Terms of Reference – External End-of-Project Evaluation

Project: From Practice to Growth: "Stronger partnerships and wider sectorial outreach"

Implementing Agency: ActionAid Arab Region (AAAR)

Funding Partner: PPL

Evaluation Type: Final/Summative Evaluation

1.Summary

This Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines the requirements for an external final evaluation of the project, “Women Friendly Label from Practice to Growth: Stronger partnerships and wider sectorial outreach,” implemented by ActionAid Arab Region (AAAR) and funded by People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL). The project aims to transform Jordan's socio-economic landscape by championing the economic and legal rights of women through three core components: expanding the adoption of the Women-Friendly Label (WFL), establishing a Women Economic Empowerment Index (WEEI), and operating a Women Legal Aid Clinic.

The overall objective of this evaluation is to assess the project's performance, outcomes, and sustainability against its stated objectives, utilizing OECD DAC criteria (Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, and Sustainability) and principles from ActionAid’s Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA). The evaluation will also capture key learnings to inform future programming.

We are seeking an experienced external evaluator (or team) with expertise in women's economic empowerment, gender equality, legal aid frameworks, and organizational capacity building. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in conducting evaluations in the Jordanian context, a strong understanding of HRBA, and fluency in Arabic and English.

2.Background

ActionAid Arab Region (AAAR)

ActionAid is a global federation working to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication. AAAR operates within the Arab region, adhering to a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) that prioritizes the empowerment of women and marginalized groups, partnership with local actors, and shifting power to communities.

Al Hayat Center - RASED

Al Hayat Center - RASED for Civil Society Development is a research-based independent non-profit non-governmental civil society organization established in 2006. Al Hayat aims to promote accountability, governance, public participation, and tolerance in Jordan and the region within the framework of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, taking into consideration gender mainstreaming in public policy and action.

Project Background:

The 12-month "From Practice to Growth" project was designed to build on previous phases of AAAR's work on the Women-Friendly Label. Its goal was to expand recognition and safeguarding of women's economic and legal rights across Jordan. The project had three key outcomes:

• Institutional Adoption of WFL: To select, assess, and support 3 national institutions, 3 large companies, and 3 NGOs to adopt the Women-Friendly Label using the SHAPE capacity assessment framework.
• Legal Support for Women: To establish and operate a Legal Aid Clinic providing professional guidance and representation for women facing labour-related challenges.
• Awareness and Advocacy: To enhance awareness of women's economic rights and the WFL among youth in universities, political parties, and decision-makers.

Core activities included reflection workshops, WFL-tailored assessments, coaching programs, the design and piloting of a Women Economic Empowerment Index, legal case handling, and extensive awareness campaigns. The project was implemented nationwide across all 12 governorates of Jordan, in partnership with the local organization Al-Hayat Rased, employing a participatory, women-centred, and community-based approach.

3.Objectives and Target Population

Overarching Objective:

The purpose of this final evaluation is to provide an independent, evidence-based assessment of the project’s achievements, challenges, and lessons learned to ensure accountability to stakeholders and inform AAAR’s future strategic programming in women's economic empowerment.

Evaluation Criteria (OECD DAC with HRBA Lens):

The evaluation will assess the project against the following criteria:

• Relevance: The extent to which the project objectives and design responded to the needs and priorities of the target groups (women, partner organizations, institutions) and aligned with national policies and AAAR’s HRBA.
• Effectiveness: The extent to which the project achieved its planned outcomes and outputs (as detailed in the project overview).
• Efficiency: How economically resources/inputs (funds, expertise, time) were converted into results.
• Impact: The significant positive and negative, intended and unintended, changes produced by the project, particularly on women's empowerment and organizational practices.
• Sustainability: The likelihood of continued benefits from the project after its completion, including the continuation of the WFL, WEEI, and Legal Clinic.

Expected Uses of the Evaluation:

The evaluation findings will be used by:

• AAAR and Al-Hayat Rased: For strategic learning, improving future project design, and reporting to the donor.
• PPL (Donor): To assess the return on investment and the project's contribution to its strategic objectives.
• Wider Sector: To share lessons learned on promoting gender-responsive business practices and legal support mechanisms in Jordan and the wider region.

To ensure the evaluation adheres to the international standards of Relevance, Coverage, and Effectiveness (OECD DAC), the assessment must be grounded in the following clearly defined target populations and project coverage data. This information represents the project’s key stakeholders and scope of engagement up to end of February 2026.

Primary Target Population (Direct Beneficiaries)

The primary target population includes individuals who have directly benefited from the project’s capacity building, advocacy, and legal service components.

• Women in the Workforce: Female employees in the 9 participating companies and institutions who are the ultimate beneficiaries of WFL adoption, workplace policies, training, and the Complaint and Response Mechanism (CRM) (number to be decided according to samples from each company/institution; initial number is 40 to 50 women)
• Women Core Group (WCG) Members: A group of 9 female leaders and advocates trained and supported to lead community and internal awareness campaigns.
• Students: More than 30 Youth engaged in Core Groups across targeted universities, mobilized to lobby for Women's Economic Rights.
• Women Legal Aid Clinic: Women seeking legal advice or assistance related to employment and economic rights (as per the overall project design).

Secondary Target Population (Institutional Stakeholders)

The secondary target population comprises the institutions and entities whose policies and practices the project aims to influence.

• Private Sector/NGO Institutions: 3 Larger size companies, 3 INGOs, and 3 national institutions that engage in the WFL process, WFL assessments, and/or Women Economic Empowerment Index (WEEI) development.
• National Authorities and Policy Makers: Decision-makers, national institutions, and trade unions targeted for high-level advocacy to accredit the WFL and adopt supportive gender equality policies.
• Project Partners: ActionAid Arab Region (AAAR) and the local implementing partner (RASED).

4.Key evaluation questions

Relevance:

• To what extent were the project's design and activities responsive to the specific needs and priorities of women workers, participating organizations, and the broader Jordanian context?
• How well did the project align with national policies on gender equality and women's economic empowerment?

Effectiveness:

• To what extent were the project's outcomes and outputs achieved? What were the major factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of these results?
• How effective were the methodologies used (e.g., SHAPE assessment, coaching, e-learning modules, awareness campaigns) in bringing about change?

Efficiency:

• Were resources (financial, human, time) allocated optimally and used efficiently to achieve the results?
• Was the partnership between AAAR and Al-Hayat Rased effective and efficient in delivering project activities?

Impact:

• What are the most significant changes (intended/unintended, positive/negative) brought about by the project for women, partner organizations, and institutions?
• What evidence is there of changes in policies, practices, or attitudes within the targeted companies, NGOs, and national institutions regarding women's economic rights?

Sustainability:

• What is the likelihood that the Women-Friendly Label, the Women Economic Empowerment Index, and the Legal Aid Clinic will be sustained beyond the project lifecycle?
• What measures were put in place to ensure ownership and long-term commitment from participating organizations and stakeholders?

1. Key learning questions

• What are the key lessons learned from piloting the WFL and WEEI with large institutions and national bodies compared to smaller entities from previous phases?
• What was the most effective model for providing legal aid and raising legal awareness for women in the Jordanian labour context?
• How effective were the strategies for engaging youth, political parties, and high-level decision-makers in advocacy for women's economic rights?
• What are the best practices and challenges in applying a Human Rights-Based and Gender Transformative Approach in a project targeting the private sector and institutions?

6.Scope of the review

The evaluation will cover the entire duration of the project (12 months) and all project components and geographical areas of implementation across Jordan. The review will focus on:

• All three project outcomes and their respective outputs and activities.
• The partnership model between AAAR and Al-Hayat Rased.
• The experiences of all direct beneficiaries, including the 9 supported organizations, stakeholders involved in the legal clinic intervention, university students, political party members, decision-makers engaged in forums, etc.

7.Expected evaluation approach and methodology

The external evaluator is expected to propose a robust, mixed-methods methodology that is participatory and gender-sensitive. The approach should include, but not be limited to:

• Desk Review: Project documents, reports, baseline data (if available), and relevant context materials.
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): With AAAR and Al-Hayat Rased staff, donor representatives, government officials, and senior staff from targeted organizations.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): With beneficiaries including women supported by the clinic, members of Women Core Groups, university students, and staff from enrolled organizations.
• Surveys: Where appropriate, to gather quantitative data from a larger sample of beneficiaries.
• Case Studies: Deep-dive analysis of 2-3 most significant change stories.

The methodology must adhere to ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and a do-no-harm approach, particularly when discussing sensitive issues like labour rights violations.

8.Coordination, roles and responsibilities

• The Evaluator(s) will be responsible for designing the detailed evaluation methodology, conducting the field visit, data collection and analysis, and producing the draft and final reports.
• AAAR will appoint a focal point to facilitate the evaluation process, provide all necessary documents, arrange meetings and field visits, and provide feedback on draft reports.
• Al-Hayat Rased will support in coordinating field-level activities and connecting the evaluator with beneficiaries.

9.Expected Outputs

• Inception Report: (Max. 10 pages) detailing the evaluator’s understanding of the TOR, proposed methodology, evaluation matrix, work plan, and data collection tools.
• Draft Evaluation Report: For review and feedback by AAAR and partners.
•  Final Evaluation Report: (Max. 30 pages, excluding annexes) incorporating feedback. The report must include an executive summary, introduction, methodology, findings per evaluation question, lessons learned, conclusions, and actionable recommendations.
• A PowerPoint Presentation: Summarizing the key findings and recommendations for a debriefing workshop with AAAR and stakeholders.

1. Expected Timetable

The evaluation is expected to be completed within 27 working days during November and December.

Activity Estimated Days

11.Evaluator qualifications

The ideal evaluator(s) will have:

• An advanced degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Law, or a related field.
• Proven experience (at least 5-7 years) in conducting external evaluations of development projects, specifically in the areas of gender equality, women's economic empowerment, and/or legal aid.
• Demonstrable strong knowledge of and experience in applying OECD DAC evaluation criteria and Human Rights-Based Approaches.
• In-depth knowledge of the social, economic, and political context of Jordan, particularly relating to gender and labour rights.
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative research and analytical skills.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (both written and spoken) is essential.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and a strong ethical approach to working with vulnerable groups.

12. Application process

12.1. Deadline for Submission:

Interested and qualified evaluators (individuals or teams) are requested to submit their application no later than January 28, 2026 at 23:00 Amman Time.

12.2. Submission Details:

Applications must be sent via email to [Click to show email], with the subject line: “Application for External Evaluation: From Practice to Growth Project”.

12.3. Information and Documentation Required:

Applications must include the following documents in English:

• Cover Letter (Maximum 2 pages): The letter should express interest in the assignment and provide a summary of how the evaluator’s skills and experience match the qualifications outlined in Section 11. Applicants are encouraged to structure this section according to the selection criteria for ease of comparison.
• Curriculum Vitae (CVs): CVs of the lead evaluator and any team members (maximum 2 pages per person), highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.
• Technical Proposal (Attached Template): A brief preliminary proposal outlining the understanding of the TOR, a proposed evaluation approach and methodology, a tentative work plan, and the composition and roles of the evaluation team.
• Financial Proposal (Attached Template): A detailed budget in USD, specifying the evaluator's daily rate(s), number of anticipated working days, and all other anticipated costs (e.g., local transportation, communication, etc.). The budget should be inclusive of any applicable taxes.
• Examples of Work: At least one sample of a similar evaluation report authored by the lead applicant (or a link to an online publication).
• References: Contact details (email and phone number) for at least two professional references from previous clients for whom similar work was conducted.

12.4. Evaluation of Applications:

Applications will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

• Technical Competence and Relevant Experience (40%): Demonstrated experience in evaluating projects related to gender equality, women's economic empowerment, and HRBA, particularly in the Jordanian context.
• Proposed Methodology and Approach (30%): Quality, clarity, and feasibility of the proposed technical proposal and work plan.
• Financial Proposal (20%): Cost-effectiveness and value for money.
• Qualifications of the Team (10%): Overall expertise and language skills of the proposed team.

12.5. Clarifications:

For any clarifications regarding this ToR, please contact us at [Click to show email] no later than January 20, 2026. Please note that questions may be anonymized and shared with all potential applicants along with the answers, if the question is deemed relevant to all.

Tecnichal Form  Upload : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zTm4nlkK0VPaqBgzL2_Sqv7auHvJ0uLU_OvoJP8lseU/edit?usp=drive_link

Financial Form Upload : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HiIqNnO-0t7xAK5Yz5OcWqy3UeIRUbS7o8PgH-R2wUQ/edit?usp=drive_link