ECES is launching a call for applications for the evaluation of its Jordan project - EU Support to Jordanian Democratic Institutions and Development (EU-JDID) from 25/10/2018 to 31/08/2020. (ENI/2017/385-539)
Background
The EU-JDID project has been crafted to comply with the EU’s priorities and methodology for democracy and electoral support, and is based on the European Response to Electoral Cycle Support Strategy (EURECS) designed by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) consortium led by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES). ‘
The project is construed to deliver support to implement the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Missions (EUEOM) to Jordan, and draws on the lessons learned from project funded by the EU and EU-members states implemented in Jordan by members of the EPD Consortium, notably the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and the French Agency for Media Cooperation (CFI). Moreover, this project is informed by the lessons learned and accumulated experience of the EPD Consortium from having delivered more than 200 democracy and electoral support projects in 150 countries.
The consortium assembled a joint scoping team composed of national, regional and international experts and conducted three needs assessment (NAM) and formulation missions to Jordan, coupled with thorough research, to this proposal in the requests of key beneficiary groups and the priorities of the contracting authority. The NAMs employed a participatory methodology whereby key informant interviews (Kii) and focus groups were central means of data collection, and they documented key stakeholders’ priorities, in terms of content and preferred delivery mechanism of activities. The mission further identified entry points to operate in an effective, accepted and sustainable manner. This preparation phase allowed the partners to craft a truly tailored methodology for the project, conceived with and for Jordanian beneficiaries. All other electoral and democracy assistance providers present in Jordan have been consulted in order to avoid activity duplication, seek synergies and establish reciprocal and cordial working relationships.
Purpose of the evaluation
In view of the general elections in Jordan scheduled for 10 November 2020, ECES and the European Union delegation agreed to carry out this evaluation of the EU-JDID programme as foreseen in the budget of the project - which is under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) - taking into account that the final external evaluation will be contracted and carried out by the EU Delegation at the end of the project which is planned for April 2021.
As a Mid-term evaluation, covering the period going from April 25th 2017 to October 25th 2018, have been carried out, the present evaluation exercise will focus on approximately 22 months of implementation (25 October 2018 – 31 August 2020) of the programme EU-JDID.
Systematic and timely evaluation of Project and activities is an established priority of the European Commission. The focus of evaluation is on the assessment of achievements, the quality and the results of Actions in the context of an evolving cooperation policy with an increasing emphasis on result-oriented approaches.
From this perspective, evaluation should look for evidence of why, whether or how these results are linked to the EU intervention and seek to identify the factors driving or hindering progress. The present evaluation can also build upon a previous Results Oriented Monitoring (ROM) mission, as commissioned by the Delegation of the European Union in Jordan, whose report was published in April 2019.
Evaluation should provide an understanding of the cause and effects links between inputs and activities, and outputs, outcomes and impacts. Evaluation should serve accountability, decision making, learning and management purposes.
The main objectives of this evaluation are to provide the relevant services of the European Union, ECES (representing the consortium), the interested stakeholders and the wider public with:
- An overall independent assessment of the performance of the Project ‘EU Support to Jordanian Democratic Institutions and Development’, paying particular attention to its results measured against its objectives and expected results before elections 2020 are taken place;
- An overall independent assessment of the added values and comparative advantages the implementing methodology “A European Response to Electoral Cycle Approach — EURECS”, in particular with regards to cost effectiveness (funds dedicate to activities compared to human resource/management costs) focusing also on activities that can be implemented to support the ongoing electoral process including looking at the EUEOMs recommendations that have been implemented.
In particular, this evaluation will serve to present lessons learned and best practices that may inform future similar activities and future actions in the field of electoral and democratic development support.
Find out all information here
Interested candidates should submit their application to info@eces.eu before August 31st.
