ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) 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. EHAHRDP implements activities in the areas of protection, advocacy and capacity building.

Additionally, EHAHRDP acts as the secretariat for the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network, which brings together five sub-regional networks from North, Central, West, Southern and the East and Horn of Africa.

Further information about EHAHRDP’s activities can be found on the website: https://defenddefenders.org/ or through our social media outlets on Face book http://www.facebook.com/humanrightsdefendersproject or Twitter @EHAHRDP.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

EHAHRDP seeks the services of a consultant to undertake an evaluation of EHAHRDP’s EU-funded project in promoting and protecting human rights defenders in Somalia. The consultant will evaluate a European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) project on Somali human rights defenders which commenced in November 2012 and is due to end in October 2015.

The evaluation would seek to identify lessons learnt from EHAHRDP’s experience in the past three years, as well as opportunities for the organisation going forward. The evaluation will focus on the following:

• The evaluation of the Somali human rights defenders project in line with the various aims of EIDHR and the criteria published in the initial call for proposals.

• The evaluation of finished or ongoing activities under the project.

• An assessment of the impact of the project based on specific evaluation criteria and indicators.

• Recommendations for the future of the organisation’s programming.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The evaluation envisages a process of desk review of documents and plans, as well as interviews with EHAHRDP’s staff, board members, former and current partners, beneficiaries of EHAHRDP’s programs and projects as well as partner organisations. The Consultant will be expected to design and develop a comprehensive project sample and action plan for consideration by EHAHRDP once selected.

In order to fully achieve the objectives of this assignment, the Consultant will review, assess and evaluate the following interlinked aspects:

Evaluating EU-funded Somalia project over three years:

1. Review the relevancy of EHAHRDP’s activities in Somalia with regard to human rights defenders.
   1. Evaluation of the three core areas in programming: Capacity Building, Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy.
   2. Review the design of the organizations programs- advocacy, capacity building and protection and assess to what extent this structuring will ensure delivery on the organizations’ goals and objectives.
      
   3. Relevancy and scope of gender mainstreaming and mainstreaming minority rights within the organisation;

2. Review the operational environment and systems (i.e. staff capacity, budgetary allocations, opportunities for skills development and other resources)
   1. Review the institutional policy, planning, management, decision making, structure, finance and ICTs support systems and assess their conduciveness to human rights defenders’ programming;
   2. Review and assess management/administration staff’s skills   and capacity to support programmatic work.

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

Recommendations

1. Present clear and concise and practical recommendations on the impact of the programs and activities that EHAHRDP implements in Somalia
2. Present clear and concise recommendations on the internal processes and systems supporting the program work.

The Consultant is expected to deliver to EHAHRDP a comprehensive written report which meets the following specifications:

• Reviews and analyses the various aspects as outlined above;

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

• Highlights and clearly indicates lessons that EHAHRDP could learn from its experiences in the past 3 years of implementing this project in the sub-region;
•  Clearly indicate specific recommendations in all areas mentioned that EHAHRDP should consider implementing in Somalia.

DURATION AND LOCATION

The tasks under this evaluation are to be undertaken in a maximum period of 45 days, but the consultancy paid working days are twelve (12). A report of the evaluation will be presented to the Executive Director and management of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP).

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;
• 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 East and Horn of Africa region;
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the architecture of human rights organizations in the region.
• Knowledge and experience on Somalia is desirable.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Consultant is expected to have professional experience of work in the human rights sector in two or more countries in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region. Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement and knowledge of French is highly valued. The consultant must be willing to travel to Kampala and other focal countries and be available to meet with partners.

APPLYING

Consultants are requested to submit a project proposal (outlining the tools, methods 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 Somalia External Evaluation” by 5 October 2015. Your application should include your CV and your proposed time frame, budget, work-plan and 3 references for similar work undertaken.

Do not send copies of certificates or degrees.