Organisational background

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (DefendDefenders) is the secretariat to a network of more than 75 member organizations drawn from eleven countries in the sub-region (that is, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia (and Somaliland), South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The project was designed to strengthen the work of human rights defenders (HRDs) in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region by reducing their vulnerability to the risk of persecution and by enhancing their capacity to effectively defend human rights. The Project envisions a region in which the human rights of every citizen as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) are respected and upheld.

DefendDefenders implements activities in the areas of protection, advocacy and capacity building.

Additionally, DefendDefenders acts as the secretariat for the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRDN). PAHRDN brings together five sub-regional networks from North, Central, West, Southern and the East and Horn of Africa. PAHRDN seeks to create a safe working environment for human rights defenders in Africa and especially most-at-risk human rights defenders

Further information about DefendDefender’s activities can be found on this website, on Africadefenders.org or through our social media outlets on Facebook (Panafricadefenders and (Humanrightsdefendersproject)  and on Twitter via @panafricannet and @EHAHRDP.

 Scope of the assignment

PAHRDN seeks the services of a consultant(s) to undertake an evaluation of PAHRDN’s EU funded project in promoting and protecting human rights defenders in Africa. The consultant will evaluate a European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) project on HRDs in Africa which commenced in February 2013 and ended in February 2016. The evaluation would seek to identify lessons learnt from PAHRDN’s experience in the past three years, as well as opportunities for the secretariat going forward. The evaluation has 4 key overarching objectives, namely:

1. Identify and assess achieved results, constraints and obstacles which affected the EU projects’ impact for the period 2013-2016 based on specific evaluation criteria and indicators.
2. The evaluation of the Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network in line with the various aims of EIDHR and the criteria published in the initial call for proposals.
3. Assess if the project initiatives have contributed to the improvement of the working environments of human rights defenders in the 5 sub-regional networks and the countries therein.
4. Make recommendations for the future of PAHRDN Programming based on lessons learnt in the EU-funded project.

Terms of reference
The evaluation envisages a process of desk review of documents and plans, as well as interviews with PAHRDN’s former and current staff, board members, former and current partners, steering committee members, beneficiaries of PAHRDN’s programs and projects as well as partner organisations and network members within PANHRD-Network. The Consultant(s) will be expected to design and develop a comprehensive project sample and action plan for consideration by PAHRDN once selected.

In order to fully achieve the overarching objectives highlighted above, the Consultant will review, assess and evaluate the following interlinked aspects:

1. Review the relevancy of PAHRDN’s activities in Africa with regard to human rights defenders through the sub regional networks.
   1. Evaluation of the core areas in programming: Capacity Building, Protection mechanisms for Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy at regional level.
   2. Review the design of the network’s programs- advocacy, capacity building and protection and assess to what extent this structuring will ensure delivery on the network’ goals and objectives.
   3. Relevancy and scope of gender mainstreaming and mainstreaming minority rights within the network;

2. Review the operational environment and systems (i.e. staff capacity, budgetary allocations, opportunities for skills development and other resources)
   1. Review the hosts institute’s management, decision making, structure, finance and ICTs support systems and assess their capacity to support human rights defenders’ programming;
   2. Review financial and other resources available to thematic programs undertaken by PAHRDN;

3. Review the network’s key partnerships (within and outside the PANHRD-Network) and assess to what extent these have advanced PAHRDN’s goals and objectives
   1. Assess PAHRDN’s niche in human rights defenders programming in relation to partners working towards the same goals and objectives in the region;

Recommendations

1. Present clear, concise and practical recommendations on the impact of the programs and activities that PAHRDN implements.

1. Present clear and concise recommendations on the internal processes and systems supporting the program work.

The Consultant(s) is expected to deliver to PAHRDN a comprehensive written report of maximum 20 pages excluding annexes which meets the following specifications:

• Reviews and analyses the various aspects as outlined above.

• Highlights gaps, challenges and opportunities for PAHRDN to achieve its overall objectives of promoting, building the capacity of and protecting human rights defenders;

• Highlights and clearly indicates lessons that PAHRDN could learn from its experiences in the past 3 years of implementing this project in the Africa;

• Clearly indicates specific recommendations in all areas mentioned that PAHRDN should consider implementing (especially given key and emerging issues affecting human rights defenders in Africa).

Duration and location

The tasks under this evaluation are to be undertaken for an estimated period of 30 working days. A report of the evaluation will be presented to the Board of Directors and the Chairperson of the PAHRDN. The location of the evaluation will be Kampala, Uganda with consultations conducted with other sub regional networks (which will be discussed in detail with the concultants).

A breakdown of the expected activities is provided below.

• Inception report
• Discuss the inception report with PAHRDN and incorporating comments
• Desk review of previous proposals and reports
• Stakeholder engagement (both physical and virtual via Skype and online)
• Analysis of data collected
• Report compilation
• Present and discuss the draft report with PAHRDN
• First draft feedback (may include engaging key stakeholders)
• Incorporating comments and final report compilation

Requirements

A consultant with the following skills and competencies are encouraged to express their interest:

• A Post Graduate Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g Social Science, Law, Politics, Economics and Human Rights);
• Experience and additional training in project evaluation especially those of a regional or international nature;
• Specialisation and additional training in human rights and experience of working with human rights defenders at risk;
• Competence in organisational development;
• Demonstrable experience in evaluating programmes and projects across countries and also those of a regional nature;
• Knowledge of the socio-economic and political dynamics as well as the social justice issues in the Africa region;
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the architecture of human rights organizations in the region.
• Fluency in English and French is a must and additional Arabic language is an added advantage.

Qualifications

The Consultant is expected to have professional experience of work in the human rights sector in two or more countries in Africa. Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required. The consultant(s) must be willing to travel to Kampala (if they are not based in Uganda) and other countries in the region and be available to meet with partners and stakeholders.

Applying

Consultants (including consultants firms) are requested to submit a project proposal (outlining the tools, methods, workplan and sampling model to be used) and comprehensive indicative project budget as part of their motivation and application for consideration.

Please send your application to [email protected]  with the subject line “EU Pan Africa External Evaluation” by 3 April 2016. Your application should include your CV(s) and your proposed time frame, budget, work-plan and 3 references for similar work undertaken.

Do not send copies of certificates or degrees.