End-of-Program Evaluation of the Multi-Annual Programmatic Partnership for the Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence in South Sudan

Country: South Sudan Organization: United Nations Population Fund Closing date: 6 Aug 2026 Introduction UNFPA South Sudan Country Office seeks to commission an independent end-of-program evaluation of the Multi-Annual Programmatic Partnership for the Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence (GBV) in South Sudan implemented from July 2023 to September 2026. The evaluation will provide an independent and evidence-based assessment of the performance, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and overall contribution of the project toward improving access to integrated GBV prevention, risk mitigation, response, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among crisis-affected populations in South Sudan. The evaluation forms part of UNFPA commitment to accountability, transparency, organizational learning, evidence-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement of humanitarian programming. The findings and recommendations will support future resource mobilization, program design, partnership development, and policy engagement at national and international levels. The evaluation is expected to generate actionable recommendations to strengthen future humanitarian and nexus programming while contributing to broader learning on GBV prevention and response in complex humanitarian settings. Background and Context South Sudan remains one of the most complex and protracted humanitarian crises globally. Years of conflict, recurrent displacement, climate-induced disasters, disease outbreaks, economic decline, and food insecurity continue to generate widespread humanitarian needs across the country. Women and girls remain disproportionately affected by protection risks, including GBV, harmful practices, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), and limited access to quality protection and health services. Displacement, loss of livelihoods, weakened social structures, and reduced access to essential services further exacerbate vulnerabilities and increase exposure to violence and exploitation. In response to these challenges, UNFPA, with DG-ECHO support, implemented a multi-annual programmatic partnership focused on strengthening integrated GBV prevention and response services in humanitarian settings. The program was designed to address both immediate humanitarian needs and underlying structural barriers that perpetuate violence against women and girls. It combined community-based prevention approaches, survivor-centered response services, capacity strengthening interventions, systems development, and institutional support to improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of GBV services. The program was guided by a multi-year strategic framework built around four interconnected pillars: • Pillar I: Engaging men and boys in GBV prevention and response. • Pillar II: Strengthening capacities of service providers, institutions, and community structures. • Pillar III: Expanding integrated and multi-sectoral GBV prevention and response services. • Pillar IV: Addressing GBV underreporting, strengthening evidence generation, and improving access to services for underserved survivor groups. The program was implemented through a combination of static service delivery points, mobile outreach teams, Women and Girls’ Friendly Spaces (WGFS), community outreach structures, referral systems, capacity building initiatives, dignity kit distributions, and integrated SRH and Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) services. Implementation took place through partnerships with local and international implementing partners, community structures, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and affected populations. As the program reaches completion, UNFPA would like to assess the extent to which the program achieved its intended objectives and contributed to strengthening GBV prevention and response systems in South Sudan. Evaluation Purpose, Objectives and Scope 3.1. Purpose The overall goal of the evaluation is to assess the performance, effectiveness, strategic contribution, and sustainability of the multi-annual programmatic partnership and determine the extent to which the program achieved its intended objectives and outcomes. The evaluation will serve both accountability and learning purposes. From an accountability perspective, the evaluation will provide independent evidence on program performance, use of resources, achievement of results, and contribution to humanitarian outcomes. From a learning perspective, the evaluation will identify lessons learned, innovations, successful approaches, and challenges that can inform future humanitarian programming, strategic partnerships, and institutional strengthening. The evaluation will generate evidence-based recommendations to guide future investments in GBV prevention and response programming in South Sudan and comparable humanitarian contexts. 3.2. Objectives The evaluation will pursue six primary objectives. • To assess the relevance of program interventions and their responsiveness to the evolving humanitarian context and protection needs of affected populations. • To determine the extent to which the program achieved its intended outputs, outcomes, and strategic objectives. • To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of implementation approaches, partnership arrangements, coordination mechanisms, and adaptive management processes. • To examine the contribution of the program to strengthening institutional capacities, community structures, systems, and service delivery mechanisms. • To evaluate the integration and effectiveness of cross-cutting commitments and humanitarian principles throughout program implementation. • To identify lessons learned, good practices, innovations, and strategic recommendations to inform future programming and policy development. 3.3. Scope The evaluation will cover the entire program implementation period from July 2023 through September 2026. The evaluation will assess interventions implemented across all program locations and target populations. The scope of the evaluation includes all program components, including GBV prevention and risk mitigation activities; GBV case management services; psychosocial support interventions; WGFS; community engagement and social norms interventions; dignity kit distribution; cash assistance for GBV survivors; CMR, integrated SRH services; referral systems and coordination mechanisms; capacity building and localization. The evaluation will examine intended and unintended outcomes, positive and negative effects, and factors influencing program performance. 3.4 Geographic Scope The evaluation will cover the following where UNFPA implemented interventions: S/N State County/Area Central Equatoria State: Juba, Maridi and Marobo Unity State: Bentiu, Leer and Mayom Jonglei State: Bor, Fangak and Canal/Pigi Upper Nile State: Malakal, Renk, Nasir, Ulang and Panyikang Pibor Administrative Area: Pibor Highlighted areas include interventions funded by the HRSRH/GBV Project and other CP interventions Evaluation Criteria and Preliminary Evaluation Questions 4.1. Evaluation Criteria The evaluation will apply the OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, adapted to the humanitarian context. Criterion Definition Relevance The evaluation will assess the extent to which program objectives and interventions responded to the priorities, needs, and vulnerabilities of affected populations. Attention will be given to the appropriateness of intervention strategies, targeting approaches, service delivery modalities, and responsiveness to changes in the operating environment. Coherence The evaluation will assess internal and external coherence of program interventions. This includes examining alignment with national priorities, humanitarian response plans, UNFPA strategies, cluster priorities, and complementary interventions implemented by other actors. Effectiveness The evaluation will assess the extent to which planned outputs and outcomes were achieved. This includes examining progress toward strategic objectives, quality of service delivery, accessibility of interventions, and effectiveness of community engagement approaches. Efficiency The evaluation will examine whether program resources were utilized in an optimal manner and whether results were achieved in a timely and cost-effective way. The assessment will include implementation arrangements, operational efficiency, resource allocation, and adaptive management practices. Coherence The evaluation will assess internal and external coherence of program interventions. This includes examining alignment with national priorities, humanitarian response plans, UNFPA strategies, cluster priorities, and complementary interventions implemented by other actors. Impact The evaluation will assess the contribution of the program to broader changes in the lives of affected populations, communities, institutions, and systems. The evaluation will examine evidence of changes in access to services, awareness, behavior, institutional capacities, and protection outcomes. Sustainability The evaluation will assess the likelihood that program benefits, systems, capacities, and partnerships will continue beyond program completion. Humanitarian-specific criterion Definition Coverage The extent to which major population groups facing life-threatening conditions were reached by humanitarian action. Evaluators need to assess the extent of inclusion bias – that is, the inclusion of those in the groups receiving support who should not have been (disaggregated by sex, socio-economic grouping and ethnicity); as well as the extent of exclusion bias, that is, exclusion of groups who should have been covered but were not (disaggregated by sex, socio-economic grouping and ethnicity). Connectedness The extent to which activities of a short-term emergency nature are carried out in a context that takes longer-term and interconnected problems into account, that is a nexus approach, and that also indicates the complementarity of UNFPA with other partner interventions. Approach and Methodology The evaluation will adopt a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The methodology will include desk review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, direct observation, stakeholder consultations, and data triangulation. The evaluation team is expected to develop a robust methodological framework capable of generating credible and reliable findings while ensuring meaningful participation of stakeholders and affected populations. The methodology must include a clear sampling strategy, data quality assurance mechanisms, ethical safeguards, and limitations management measures. Participation of women, girls, adolescents, persons with disabilities, community leaders, government counterparts, implementing partners, and humanitarian coordination actors will be an important part of the evaluation. 5.1. Ethical Considerations The evaluation will comply with UNEG Norms and Standards, UNFPA Evaluation Policy, WHO ethical recommendations for GBV research, and internationally recognized ethical standards for humanitarian evaluations. The evaluation team will ensure informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, safety, dignity, and non-discrimination throughout the evaluation process. All data collection activities involving vulnerable populations will be conducted in a manner that minimizes risks and prevents harm. The evaluation team will establish appropriate referral mechanisms should protection concerns arise during data collection. Expected Deliverables The evaluation will produce the following deliverables: • An inception report. • Data collection tools and evaluation matrix. • Field mission debrief presentation. • Draft evaluation report. • Stakeholder validation workshop. • Final evaluation report. • Executive summary. • PowerPoint presentation of key findings and recommendations. All the deliverables will be developed in the English Quality Assurance and Assessment The UNFPA Evaluation Quality Assurance and Assessment (EQAA) system aims to ensure the production of good quality evaluations through two processes: quality assurance and quality assessment. Quality assurance occurs throughout the evaluation process and involves a proactive approach which aims to prevent the production of an evaluation report that would not comply with the ToR. Quality assessment takes place following the completion of the evaluation process and is limited to the final evaluation report with a view to assessing compliance with specific criteria. The evaluation team leader plays an instrumental quality assurance role. S/he must ensure that all members of the evaluation team provide high-quality contributions (both form and substance). The evaluation quality assessment checklist below outlines the main quality criteria that the evaluation report must meet. • Executive summary: Provide an overview of the evaluation. It is written as a stand-alone section and includes the following key elements of the evaluation: overview of the context; evaluation purpose, objectives and intended users; scope and evaluation methodology; summary of most significant findings; main conclusions; and key recommendations. The executive summary can inform decision-making. • Background: The evaluand and context of the evaluation are clearly described. The key stakeholders are clearly identified and presented. • Purpose, Objectives and Scope: The purpose of the evaluation is clearly described. The objectives and scope of the evaluation are clear and realistic. The evaluation questions are appropriate for meeting the objectives and purpose of the evaluation. • Design and Methodology: The report should provide the rationale for the methodological approach and the appropriateness of the methods and tools selected, as well as sampling with a clear description of ethical issues and considerations. Constraints and limitations are explicit (incl. limitations applying to interpretations and extrapolations in the analysis; robustness of data sources, etc.). • Findings: They are evidence-based and systematically address all of the evaluation's questions. Findings are built upon multiple and credible data sources and result from rigorous data analysis. • Conclusions: They are based on credible findings and convey the evaluators’ unbiased judgment. Conclusions are well substantiated and derived from findings and add deeper insight beyond the findings themselves. • Recommendations: They are clearly formulated and logically derived from the conclusions. They are prioritized based on their importance, urgency, and potential impact. • Structure and presentation: The report is clear, user-friendly, comprehensive and logically structured. • Evaluation Principles/cross-cutting issues: Cross cutting issues, in particular, human rights-based approach, gender equality, disability inclusion, LNOB are integrated in the core elements of the evaluation (evaluation design, methodology, findings, conclusions and recommendations). Duration of the Evaluation The evaluation is expected to be completed within two months from contract signature. The estimated level of effort is expected to range between 45 and 60 working days. The detailed schedule will be finalized during contract negotiations. Management of the Evaluation The evaluation will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by a senior international evaluation specialist. Collectively, the team will demonstrate expertise in GBV in emergencies; SRH in emergencies; evaluation methodologies; localization; disability inclusion; protection programming; South Sudan context analysis and quantitative and qualitative research methods. 9.1 Establishment, Composition and Roles of the Evaluation Reference Group An Evaluation Reference Group (ERG**)** will be established to provide strategic and technical oversight throughout the evaluation process. The ERG will support the Evaluation Manager in ensuring that the evaluation is credible, impartial, transparent, methodologically sound, and aligned with the UNFPA Evaluation Policy, UNEG Norms and Standards, and ethical requirements applicable to evaluations in humanitarian settings. The ERG will serve in an advisory capacity and will not influence the independent judgments, findings, conclusions or recommendations of the evaluation team. The ERG will comprise approximately five members, selected based on their technical expertise and institutional roles. Membership is expected to include representatives from UNFPA programme Units, monitoring and evaluation, a relevant government counterpart, and one implementing partner or technical expert in GBV and humanitarian programming. The Evaluation Manager will chair and coordinate the ERG throughout the evaluation. UNFPA will explore the membership of UNFPA Representation Office to the European Union in the ERG. The ERG will provide technical advice and quality assurance at key milestones of the evaluation. Its responsibilities will include: • Reviewing and providing technical comments on the evaluation inception report, methodology, evaluation matrix and data collection tools. • Advising on the selection of stakeholders, field sites and documentation to ensure comprehensive coverage and minimize bias. • Facilitating access to relevant stakeholders, programme documentation and key informants, where required. • Participating in key consultation meetings, including the inception briefing, field debriefing and validation of preliminary findings. • Reviewing the draft evaluation report to identify factual inaccuracies, omissions and technical issues, while safeguarding the independence of the evaluation team's analysis and conclusions. • Supporting the refinement of evaluation recommendations to ensure they are relevant, feasible and actionable. • Promoting the dissemination, learning and utilization of evaluation findings to inform future humanitarian programming and strategic decision-making. The ERG will meet at key stages of the evaluation process and may also provide written comments between meetings, as required. All feedback will be consolidated by the Evaluation Manager and shared with the evaluation team for consideration, while final responsibility for the evaluation products will remain with the independent evaluation team and the Evaluation Manager Roles and Responsibilities of the Evaluation Team Evaluation team leader The evaluation team leader will hold overall responsibility for the design and implementation of the evaluation. S/he will be responsible for the production and timely submission of all expected deliverables in line with the ToR. S/he will lead and coordinate the work of the evaluation team and ensure the quality of all evaluation deliverables at all stages of the process. UNFPA M&E Specialist will provide methodological guidance to the evaluation team in developing the design report, in particular, but not limited to, defining the evaluation approach, methodology and work plan, as well as the agenda for the field phase. S/he will lead the drafting and presentation of the design report and the draft and final evaluation report. Beyond her/his responsibilities as team leader, the evaluation team leader will serve as technical expert for one of the thematic areas of the country programme described below. Evaluation team member: SRH expert The SRH expert will provide expertise on sexual and reproductive health in emergencies services. S/he will contribute to the methodological design of the evaluation and take part in the data collection, analysis and reporting work, with overall responsibility for contributions to the evaluation deliverables in her/his thematic area of expertise. S/he will provide substantive input throughout the evaluation process by contributing to the development of the evaluation methodology, evaluation work plan and agenda for the field phase, participating in all meetings. S/he will undertake a document review and conduct interviews and group discussions with stakeholders, as agreed with the evaluation team leader. Evaluation team member: Gender-based Violence in Emergencies expert The expert will contribute to the methodological design of the evaluation and take part in the data collection, analysis and reporting work, with overall responsibility for contributions to the evaluation deliverables in her/his thematic area of expertise. S/he will provide substantive input throughout the evaluation process by contributing to the development of the evaluation methodology, evaluation work plan and agenda for the field phase, participating in all meetings. Qualifications and Experience of the Evaluation Team Team leader The competencies, skills and experience of the evaluation team leader should include: • The Team Leader will possess an advanced university degree in social sciences, public health, gender studies, international development, humanitarian affairs, evaluation, or a related field. • The Team Leader will have at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading complex evaluations in humanitarian settings and demonstrated expertise in GBV programming. • Strong analytical, facilitation, report-writing, and communication skills are required. • Experience in South Sudan or comparable humanitarian contexts is highly desirable. • Fluent in written and spoken English. SRH expert The competencies, skills and experience of the SRHR expert should include: • Master’s degree in public health, medicine, health economics and financing, epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences or a related field. • 5-7 years of experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, assessments, research studies or M&E work in the field of international development and/or humanitarian assistance]. • Substantive knowledge of SRH, with good knowledge of humanitarian strategies, policies, frameworks and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, as well as the international humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms . • Experience in humanitarian response, programming or evaluation. • Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm. • Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process. • Solid knowledge of evaluation approaches and methodology and demonstrated ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. • Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken). • Work experience in/good knowledge of the national development context of South Sudan • Familiarity with UNFPA or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and activities will be an advantage. • Fluent in written and spoken English. GBV in Emergencies expert The competencies, skills and experience of GBViE expert should include: • Master’s degree in women/gender studies, human rights law, social sciences, development studies or a related field. • 5-7 years of experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, assessments, research studies or M&E work in the field of international development and/or humanitarian assistance. • Substantive knowledge of GBV and other harmful practices, such as, early, child and forced marriage, and issues surrounding masculinity, gender relationships and sexuality, adolescent and youth programming. • Good knowledge of humanitarian strategies, policies, frameworks and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, as well as the international humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms. • Experience in humanitarian response, programming or evaluation is an added value. • Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm. • Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process. • Solid knowledge of evaluation approaches and methodology and demonstrated ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. • Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken). • Work experience in/good knowledge of the national development context of South Sudan • Familiarity with UNFPA or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and activities will be an advantage. • Fluent in written and spoken English. Budget and Payment Modalities The payment of fees will be based on the submission of deliverables, as follows: Upon approval of the inception report: 20% Upon submission of a draft final evaluation report of satisfactory quality: 40% Upon approval of the final evaluation report and the PowerPoint presentation of the evaluation results: 40% How to apply All applications for this call must be submitted through this link below. Once you access the portal, search for the call using the requisition number UNFPA-SSD-00003 or by searching for UNFPA. You will then be directed to the opportunity in Quantum, where you can complete and submit your application. If you do not already have a Quantum account, you will first need to register before you can submit your application. Application Submission Process Interested entities will submit: • A technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology and work plan. • A financial proposal. • Curriculum vitae of proposed team members. • Examples of previous evaluation reports. • References from previous assignments. UNFPA reserves the right to request additional documents during the procurement process.