Independent Evaluation Consultant for the Project “Capitalizing on the Human Dimension Mandate to Advance Gender Equality (CHANGE)” (SSA)

Background:

ODIHR is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law.

In 2021, ODIHR began activities under the project “Capitalizing on the Human Dimension Mandate to Advance Gender Equality (CHANGE)” to strengthen the individual and collective impact on democratic institutions, policies and social norms to advance gender equality, women’s human rights and women’s safety. Recognizing that the desired change in advancing gender equality requires a transformative and multi-pronged approach, this project integrates various elements from across ODIHR’s mandate, which includes addressing the need to strengthen the evidence base to learn what types of strategies work in which context, and to apply this knowledge to overcome barriers to progress in gender equality.

Through the exchange of good practices and guidance, knowledge sharing and capacity building for advancing women’s representation and influence within the project, ODIHR supports its human dimension mandate to advance gender equality and engage with democratic institutions, state institutions working in the area of gender-based hate crimes, law enforcement, the judiciary and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), security sector, political leaders as well as civil society, human rights defenders (HRDs) and under-represented groups.

ODIHR applies an ABC approach to implementation which includes: a) awareness raising and capacity building; b) breakthrough leadership, so that individuals and groups can initiate, manage and sustain change, and; c) Collaboration as the way forward towards gender equality. The project’s achievement of changes towards gender equality take a gender-transformative approach with the ultimate goal to have:

The project has four outcomes:

i. Outcome 1 (individual level): Women and men within project beneficiary groups from target participating States (pSs) have improved capacities and skills to shift negative attitudes towards women’s leadership and empowerment.
ii. Outcome 2 (collective level): Civil society, HRDs and women’s networks improve advocacy efforts and facilitate dialogue for better gender policies.
iii. Outcome 3 (institutional level): Democratic institutions, the security sector and the judiciary are influenced to promote gender sensitive policies and women’s rights.
iv. Outcome 4 (assessment level): Evidence base to better inform strategies for progress in gender equality is strengthened in target pSs with ODIHR’s support.

The project supports five OSCE pSs: Georgia, North Macedonia, Poland and Uzbekistan.

Objective of Assignment:

The aim of the evaluation is to: a) assess the emerging impact (intended and unintended) and success of the project; b) assess the sustainability of the various project outputs; c) identify lessons learned and good practices that can inform future activities and implementation modalities of the project. The evaluation will seek to understand whether the design is optimally linked to achieving the intended objective, taking into account external factors that are contributing to or are constraining the delivery of outcomes.

The evaluation will include all relevant activities undertaken from June 2021 to September 2023.

The evaluation will also consider how the project design, implementation and delivery take into account the needs of women and men and how it impacts them.

The evaluation will also provide recommendations on how to further improve gender mainstreaming in future activities of the project taking stock of the necessity to ensure there is not a hierarchy of victim needs promoted above others.

Methodology:

The evaluation will be based on the six Development Assistance Criteria (DAC) as laid out in the DAC Principles for evaluation of Development Assistance (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and coherence), and one adapted evaluation criteria of added value. The evaluation will include special consideration of the political objectives of the OSCE, the intergovernmental nature of the Organization and the political and administrative context in which ODIHR operates.

The focus of the evaluation will be on the project beneficiaries, i.e. groups or entities with whom ODIHR has interacted under the auspices of the project implementation directly or indirectly and whom it can be anticipated that the project implementation has been able to influence.

A detailed evaluation design will be developed by the evaluator and will make use of a mix of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools: focus groups, semi-structured interviews, desk review, surveys, questionnaires and interviews, as well as review of other documentation such as financial information.

The desk review will mainly include the following type of documents: project documentation, reports, agendas, presentations and training materials, and participant feedback forms.

The evaluation should be carried out with full consideration of the safety and confidentiality of all persons participating in the project.

Deliverables:

The evaluator should submit the following three deliverables:

Final Evaluation Report and annexes with the following:

- Executive summary that provides a clear, concise presentation of the evaluation’s main conclusions, key recommendations and salient issues identified;
- Description of the methodology used;
- Responses to the evaluation questions (observations, findings, conclusions and recommendations);
- Analysis of lessons learned and good practices, including specific recommendations to ODIHR.

All deliverables shall be submitted to Project Co-ordination Unit in accordance with the agreed timeline for review of the quality of the deliverables submitted and request of any improvements necessary to reach the professional standards required.

Necessary Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, social science, international relations, international development, peace and conflict, human rights, or other relevant disciplines. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Extensive experience (minimum 10 years) of designing/implementing and conducting evaluations of projects implemented at the international level, preferably projects related to gender equality or violence against women or girls.

Comprehensive thematic knowledge on gender equality, violence against women, women participation in governance and/or women, peace and security.

Professional knowledge of English.

Ability and professional experience of inter-cultural environments and professional conduct with significant political tact.

Experience with the OSCE would be an advantage.

Duration of Assignment:

20 working days

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information