Consultancy for Final Evaluation AECID Climate Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean Project

Organizational Context

Since 1 February 2024, the Climate Resilience Project for Latin America and the Caribbean is implemented within the framework of the IFRC’s Global Climate Resilience Program, funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). This project presents a valuable opportunity to foster programmatic coherence and strengthen regional technical collaboration among National Societies, particularly between the Colombian Red Cross Society and the Dominican Red Cross. By promoting greater coordination, the project aims to serve as a platform for capacity building, enabling the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches to climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and natural resource management across the Americas.

The overarching goal of the project is to contribute to reducing current and future humanitarian impacts of climate change, supporting communities in adapting through activities focused on building resilience and managing natural resources—especially emphasizing Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for disaster risk reduction, early warning systems (EWS), and climate-smart livelihoods. This is achieved through a series of workshops, training sessions, micro-projects, and institutional strengthening initiatives, designed to enhance community capacities and promote sustainable, resilient development.

The project targets both direct and indirect beneficiaries in the region, with a specific focus on communities in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Its activities include community-based disaster risk management projects, nature conservation for risk reduction, and the protection of climate-smart livelihoods, complemented by technical training and capacity strengthening for institutional actors.

At a regional level, the project is managed by the IFRC Americas Regional Office, which supports local actors—including the Colombian and Dominican Red Cross—to embed climate action into their programs, develop national climate risk assessments, strengthen early warning systems, and promote climate and environment-integrated resilience planning. This multi-layered approach involves coordinated activities such as vulnerability and capacity analysis, development of community-based early warning systems, the promotion of Nature-Based Solutions using innovative methodologies, and peer-to-peer learning exchanges.

The final evaluation aims to assess the achievement of these objectives, the effectiveness of activities conducted at regional, national, and community levels, and the overall contribution to strengthening climate resilience in vulnerable populations across the targeted countries. It will also identify lessons learned and best practices to inform future programming, ensuring sustainability and greater regional impact.

Job Purpose

Purpose

The purpose of this Final Evaluation is to determine the overall effectiveness, efficiency, coverage, relevance and appropriateness of the Project, following IFRC Evaluation process.

Scope

The Final Evaluation will address the following issues:

1. the relevance and appropriateness of the project
2. the efficiency and effectiveness
3. the coverage
4. the efficiency of the coordination mechanisms implemented.

The final evaluation will consider all decisive factors during the project (i.e., what went well and what did not go well with recommendations for improvement) taking into consideration the context and capacities of the National Society and other Movement components.

The timeline to be evaluated in terms of this Project is 20 months, from February 2024 to November 2025.

General Objective

Evaluate the degree of fulfilment of the project's objectives regarding the strengthening of community resilience to climate change, considering the relevance, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact of the actions implemented.

Participants: Colombian Red Cross Society and Dominican Red Cross, volunteers, people reached, IFRC Delegations, IFRC Americas Regional Office, and other key actors.

Audience: Findings of this final evaluation will primarily be used by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Colombian Red Cross Society and Dominican Red Cross, IFRC and other actors as determined by IFRC leadership.

Review team: An independent evaluation consultant will be supported by an Evaluation Management Team (EMT) comprised of IFRC staff both at the Country Cluster Delegation and Regional Office.

Commissioner of the evaluation: Regional Deputy Director, IFRC.

Duration of consultancy: 25 working days.

Estimated period of consultancy: Between September and November 2025.

Methodology and processes

The methodology applied in this evaluation will adhere to the IFRC Framework for Evaluation[1], with particular attention to the processes upholding the standards of how evaluations should be planned, managed, conducted, and utilized.

[1] http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/monitoring/IFRC-Framework-for-Evaluation.pdf

An IFRC evaluation management team will manage and oversee the evaluation and, with the evaluators, ensuring that it upholds the IFRC Management Policy for Evaluation. The evaluation management team will consist of three people including the Regional Head of PMER and Quality Assurance, Senior Officer Regional Anticipatory Action, and the Coordinator IFRC Reference Center for Disaster Preparedness.

The evaluation consultant will provide an independent, objective perspective as well as technical experience in evaluations, and be the primary author of the evaluation report. The consultant will not have been involved or have a vested interest in the IFRC operation being evaluated, and will be hired through a transparent recruitment process, based on professional experience, competence, ethics, and integrity for this evaluation. The evaluation consultants will report on progress or challenges to the evaluation management team.

The specific evaluation methodology will be proposed by the consultant in close consultation with the Evaluation Management Team, but can draw upon the following primary methods:

1. Desk review of operation background documents, relevant organizational background and history, and any relevant sources of secondary data, such as findings from previous surveys and evaluations.
2. Field visits/observations to selected sites in Colombia, Dominican Republic and/or Panama.
3. Key informant interviews: community members,RCRC Movement, Government agencies, institutional and private sector as appropriate.
4. Focus group discussions (beneficiaries,RCRC Movement, institutional and private sector) to inform recommendations and collect lessons learned from the operations.
5. Conduct a participatory Lessons Learned workshop with key personnel from the National Society.
6. Virtual presentation of findings to IFRC and National Society personnel**.**

The Evaluation consultant is encouraged to use creative and cost-effective methods for obtaining information on outcomes and lessons learned from the operation.

The evaluation consultant will meet with, and interview persons served under this emergency operation as well as key Red Cross Red Crescent stakeholders in-country, partner National Societies, and relevant IFRC Secretariat offices. The team will also consult with other partners and organizations such as government, UN agencies, INGOs/NGOs, private sector, etc. as appropriate according to the evaluation’s objectives.

Initial findings will be shared with IFRC for review prior to further sharing with key stakeholders and partners where appropriate.

Consultant outputs and timeframe

All documents must be delivered in Spanish.

Inception

Related to: methodological design, definition of specific objectives, clarity of the approach.

The document will include:

Proposed evaluation methodology, including data collection techniques and analysis criteria.

• Proposed data collection tools (interview guides, surveys, etc.).
• Detailed work plan with timeline, roles, and responsibilities.
• Sample and participant selection strategy.
• Logistic and travel arrangements, if applicable.

It will be reviewed and validated by the IFRC Evaluation Management Team.

Preliminary Presentation Virtual Session

Related to: analysis of progress in evaluation results, participatory validation of findings.

• Session to share preliminary results with the IFRC, involved NSs (Colombian and Dominican Red Cross), and other key stakeholders.
• Will allow early feedback to enrich the analysis and drafting of the final report.

Draft Evaluation Report

Related to: identification of achievements, challenges, and analysis of effectiveness, efficiency, coverage, relevance and appropriateness

The document will include:

• Results analysis by project component (SbN, SAT, livelihoods, etc.).
• Key findings, initial conclusions, and recommendations.
• It must be delivered within two weeks after the fieldwork.
• Will be reviewed by the IFRC focal points.

The document will be presented in spanish.

Final Evaluation Report

Related to: documenting lessons learned and formulating useful recommendations for future interventions.

Final document will include:

• Executive summary (max. 500 words).
• Main body of the report (max. 5,000 words) with:
  • Background and project context.
  • Methodological description and limitations.
  • Results analysis, conclusions, and lessons learned.
  • Clear, feasible, and specific recommendations.
  • Annexes: ToR, bibliography, list of interviewees, data collection tools, etc.

Will be delivered five days after receiving the consolidated comments from the IFRC

The Consultancy will be paid as follows:

• 30% with the presentation of the inception report,
• 70% with the approval of the final report*,

*This payment is subject to modification after inception meeting to a schedule mutually agreed upon by both the consultant and the IFRC

Evaluation Quality and Ethical Standards

The evaluators should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the evaluation is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved and to ensure that the evaluation is technically accurate and reliable, is conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, and contributes to organizational learning and accountability. Therefore, the evaluation consultants should adhere to the evaluation standards and applicable practices outlined in the IFRC Framework for Evaluation.

Evaluation Quality and Ethical Standards

The IFRC evaluation standards are:

1. Utility: Evaluations must be useful and used.
2. Feasibility: Evaluations must be realistic, diplomatic, and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
3. Ethics and Legality: Evaluations must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the evaluation.
4. Impartiality and Independence; Evaluations should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that considers the views of all stakeholders.
5. Transparency: Evaluation activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
6. Accuracy: Evaluations should be technically accurate, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
7. Participation: Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the evaluation process when feasible and appropriate.
8. Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the evaluation process improves the legitimacy and utility of the evaluation.

It is also expected that the evaluation will respect the seven Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: 1) humanity, 2) impartiality, 3) neutrality, 4) independence, 5) voluntary service, 6) unity, and 7) universality. Further information can be obtained about these Principles at:

www.ifrc.org/what/values/principles/index.asp.

Education

• Minimum qualification of a master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience

Experience

• Demonstrable experience in leading evaluations of humanitarian programs responding to major disasters
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of projects
• Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner
• Experience in qualitative data collection and data analysis techniques, especially in emergency operations
• Knowledge and experience working with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and knowledge of the IFRC’s disaster management systems

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• High capacity to organize and fulfill on time deadlines
• Demonstrated capacity to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of the LAC region and previous experience in the Andean Countries and the Latin Caribbean.
• Immediate availability for the period indicated.
• Technical knowledge about Shelter (supports by previous working experience and/or trainings) will be an asset
• Excellent Spanish writing and presentation skills.

How to apply

Interested candidates should visit the link:

https://careers.ifrc.org/lumesse_jobdescription.html?nPostingId=22429&nPostingTargetId=152768&id=PJQFK026203F3VBQB79LO7924&LG=UK&languageSelect=UK to view the full Terms of Reference and to submit their application no later than September 10, 2025.

Applications must be submitted in English and should include the following information in ONE (1) PDF document:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter clearly summarizes the experience of the consultant(s) proposed as it pertains to this evaluation, daily rate, and three professional references.
• Short methodological proposal to address in this evaluation. Please include data collection method, data analysis method, among others.
• At least one example of an evaluation report most similar to that described in this ToR.