This programme aimed to increase public support for development assistance and policy in the EU member states that joined in 2004, by raising awareness of development issues in developing countries, and how these might be alleviated by adopting rights based approaches to development.

Its specific objective was to build capacity of development NGOs and other stakeholders in these member states to (1) raise public awareness in their countries of development issues in developing countries; and (2) incorporate rights based approaches into their development work, at the same time raising public awareness of the benefits of adopting such approaches in addressing development issues.  Activities were carried out in Malta, Poland, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The programme is due to end in December 2009 and we would like the evaluation to begin in mid-November as this would enable the evaluator to attend the final project conference on the 19^th and 20^th of November.  The report would be due to reach MRG by the end of February 2010.   

We would expect that the evaluator selected would have experience of development education work, a good knowledge and understanding of the NGO sector, specifically the development sector, and state of public understanding of international development in the 5 countries in which activities were run as well as a broader knowledge across the states that joined the EU since 2004.  S/he would also have a good knowledge of rights based approaches to development, minority and human rights. A working knowledge of languages spoken in the programme countries and other new EU member states would be an advantage.

The logframe for the project showing the purpose and expected results is attached.

Output level

Referring to the logical framework, did we complete all of the activities as planned to a reasonably high quality?  What problems were encountered at this level?  How did they affect the activities and to what extent were they overcome?  To what extent could any problems have been foreseen?  Did activities successfully reach different geographic regions of the focus countries?  Did they reach a variety of social groups?

Outcome level

Where completed as planned, did the activities contribute to the planned results?  Where this was so, refer to evidence. Where not so, what factors intervened and explain how they impacted.  Suggest ways that MRG tried to overcome any problems and how successful this was (or not).  Document any changes in the external environment that may have helped or hindered the project.  If there were any unplanned results (positive or negative) explain what these were and how they came about.

Impact level

If at all possible, make an assessment as to whether the results achieved are likely, over the longer term to achieve or contribute to the achievement of the purpose of the project:

If it is unlikely that all or part of the purpose will be achieved, why is this and is this something that could have been foreseen or overcome?

Specific tasks of the evaluator

-          Read all project materials, reports, publications produced as part of the project.

-          Speak to MRG project staff:  Snjezana Bokulic, Bernadett Sebaly, Neil Clarke, Claire Thomas and ex staff Evelin Verhas, Dalma Fabian and Jan Fiala.

-          Attend the conference (in Budapest 19^th and 20^th November) and discuss the programme and individual country projects with staff from all partner organisations.

-          Visit the two projects that were run in Hungary.  Meet with project staff and beneficiaries to independently assess the success of the projects (one visit may involve travel within Hungary outside of Budapest).

-          Visit one other project, to be mutually agreed between MRG staff and the evaluator to meet with project staff and interview beneficiaries.

-          Report with an assessment of the effectiveness and impact of the programme and on lessons that MRG and others can learn for the future in similar initiatives.

It is essential that the evaluation also assesses how well gender has been mainstreamed in the work throughout.  

The budget for this piece of work including the evaluators’ fee, all travel, communication and other costs may not exceed €4,000.

If you are interested in being considered for this opportunity, please send your CV and a covering letter setting out your relevant experience and your suggested methodology of tackling this evaluation (including an outline budget) to Claire.Thomas@mrgmail.org to arrive by Tuesday 20^th October.  Please confirm whether or not you would be available to attend the November partners’ meeting.

More in the attached file or on http://www.minorityrights.org/8205/jobs-internships-amp-volunteering/evaluation-opportunity-development-education-in-eu-member-states.html