Tenders Are Invited For External Evaluator - Pending Project Extension

Tenders are invited for External Evaluator - Pending Project Extension Closing Date: Wednesday, 28. Oct 2026 Intervention Sector(s): Conflict Resolution Remuneration range: 5000 to 6000 (USD) Duration of Contract: Approx 20 Days Project Title: Inclusive local and national-level dialogue in Lebanon: supporting reconciliation, vision-building and concrete action for service delivery and social rapprochement. The Berghof Foundation is an independent, non-governmental, and non-profit organization that supports efforts to prevent political and social violence and to achieve sustainable peace through conflict transformation. Amid unprecedented economic, financial, and humanitarian crises in Lebanon, challenges to reaching meaningful reconciliation remain deeply rooted. In partnership with the European Union in Lebanon, this project aims to: Address the multi-layered crisis and help build a more peaceful and stable future through supporting local-level stabilization, social cohesion, and an inclusive vision for Lebanon. Contribute to inclusive reform discussions and support concrete initiatives to build trust, address past misconceptions, and foster cooperation in service delivery and social harmony. Project Strands Reform Discussions: High-level dialogue processes between influential figures close to current decision-making circles to discuss an inclusive vision that facilitates reconciliation. Cultural and Dialogue Activities: Initiatives implemented in cooperation with Lebanese partner organizations to address past misconceptions/stereotypes and build outreach for the vision. Local-Level Initiatives (Work Package 3) focus of this evaluation: Inclusive local-level dialogues and concrete cooperation initiatives on service delivery, transparency, and social cohesion across four target areas. Neighborhood committees are supported in developing and implementing small-scale community projects. Target Group & Partners Partners: Lebanese local NGOs, civil society organizations, and local institutions. Target Group: Extends from local neighborhood structures to national-level political and societal opinion leaders and influential figures. Purpose, Objectives & Scope The external evaluation will be conducted during the final phase of project implementation. Given its limited scope and budget, it focuses on the Local-level Initiatives (Work Package 3) and in particular on the impact of the pilot local initiatives on social cohesion in some target areas. While all relevant OECD DAC evaluation criteria can be considered, the focus should be placed on the criterion Impact, defined as the difference the intervention makes. The evaluation will assess outcomes and impact of the local-level initiatives, document lessons learned and provide recommendations for potential follow-up engagement. Specific Objectives Objective 1: Evaluate the local initiatives implemented in the four target areas the inclusive local dialogues, the Local Taskforces, and the small-scale community projects they developed. Objective 2: Identify the major outcomes intended and unintended and impact that the local initiatives have contributed on social cohesion, i.e. on trust, relations, and cooperation among local groups and between communities and local institutions. Objective 4: Identify lessons learned, good practices, and actionable recommendations for potential follow-up engagement, with a focus on how to enhance impact in a challenging security environment. Evaluation Criteria & Key Questions The evaluation will adhere to the OECD DAC evaluation criteria. In line with its focus, impact is the primary criterion; effectiveness, sustainability, and coherence are covered to a lesser extent and only as they relate to the local initiatives. The questions below are indicative and will be refined and prioritized with the project team during the inception phase. Primary Focus: Impact To what extent, and how, have the local initiatives contributed to changes in social cohesion, such as trust, relations, and cooperation among different local groups and between communities and local institutions? Which significant changes (positive or negative, intended or unintended) do participants, neighborhood committee members, and local stakeholders attribute to the initiatives? Did these changes differ for women, men, youth, or other groups? Which factors (contextual, design-related, partner-related) enabled or hindered these changes, and how did results differ across the four target areas? Secondary Focus (covered to a lesser extent) Effectiveness: To what extent did the local dialogues and small-scale community projects achieve their intended outcomes regarding service delivery, transparency, and social cohesion? Sustainability: How likely are the neighborhood committees, cooperation mechanisms, and partnerships to continue after EU funding ends, and what support would they need? Coherence (multi-track): How have links between the local initiatives and the projects other strands created synergies, access, or new entry points and where did they fall short? Methodological & Operational Framework Standards: The evaluation must adhere to the OECD DAC evaluation criteria as specified above and to recognized ethical standards for evaluation (informed consent, confidentiality, and data protection). Approach: The evaluation must be conducted in a conflict-sensitive manner and through a gendered lens. A focused, primarily qualitative approach is expected. Applicants should propose methods suited to capturing impact and contribution without a counterfactual and build on internal Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks, for example results from Outcome Harvesting, existing project monitoring data and documentation rather than duplicating them. Indicative Data Collection: Desk review of project documentation and monitoring data; field visits to all four target areas (depending on security considerations); key informant interviews with participants, neighborhood committee members, partner organizations, local authorities, and project staff; potential focus group discussions. Sampling will be agreed with the project team during the inception phase. Language: Data collection will be conducted in English or Arabic as appropriate. All data collection tools, presentations of preliminary findings, and draft/final reports must be delivered in English. Deliverables The evaluator is expected to deliver the following: Inception report (max. 6 pages): refined evaluation questions, evaluation matrix, methodology and sampling (incl. sites, depending on security considerations), data collection tools, and a detailed work plan. Presentation of preliminary findings and initial recommendations to the project team at the end of the data collection phase. Draft evaluation report (max. 20 pages excl. annexes) for review by the project team. Final evaluation report incorporating the project teams feedback, including an executive summary (max. 2 pages) with key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations, and annexes (data collection tools, anonymized list of consulted stakeholders). Indicative Timeline The timeline below is indicative and will be confirmed with the project team in the inception phase. Activity / Deliverable Responsible Indicative Date Inception Phase Contract signature and kick-off meeting BF / Evaluator Early November 2026 Desk review of project documentation and monitoring data Evaluator November 2026 Submission of inception report Evaluator Late November 2026 Feedback on and approval of inception report BF project team Late November 2026 Data Collection Phase Field visits, key informant interviews, and potential focus group discussions Evaluator November/December 2026 Presentation of preliminary findings to the project team Evaluator Mid December 2026 Analysis & Reporting Phase Submission of draft evaluation report Evaluator By mid January 2027 Consolidated feedback on draft report BF project team By late January 2027 Submission of final evaluation report Evaluator By 31 January 2027 Required Qualifications Location: Must be currently based in Lebanon and able to travel to the projects target areas. Experience: More than 5 years of relevant work experience in evaluation and empirical social research, with strong qualitative skills; quantitative skills are an asset. Proven experience evaluating peacebuilding, social cohesion, or local governance projects in conflict-affected contexts. Previous experience evaluating European Union (EU) funded projects is highly desirable. Knowledge & Skills: Excellent understanding of evaluation methodologies, conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Deep understanding of the Lebanese political and socio-economic context, including local-level dynamics. Education: Background in a relevant field such as Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, International Relations, or a related social science (a Masters Degree or equivalent is preferred). Core Competencies: High degree of openness, intercultural sensitivity, and flexibility in receiving and integrating feedback from the project team. Project Background Project Title: Inclusive local and national-leveldialogue in Lebanon: supporting reconciliation, vision-building and concreteaction for service delivery and social rapprochement. The Berghof Foundation is an independent,non-governmental, and non-profit organization that supports efforts to preventpolitical and social violence and to achieve sustainable peace through conflicttransformation. Amid unprecedented economic, financial, and humanitariancrises in Lebanon, challenges to reaching meaningful reconciliation remaindeeply rooted. In partnership with the European Union in Lebanon, this projectaim Tender Link : https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/berghof-foundation-operations-ggmbh/calls/call-external-evaluator-pending-project-extension