Consultancy to Conduct Impact Assessment on Supporting Conflict Transformation Towards Effective Peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Region

I. About Nonviolent Peaceforce

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a nonpartisan international organization globally recognized for its Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) strategies in preventing violence, increasing safety and security of civilians, and strengthening local peace infrastructures across its programme locations.  Presently, NP has country programme operations in South Sudan, Myanmar, Iraq, USA and the Philippines.

NP has been present in Mindanao, Philippines for 15 years working and living within the conflict-affected areas and being the first international NGO tasked to monitor civilian protection issues under the signed peace agreements of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since 2009.  Recently, NP has been recognized as the first official CSO member of the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) supporting the normalization programme.

II. Project Background

The peacebuilding project is a joint initiative implemented by IOM, UN Women and UNFPA which started last December 2020 until December 2022. The 3-year project aligns to national and BARMM government priorities in sustaining peace in the region. It will act as leverage to accelerate implementation of the women, peace and security agenda which currently lack sufficient support. Through the PBF it will facilitate the engagement with BARMM Government actors, enable the scope of geographic engagement to address diverse conflict dynamics including areas impacted by intra-Moro conflict. Its strategies will fill in the gaps on a multi-track peacebuilding approach to see multiple complex conflict settings and dynamics engaged simultaneously. The strategic benefit of the joint engagement of the three RUNOs will allow integrated and coordinated advocacy on WPS objectives and engagement with key BARMM Government actors. In addition, it will collaborate on the implementation of the BARMM Regional Action Plan on Women Peace and Security and ensure it is fully integrated in the Bangsamoro Community.

UNFPA in partnership with Nonviolent Peaceforce contributed in addressing the gap to improve and increase the number of female ex-combatants benefitting from the reintegration and normalization process, it will concentrate in empowering BIWAB members to take part in peacebuilding in their communities which, as a whole, are going through the process of reintegration to civil society. While working on building the capacity of ex-female combatants, UNFPA and NP will conduct a participatory action research in collaboration with BIWAB CBAs to identify the scope of protection and safety issues facing women and girls in the BARMM that require policy solutions. These policy solutions will be utilized to facilitate understanding of duty bearers and policymakers in BARMM on the socio-cultural conditions of vulnerable women and formulate solutions that are equitable, responsive and gender-transformative. UNFPA will conduct capacity building and demand generation activities with BIWAB CSOs to cultivate in-depth understanding of BARMM governance legislative processes and build their policy advocacy skills on policy solutions based on the PAR. The project will also bring together representatives from different identity groups, including moro, settlers and non-moro IPs from conflict hotspots to engage in intergenerational and intra-intercommunity dialogues. These dialogues hope to reduce mistrust within and between communities, improve capacities of participants to listen to each other, accept each other;s differences, and recognize the importance of peaceful resolution to conflicts.

Main Project Goals

1. Fortify reintegration efforts for former women combatants by empowering them to engage and support peacebuilding;
2. Support conflict understanding and prevention by promoting gender-responsive, inclusive, and culturally-sensitive legislation, policies and programmes.

- full Terms of Reference, will be sent to your mail after submission of your application -

III. Scope

The objective of this survey is to conduct and produce an impact assessment report for the STEP project.  The impact assessment will include collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Thus, the report will present project achievements against project targets, output and outcome indicators.

The project has three outcomes, only two (2) outcomes (1 and 2) were assigned to NP.

Outcome **1-**Women former combatants are empowered to engage in and support peacebuilding in communities in the process of reintegration

Indicators

1.1. BIWAB representatives are empowered to become local Gender and Peace Champions in conflict-affected areas

1.2. BIWAB cooperatives have increased capacity to transition to civilian life through sustainable economic activities

1.3. BIWAB CSOs have technical capacity to support gender-responsive conflict prevention, mediation, and peace advocacy within MILF base commands

**Outcome 2-**Gender-responsive, locally-inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to conflict prevention are mainstreamed into BARMM legislation, policies and programmes

Indicators

2.1 BARMM institutions and CSOs have access to participatory action research, local conflict analysis and peacebuilding modelling

2.2 Members of different identity groups are provided with spaces and mechanisms for policy dialogue on conflict prevention

2.3 Women-led CSOs, including the BIWAB CBAs, are empowered to roll-out policy advocacy campaigns to strengthen local protection and peacebuilding mechanisms

2.4 BARMM institutions and CSOs have improved understanding of local dynamics and technical capacity to develop gender-responsive policy

To achieve the outcomes, the project implements the following key interventions (Please see logic model in annex for list of activities) men and women.

1. Capacity building, mentoring and coaching activities to raise awareness on (Gender and Peacebuilding, Gender Sensitivity, Referral Pathway)
2. Conduct Inter-generational and inter/intra-cultural dialogues (IGICDs) between and among duty-bearers and rights-holders to strengthen political support for and facilitate prioritization of protection issues, assurance of gender-responsive and GBV services & interventions.
3. Package of training (Gender Sensitivity, Gender Responsive GAD Planning and Budgeting)
4. Policy Advocacy
   1. Capacity-building, mentoring and coaching activities to cultivate in-depth understanding of BARMM governance and legislative processes and build policy advocacy skills
   2. Support BIWAB members, disengaged young BIWAB members to formulate advocacy campaigns that would advance policy recommendations.
5. Capacity building and technical assistance to duty bearers to strengthen protection and coordination mechanisms

IV. Objectives / Purpose of the consultancy

The impact assessment will be conducted to assess the outcomes or changes in the lives of the beneficiaries attributed to or contributed by the project. The study is part of the project reporting requirement with the donor. It is planned to take place from September 2022- October 2022.

The objectives of the impact assessment are as follows:

The project will be assessed according to all six of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) evaluation criteria[1] – relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability – and the two principles[2] required of the evaluation process. (Please see the matrix below)

1. Assess the overall quality of the project implementation including the assessment of results (intended and unintended, positive and negative changes) at the overall goal and outcome levels.
2. To which extent were the objectives achieved? What were the major factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of the objectives?
3. Identify innovations, key lessons learned and good practices that led to the achievement of results.
4. Identify and assess challenges and draw recommendations for future programming.

[1] OECD (2021), Applying Evaluation Criteria Thoughtfully, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/543e84ed-en.

[2] OECD (1991), Principles for Evaluation of Development Assistance, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/2755284.pdf.

Intended Users

The study findings will be shared with and used by relevant stakeholders, including local and international NGOs, local government units, government line agencies, private sector, staff of Nonviolent Peaceforce, UNFPA, IOM, UNWOMEN and the donor to inform their current and future similar programming.

V. Expected deliverables and Timeline

The consultant’s engagement shall be 60 days for a period of two (2) months ( October 2022– November 2022). The activities with corresponding deliverables or outputs are the following:

Inception Stage

This phase is meant to ensure that the evaluation team is fully prepared before undertaking the field mission. It includes:

• Desk review of existing documents, including project document, strategies developed by the project, reports and documents developed by the project and write-ups on the project initiatives.

• Consultation with key external stakeholders.

• Drafting of the inception report, including timeline, evaluation matrix, methodology and data collection tools.

• Review by the NP and relevant organizations

• Finalization of logistics for field visits.

Field Stage

Consultation at field level. The field activity will include:

• A debriefing session by NP and the project management

• Initial introductory meeting/workshop with the stakeholders and partners

• Interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with the stakeholders and beneficiaries

• Visit to selected field offices

• Debriefing to the NP and the stakeholders on the key findings

Reporting Stage

• Drafting of the evaluation report.

• Review by the stakeholders for quality assurance

• Incorporation of comments and revision of the report.

• Submission of the final report

VI. Roles and Responsibilities of the Consultant

In close cooperation with the programme’s unit particularly the Project Coordinator and the M & E Officer, the successful consultants will:

• Design a precise timeline to plan, to capture information, analyze results and complete the Baseline report;
• Develop and suggest crucial additional and improved indicators to capture project outcomes and outputs;
• Design endline survey chart to present the findings;
• Formulate research questions based on log frame indicators and agreed upon additional indicators;
• Present the planning of the survey through an in-person or virtual workshop for project staff
• Consolidate survey results after the actual survey conducted by NP for data analysis.
• Amend survey chart and research questions as by inputs from the workshop;
• Summarize findings in the survey chart and in an analytical narrative part;
• Present the draft report to the project staff;
• Incorporate comments from the project staff for the final report.

VII. Copyright and Ownership of the Study

Any and all documents produced under this consultancy shall be the sole property of NP and may be used for any purpose whatsoever without the need to consult with the author.

VIII. Professional Fee and Mode of Payment

The professional fee will be inclusive of tax and the payment will be done according to the following arrangement:

1st instalment

40% of the total amount

Upon approval of study design, research tools, and study work plan

2nd instalment

30% of the total amount

After submission of the draft study report

3rd instalment

30% of the total amount

After completion of final study report

The payment will be made in A/C payee cheques in the name of the consultant/company.

IX. Qualification of the Consultant

The consultant shall have the following qualifications:

• At least 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in development research, evaluation of developmental programmes, and project management, preferably in areas related to peace and conflict and humanitarian work;
• With demonstrated expertise in monitoring and evaluation of gender-transformative.
• Familiarity with different methodologies for evaluation and review, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and participatory approaches;
• Demonstrated ability to construct and use sex-disaggregated data collection tools and to present data in reports in a consistent and through sex-disaggregated and gender-sensitive manner.
• Proven ability to write quality reports and expertise in carrying out large scale qualitative and quantitative studies;
• Must be result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity.

X. Application Process and Requirements

Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following:

• Letter of Interest and submission of the Proposal
• A detailed technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this TOR and including but not limited to the following:
  • Consultant/Company Profile
  • Description of the Methodology and Sample Size Determination
  • Demonstrated previous experience in similar assignments and qualifications outlined in this TOR (provide 2-3 sample work)
  • Proposed data management plan (collection, processing and analysis)
  • Study work plan
  • Team composition and level of effort of each proposed team member (include CVs of each senior team member)
• A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of costs for the study quoted in PHP.

HOW TO APPLY

• Candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit abovementioned requirements. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The closing date for applications is Friday, 7 October 2022
• As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment and if successful, participate in an interview process.

- full Terms of Reference, will be sent to your mail after submission of your application -

SPECIAL NOTICE

Nonviolent Peaceforce is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff at all levels. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. However, all qualified applicants regardless of their gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, or age, will be considered for this opportunity.

Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, beneficiaries and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice in the Humanitarian and Development sector.

NO FEE

NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.