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Evaluator of the Evidence based Action against Corruption - The European Integrity Systems Project (ENIS)

Expression of Interest : External Evaluator of the Evidence-based Action against Corruption - The European Integrity Systems Project (ENIS)

Application Closing Date - 20 Jan 2013

Job Start Date - March/April 2013

Duration - End of April 2013

Location - Berlin, Germany

TERMS OF REFERENCE:

Short-term consultancy for the external evaluation of the European Commission funded project "Evidence-based Action against Corruption - The European Integrity Systems Project"

1. BACKGROUND:

The project Evidence-based Action against Corruption - The European Integrity Systems Project (ENIS) uses an innovative combination of research and active stakeholder engagement to, in a first step, assess the performance of the anti-corruption systems in 23 EU member states, which leads, in a second step, to the development and implementation of targeted advocacy initiatives on the identified gaps in the anti-corruption system at national and at EU levels.

In its regional dimension, the project identifies and builds support for tackling anti-corruption issues of regional concern, on which the EU and national governments should take action. Due to its multi-level and evidence-based approach, the project is able to mitigate primary corruption risks as one of the most important forms of financial and economic crime across the EU in a holistic, systematic and sustainable manner.

Key Objectives:

1. To improve the understanding of the performance of existing anti-corruption mechanisms in 23 EU member states as part of the essential framework of preventing financial and economic crime.

2. To mitigate primary corruption risks through evidence-based advocacy, including policy reform, public education and other relevant activities.

Key Activities:

• Assessment of national anti-corruption systems in 23 EU member states, using consultative, evidence-based and holistic approach

• 23 Multi-stakeholder National Integrity Workshops to discuss results, identify key recommendations and build coalitions for follow-up activities

• Publication of 23 national integrity reports and over 80 policy papers

• Publication & launch of regional comparative report highlighting corruption risks of regional and EU concern

• Regional round-tables to share findings and identify regional priorities

• More than 100 national and regional-level advocacy events based on key recommendations identified

Methodology:

The ENIS project uses an evidence-based advocacy approach. In its first component, it collects evidence on the performance of the anti-corruption system in the 23 EU member countries via an established and widely tested methodology in form of the national integrity system (NIS) assessment.

Guided by a multi-stakeholder advisory group, a research team uses a legal review, key informant interviews and field tests to assess the effectiveness of the primary institutions which make up the NIS.
This assessment comprises both the regulatory framework as well as the actual practice of these institutions, and includes a quantitative benchmarking of institutional performance via a set of indicators.
In its second component, anti-corruption stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society and other sectors use the findings to identify priority areas for reform, and to subsequently engage in joint policy and advocacy initiatives. These results are shared at a regional round-table and feed into a regional report targeting the EU and other regional bodies and institutions.

Expected Results:

• Strengths and weaknesses of anti-corruption system in target countries identified

• Understanding of corruption risks by relevant stakeholders improved

• Key advocacy initiatives on anti-corruption implemented in target countries

• Regional priorities for anti-corruption identified and advocated for

• National and regional civil society movement against corruption strengthened

Expected Outputs:

• Comprehensive reports on anti-corruption systems in 23 EU members countries

• Several policy papers on most relevant results in each target country

• 23 consultative multi-stakeholder workshops 

• Regional comparative report on common corruption risks and emerging best practices in anti-corruption

• Up to 4 EU-level policy papers on issues of regional concern

• Regional round-table to debate findings and identify best practices and common key challenges

• Numerous advocacy activities tackling corruption risks at country and at EU level

Project Partners:

23 of Transparency International’s National Chapters throughout Europe are taking part in the project, with overall coordination from the Berlin-based Transparency International Secretariat.

Funding:

The project is co-funded by the Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme of the European Union, European Commission, Directorate-General Home Affairs. Additional funding has been provided by the EEA and Norway Grants and the Svenska Postkod Stiftelsen.

Timeframe:

The project has been running since 01 October 2010 and will finish on 31 April 2013. Activities during the months from January – April 2013 will focus on audit, evaluation and closure.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT ASSIGNMENT

2.1. OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The overall objective of the assignment is to assist Transparency International Secretariat, in close coordination with ECA Regional Coordinator and ECA Programme Officer, in performing a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the project results and outputs. 

The main goal of the evaluation exercise is to identify the results achieved by the ENIS project both in terms of qualitative inputs as well as in terms of quantities of outputs specified in the project itself. An overall examination of the Project impacts and achievements is considered the final scope of the present evaluation.

2.2. REQUESTED SERVICE AND METHODOLOGY:

This assignment will be carried out with oversight from the ECA Regional Coordinator and ECA Programme Officer and in close consultation with the European Commission (DG Home Affairs). The consultant shall undertake a number of actions which are summarised below in the proposed Evaluation Methodology.

The duration of the assignment is 15 working days and it is a desk evaluation assignment. The consultant will be based at TI-Secretariat in Berlin, Germany. There are no field visits planned.

A) EVALUATION OF THE ACTIVITIES PERFORMED:

The Consultant should make a qualitative and quantitative narrative assessment of the following project activities, as well as assessing their overall impact.

Activity:

- Assessment of national anti-corruption systems in 23 EU member states, using consultative, evidence-based and holistic approach

- 23 Multi-stakeholder National Integrity Workshops to discuss results, identify key recommendations and build coalitions for follow-up activities

- Publication of 23 national integrity reports and over 80 policy papers

- Publication & launch of regional comparative report highlighting corruption risks of regional and EU concern

- Regional round-tables to share findings and identify regional priorities

- More than 100 national and regional-level advocacy events based on key recommendations identified

B) Evaluation of the results achieved:

The Consultant should make a qualitative and quantitative narrative assessment of the following project results.

Expected Results:

- strengths & weaknesses of anti-corruption system in target countries identified

- understanding of corruption risks by relevant stakeholders improved

- key advocacy initiatives on anti-corruption implemented in target countries

- regional priorities for anti-corruption identified and advocated for

- national and regional civil society movement against corruption strengthened

C) Evaluation of the outputs accomplished:

The Consultant should make a qualitative and quantitative narrative assessment of the following project outputs, as well as assessing their overall impact.

Expected Outputs:

- Comprehensive reports on anti-corruption systems in 23 EU members countries

- Several policy papers on most relevant results in each target country

- 23 consultative multi-stakeholder workshops 

- Regional comparative report on common corruption risks and emerging best practices in anti-corruption

- Up to 4 EU-level policy papers on issues of regional concern

- Regional round-table to debate findings and identify best practices and common key challenges

- Numerous advocacy activities tackling corruption risks at country and at EU level

D) General Evaluation of Objectives vs. Results:

The Consultant should identify and explain in narrative form, the overall impact of the project and the positive/ negative results achieved

Expected Results:

1) To improve the understanding of the performance of existing anti-corruption mechanisms in 23 EU member states as part of the essential framework of preventing financial and economic crime.

2) To mitigate primary corruption risks through evidence-based advocacy, including policy reform, public education and other relevant activities

E) GENERAL COMMENTS:

On the basis of the project’s impact relative to its objectives, the Consultant should identify possible follow-up action and potential modifications. These tasks will be carried out on the basis, inter alia, of:

• Consultations with Transparency International Secretariat, TI National Chapters participating in the ENIS project, the European Commission services and any other parties involved in the various stages of project implementation;

• Reference documents, studies carried out during the implementation of the project and the project presented and approved (e.g. National Integrity System Reports; Regional Policy Papers; ENIS Regional Report; ENIS Regional Policy Papers and other documents developed during the project implementation)

2.3. EXPECTED RESULTS:

The expected outputs of the consultancy assignment will be the following:

OUTPUT : Technical Report

DESCRIPTION : A Technical Evaluation Report developed using the indicated methodology.

3. EXPERTS PROFILE:

The Expert profile is detailed below:

Essential Profile:

• University degree in social sciences or a related area. A post-graduate degree in project management, and/or related fields would be an advantage;

• At least 5 years of proven relevant professional experience in an international development environment, preferably carried on within international organisations (European Commission, United Nations Agencies), of which at least 3 years should be in Monitoring & Evaluation of Projects & Programmes.

• Excellent drafting and report writing capacities

• A good working knowledge of and experience with EC projects / programmes implementing procedures.

• Demonstrable experience in conducting project/ programme monitoring and evaluations.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of EC projects and programme is an advantage.

Desirable Experience:

• Familiarity with the activities and procedures of TI Secretariat and TI National Chapters is desirable

• Knowledge of anti-corruption issues

• The working language will be English.

• Knowledge of other languages (e.g. French and Spanish) is desirable, but not essential.

4. LOCATION AND DURATION:

Location and duration of the assignment are indicated below:

Starting date : March/April 2013

Completion date : End of April 2013 - including the approval of the Final Report by the Project Manager

Total working days : 15 

Location: Berlin, Germany

The consultancy shall mainly consist of desk research. TI Secretariat will support the consultant with communication facilities, while it is expected that the consultant will be IT independent (i.e. possess a laptop computer, etc.)

5. REPORTING:

The Consultant is requested to prepare reports on the outcome of the assignment as indicated below:

REPORT DESCRIPTION:

DRAFT : A draft of the Evaluation Report will be presented at the end of the assignment (working Day n° 10) to the attention of the ECA Regional Coordinator and ECA Programme Officer at TI Secretariat. Comments will be submitted to the Consultant within two weeks (10 working days) in order to proceed with the editing of the Final Report.

FINAL : The Final Evaluation Report will be presented within 2 days from the transmission of the comments by the ECA Regional Coordinator and ECA Programme Officer at TI Secretariat.

The reports (Draft ad Final) should be provided in electronic format (in word and excel for windows 97 compatible).

6. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applications (in English) must be sent by email to enisevaluatorjob@transparency.org by close of business of 20th January 2013, and contain the following elements:

• Curriculum Vitae with full description of the applicant’s profile and experience.

• One sample of previous work (confidentiality guaranteed).

• Contact details for at least two independent referees with in-depth and proven knowledge of the applicant’s expertise and relevant work experience.

Please indicate “Expression of Interest – ENIS External Evaluator” in the subject line of your email application.

TI retains the right to reject any or all of the applications and/or to enter into additional negotiations with one or more of the tendering parties.