Advice on the mid-term review of the STRIVE Global programme

Hedayah was established in response to the growing desire of members of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and the international community at large for the establishment of an independent, multilateral centre dedicated to dialogue and communications, capacity-building programmes, research and analysis to counter extremism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations. At the ministerial-level launch of the GCTF in New York in September 2011, the UAE offered to host the International Centre of Excellence on Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism. In December 2012, Hedayah was opened with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE. As a leader in the countering extremism and violent extremism community, Hedayah works to improve understanding and share best practices to effectively build the capacity of counter-extremism and violent extremism actors worldwide and promote tolerance, stability and security.

STRIVE Global Programme PHASE II (2022-2026) is a response to the persistent threat of global extremism and violent extremism and the need for effective responses that mitigate rather than exacerbate the threat. Since 2015, the STRIVE Global Program, funded by the European Union through its Instruments for Promoting Stability and Peace (IcSP) and Foreign Policy (FPI) and implemented by Hedayah, has been supporting governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) in implementing activities as outlined in the national strategies and action plans to counter extremism and violent extremism in their respective countries. The mission is to reduce the risk of radicalization leading to extremism and violent extremism by strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities and individuals to recruitment and radicalization techniques, while respecting human rights and international law. The overall objective of the program is strengthen the capacity of local civil society organisations and government agencies to design and implement effective interventions to prevent radicalisation leading to extremism and violent extremism, as well as recruitment to terrorism, and to facilitate the deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration processes of returned foreign terrorist fighters and their family members, in line with their respective national strategies and action plans to counter extremism and violent extremism.

Specific objectives of the mid-term evaluation Are:

1. An independent overall assessment of programme progress (i.e. the degree to which the objectives set out in the programme document have been met) and an evaluation of the programme’s successes and weaknesses against the six OECD-DAC evaluation criteria.(1) (What is applicable at this stage of programme implementation) in terms of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, coherence and sustainability in relation to the original programme objectives, taking into account the realities on the ground.

2. To evaluate the strategies and processes/structures of programme implementation, including an assessment of their consistency with EU and country policies and institutional and operational design, in order to make recommendations on whether they are best suited to achieving the programme objectives.

3. The aim is to identify key findings and propose practical recommendations for follow-up action.

   The evaluation will take place either in the countries selected for evaluation and/or remotely. Hedayah will facilitate the entire evaluation process and evaluators will receive the contact details of the grantees and other stakeholders to arrange interviews. The tentative timeline of the evaluation is as follows:

   Phase I:

• Estimated duration: max 10 working days
• Desk work/planning:
• Preparation of the methodology and work plan after an initial online briefing with Hedayah.
• Preparation of a visit plan to the target countries and organization of online interviews/meetings with local partners/grantees, stakeholders, project beneficiaries, etc. after final approval of the methodology and work plan by Hedayah.

Phase II:

• Estimated duration: max 30 working days

• Fieldwork/data collection (this phase includes travel to the target countries, including, if required and agreed, an initial visit to Hedayah in Abu Dhabi to interview Hedayah staff)

• Interviews/meetings with local partners/grantees, stakeholders, project beneficiaries, etc.

  Phase III:

Estimated duration: max 20 working days

• Data analysis and reporting
• Presentation of the draft report after the missions
• Comments on Hedayah’s draft report
• Presentation of the final report and debriefing with Hedayah and the EU.

The evaluation is expected to begin by 4 November 2024 with days of home-based study, online meetings and data compilation with Hedayah, grantees, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, as well as on-site visits and interviews in the target countries. The final evaluation report is expected to be published no later than February 28, 2025. The total number of days of deployment is a maximum of 60 working days.

Firms/Consultants wishing to apply for this tender should send the following documents and information to strive.admin@hedayah.ae with the subject line “STRIVE Global Program PHASE II _ Mid-Term Evaluation_ followed by the name of the Firm/Consultant.” Deadline: September 12, 2024, 5:00 p.m. Abu Dhabi time.

Further details on the consultation please visit the Hedayah website at the following link: https://hedayah.com/job/consultant-mid-term-evaluation-of-eu-strive-global-program/