Evaluation Consultants - Action on Poverty (AOP)

 

Action on Poverty (AOP) requires Evaluation Consultants for two Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) supported projects in Timor-Leste over March-April 2022 (exact dates to be finalised):

1. The Socio-Economic Empowerment Project (SEEP)
2. The Pacific Regional Food and Water Security Project – Timor-Leste component

 

About Action on Poverty (AOP)

AOP is a not-for-profit, fully accredited, secular organisation, which was established in Australia in 1968 and incorporated in the state of New South Wales in 1983. AOP is geared at making positive changes to the lives of people throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific.  In most cases, AOP works directly with local partners, who are independent agencies employing local professionals with cultural understanding and proven experience. AOP believes that community-led development, and strengthening local civil society organisations and community groups, is the most effective and sustainable way for people to meet their own development aspirations.

Evaluation 1: The Socio-Economic Empowerment Project (SEEP)

AOP has been working with partner organisation, PRADET (Psychosocial Recovery and Development East Timor), since 2016 to implement a socio-economic empowerment project (SEEP), targeting survivors of domestic violence and abuse. The project provides survivors of violence and trauma with support and knowledge to develop enterprises – growing/selling food and vegetables, raising animals, selling second-hand clothes etc. The project provides practical assistance and technical support so they can gain confidence, literacy skills, business skills, and financial autonomy. PRADET’s project officers and caseworkers provide counselling and support to the project participants, their families, and by extension, the community. Since 2016 until the end of FY2020-2021, the project has supported 211 survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families across 3 districts from their district offices in Dili, Suai, and Maliana. PRADET also offers support to over 100 prisoners in Gleno and Becora Prisons, particularly the women prisoners who are often survivors of family and sexual violence themselves. The prisoners are given training in livelihoods and literacy, psycho-social counselling, and support, as well as access to legal support.

Evaluation 1 Consultant Selection Criteria

• A degree with relevant post-graduate studies in Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation, Gender, livelihoods/economic empowerment, or related field
• Prior experience in – gender-based violence studies/projects, undertaking women’s economic empowerment baseline studies, project monitoring, evaluations and documentation of lessons learnt in Timor-Leste
• Knowledge of the history and culture of Timor-Leste, especially with regards to gender
• Demonstrated experience in communicating stories, production of case studies and best practices
• Good quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills
• Excellent analytical and reporting writing and presentation skills
• Ability to communicate confidently in Tetun is desirable
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and working with partners in multinational teams. Adequate English writing and communication ability is essential.

 

Evaluation 2: The Pacific Regional Food and Water Security Project – Timor-Leste component

AOP has been working with partner organisation, Timor Aid, since 2013, to implement the Timor-Leste component of the Pacific Regional Food and Water Security Project (Timor-Leste, Kiribati, and Fiji). The Timor Aid component of the program has been implemented aiming to improve the nutritional status, food security and agricultural practices and productivity for rural farmers in the Bobonaro Municipality. This has been done through training farmers’ groups, improving access to water, and working with community members and leaders.

Evaluation 2 Consultant Selection Criteria

• A degree with relevant post-graduate studies in development studies, monitoring and evaluation, agriculture, livelihoods/economic empowerment, or related field
• Prior experience in – food and water security studies/projects, undertaking baseline studies, project monitoring, evaluations and documentation of lessons learnt in Timor-Leste
• Demonstrated experience in communicating stories, production of case studies and best practices
• Good quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills
• Excellent analytical and reporting writing and presentation skills
• Ability to communicate confidently in Tetun is desirable
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and working with partners in multinational teams. Adequate English writing and communication ability is essential.

 

Evaluation Objectives

The objective of these reviews will be to assess if the projects are achieving what they set out to achieve as well as providing recommendations to improve on areas that are not working well. The reports will be shared among AOP and partner staff as well as other network partners, and the executive summaries will be posted on the AOP website. This is intended to provide relevant AOP and partner staff with the opportunity to learn and build from the findings and recommendations identified. Furthermore, the reports will be submitted to DFAT as part of ANCP annual reporting. The evaluation findings will be incorporated into the design of the next project phases.

To achieve the evaluation objectives, we will engage a suitably qualified person/s to undertake and coordinate the work. This person/s will be expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with relevant stakeholders that will include project participants, community leaders, government counterparts, and project staff. We envisage that members of the country program team will participate in the evaluation as a learning exercise. 

The evaluations are expected to take approximately 28 consultancy days each, including development of inception report, evaluation tools, data collection at project sites (+/- 2 weeks), and finalization of reports after feedback has been incorporated. Consultancy days do not need to be done consecutively and may or may not include weekends. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions – especially international travel, candidates will need to take this into consideration when applying.

Submission of Offers

Please note that AOP and partners are child safe organisations. The Consultants must sign on and adhere to AOP’s Safeguarding Code of Conduct as well as read and acknowledge AOP’s Child Protection and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment policies. AOP asks that a Working With Children Check (for Australian citizens and residents) or a Police Check is provided if possible, and relevant reference checks will be undertaken.

Interested individuals or firms are invited to contact Cameron Marchant (AOP) at cameron.marchant@actiononpoverty.org for a full evaluation Terms of Reference to be sent. Please indicate which evaluation you are interested in (1 or 2, or both). Applicants are required to formally apply by 4 February 2022.