Consultancy for Real Time Evaluation of the Armenia Population Movement Operation

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Description

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• This RTE is being carried out with the purpose to evaluate the response operation to date and will take stock of lessons, in order to learn and to inform the ongoing response and recovery activities, and to provide
• recommendations for the ARCS and IFRC systems in place. Given the pilot character of the NWoW setup, IFRCwide recommendation will be taken into account.
• The RTE will not at this point focus on the impact of the operation, nor will it look into the details of the work of each sector of the operation, but will rather focus on the overall timeliness, efficiency, effectiveness, relevance and connectedness of the work done so far. The RTE team will focus on an overview of the operational areas, to see what has worked well, what has not worked well and what lessons can be learned for the future of the operation, including for the (early) recovery work.
• Geographically, the RTE will focus on the areas of the capital (Yerevan) and the districts with the highest density of affected persons (at the time of writing, the regions [Marzes] of Ararat, Kotayk, and Armavir). Although other regions can be included, depending on the time available, the focus of the evaluation and the access to those areas.
• The RTE is expected to take place in February-mid April2024, lasting 30 working days with 30% of the time of
• the evaluation team to be spent in the field (in February 2024).

• To focus on the combined Movement response (ARCS, IFRC, Partner NS and ICRC), and the effectiveness and efficiency of Movement coordination and collaboration, from the onset of the operation up to the time the evaluation team arrives in Armenia:
• To what extent is an effective management structure in place[timeliness, effectiveness and efficiency of internal management and response], providing direction, clarity and wellcommunicated decision-making, within IFRC and ARCS?
• Are there any specific recommendations to improve coordination levels?
• How well does the Movement coordination setup correspond to SMCC and S2.0 approach? – To what extent were roles and responsibilities of Movement partners in country fulfilled vis-à-vis the respective guidance?
• To what extent has the response demonstrated learning from previous responses of population movement from Karabakh in 2020 and 2022
• Are constraints and risks regularly identified and analyzed, and plans adapted accordingly?
• How well are the M&E and learning processes used in the response and can they be improved?
• To evaluate the connectedness of the operational specifically with systematic longer-term approaches and initiatives to strengthen the National Society systems, capacities and structure, both at the HQ and branch level
• Have the capacity strengthening initiatives / activities provided within the operation, been
• affective?
• How well is the operation aligned with the longer-term NSD approaches and established structures, particularly related to Unified Planning process and New Way of Working (NWoW), integrating the EA into longer-term NSD plans?
• How does the systems’ agility that is in place from the outset, adapt as the context / needs evolve and how they support the assessment, planning and follow up of response delivery?
• What organizational systems strengths can we build on, and what areas of improvement need to be addressed, specifically on ARCS and IFRC side?

• 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 team should adhere to the evaluation standards and applicable practices outlined in the IFRC Framework for Evaluation and respect the Red Cross Red Crescent 7 Fundamental Principles.

• Demonstrable experience in leading evaluations of humanitarian programs responding to major disasters / crises, with specific experience in RTEs preferred.
• Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.
• One team member with a good knowledge on RCRC Movement coordination mechanisms (SMCC, Seville 2.0).
• One team member with knowledge / experience in Population Movement Operations.
• One team member with strong National Society Strengthening background.
• 6) Preferably at least one team member with knowledge / experience in Southern Caucasus, or in other post-soviet countries.
• 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 preferred
• Demonstrated capacity to work both independently and as part of a multi-discipline, multi-national team.
• Excellent English writing and presentation skills in English, with relevant writing samples of similar evaluation reports; Russian or Arminian language skills are an asset.Education

• 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 team should adhere to the evaluation standards and applicable practices outlined in the IFRC Framework for Evaluation and respect the Red Cross Red Crescent 7 Fundamental Principles.

• Team member will collectively have the following skill and experience; this set of skills also provide the basis for the selection of the external evaluation consultant: 
• Demonstrable experience in leading evaluations of humanitarian programs responding to major disasters / crises, with specific experience in RTEs preferred.
• Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.
• One team member with a good knowledge on RCRC Movement coordination mechanisms (SMCC, Seville 2.0).
• One team member with knowledge / experience in Population Movement Operations.
• One team member with strong National Society Strengthening background.
• Preferably at least one team member with knowledge / experience in Southern Caucasus, or in other post-soviet countries.
• 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 preferred
• Demonstrated capacity to work both independently and as part of a multi-discipline, multi-national team.
• Excellent English writing and presentation skills in English, with relevant writing samples of similar evaluation reports; Russian or Arminian language skills are an asset.

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