Midterm Participatory Evaluation Consultant

Position: Midterm Participatory Evaluation Consultant or Consultancy Firm Location: Makati Office (Hybrid) Reports to: Project Manager Engagement period: 3 months, 15 days Background Tanggol Kababaihan: Operationalising the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS) is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union, with the main aim of contributing to the operationalization of the 4th Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. Together with Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI) and Coalition for Bicol Development, forming the Tanggol Kababaihan Consortium, the action contributes to improved peace, stability and well-being among conflict-vulnerable communities in the Philippines through effective civil society engagement in enhancing local implementation of the NAPWPS and leading to better informed policy processes along higher tiers of governance. The action is being implemented across 40 barangays in 12 cities and municipalities, covering 8 provinces. These provinces are: Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Norte. Position Summary The Tanggol Kababaihan Consortium is seeking the services of an experienced Consultant / Firm to conduct the Midterm Participatory Evaluation of the Tanggol Kababaihan Action. The Midterm Participatory Evaluation will be undertaken in September - October 2026 following completion of the Action's initial implementation phase from July 2025 to September 2026, which includes a series of social preparation activities, a suite of capacity strengthening interventions, and local governance advocacy initiatives across the Action's target areas. Building on the findings of the Baseline Assessment and Capacity Needs Assessment conducted in March 2026, the evaluation shall assess the Action's progress against its Logical Framework and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Framework, with particular focus on progress towards planned outputs and intended outcomes. It shall also examine the relevance and effectiveness of implementation strategies, identify emerging changes among target stakeholders, and assess key enabling and constraining factors during the first phase of implementation. Furthermore, the evaluation will undertake a second Partnership Review with consortium partners Relief International (RI), Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), and the Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD), following the initial review conducted in May 2026. The review will assess the extent to which partnership dynamics, coordination mechanisms, communication, decision-making processes, and collaborative implementation arrangements have evolved over the course of the project. Particular attention will be given to the support provided by RI as the consortium lead in addressing implementation challenges and facilitating adaptive management processes. Given the implementation delays experienced during Year 1, the review will specifically examine the effectiveness of the consortium's efforts to re-strategize project implementation approaches and revise implementation plans to ensure timely and quality delivery of project objectives. It will assess how consortium partners collaborated to identify bottlenecks, adapt strategies, and respond to emerging operational realities and contextual changes. The review will also identify good practices, lessons learned, remaining gaps, and opportunities for improvement in consortium coordination, technical and management support, and overall partnership effectiveness, with the aim of strengthening implementation performance and maximizing progress toward intended outcomes during the remaining project period. Using a participatory evaluation approach, the Consultant / Firm shall facilitate structured reflection among consortium partners, implementing teams, local stakeholders, and selected Action participants to validate findings, capture lessons learned, and identify opportunities for adaptive management. The Consultant / Firm shall produce a Midterm Participatory Evaluation Report presenting evidence-based findings, conclusions, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations to strengthen implementation during the remaining Action period. The evaluation findings shall inform the refinement of implementation strategies, capacity development interventions, and work planning for Action Year 3 to improve progress towards the Action's intended results and fulfil the European Union's reporting and learning requirements. Roles and Responsibilities A. Evaluation Design and Inception Review all relevant Action documents, including but not limited to Project Description (Description of the Action), Logical Framework, MEAL Framework, Baseline Assessment and Capacity Needs Assessment Report, Annual Work Plans, Progress and monitoring reports, Training designs and implementation reports, Relevant communication and advocacy materials Conduct inception meetings with the Tanggol Kababaihan Consortium to validate the evaluation scope, objectives, methodology, evaluation questions, work plan, and deliverables. Develop and submit an Inception Report detailing the evaluation methodology, sampling strategy, data collection tools, work schedule, quality assurance measures, ethical considerations, and analysis framework. B. Data Collection and Stakeholder Engagement Develop and administer appropriate qualitative and quantitative data collection tools aligned with the evaluation objectives and methodology. Conduct participatory data collection activities with consortium partners and relevant stakeholders, including local government units, civil society organizations, women's groups, peace and security actors, Master Trainers and WPS Community of Practice (COP), and selected action participants across the Action sites. Validate progress against the Baseline Assessment, action indicators, and results framework C. Data Analysis and Evaluation Analyze the Action's progress towards planned outputs and intended outcomes using the approved Logical Framework and MEAL Framework. Assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and early sustainability of action interventions, including factors that have enabled or constrained implementation. Compare evaluation findings with baseline data to identify significant changes, emerging outcomes, remaining capacity gaps, and promising practices. Synthesize findings into evidence-based conclusions, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations to strengthen implementation during the remaining action period. Evaluate the engagement and retention of Master Trainers and Community of Practice (CoPs) in implementing their action plans, identify factors influencing sustained participation and attrition, assess their capacity-building needs for long-term sustainability, and provide recommendations to strengthen their continued engagement and contribution to project outcomes. D. Validation and Learning Facilitate a participatory validation and learning workshop to present preliminary findings and obtain feedback from consortium partners and relevant stakeholders. Incorporate validated comments and recommendations into the final evaluation report. E. Reporting Prepare and submit the following deliverables: Inception Report Data collection tools and finalized evaluation instruments Presentation of preliminary findings Validation workshop documentation Final Midterm Participatory Evaluation Report including the Executive Summary, Methodology, Findings and analysis, Comparison with baseline findings, Lessons learned and good practices, Recommendations, Conclusions and annexes of data collection tools, participant lists, and supporting documentation. F. Safeguarding Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to safeguarding and the protection of vulnerable communities. Ensure that research processes do not harm respondents and are aligned with RI’s safeguarding policies. Maintain ethical standards in data handling, privacy, and engagement with conflict-affected communities. Contribute to a safe and inclusive environment throughout the baseline study implementation. Reporting and Management The Consultant / Firm shall work closely with the Project Management Team and consortium partners throughout the evaluation process to ensure methodological rigor, meaningful stakeholder participation, and adherence to internationally recognized evaluation standards, including gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive, and culturally appropriate evaluation principles. Regular coordination meetings shall be conducted between the Consultant / Firm and the Project Management Team to ensure alignment on the evaluation approach, work plan, deliverables, timelines, and emerging issues throughout the assignment. The Consultant / Firm shall be responsible for making all necessary logistical arrangements for the conduct of the evaluation, including hiring of enumerators, travel, accommodation, local transportation, venue coordination (where applicable), and scheduling of field activities. To facilitate implementation, the Consortium may provide the following support, as needed: Recommendations for accommodation and vehicle rental providers within the project areas; A directory of relevant stakeholders, partners, and key informants to facilitate field coordination and scheduling of interviews, focus group discussions, and validation activities; and Reasonable coordination support with consortium partners and local stakeholders to facilitate communication and field access, where necessary. While the Consortium shall extend coordination support as appropriate, the Consultant / Firm shall retain full responsibility for planning, organizing, and implementing all evaluation activities and ensuring the timely delivery of agreed outputs. Qualifications and Requirements: If applying as a team/ firm, the lead consultant must meet the succeeding qualifications and requirements. Bachelor’s degree or preferably master's degree in social sciences, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender Studies, or a related field. Minimum of 5 years of experience in leading baseline, midline, or endline assessments for development or peacebuilding programs. Demonstrated expertise in gender-sensitive research, conflict analysis, and participatory methodologies. Familiarity with the NAPWPS and local governance structures in the Philippines. Proven ability to produce high-quality analytical reports. Strong coordination and facilitation skills with multi-stakeholder groups. Willingness to travel to project areas. Requirements for submission Letter of intent addressed to the Project Manager, Ms. Menchie Channaiah Curriculum vitae (for individuals); company profile and registration (for firms) Initial workplan and proposed budget Key deliverables August 2026 - Inception Report - Data collection tools and finalized evaluation instruments September 2026 - Presentation of preliminary findings October 2026 - Validation workshop documentation - Draft Midterm Participatory Evaluation Report November 2026 - Final Midterm Participatory Evaluation Report Note: The evaluation instruments and the Final Midterm Participatory Evaluation Report shall be subject to a maximum of 3 rounds of review and revisions. We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. W e value: Inclusiveness Transparency and Accountability Agility and Innovation Collaboration Sustainability About RI: Relief International (RI) is a leading nonprofit organization working across 15 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. Through a triple nexus approach (humanitarian-development-peacebuilding), RI aims to strengthen resilience among communities by promoting long-term health and wellbeing in communities affected by climate change, conflict and disaster. RI collaborates with communities through crisis, response and resilience building. RI in the Philippines: Relief International has been active in the Philippines for 30 years, focusing on anticipatory action, emergency responses and disaster preparedness, peacebuilding and health programming. The program strengthens the capacities and engagement of local government units, public service providers, civil society, and key stakeholders across various sectors, including healthcare, peacebuilding, water, sanitation, and hygiene. RI prioritizes women and youth empowerment and promote economic opportunities, all while ensuring that inclusive and participatory approaches are integrated throughout their initiatives to enhance the well-being of the people.