PROJECT EVALUATION – IRAQ CSO SOLIDARITY FUND (ICSF) PHASE 1 AND 2 MEDITOR TRUST FUND-UK

Type of Evaluation: Overall ICSF Evaluation/ Learning-Oriented/ Collaborative of the ICSF Program and CSOs implementation of the ICSF by External consultant/evaluator.
Lead Agency: Oxfam in Iraq

Evaluation Partners: ICSF-supported CSOs phase 1 and phase 2
Evaluation Period: June – August 2026

Timeline: 2 months.

 

1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT:

In early 2025, USAID’s stop-work orders led to a 40% reduction in funding across the humanitarian sector, severely disrupting critical aid programs globally. The funding cuts impacted both international NGOs (INGOs) and national NGOs/CSOs, particularly in crisis-affected regions such as Iraq. The national organizations (CSOs/NGOs) operating in Iraq that have been affected by the USAID funding suspension and contract termination are invited to express interest in the Iraq Civil Society Fund (ICSF) through this form. Only eligible CSOs/NGOs meeting the predefined qualifying criteria will be considered for support.

 

Oxfam Iraq, through the Iraq Civil Society Solidarity Fund (ICSF), is responding to these drastic cuts, which pose a severe threat to the continuity of essential services and core operations for civil society organizations. The sudden loss of funding has resulted in several immediate challenges, including project suspensions, reduced service delivery, heightened financial instability, and large-scale layoffs. Many organizations now face difficult decisions regarding staff retention, beneficiary support, and long-term sustainability.

 

To mitigate these impacts, the ICSF provides small, flexible, one-time grants to affected partners. These grants aim to help organizations bridge funding gaps, sustain life-saving interventions, and maintain operational stability during this crisis. By offering rapid and targeted support, the ICSF ensures that vulnerable communities continue receiving assistance while strengthening the resilience of local NGOs and CSOs for long-term recovery.

 

2. PURPOSE OF THE ICSF CSOS EVALUATION:

The purpose of the overall ICSF project evaluation is to assess the progress, relevance, effectiveness, and emerging results of the flexible funding provided to local CSOs in Iraq to strengthen their organizational resilience and sustainability. It seeks to identify key achievements, implementation challenges, and gaps, while capturing reflections and learning from partner CSOs. The evaluation will generate actionable recommendations on the performance and value of the Iraq Civil Society Solidarity Fund as a flexible, partner-centered funding mechanism to inform course correction, enhance program quality, and optimize the use of resources for the remainder of the project period.

While using the OECD-DAC Standard Evaluation Criteria, specifically, the evaluation aims to:

1. Assess the Relevance and Coherence of the ICSF for Local CSOs:

Examine the relevance of the flexible funding and the extent to which ICSF support has enabled partner CSOs to sustain operations, retain key staff and core functions, and continue delivering essential services to vulnerable populations during the funding crisis. Additionally, assess how effectively the ICSF has complemented other similar initiatives and funding mechanisms within the country context.

2. Assess the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Funding Modality and Partnership Approach:

Analyse how the flexible funding model and Oxfam’s decolonial partnership approach have contributed to efficient resource use and effective delivery of results. Examine their influence on partner autonomy, timeliness and cost-effectiveness of responses, adaptability to changing contexts, and overall partnership quality, including trust, communication, and equitable power-sharing.

3. Assess the Impact and Contribution to Organizational Resilience and Sustainability:

Examine the extent to which ICSF funding has strengthened partner CSOs’ resilience and long-term sustainability, including their ability to sustain operations, retain key staff and core functions, and continue delivering essential services to vulnerable populations during the funding crisis.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The scope of work for this general ICSF project evaluation entails the design and implementation of a participatory, learning-oriented evaluation of the Iraq Civil Society Solidarity Fund (ICSF), focusing on Phase 1 (4 CSOs) and phase 2 (23 CSOs) across Iraq a total 27 CSOs across Iraq and Kurdistan region.

The evaluator will conduct a comprehensive review of program documentation and similar models in Iraq and international, will thoroughly reading and review of institutional development project objectives and apply mixed quantitative and qualitative methods including key informant interviews, focus group discussions with CSO leadership, participatory reflection sessions, and outcome harvesting to examine the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and emerging impact of the flexible funding modality.

The assignment will assess how the fund has supported CSOs in maintaining operations, strengthening organizational resilience, and enhancing sustainability amid the funding crisis, while also exploring the quality of partnerships and alignment with Oxfam’s decolonial approach.

The consultant will triangulate findings across data sources, facilitate validation and learning session with stakeholders, and produce concise analytical outputs, including an inception report, mid-term brief, and final evaluation report with actionable recommendations to inform program adaptation and future funding mechanisms.

Note: This is not an audit. It is a learning and reflection CSOs supported impact evaluation, aligned with Oxfam’s Decolonial Partnership Approach (2025–2026). This Evaluation is:

• Not a financial audit or compliance review.
• Not intended to verify or validate partner reporting in a punitive manner.

3. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY:

The evaluation will be conducted by an external consultant contracted by Oxfam. A mixed-methods, participatory, learning-focused approach will be used.

Core Required Methods:

1. Desk Review:

• Narrative reports, EOI, Project inception methodology, utilization summaries, financial notes, workplans, and organizational reflections, and other similar models in country and international will be reviewed as a part of desk review.

2. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs):

• 1–2 interviews per CSO (directors, MEAL staff, project leads).
• Interviews with Oxfam’s ICSF, Partnership, and MEAL teams.

 

3. FGDs with CSOs Governance Structure (Board and Top Management):

FGDs with group of supported CSOs Governance and tope management (8-10 CSOs per group)

4. Participatory Reflection sessions:

• Mid-Year meetings (July–August 2026)
  Early lessons, progress, challenges, adaptation.
• Tentative Final Learning Workshop hybrid (October – November 2026)
  Outcomes, sustainability, partnership quality.

5. Outcome Harvesting / Story-Based Inquiry:

• Collect 8–10 story-based outcomes documenting real changes.
• Validate stories with documents and partner feedback.

6. Light-Touch Triangulation:
   • Document review vs. stories vs. interviews.
   • Optional SHORT field visit(s) where relevant.

4. DELIVERABLES & TIMELINE: 2 Months.

Deliverable	Description	Timeline
Inception Report	Oxfam Induction/Sharing stories/Reports/Methodology, sampling, tools, workplan	June 2026
Preliminary Evaluation data collection from CSOs phase 1+ 2	Selection Committees/Partner reflection sessions/general thoughts utilization of funds/resilience/sustainability. Etc	June – July 2026
Fieldwork/Data Collection	Interviews, FGDs, workshops, story harvesting	July – August 2026
Draft Final Evaluation Report to Oxfam and Committees	Preliminary findings & recommendations presentation	August 2026
Validation & Learning Final Report, Presentation and Knowledge Product	Joint analysis with partners – Presentation of finding, lesson learned. 12 – 15 -page reflection report + stories booklet short presentation	October – November 2026

5. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Actors	Roles
External Consultant	Lead evaluation design, meetings, tools, data collection, analysis, reporting, workshops.
Oxfam MEAL and Partnerships	Provide documents related to the project, coordinate partners, quality assure methods.
CSO Partners	Participate in interviews, provide stories, general reflections, utilization of resource mobilization and funds, or optional upload documents.
ICSF Oxfam Project Team	Overall reporting line/Induction Ensure resourcing, logistics, and communication.

 

6. TIMEFRAME AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Remuneration is based on submission of final deliverables according to the schedule below.

No.	Deliverables or Documents to be delivered	Estimated Dates	% Payment
1	Inception Report (data collection tool, refined methodology, desk review report)	June – July 2026	50%
2	Final Evaluation Report and Presentation (12- 15-page report with key findings, CSOs reflection, Gaps and Actionable Recommendations)	August – September 2026	50%
TOTAL			100%

 

7. Ethical Considerations:

• Will sign Oxfam service provider Code of Conduct.
• Respect partner autonomy and voice.
• Ensure confidentiality when requested.
• Maintain “Do No Harm” and ‘’Safeguarding’’ principles in all data collection and coordination.
• Promote safe, equitable, and inclusive participation.
• Uphold Oxfam’s decolonial partnership standards and Partnership Strategy 2025 – 2026.

 

8. End Users / Audience:

The ICSF Final Evaluation is intended for multiple stakeholders who will use the findings for learning, decision-making, and future planning:

• Oxfam Project Team: To adapt programming, monitor progress, and strengthen operational approaches.
• Oxfam Senior Management: For strategic oversight, decision-making, and funding considerations.
• Selection Committee / Decision Makers: To inform future funding allocations and eligibility criteria. Decolonial approach and grant making decision on shifting power.
• External Facilitator (Grant-Making Process): To guide the ICSF selection process, manage power dynamics among partners, and ensure fair and transparent decision-making.
• CSO Partners: To reflect on organizational growth, share lessons, and strengthen capacities, overall recipients of grants focusing on sustainability, resilience and flexible fundings.
• Donors (e.g., Meditor Trust / Other Funding Partners): To review outcomes, accountability, and value for investment.
• Other Relevant Stakeholders: Including local authorities, networks, and supporting agencies involved in ICSF implementation.

 

 

 

9. EXPERIENCE OR PROFILE REQUIREMENTS:

The company/ individual(s) should have the following competencies:

• The relevant lead and co- evaluator must have University degree (Bachelors or Masters) in social sciences, public administration, development studies, political science, or a related field.
• At least 7-10 years of relevant experience in designing and conduct project baselines, mid-term and final evaluations
• Strong communication skills particularly in preparing high level reports and recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience working with local CSOs in and understanding of an inclusive, participatory, women and men-sensitive, and conflict-aware facilitation approaches.
• Ability to work flexibly and deliver on short notice.
• Previous experience working with international NGOs or development donors (e.g. Oxfam, UN Agencies, CSOs, NGOs and INGOs).
• Familiarity with the local context and CSOs landscape in Iraq.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (spoken and written); working knowledge of Kurdish is an asset.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Submission instructions:

Quotations and applications must reach Oxfam no later than [date 30/06/2026 + time 00:00 + 3 zone].

Responses must be submitted in English electronically to: [irqconsultancy@oxfam.org.uk]

 

 

Administrative requirements:

To be shortlisted for evaluation against award criteria, the following documents must be submitted with this application:

Documents to be submitted		Importance
1	Technical proposal: outlining understanding of the assignment, relevant experience, and ‎proposed evaluation approach and methodology.	Mandatory
2	Financial proposal: indicating daily rate and estimated level of effort (inclusive of all ‎costs and applicable taxes)‎	Mandatory
‎3	Curriculum Vitae (CV)‎ Lead and Co- Evaluators	Mandatory
4	Evidence of previous work / with at least two previous references: List of similar assignments/reports of evaluation and documents proving similar experience and ‎technical and thematic knowledge.‎	Mandatory