Job Description
1. Executive Summary
We Effect Zambia
invites qualified evaluation consultants to conduct a comprehensive
End-of-Project Evaluation
of the
CIVSAM Program (2023-2025)
in Zambia, implemented through the Partnerships for Food, Climate Resilience and Gender Equality (P4Food Zambia) project. This critical evaluation will assess achievements across six interconnected result areas, providing evidence-based insights for accountability, learning, and future programming decisions.
2. Program Background and Context
2.1 About We Effect
We Effect is a Swedish development organisation established in 1958 by Sweden’s cooperative movement, operating in over 20 countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa. We Effect’s vision is “a sustainable and just world free of poverty.”
Our mission focuses on empowering the most vulnerable populations—women and youth, who constitute 70% of those living in poverty—through partnership with local organisations and communities. We Effect applies a human rights-based approach across all programs, utilizing gender-transformative methodologies that operate at multiple levels: personal, social, material, organisational, and structural.
Core Strategy:
Strengthen cooperatives and membership-based organisations through:
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Membership-based democracy
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Long-term economic thinking
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Social responsibility
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Transparency and accountability
2.2 CIVSAM Program Overview
The CIVSAM Program operates under the global framework “Food, Rights, Power” and is funded by Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency). In Zambia, it is implemented under the flagship of Stronger Together: Supporting Civil Society to advance the right to food for all individuals, households and communities in Zambia is a three-year programme working to advance the right to food that is linked to the global strategy and it is implemented through strategic partnerships with:
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People’s Process on Housing and Poverty in Zambia (PPHPZ)
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Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN)
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Food First Information and Action Network (FIAN)
Program Goal:
“Empowered, mobilised and organised women, men and young people who are able to affirm their equal, sustainable and equitable right to food.”
Specific Objectives:
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Increased number of female, male, and young rights-holders directly benefiting from program interventions
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Increased capacity, voice, and meaningful participation of partner organisations in platforms, spaces, and networks working on the right to food
2.3 Program Result Areas and Key Interventions
Result Area 1: Effective, Equitable & Just Food Systems
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Participation in inclusive and climate-responsive agricultural value chains
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Food sovereignty and nutrition security initiatives
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Sustainable food production systems
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Policy advocacy for equitable food system governance
Result Area 2: Sustainable Livelihoods
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Income diversification strategies and enterprise development
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Equitable access to financial services (VSLAs, SACCOs)
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Market linkage development and value chain participation
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Skills development for economic empowerment
Result Area 3: Climate change and resilience
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Climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management practices
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Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Early Warning Systems implementation
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Environmental conservation and climate adaptation planning
Community resilience building initiatives
Result Area 4: Equitable and just access to adequate housing
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Climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management practices
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Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Early Warning Systems implementation
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Environmental conservation and climate adaptation planning
Community resilience building initiatives
Result Area 5: Gender Equality and Women’s Rights
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Transformation of harmful gender norms and discriminatory practices
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Women’s leadership development and economic empowerment
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Gender-responsive service delivery and programming
Men’s engagement in gender equality initiatives
Result Area 6: Stronger Organisations
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Institutional capacity development and democratic governance strengthening
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Financial management and transparency systems
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Rights-based advocacy and policy engagement capabilities
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Climate-aware and conflict-sensitive programming approaches
3. Evaluation Purpose and Objectives
3.1 Primary Purpose
To conduct a comprehensive, independent assessment of the CIVSAM Program performance, achievements, and impact across all result areas, providing evidence-based insights for accountability to Sida and stakeholders, organizational learning, and next Phase programming decisions.
3.2 Specific Objectives
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Performance Assessment: Evaluate program achievements against planned outcomes, outputs, and results framework indicators
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Quality Analysis: Examine relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact of interventions led by PPHPZ, ZCCN, and FIAN
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Impact Documentation: Assess contributions to gender equality, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and civil society strengthening
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Accountability: Provide transparent reporting to Sida, We Effect, and national partners
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Learning and Improvement: Generate actionable recommendations and lessons learned for Phase Two programming
4. Key Evaluation Questions
4.1 Relevance
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To what extent did program interventions address the identified needs and priorities of rights-holders and civil society partners in Zambia?
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How well did the program respond to changing contexts and emerging challenges during implementation?
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How relevant were program objectives to beneficiary needs and national development priorities?
4.2 Effectiveness
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To what extent were program outcomes and outputs achieved across the six result areas?
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How effectively did PPHPZ, ZCCN, and FIAN contribute to civil society strengthening and advancement of the right to food?
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What specific, measurable changes occurred in the lives of women, men, and youth as direct results of program interventions?
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What factors facilitated or hindered achievement of intended results?
4.3 Efficiency
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Were human, financial, and technical resources utilised efficiently to deliver intended outputs and outcomes?
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How effective was collaboration, coordination, and communication among implementing partners?
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What alternative approaches might have achieved similar or better results with available resources?
4.4 Impact
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What significant positive and negative changes occurred in the lives of rights-holders (women, men, youth) as direct or indirect results of program interventions?
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What evidence exists of policy, institutional, or normative changes in gender equality, food rights, or climate resilience?
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What broader, longer-term effects can be attributed to the program on target communities and systems?
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What unintended consequences (positive or negative) have emerged?
4.5 Sustainability
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Which program results and achievements are most likely to be sustained beyond Phase One support?
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How well are PPHPZ, ZCCN, and FIAN positioned to continue their work independently or with reduced external support?
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What institutional, financial, and technical factors will influence long-term sustainability?
4.6 Cross-cutting Themes
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How effectively did the program integrate and mainstream gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and environmental sustainability throughout all interventions?
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To what extent have marginalized groups been meaningfully included and benefited?
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What key lessons can inform Phase Two design and implementation in Zambia?
5. Evaluation Scope and Parameters
5.1 Temporal and Geographic Scope
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Evaluation Period: CIVSAM (2023–2025)
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Geographic Coverage: All provinces and districts where PPHPZ, ZCCN, and FIAN implemented program activities
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Implementation Timeline: 25 calendar days
5.2 Target Stakeholder Categories
Primary Beneficiaries:
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Program rights-holders (farmers, cooperative members, VSLA participants, women’s groups, youth)
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Community leaders and traditional authorities
Implementing Partners:
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PPHPZ, ZCCN, FIAN leadership, management, and field staff
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We Effect Zambia program and country management staff
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Government counterparts and technical officers
Secondary Stakeholders:
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Other development organizations and NGOs
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Policy makers and government officials
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Private sector partners where relevant
6. Evaluation Methodology and Approach
6.1 Methodological Framework
The evaluation will employ a robust mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods, guided by:
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Theory-based evaluation principles
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Participatory evaluation approaches ensuring meaningful stakeholder engagement
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Gender-responsive evaluation methodologies
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Culturally sensitive data collection methods
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Utilisation-focused evaluation design/impact evaluation.
6.2 Data Collection Methods
The evaluation will employ a mixed-methods approach combining comprehensive desk review of program documents and relevant literature, quantitative data collection through structured surveys with 500+ beneficiaries using stratified random sampling (95% confidence level, 5% margin of error), and qualitative methods including key informant interviews. Data will be disaggregated by gender, age, location, and intervention type, with quality assured through triangulation across multiple sources, participatory validation workshops with stakeholders, and systematic quality control procedures adhering to international evaluation standards and ethical guidelines.
7. Expected Deliverables and Timeline
7.1 Required Deliverables
1. Inception Report (15-20 pages plus annexes)
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Refined understanding of evaluation scope and objectives
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Detailed methodology and sampling strategy
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Data collection tools and protocols (pre-tested)
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Comprehensive evaluation matrix
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Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
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Detailed implementation timeline with milestones
2. Draft Evaluation Report (45-50 pages excluding annexes)
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Executive summary (maximum 4 pages) with key findings and recommendations
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Comprehensive analysis addressing all evaluation questions with supporting evidence
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Evidence-based conclusions and strategic recommendations
Lessons learned and best practices
3. Stakeholder Validation Workshop
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Facilitated presentation of preliminary findings
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Structured stakeholder feedback collection
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Documentation of inputs and validation process
4. Final Evaluation Report (Maximum 50 pages excluding annexes)
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Incorporation of stakeholder feedback from validation workshop
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Professional presentation suitable for external distribution
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Executive summary appropriate for donor reporting
5. Supporting Materials
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Evaluation brief (2-4 pages for external dissemination)
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PowerPoint presentation (15-20 slides)
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All raw data cleaned datasets and analysis files including consent forms.
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Comprehensive annexes including updated indicator tracking table, methodology details, and supporting documentation
7.2 Implementation Timeline
Total Duration: 25 working days
8. Budget Framework and Payment Terms
8.1 Budget Requirements
Consultants must provide a detailed budget proposal in ZMW with clear distinction between:
Professional Fees:
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Lead evaluator and specialist daily rates
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Data collection supervisor and assistant costs
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Statistical justification for proposed rates
Reimbursable Costs:
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Training costs for data collectors
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Transportation, accommodation, and travel expenses
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Communication, internet, and translation services
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Workshop facilitation and venue costs
8.2 Payment Schedule
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30% upon approval of Inception Report
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40% upon submission of Draft Evaluation Report
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30% upon approval of Final Evaluation Report and all deliverables
9. Consultant Qualifications and Requirements
9.1 Lead Evaluator Requirements
Education and Experience:
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Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) in development studies, social sciences, economics, agricultural development, gender studies, or related field
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Minimum 10 years of professional experience in program evaluation
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Minimum 7 years’ experience evaluating civil society strengthening, rights-based, or food security programs
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Proven experience with complex, multi-stakeholder development programs
Technical Competencies:
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Expert knowledge of evaluation methodologies, particularly mixed-methods approaches
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Strong understanding of civil society development, gender equality, climate resilience, and food systems
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Advanced statistical analysis skills and quantitative data analysis software proficiency
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Proven experience with participatory and gender-responsive evaluation methods
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Regional and Contextual Knowledge: In-depth understanding of Zambian development context and civil society landscape
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Knowledge of cooperative movement principles and membership-based organizations
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Experience working with international development organizations
Language and Communication:
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
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Professional report writing experience for international audiences
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Presentation and facilitation skills for diverse stakeholder groups
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Knowledge of local Zambian languages highly advantageous
10. Application Process and Selection
10.1 Required Application Documents
Technical Proposal (Maximum 20 pages):
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Understanding of assignment and evaluation context
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Detailed methodology and approach
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Comprehensive evaluation matrix
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Sampling strategy and data collection plan
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Work plan with timelines and risk mitigation
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Team composition and management structure
Financial Proposal:
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Detailed budget breakdown in ZMW
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Daily rate justification for each team member
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Cost-effectiveness analysis
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Payment schedule preferences
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Supporting Documentation:
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Comprehensive CVs of all proposed team members
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Portfolio of three similar evaluations completed in past five years
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At least three professional references with contact information
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Evidence of academic qualifications and professional certifications
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Company registration and tax clearance certificates
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Signed availability confirmations from all team members
10.2 Evaluation Criteria
Technical Quality (50%): Methodology, approach, understanding of context, team expertise Experience and Qualifications (30%): Relevant experience, track record, regional knowledge Cost-effectiveness (20%): Value for money, budget reasonableness, financial management
10.3 Selection Process
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Initial screening for minimum requirements
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Technical evaluation by expert panel
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Financial assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis
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Reference checks and due diligence
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Interview phase for shortlisted candidates
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Final selection and contract negotiation
11. Evaluation Standards and Ethics
Ethical Requirements
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Written informed consent for all data collection activities
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Strict confidentiality agreements and data protection protocols
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Cultural sensitivity and respect for local customs
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Do No Harm principles throughout implementation
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Protection of participant identity and information
12. Contract Terms and Management
12.1 Contract Framework
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Independent Service Contract governed by Zambian law
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Performance-based payments linked to satisfactory deliverables
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We Effect ownership of all evaluation materials and intellectual property
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Professional indemnity insurance requirements
12.2 Evaluation Management
PPHPZ will serve as the evaluation lead and budget holder, working closely with We Effect Zambia country management and relevant program staff to ensure proper oversight and quality assurance throughout the evaluation process.
12.3 Quality Assurance
We Effect reserves the right to request revisions for substandard deliverables
Technical backstopping and guidance provided throughout the process
Independent quality review of evaluation processes and outputs
Regular progress monitoring and milestone reviews
13. Submission Instructions
13.1 Submission Requirements
Deadline:4th September, 2025
Email Address: [email protected]
cc: [email protected]
Subject Line: CIVSAM Program End-of-Project Evaluation Proposal
13.2 Important Notes
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No late submissions will be accepted
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Only complete applications will be considered
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Electronic submission only – no hard copies required
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Confirmation of receipt will be provided
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Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews