Lead Consultant: End-of-Programme Evaluation RECLAIM Sustainability!

Are you experienced in evaluating partnerships and multi-country advocacy programmes?

The RECLAIM Sustainability! Programme consortium—comprising Solidaridad, Fairfood, TrustAfrica, and Business Watch Indonesia—is seeking a highly experienced and qualified consultancy team to conduct the end-of-programme evaluation of our five-year initiative (2021-2025).

This evaluation will critically assess the programme’s progress, outcomes, and impact over the past five years, providing valuable insights into its effectiveness, sustainability, and lessons learned. The findings will help inform future strategies and contribute to ongoing efforts to foster more sustainable and inclusive supply chains.

Summary of assignment – Lead Consultant Role

The assignment will be led by a designated Lead Consultant, who will serve as the primary contact point for the RECLAIM Sustainability! consortium. The Lead Consultant will be responsible for:

• Overall management of the evaluation process.
• Ensuring all deliverables are completed to a high standard and on time.
• Coordinating the work of any junior consultants or supporting team members, particularly in data collection and preliminary data organisation.
• Maintaining a proactive approach to building strong relationships with all country teams.
• Clearly defining and adhering to roles and responsibilities for all evaluation team members.

The consultant team must work closely with the Global Linking and Learning Coordinator of the RECLAIM Sustainability! consortium to ensure alignment with evaluation goals and collaboration across stakeholders. Dissemination and communication of evaluation results will remain the sole responsibility of the consortium, with the consultant team providing necessary support for material preparation.

Requirements 

Mandatory:

• Proven track record in undertaking complex, multi country evaluations;  
• Proven track record in participatory approaches;
• Demonstrated experience with the use of quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection and analyses;
• Demonstrated experience in evaluation of (inter) national advocacy processes;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Multi-stakeholder dialogue and partnerships;
• Demonstrated experience with sustainable development in supply chains / sectors in rural settings in development areas;
• Relevant university degree (Masters). 

Preferred skills:

• The assignment is to be fulfilled by a team of consultants with various expertise and access to a network of consultants with expertise in the various regions where the RECLAIM Sustainability! consortium is active;
• Demonstrated expertise in operationalising gender transformative aspects;
• Demonstrated experience with sector development and a good understanding of its various stakeholders, their roles and positions;
• Demonstrated knowledge of supply chain development and inclusive business development, and the development of service delivery models, flexibility and openness to work collaboratively with the RECLAIM Sustainability! consortium partners, the Global linking and learning coordinator, the project teams and partners, the steering groups and the External Reference Group in a co-creative evaluation process;
• Excellent intercultural and interpersonal communication skills, including coordination, facilitation and presentation;
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written. Spanish and/or French is encouraged.

Programme background

A consortium consisting of Solidaridad, Fairfood, TrustAfrica, and Business Watch Indonesia (BWI) is working together in a joint programme: RECLAIM Sustainability! This five-year programme (2021-2025) is implemented in strategic partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is part of the Ministry’s policy framework Power of Voices. Together with its partners, the consortium aims to ‘contribute to inclusive sustainable value chains and trade in an innovative way, in which the interests, voices, and rights of farmers, workers, and citizens (m/f) are represented and heard in decision-making for sustainable use of natural resources, decent work, fair value distribution, and sustainable consumption’. Gender equality and social inclusion are integral to its programming and envisioned impact.

As the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme approaches its final year in 2025, the consortium partners seek to evaluate its achievements, sustainability plans, and the implementation of recommendations from different evaluations including the Baseline evaluation and Mid-Term Review (MTR). This end-of-programme evaluation will assess progress made between 2021 and 2025, providing critical insights into the programme’s impact and sustainability.

The evaluation offers an opportunity to measure how well the programme has achieved its goals, understand change within the Theory of Change (ToC) framework, and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders, including donors, partners, and involved communities.

By reflecting on successes, challenges, and lessons learned, the evaluation will inform future sustainability strategies and guide similar initiatives. The consortium seeks the expertise of an external consultant to lead the evaluation, ensure objective analysis, and produce evidence-based recommendations for long-term impact and learning.

Submission process

Interested applicants are invited to submit proposals containing the following information:

• Introduction: A document (maximum 5 pages) introducing the evaluator (or members of the evaluation team) and describing how the skills and competencies outlined in this ToR are met. Include concrete examples, such as relevant experience and previous work as a team.
• Proposed Approach: A concise application outlining the proposed approach to this assignment, including:

○  Methodology and tools to be used.

○  Key deliverables.

○  Suggested methods to ensure evaluator independence.

• Work Plan: A detailed work plan outlining key activities and timelines, including the expected role of Solidaridad staff.
• Budget: A detailed budget with a breakdown of costs per activity, including:

○  Daily rates for each team member.

○  Number of days allocated per team member.

○  Travel and other relevant costs.
The budget will be evaluated alongside the technical proposal, and Solidaridad reserves the right to propose alternative cost structures.

• CVs and Availability: CVs of all team members, including their availability during the evaluation period.
• References: At least two references from previous clients, including contact details.
• Examples of Work: At least two recent and relevant evaluation reports. Please share a web link if available online.

Timeline

The evaluation will follow a structured timeline in 2025, including draft submission, feedback rounds, and final approval. The process begins with proposal submissions by April 4 and consultant selection by April 22, followed by the inception phase starting on May 10, with a draft inception report due by June 30 and final approval by July 16. The consultant must submit a draft evaluation report by December 1, 2025.

Please find all details and requirements in the PDF ToR. The deadline for submitting proposals is 4 April 2025 (CET), and proposals must be sent to Irene Diaz Soto at irene.diazsoto@solidaridadnetwork.org. All submitted proposals will be treated confidentially. 

For questions or further information about the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme, please contact Irene Diaz Soto at the same email address.

You can find the full Terms of Reference here.

Note on GDPR

Any personal data submitted in an application is treated confidentially and processed for the sole purpose of filling a vacancy, and compliant to the GDPR directive. After the selection process has been completed (upon the date of filled vacancy), all personal data of applicants who have not been selected will be destroyed immediately, unless we have your explicit approval to store your personal data for a period of maximum a year.