).

 General Goals of the Evaluation

The goals of the evaluation include:

â—     Map and evaluate what is being done on children, youth and peacebuilding in Nepal

â—     Systematically assess impact and effectiveness of peacebuilding programmes and projects working with children and youth affected by war or violent conflict

â—     Systematically and rigorously assess the impact and effectiveness of child and youth participation in peacebuilding : What is working and not working? How and why it’s working or not working and by what criteria (design, structures, processes, etc.)?

â—     Make visible how children and youth see their role and priorities in peacebuilding 

â—     Identify and assess support given by adults and adult institutions to children and youth engaged in peacebuilding processes

â—     Present child and youth peacebuilding recommendations to decision-makers and civil society for increased  recognition of and support to children and youth’s continued and improved participation in peacebuilding;  identify lessons learnt that can improve quality of work as well as identify concrete measures and practical steps for children and youth participation in peace processes and peacebuilding. This may include making visible and making sense of achievements, gaps, challenges, difficulties and “keys” for child/youth peacebuilding efforts to increase peacebuilding impact.

 Methodology and Scope:

The methodology of the evaluation is being designed and supported by two Global Lead Evaluators who will support Country Evaluators. The evaluation places emphasis on an inclusive, participatory and action oriented evaluation process engaging with children and youth (as well as other key stakeholders) as evaluators, advisers, respondents, documenters, and advocates.

 Depending on the geographic scope a Country Evaluation Team,  2-4 local Evaluation Teams may be formed in key geographic locations within the country. The Local Evaluation Team will include the Country Evaluator, child and youth representatives (male and female) with existing expertise in peacebuilding work, as well as adult supporters from key agencies.

 The evaluation includes both quantitative and qualitative methods including: an online mapping of child and youth peacebuilding initiatives; exploratory user friendly participatory evaluation tools to explore the rationale, scope, quality, outcomes, impact, and connectivity of child and youth peacebuilding initiatives; as well as more detailed documentation and analysis of good practice case studies.

 The Country Evaluator will collect, store and analyse data from the following sources:

â—        Existing publications, organizational reports and reviews

â—        Formal and Informal children and youth groups

â—        Staff and volunteers of peacebuilding NGOs working with children and youth

â—        Representative of Governments and other national and sub-national institutions, including social and religious institutions

â—        National research institutions covering issues related to children, youth, violence and conflict

â—        Parents, caregivers, community and religious elders

The evaluation will not only include the networks and programs of the core partners of the study, but will include the field as a whole in the focal countries - thus including other local and national stakeholders in the field of peacebuilding.

 Role of the Country Evaluator:

The Country Evaluator is responsible for informing, adapting and implementing the participatory evaluation process supporting meaningful participation of children and youth as evaluators, advisers, respondents, documenters, and advocates.  Guidance for the methodology (process, methods, tools and ethics) will be provided by the Global Lead Evaluators. A Lead Evaluator will work closely with the Country Evaluator through virtual Skype calls, emails, and through direct work during an initial capacity building (listening and learning) workshop, and a later country data analysis and reflection workshop.

 The Country Evaluator specifically will:

â—        Communicate regularly with the Local Evaluation Team members, Country Partnership steering group members, Advisory Team members, the Global Lead Evaluator(s) and the 3M global project manager to support inclusive, ethical and quality implementation of the 3M participatory evaluation.

â—        Undertake desk based secondary data analysis of existing evaluations, research and studies concerning children and youth participation in peacebuilding in their country

â—        Inform and shape the design and implementation of the methodology in a manner which is most relevant to children, youth and agencies who are part of the Country Partnership Steering Team in Nepal

â—        Regularly participate in Country Partnership Steering Team meetings.

â—        Support the formation of Local Evaluation Teams involving child and youth representatives and supportive adults who can undertake data collection, analysis, documentation and reporting.

â—        Support capacity building and ongoing mentoring of the Local Evaluation Teams, including preparations for and implementation of a national capacity building (listening and learning) workshop.

â—        Support the formation and meetings of national/ local Advisory Teams (for example including government officials, religious or community elders, NGO or peace alliance representatives etc.) to provide technical advice and support to the Local Evaluation Teams.

â—        Support the development and implementation of an online mapping of child and youth participation in peacebuilding initiatives in the country.

â—        Support inclusive, safe and ethical participation of children and youth throughout all stages of data collection, data storage, coding, analysis, documentation, reporting and advocacy. Initial exploratory local evaluation activities for data collection and analysis may include: outreach activities and local workshops using participatory evaluation tools (time line; body mapping; child/youth in context mapping; venn diagram; stories of most significant change and challenge; focus group discussions; interviews; Reflecting Peace Practice approaches and other relevant participatory evaluation tools).

â—        Ensure quality data collection (using child/ user friendly participatory evaluation tools, interviews, focus group discussions, observation and online mapping tools), documentation, data storage, coding, analysis and reporting.

â—        Ensure that the ethical guidelines are followed throughout the evaluation process.

â—        Participate in regular Skype calls with the Lead Evaluator

â—        Facilitate ongoing follow-up with children and youth groups and initiatives to enhance dialogue, sharing, learning, knowledge, skills and action planning during the evaluation.

â—        Identify and support more detailed documentation and evaluation of 4-6 in-depth case studies.More in-depth analysis will focus on the “most effective” child/ youth participation initiatives and more in-depth analysis of quality, effectiveness and impact of the child and youth participation in PB initiatives through interviews, FGDs, pots and stones, Stories of most significant change.

â—        Prepare a draft report of key data from evaluation findings prior to the Country data analysis and reflection workshop

â—        Collaborate with the Lead Evaluator to support preparations for and implementation of the Country Data Analysis and Reflection Workshop involving child and youth evaluators, members of the Country Partnership Steering Team and other key stakeholders.

â—        Support children and youth efforts to document and disseminate their own views, experiences, lessons learnt and recommendations through creative use of the media and support for child/ youth led media initiatives.

â—        Take the lead in preparing the country evaluation report and in-depth case studies.

 Deliverables:

The following deliverables are expected:

â—        A workplan for implementing the comprehensive participatory evaluation of children and youth peacebuilding programmes in Nepal

â—        Country mappings of children and youth peacebuilding programmes in Nepal

â—        4 day national capacity building (listening and learning) workshop for the Evaluation Team

â—        5 day country data analysis and reflection workshop to analyse data, reflect on key findings and develop recommendations

â—        Reports:

â—        A preliminary summary of key data prepared by the country evaluator before the reflection workshop

â—        A substantial and  rigorous country evaluation final report including 4-6 in-depth case studies from Nepal

 Criteria for Selection

The Country Evaluator is expected to be a strong professional, familiar with children and youth participation work as well with a strong understanding of the peacebuilding field and to have expertise and 3-5 years of experience in the following areas:

â—        Evaluating programs on Children, Youth and Peacebuilding and/or international development

â—        Child and youth participation and protection

â—        Proven ability to write in a systematic, technical and articulate manner in National/ local language (Essential) and in English (very desirable). 

â—        Strong communication and facilitation skills

â—        Demonstrated knowledge of the socio-political, economic, cultural context

â—        Experience in multi-stakeholder project and team management, and in particular, partnering with local counterparts in conflict contexts

â—        Demonstrated ability to work, respect and adapt to diverse environments

â—        Willingness and ability to undertake regular travel in-country to engage in participatory outreach evaluation activities with the local Evaluation Teams, child and youth groups in field locations.

â—        At least Master’s degree in relevant discipline

â—        Ability to understand English and to speak in English

Preferred capacities:

1.       Working with child and/or youth-led processes that emphasise child youth empowerment

2.       Designing and implementing multi-agency evaluation projects

To Apply, please send:

1.       Cover letter

2.       CV

3.       Filled application form – to be attached with CV

Application process:

Please send cover letter, CV and a writing sample to sfcgnepal@sfcg.org before October 31, 2014. The cover letter must address how your experience and qualifications fits the requirements; state your expected salary and available start date. Please mention the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Application form can be downloaded from:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2dR9B--JwySY1VsLUtjN2NhU1E/view?usp=sharing