Consultant- Final evaluation (Home-based with travel to Solomon Islands)

FINAL EVALUATION OF Gender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries in Isabel Province, Solomon Islands

Commissioned by*:* IOM Solomon Islands, per request of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF)

Please download the full Terms of Reference from our website https://australia.iom.int/careers)ustralia.iom.int/careers . The brief details of the consultancy is following:

1. Evaluation context

Extractive industries such as logging represent a significant source of revenue for Solomon Islands, and logging operations are prevalent across a number of provinces, including Isabel Province.

However, the presence of logging has had negative impacts on community cohesion, with conflict dynamics related to environmental degradation and the unequal distribution of benefits well documented.

Increased cash flow to these communities has also exacerbated power imbalances and intensified the risks and vulnerabilities for women and girls. Sexual and gender-based violence — already very prevalent in Solomon Islands — have been observed to increase in communities adjacent to extractive industries, sometimes resulting in situations of exploitation or human trafficking.

This has led to grievances against – and sometimes open resentment of – logging companies and their employees, many of whom are migrant workers from Indonesia, Malaysia and China.

The project “Gender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries in Isabel Province, Solomon Islands” aims to strengthen the participation of women in community-based peacebuilding processes and to improve the quality and accessibility of protection services for women who face violations of their rights due to conflict dynamics between local communities and the logging industry.

Funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and implemented jointly by IOM and UNFPA, this objective is achieved through a focus on three distinct but mutually reinforcing outcomes:

OUTCOME 1: An enabling environment is created to support women’s human rights and participation of women and young women in community-based peacebuilding

OUTCOME 2: Women and young women are able to drive change within their communities through peacebuilding dialogues

OUTCOME 3: Government and CSOs improve the quality of service provision and achieve higher beneficiary reach among women and young women who face violations due to conflict dynamics between communities and the logging industry

2. Evaluation purpose and objective

An evaluation report will be produced, for the following primary intended audiences: IOM staff and management, UNFPA staff and management, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNPBF.

It is expected that the evaluation report will be used to:

• Document lessons learned and best practices
• Assess the relevance and accountability of the project to intended beneficiaries
• Highlight process improvements for future joint agency projects, both in terms of project development and project implementation
• Assist in assessing value for money of the intervention

Additionally, the evaluation report will be used to assist decision-making with respect to future and ongoing gender-responsive peacebuilding in Solomon Islands, which will be of particular relevance to the report’s secondary audiences of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Isabel Provincial Government, civil society partners Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association, Isabel Provincial Council of Women, Stages of Change and Sitapuna, as well as relevant donors, CSOs, and UN Agencies.

The evaluation report should not be longer than 40 pages without annexes. It should be supplemented by a four-page brief synthesizing key lessons learnt.

3. Evaluation scope

The evaluation will be conducted in the final three months of the project. The evaluation will cover the full project period and the full range of project activities. Primary data collection will be undertaken across a minimum of three of the ten target communities in Isabel Province, with specific locations to be agreed with IOM, UNFPA and UNPBF during the elaboration of the Inception Report.

4. Evaluation criteria

In accordance with the evaluation purpose and scope, the evaluation will look into six OECD/DAC main evaluation criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, with a cross-cutting focus on gender equality. Additional PBF-specific evaluation criteria also need to be used, such as the catalytic and innovative aspects of the project. Finally, the evaluation also needs to look at how the project team managed to maintain effective implementation in the context of the pandemic.

5. Evaluation deliverables

1. Deliverable 1: Inception Report due by 27 November 2022, 30% of total contract fee
2. Deliverable 2: Draft Evaluation Report (Evaluation Report & external brief and lessons learned) due by 8 January 2023, 50% of total contract fee
3. Deliverable 3: Final Evaluation Report (Evaluation Report & external brief and lessons learned) due by 21 January 2023, 20% of total contract fee

6. Time schedule

The evaluation will be conducted from 14 November 2022 – 21 January 2023 (approximately 10 weeks). Please find the full schedule in our website https://australia.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1001/files/TOR%20Final%20Evaluation%20-%20Gender%20Responsive%20Peacebuilding%20-%20Solomon%20Islands.pdf

7. Evaluation budget

IOM will make an all-inclusive payment designed to cover all travel, living and working expenses, as well as all expenses associated with primary data collection to be undertaken in Solomon Islands (domestic and international air travel, boat hire and fuel, lodging, interpretation, etc.) Payment will be made in three instalments aligned to approved deliverables.

8. Evaluation requirements

Education

• Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution, preferably in Political or Social Sciences, Statistics, Development Studies, International Relations, Economics or Law

Experience

• A minimum of seven years’ experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation, with demonstrated experience of designing and using primary data collection tools, analyzing data, and writing evaluation reports and products
• Demonstrated experience in the field of gender-responsive programming
• Good understanding of peacebuilding, conflict resolution and governance
• Experience in liaising with government authorities, local communities, the private sector, UN agencies and national and international NGOs
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the context in Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region will be considered a distinct advantage
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of extractive industries will be considered a distinct advantage

Skills

• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent analytical abilities and demonstrated capacity to draft and edit technical documents
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain trust and good working relationships with counterparts
• Capacity to work independently and with minimal supervision
• Personal commitment, efficiency, and flexibility
• Strong organizational and time management skills, and ability to deliver under tight timelines

How to apply

Complete applications should be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than 23:59 local time in Honiara, Solomon Islands on 17 October 2022.

Applications should include:

• A curriculum vitae, clearly outlining relevant past experiences, as well as the contact details of the applicant and at least three professional references
• A cover letter underlining why the individual considers themselves to be the most suitable for the assignment, making reference to relevant expertise and qualifications sought in the TOR (two pages maximum)
• A technical and financial proposal not exceeding USD 49,750
• A sample of a recent evaluation
• A signed letter of interest confirming availability

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for the assignment. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for travel to Solomon Islands. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.