Mid-term Evaluation of Temporary Protection Registration Project Consultant

I. Evaluation Context

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and nongovernmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

1 February 2025 marks the launch of the “AAATP Project (Phase II)”, continuation of the of the projects: “Registration of Ukrainian Nationals and TCNs Entering Ireland” implemented from 14.03.2022 to 31.10.23 and “Assistance with the Administration of Applications for Temporary Protection in Ireland” implemented from 01.11.2023 to 31.01.25. Through this project, IOM has continued to further support the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the Government of Ireland with the registration and administration of Temporary Protection (TP) applications of Ukrainian nationals and Third Country nationals (TCNs) entering Ireland following the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

The Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) was activated for the first time by the European Council on 4 March 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The purpose of the Directive is to offer immediate and effective assistance to millions of people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking refuge in the EU and neighbouring countries.

On 4 June 2025, the European Commission proposed extending the TPD for Ukrainians displaced by the war until 4 March 2027, a plan that received unanimous support from all EU Member States during the Council meeting on 13 June 2025. The extension was formally confirmed when the Council of the European Union adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460 on 15 July 2025, officially extending the TPD until 4 March 2027.

IOM has assisted with the registration of persons fleeing the war in Ukraine and arriving to Ireland through two (2) Points of Entry (PoEs): Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort, as well as in three (3) Registration Centers: Dublin Citywest, Cork, and Limerick. This has been achieved by implementing actions such as in-person assistance and information provision, identity verification, form filling, document completeness checks, data entry into the Department of Justice’s system, daily, weekly, and monthly statistical data collection, as well as interpretation services and direct support to beneficiaries.

II. Evaluation Purpose

This evaluation is being conducted to assess the overall performance, relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the project “Assistance with the Administration of Applications for Temporary Protection in Ireland (AAATP), Phase II”. The primary objective is to evaluate how effectively project inputs and activities have been translated into intended outputs and outcomes, with a particular focus on their contribution to the main objective of supporting the Irish Department of Justice with the administrative tasks related to TP applications of Ukrainian nationals and TCNs arriving in Ireland, and strengthening Ireland’s capacity to manage the administration of TP applications within the State.

The evaluation will serve several key audiences. Project management team and staff will use the findings to improve ongoing implementation and identify areas for strengthening operational efficiency. Donors and senior management team will use the evaluation to assess the project’s relevance, accountability, and value for money. In addition, stakeholders will be able to evaluate the project’s alignment with the needs of beneficiaries and broader strategic objectives.

Importantly, the evaluation is intended to document lessons learned, highlight best practices, and identify areas of improvement through recommendations. The insights gathered will feed into IOM’s broader institutional knowledge on Immigration and Border Governance (IBG) programming, supporting future planning and enhancing the quality and sustainability of Temporary Protection support services across similar contexts.

This evaluation is being conducted at this stage of the project to inform future programming decisions and ensure that the intervention remains responsive, effective, and grounded in evidence-based practices. In line with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms for Evaluation, the evaluation is guided by the principle of intentionality, ensuring that its findings are both actionable and meaningful to all intended users.

III. Evaluation Scope

The evaluation will cover all key components of the AAATP Project implemented by IOM in Ireland. It will examine the mid-term implementation period of the project, from its inception to the time of evaluation, to assess both the short-term outcomes and the project’s contribution to longer-term impacts. The scope includes an in-depth analysis of project activities, outputs, and outcomes, with a particular focus on how effectively the project contributed to support Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs).

The evaluation will encompass both process and results-oriented dimensions, assessing the efficiency of implementation, the quality and relevance of services provided, and the extent to which intended outcomes were achieved. While the primary emphasis will be on outcomes, the evaluation will also review outputs to understand their role in shaping observed changes.

Geographically, the evaluation will focus exclusively on the implementation of the AAATP Project in Ireland. This includes all relevant sites where the project is active, including two (2) Points of Entry (PoEs): Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort, as well as in three (3) Registration Centers: Dublin Citywest, Cork, and Limerick. Key stakeholders, including representatives from relevant state agencies, beneficiaries (if feasible), and IOM staff, will be engaged to provide diverse perspectives on the project’s performance and value.

At this stage, no specific project sites are excluded from the evaluation. However, the scope remains adaptable to logistical and access constraints that may arise during the data collection phase.

The defined scope is designed to ensure the evaluation effectively meets its purpose, providing a well-rounded assessment of the AAATP Project achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, while remaining feasible within the available time and resources.

IV. Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of the AAATP Project will follow the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD’s standard criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. It will also examine how well cross-cutting themes, particularly gender equality and human rights, were integrated throughout the programme.

Relevance focuses on whether the project’s objectives remain appropriate and aligned with the evolving needs of stakeholders, including beneficiaries and partners. It also considers the project’s alignment with institutional and national priorities.

Effectiveness assesses the extent to which the project achieved its intended outcomes. It looks at how well activities are translated into benefits for the target population and explores any internal or external factors that influence results.

Efficiency evaluates how well resources were used to produce outputs. This includes examining cost- effectiveness and value for money, as well as whether implementation was timely and avoided unnecessary duplication.

Impact considers the broader, long-term effects of the programme, both intended and unintended. Given the difficulty of measuring causality, the evaluation will assess whether the project contributed meaningfully toward strengthening Ireland’s role in managing the administration of TP applications in the State.

Sustainability looks at the likelihood that project results will be maintained after external support ends. It considers local ownership, institutional integration, and whether systems are in place to support continued impact.

By applying these criteria, the evaluation will assess the overall quality and effectiveness of the AAATP Project, draw lessons learned, and provide guidance for future interventions aimed at supporting migrant populations in Ireland.

V. Evaluation Methodology

The evaluation is expected to adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques to answer evaluation questions and to substantiate the evaluation findings and conclusions. Primary data collection will include interviews, focus group, surveys, and questionnaires. Secondary data will include review of internal reports, monitoring data, and other project documentation, as well as donor reports and external materials where relevant. The evaluation will engage relevant stakeholders, IOM staff, and, if feasible, beneficiaries including past and/or current beneficiaries of the project. Their perspectives will contribute to a balanced and inclusive evaluation, helping to identify good practices, lessons learned and recommendations for future programming.

Ethics, Norms and Standards for the Evaluation

The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with IOM Data Protection Principles, the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation, and relevant ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants, and all data will be treated with strict confidentiality, used solely for the purposes of this evaluation. The process will be participatory and ethical, ensuring that the dignity, rights, and welfare of all stakeholders are respected.

The evaluation will be both gender and culturally sensitive, with a strong emphasis on fairness and human rights. The confidentiality and protection of sources will be upheld, and under no circumstances should individuals be harmed or negatively affected through their participation. These ethical standards and their potential implications will be clearly communicated to all participants and parties involved.

VI. Evaluation Deliverables

The evaluator/s will be responsible for producing the following deliverables:

· Inception report: the inception report should include a detailed description of the approach to the evaluation and must comprise the methodology, evaluation matrix, including refined evaluation questions, sub-questions, draft data collection tools and a realistic workplan developed in consultation with the evaluation manager.

· A draft evaluation report: the draft evaluation report should follow the IOM evaluation report structure, present the findings and recommendations, and be shared with IOM for review and feedback.

· A final evaluation report: the final evaluation report should incorporate the feedback and comments from the project’s key stakeholders. The final evaluation report should include the following annexes:

o Management Response Plan partially filled out.

o Final data collection tools.

· A two-page evaluation brief that provides a succinct summary of key findings, recommendations and lessons learnt if any.

All the deliverables are to be written in English and should meet good language standards. The final report should meet the norms and standards laid out in the UNEG Quality Checklist for Evaluation Report and should comply with IOM internal guidelines.

VII. Specific Roles and Responsibilities

The IOM Evaluator leads the whole evaluation process and is responsible for ensuring the quality of evaluation process and timely submission of evaluation deliverables.

An Evaluation Reference Group in IOM Ireland will be established to review the evaluation deliverables, comprising the Head of the IBG Unit, the project’s Senior Project Assistant, and the Senior Project Associate.

VIII. Evaluation Schedule

The evaluation is expected to be carried out within two months, during which the deliverables detailed in Section VI are to be submitted. Below is an indicative timeline which will be revised and updated as needed to ensure a smooth evaluation process.

Week 1

· Activity: Kick-off meeting to discuss the ToR and clarify expectations

· Responsible Party: IOM Ireland

Week 2

· Activity: Compile and share relevant documentation

· Responsible Party: IOM Ireland

Week 3

· Activity: Draft and submit a detailed evaluation inception report

· Responsible Party: Evaluator

Week 4

· Activity: Planning and facilitation of the data collection activities, logistical arrangements, and schedule

· Responsible Party: Evaluator in coordination with IOM Ireland

Week 5

· Activity: Data collection

· Responsible Party: Evaluator

Week 6

· Activity: Presentation of preliminary findings

· Responsible Party: Evaluator in coordination with IOM Ireland

· Activity: Draft the evaluation report and the two-pager evaluation brief

· Responsible Party: Evaluator

Week 7

· Activity: Review the draft evaluation report and provide inputs/feedback

· Responsible Party: IOM Ireland

Week 8

· Activity: Finalize the evaluation report and evaluation brief incorporating the feedback from the review team

· Responsible Party: Evaluator

Week 9

· Activity: Partially completed Management Response Plan

· Responsible Party: Evaluator in coordination with IOM Ireland

IX. Evaluation Budget

Expenses for this evaluation will be covered under the budgeted costs of the project. Logistical and travel support will be provided by IOM Ireland, while certain aspects of the evaluation especially during the preparation stage can be carried out remotely.