Serbia: Terms of Reference for an Evaluation of “International Business College Mitrovica in Kosovo”

Introduction

SPARK as implementing agency of the International Business College Mitrovica, has drawn-up a Terms of Reference for a consultant to undertake a process evaluation of project “International Business College Mitrovica”. As SPARK is handing over management of the IBCM to a new local independent non-profit IBCM organization it is launching an end-of project external evaluation to:

• Evaluate the extent to which the Project has achieved its project objectives and outcomes according to its logical framework;
• Evaluate the quality of the Project activities to date;
• Identify any unplanned or unforeseen effects of the Project to date;
• Draw lessons for possible similar future interventions.

Project Description

In March 2010 an international business college in Mitrovica opened its doors to help improve dire economic prospects and alleviate ethnic tensions, whilst helping Kosovo to prepare for its future EU Integration. The college offers EU certified 2-year higher vocational joint diplomas, which can be extended to dual Bachelor during a subsequent 1.5 year top-up phase. The college promotes equal opportunities for all communities and has an active gender policy. A preparatory language programme prepares students from socio-economic disadvantaged groups to meet entry-requirements and reduced tuition fees as well as enabling a limited group of students to enroll in the programme. As all students study in English, the network created will pay-off when they enter the labor market and start to act as liaisons between communities. Graduates not only acquire skills needed by businesses and a public institution, the strong international (EU) orientation of the college also prepares them for European accession.

Project Objectives and Expected Results

• To create a sustainable truly inclusive higher vocational institution, producing young professional civil servants and business leaders in Mitrovica region, used to work in multi-ethnic teams;
• To improve employability through study programs with a heavy focus on practice and skills as well as facilitate graduates to start their own enterprises;
• To assist Kosovo on its path to EU integration by providing modern curricula in doing Business with the EU and training (future and existing) civil servants in EU Integration.

Evaluation Objectives

• As the IBCM is moving on independently from SPARK it is important to take stock of accomplishments to date and identify lessons learned for similar future interventions. Although Project implementation has been monitored through regular progress reports submitted to donors, a more comprehensive and objective evaluation by an external consultant is deemed necessary to validate results reported and draw lessons.

Thus, the objectives of the evaluation are the following:

• Assess the extent to which the project achieved its overall objectives and outputs as identified in the Project Documents;
• Review effectiveness of the overall Project interventions, its main achievements, compliance with expanding country’s needs and overall impact in improving the situation of youth’s tertiary educational needs in business and public administration;
• Review and evaluate the extent to which project outputs have reached the intended beneficiaries;
• Assess the likelihood of continuation and sustainability of project outputs and benefits after completion of the project – analyze how far the exit policy in the project ensures the sustainability of the project benefits;
• Identifying lessons learned for similar future interventions.

Expected Outputs

The Evaluator is expected to produce:

• An Evaluation Report that highlights the findings, recommendations and lessons learnt, and gives a rating of performance. This report should follow an Evaluation Report Template provided .
• A set of practical recommendations on similar future interventions.

Scope of the Evaluation

In order to accomplish the above mentioned objectives, the consultants will have to perform the following tasks:

• Provide an assessment of the overall Project’s progress, relevance, efficiency and effectiveness;
• Provide an assessment of the progress in achieving expected outputs as well as realized intended and unintended results and effects of the Project;
• Provide an assessment if the original strategic aims focus of the project are still relevant for the priority and needs of the Mitrovica region specifically and Kosovo general;
• Highlight key/major results, gaps, methodologies and good practices;
• Highlight lessons learned;

Methodology for Evaluation Approach

The evaluator should coordinate closely with the IBCM and SPARK project team and Project stakeholders as well as donors. Consultations should be held with relevant Government partners, civil society, private sector and donors involved into the process. Based on a set of relevant quantifiable and qualitative indicators, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods for collection and analysis of the data should be used, like: documentation review, interviews, visits to the partners and surveys; questionnaires; personal observations, as well as social, economic and political context within which the Project takes place.

During the project evaluation, the evaluator is expected to apply the following approaches for data collection and analysis:

• Desk review of relevant documents (project documents, all project reports to date, etc.);
• Discussions with past and present Senior Management and relevant staff of IBCM and SPARK;
• Regular in-depth consultation with Project staff;
• Interviews with partners and stakeholders;
• Visits to Project sites;
• Discussions with project team, project beneficiaries/partners;
• Hold focus groups with final beneficiaries, donor, and key partners;
• Consultation meetings.

Evaluator

The Evaluator will work with one designated internal focal point within SPARK.

Qualification requirements for the Consultant:

Higher education (a degree) in socio-economic development sciences;

• Extensive experience in conducting evaluations, strong working knowledge of international donors, the tertiary education sector or private sector and working with government sectors and levels;
• Extensive knowledge of result-based management evaluation, OECD/DAC and /or UN-system evaluation standards, as well as participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies and approaches ;
• Experience in applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating results chains;
• Minimum 7-10 years of extensive professional expertise in international development cooperation, in programme/project evaluation, and strategic recommendations for continued support/development of programming/strategies;
• Good professional knowledge of the Western Balkans region, especially a strong political understanding of the complexities of Kosovo;
• Extensive experience in working with the donors;
• Demonstrated and strong analytical, communication and report writing skills;
• Teamwork capacity to work with the target group representatives;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and knowledge of local languages beneficial.

The Consultant/ will perform the following tasks:

Lead and manage the evaluation mission;

• Design the detailed evaluation scope and methodology and approach;
• Conduct the evaluation in accordance with the proposed objective and scope of the evaluation;
• Draft and communicate the evaluation report;
• Finalize the evaluation report in English.

Timeline and Schedule (Tentative)

The mission will commence in October 2017. The duration of the assignment is up to 14 working days, including writing of the final report. As follow:

· Desk review, Evaluation design, methodology and detailed work plan, and access to relevant reports

2 days, On-line

· Initial briefing

1 day, Upon arrival to Mitrovica, Kosovo

· Consultations, meetings as well as phone/in-person interviews related to the process evaluation including relevant partners

5 days, Mitrovica

· Preparation of draft evaluation report and recommendations

2 days, Mitrovica

· Debriefing with SPARK

1 day, Mitrovica

· Finalization of evaluation report; Recommendations incorporating additions and comments provided by SPARK management and IBCM staff; Submission of the final evaluation report to SPARK

3 days, Home based

Documents to be Studied by Evaluators

• Evaluation Policy Documents

• IBCM/SPARK Project documentation:

• Project Documents

• Annual Work Plans and Progress Reports

• Copies of initial feasibility studies on IBCM by SPARK and interim evaluation reports

• Donors’ documented assessments of IBCM

• Other documents and materials related to the Project (from the government, donors, etc.)

Useful links:

1. spark-online.org
2. eu

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV/ Company Capacity Statement as well as a budget, with a letter of interest and 3 reference letters to vacancy@spark-online.org with subject ‘IBCM Evaluation’ by 10 October, 18.00 (Kosovo time)**.** Incomplete applications will not be considered.