Consultants for an External Evaluation The Association for Women's Rights in Development - AWID
Consultants for an External Evaluation
The Association for Women's Rights in Development - AWID
Closing date: July 11, 2011
1. OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international, multi-generational, feminist, creative, future-oriented membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights. A dynamic network of women and men around the world, AWID members are researchers, academics, students, educators, activists, business people, policy-makers, development practitioners, funders, and more.
Our mission: what we do
AWID’s mission is to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally to effectively advance the rights of women.
Our vision: why we do it
AWID believes that women’s rights are not only necessary in and of themselves, but that they are central to ending the challenges the world faces today. Eradicating poverty, building peace, effectively tackling the HIV and AIDS pandemics, to name just a few – no lasting solutions to these issues are possible without a strategy that puts women’s rights at the centre. AWID works to build a world where women’s rights have been achieved and where all people enjoy their human rights.
2. OVERVIEW OF THE CONSULTANCY:
AWID is seeking a consultant (or consulting team) to conduct an external evaluation of the implementation of AWID’s Strategic Plan and work carried out between 2006-2012. The evaluation is intended principally for learning and accountability purposes and is expected to generate relevant findings, lessons and recommendations which will be shared with key stakeholders of AWID and used to guide and inform current work and future programming. The external evaluation strategy will be developed by the consultant(s) in partnership with AWID staff and should build on the organisation’s Monitoring and Evaluation strategy and framework.
The consultancy will span over a period of approximately 10 months (September 2011 through June 2012), and will require the ability to travel to meet with AWID staff and participate in key AWID international events. The evaluation consultant(s) will work closely with select AWID staff as well as the Board Evaluation sub-committee. The evaluation consultant(s) will be responsible for producing a Final Report by June 2012, and the findings of the Report will be used to assist AWID in its strategic directions for 2013-2018.
3. AWID’S MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) STRATEGY
AWID used Outcome Mapping (OM) as a starting point for defining our M&E Strategy. What was particularly attractive about OM was its recognition that the promotion of social justice is essentially about changing how people relate to each other and their environment. AWID further welcomed OM because we saw it as distinct from conventional approaches to evaluation that assume a causal relationship between an intervention and lasting changes in the well being of intended beneficiaries. Outcome Mapping believes that such “impacts” are the result of a confluence of actors and circumstances for which no single organization can claim full credit. As such, Outcome Mapping avoids “claiming credit”, or “attribution” of success, and prefers to talk about contributions, thereby acknowledging the importance of collaboration, the work of other actors as well as expected and unexpected circumstances. This approach was very much in line with AWID’s theory of change which has at its heart a focus on ‘movement building.’
AWID’s Theory of Change is based on the belief and understanding that:
• Change to advance women’s rights takes place by building collective power, which emerges when women themselves organize and mobilize, through their organizations and movements, to push for changes at local, national and international levels, and in different spheres (norms, public institutions, private, etc).
• In our current globalized world these levels are far more interconnected than ever before – with global trends, agendas and actors, having major impact on local realities.
The logic driving AWID’s M&E strategy is that outcomes of each of our Strategic Initiatives will contribute to helping us advance our organization-wide desired outcomes, listed below:
DESIRED ORGANIZATION-WIDE OUTCOMES (2006-2012)
In working with diverse partners and allies and our broader constituency AWID seeks to achieve the following outcomes by 2012:
1. Stronger, better-resourced and more effective women’s organizations and movements advancing women’s rights and gender equality worldwide.
2. Renewal and expansion of the agendas of women’s movements internationally through infusion of ambitious, creative and future oriented ideas and issues, and stronger interconnections, alliances and partnerships among diverse expressions of women’s organizing across regions and sectors.
3. Stronger alliances between women’s rights movements and other social movements to advance agendas in pursuit of human rights for all.
4. Shifts in donor and development policy and practices for a greater financial and political commitment to gender equality and women’s rights, including women’s organizations.
5. Greater inclusion of women's rights activists and organizations in key development policy spaces internationally (both in terms of presence and effective voice in influencing these spaces to advance gender equality).
6. More visible, vocal and engaged young women in women’s organizations and movements with young women’s work clearly supported and highlighted, including across all AWID initiatives.
7. A more politically engaged and expanded AWID membership that includes increased representation from underrepresented regions or sectors.
QUALIFICATIONS
The consultants for AWID’s external evaluation should have experience in:
• Feminist approaches to research, evaluation and knowledge generation
• Experience using Outcome Mapping as an approach/methodology for learning and evaluation
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis
• The field of women’s rights and development
• Working with/in diverse cultural settings and applying relevant interpersonal skills
• Large-scale NGO evaluations (particularly of international organizations)
The consultant(s) should also:
• Have demonstrated capacity to think strategically and analytically
• Have demonstrated ability to successfully deliver complex projects on time and to budget, with appropriate attention to detail
• Work in English (Spanish or French would be a welcomed asset)
• Be committed to the principles and values of feminism, anti-oppression, and anti-racism
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Proposals should be no more than 5 pages (not including attachments) and include the following:
a. Describe your understanding of AWID, its positioning and role vis-Ã -vis international and global women’s rights movements and as part of global civil society in the current world’s context
b. How would you undertake the evaluation? What would the process and methodology look like? How would you expect to work with AWID staff and Board?
c. Who would be the consultant(s) conducting the evaluation? (attach CVs) Please briefly describe their relevant evaluation experience including effective experience working in partnership (if more than one consultant is proposed).
d. Include an estimate of time required to complete the evaluation and approximate budget.
e. What challenges do you anticipate in such an evaluation and how would you address them?
Send completed applications (a proposal following the indications above and any relevant attachments, including 3 references) by fax or email to:
Fax: +416 594 0330
E-mail: jobs @ awid.org (please include “External Evaluation Proposal” in the subject line)
No phone calls please. Only email and faxed applications will be accepted. The deadline is July 11th, 2011. We thank all who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. AWID encourages, promotes and supports diversity in all aspects of its work.
The Association for Women's Rights in Development - AWID
Closing date: July 11, 2011
1. OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international, multi-generational, feminist, creative, future-oriented membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights. A dynamic network of women and men around the world, AWID members are researchers, academics, students, educators, activists, business people, policy-makers, development practitioners, funders, and more.
Our mission: what we do
AWID’s mission is to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally to effectively advance the rights of women.
Our vision: why we do it
AWID believes that women’s rights are not only necessary in and of themselves, but that they are central to ending the challenges the world faces today. Eradicating poverty, building peace, effectively tackling the HIV and AIDS pandemics, to name just a few – no lasting solutions to these issues are possible without a strategy that puts women’s rights at the centre. AWID works to build a world where women’s rights have been achieved and where all people enjoy their human rights.
2. OVERVIEW OF THE CONSULTANCY:
AWID is seeking a consultant (or consulting team) to conduct an external evaluation of the implementation of AWID’s Strategic Plan and work carried out between 2006-2012. The evaluation is intended principally for learning and accountability purposes and is expected to generate relevant findings, lessons and recommendations which will be shared with key stakeholders of AWID and used to guide and inform current work and future programming. The external evaluation strategy will be developed by the consultant(s) in partnership with AWID staff and should build on the organisation’s Monitoring and Evaluation strategy and framework.
The consultancy will span over a period of approximately 10 months (September 2011 through June 2012), and will require the ability to travel to meet with AWID staff and participate in key AWID international events. The evaluation consultant(s) will work closely with select AWID staff as well as the Board Evaluation sub-committee. The evaluation consultant(s) will be responsible for producing a Final Report by June 2012, and the findings of the Report will be used to assist AWID in its strategic directions for 2013-2018.
3. AWID’S MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) STRATEGY
AWID used Outcome Mapping (OM) as a starting point for defining our M&E Strategy. What was particularly attractive about OM was its recognition that the promotion of social justice is essentially about changing how people relate to each other and their environment. AWID further welcomed OM because we saw it as distinct from conventional approaches to evaluation that assume a causal relationship between an intervention and lasting changes in the well being of intended beneficiaries. Outcome Mapping believes that such “impacts” are the result of a confluence of actors and circumstances for which no single organization can claim full credit. As such, Outcome Mapping avoids “claiming credit”, or “attribution” of success, and prefers to talk about contributions, thereby acknowledging the importance of collaboration, the work of other actors as well as expected and unexpected circumstances. This approach was very much in line with AWID’s theory of change which has at its heart a focus on ‘movement building.’
AWID’s Theory of Change is based on the belief and understanding that:
• Change to advance women’s rights takes place by building collective power, which emerges when women themselves organize and mobilize, through their organizations and movements, to push for changes at local, national and international levels, and in different spheres (norms, public institutions, private, etc).
• In our current globalized world these levels are far more interconnected than ever before – with global trends, agendas and actors, having major impact on local realities.
The logic driving AWID’s M&E strategy is that outcomes of each of our Strategic Initiatives will contribute to helping us advance our organization-wide desired outcomes, listed below:
DESIRED ORGANIZATION-WIDE OUTCOMES (2006-2012)
In working with diverse partners and allies and our broader constituency AWID seeks to achieve the following outcomes by 2012:
1. Stronger, better-resourced and more effective women’s organizations and movements advancing women’s rights and gender equality worldwide.
2. Renewal and expansion of the agendas of women’s movements internationally through infusion of ambitious, creative and future oriented ideas and issues, and stronger interconnections, alliances and partnerships among diverse expressions of women’s organizing across regions and sectors.
3. Stronger alliances between women’s rights movements and other social movements to advance agendas in pursuit of human rights for all.
4. Shifts in donor and development policy and practices for a greater financial and political commitment to gender equality and women’s rights, including women’s organizations.
5. Greater inclusion of women's rights activists and organizations in key development policy spaces internationally (both in terms of presence and effective voice in influencing these spaces to advance gender equality).
6. More visible, vocal and engaged young women in women’s organizations and movements with young women’s work clearly supported and highlighted, including across all AWID initiatives.
7. A more politically engaged and expanded AWID membership that includes increased representation from underrepresented regions or sectors.
QUALIFICATIONS
The consultants for AWID’s external evaluation should have experience in:
• Feminist approaches to research, evaluation and knowledge generation
• Experience using Outcome Mapping as an approach/methodology for learning and evaluation
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis
• The field of women’s rights and development
• Working with/in diverse cultural settings and applying relevant interpersonal skills
• Large-scale NGO evaluations (particularly of international organizations)
The consultant(s) should also:
• Have demonstrated capacity to think strategically and analytically
• Have demonstrated ability to successfully deliver complex projects on time and to budget, with appropriate attention to detail
• Work in English (Spanish or French would be a welcomed asset)
• Be committed to the principles and values of feminism, anti-oppression, and anti-racism
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Proposals should be no more than 5 pages (not including attachments) and include the following:
a. Describe your understanding of AWID, its positioning and role vis-Ã -vis international and global women’s rights movements and as part of global civil society in the current world’s context
b. How would you undertake the evaluation? What would the process and methodology look like? How would you expect to work with AWID staff and Board?
c. Who would be the consultant(s) conducting the evaluation? (attach CVs) Please briefly describe their relevant evaluation experience including effective experience working in partnership (if more than one consultant is proposed).
d. Include an estimate of time required to complete the evaluation and approximate budget.
e. What challenges do you anticipate in such an evaluation and how would you address them?
Send completed applications (a proposal following the indications above and any relevant attachments, including 3 references) by fax or email to:
Fax: +416 594 0330
E-mail: jobs @ awid.org (please include “External Evaluation Proposal” in the subject line)
No phone calls please. Only email and faxed applications will be accepted. The deadline is July 11th, 2011. We thank all who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. AWID encourages, promotes and supports diversity in all aspects of its work.
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