Terms of Reference
Independent Evaluation of projects
Title of project being evaluated: Dialogando II- Building labour law compliance capacities in Honduras and Panama
Timing of evaluation: Final
Funding agreements were signed between Funpadem and the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (Labour-ESDC) for three projects between 2012 and 2014
An additional project was approved in March 2016, but will not be subject to this evaluation.
The “Dialogando I” projects were originally to be implemented in a period of 24 months, from April 2012 to March 2014. Both projects were extended for 2 months through a “time-only extension”. Subsequently, projects were completed on May 31, 2014.
The “Dialogando II” project was implemented from March 2014 to June 2016. The project duration was extended by 3 months to program unused funds and finalize project activities.
According to the Funding Agreement signed between the Labour-ESDC and FUNPADEM an independent final evaluation is to be conducted to review the progress and achievements of the three projects, as well as to identify the lessons learned.
2. PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND CONTEXT
The Foundation for Peace and Democracy (FUNPADEM), based in Costa Rica, is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization with more than 22 years of experience in the implementation of strategic development actions to promote sustainable human development in the Americas. With well over 10 years implementing projects in Central America, FUNPADEM has developed both contacts and tools for the promotion of social dialogue and civil society initiatives with partners throughout the region.
In general, Central America has shown progress in social dialogue and labor law compliance initiatives. FUNPADEM´s approach indicates that to become part of the culture in labor relations the intended dialogue has to thrive in local, regional and sectoral conditions, and most importantly, related to concrete topics and performance. This approach allowed for specific problems to be tackled more directly and for actors to develop abilities to address those specific problems.
Funpadem implemented the Dialogando 1 projects in Panama and Dominican Republican, and in Honduras and Costa Rica. And Dialogando 2, in Panamá and Honduras. The projects aimed to strengthen the capacities of dialogue for better enforcement of Labour laws in the Ministries of Labour of those countries and have accomplished notable results.
In Panama, a new organizational management capacity was developped in the capital, based on a cutting edge model of work focused in the disciplines of execution; inspection and conciliation officers have the tools and habits to plan their ordinary work as well as to monitor its performance and achievement. A national training program was conducted with more than one thousand beneficiaries from different Departments. Protocols have been designed and validated.
In Dominican Republic, a series of protocols to standardize the inspection procedure were designed and the inspectors of Health and Safety as well as the general ones were trained on how to implement them. Also, public campaigns to prevent and eradicate child labour were broadcasted, within the scope of the National Road Map and the countries commitments in this matter. Both in Panamá and Dominican Republic a national monitoring system for the eradication of child labour has been designed.Honduras a very successful training program of more than 120 hours was conducted for inspectors. During the two versions of the Diploma courses, more than 50 inspectors from all over the country were trained, covering the key aspects of their ordinary work, from Labour law topics, to procedural matters, also including managerial aspects, negotiation skills, and international labour standards. These Diploma programs were jointly implemented with two Universities (one public and one private), allowing them to generate the capacities to replicate the curriculum. Technical support was also provided for inspection to better administer their cases on a digital way, and equipment was provided in order to facilitate their work.
In Costa Rica a very successful training program of more than 120 hours for new conciliators from different regional offices in the country was conducted, jointly with a public University. This training program was complemented with the upgrade of the electronic case management system (ECMS) of conciliation, and with the development a web-base application for worker to appoint their counselling and conciliation audience online. This tool has been a full success. Before this application, there were long line-ups for services from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Today, thousands of workers receive a more agile, modern and transparent conciliation service due to the training program, the ECMS and the web-based appointment application.
Management arrangements of the project
3. Purpose, SCOPE, CLIENTS OF THE EVALUATION
Purpose:
The independent evaluation serves two main purposes:
Scope:
Clients:
The findings of this final evaluation are destined primarily to the donor, Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (Labour-ESDC) overseeing the implementation of the project, the project management and key national partners involved.
4. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND QUESTIONS
The evaluation will address the following evaluation criteria i) relevance and strategic fit, ii) validity of design, iii) project progress and effectiveness, iv) efficiency of resource use, v) effectiveness of management arrangements and iv) impact orientation and sustainability. In line with the results-based approach, the evaluation will focus on identifying and analysing results through addressing key questions related to the evaluation criteria and the achievement of the outcomes/immediate objectives of the initiative using the logical framework indicators.
Key Evaluation Questions
The evaluator shall examine the following key issues:
Relevance and strategic fit,
Validity of design,
Project progress and effectiveness,
Efficiency of resource use,
Effectiveness of management arrangements,
Impact orientation and sustainability,
5. METHODOLOGY
Based on the above criteria and considering the participatory approach, the evaluation methodology is based on the following steps:
The evaluator should use multiple methods to analyze both qualitative and quantitative data.
The evaluator should pay a particular attention to the following:
Key stakeholders to be consulted
Key national partners:
Other stakeholders
Donor: The Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (Labour-ESDC).
Funpadem: Project staff based on Costa Rica, Honduras, Panamá.
Others: Other development partners involved in social dialogue and fundamental principles and rights at work (other donors, local and international organizations, and civil society organizations).
6. MAIN DELIVERABLES
7. MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Management arrangements of this evaluation
The following management arrangements are to be considered for this evaluation:
8. TIMETABLE AND PAYMENT
The evaluation will be undertaken from June 13 – July 13, 2016.
The evaluator shall be remunerated for a total amount of $5000.
Payment breakdown:
* First payment represents 30 % upon signing the contract.
* Second payment represents 70 % upon completion of work and submission of the final report to the satisfaction.
9. LEGAL AND ETHICAL MATTERS
By agreeing to undertake this work, the evaluator guarantees he/she does not have any stakes or prior involvement with the project implementation, nor any links to project management or any other conflict of interest that would compromise the independence of the evaluation.
10. COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
The evaluator should have the following qualifications:
* Master degree in development, law, Business management or related qualifications,
* A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in evaluating international development initiatives, logical framework and other strategic approaches, M&E methods and approaches, and information analysis and report writing,
* Understanding of the development context in Central America.
* Excellent communication and interview skills,
* Excellent report writing skills,
* Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines,
* Excellent knowledge of English and excellent drafting skills.
ANNEXES
ANNEX 1. Timeline
ANNEX 2. Inception report outline
ANNEX 1. Timeframe The evaluation will be undertaken from 13 June – 13 July 2016, in accordance with the work plan detailed below |
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Detailed work plan table |
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Evaluators tasks |
Source of information |
Time frame |
Desk review and preparation of inception report: desk review of all relevant documents: project document and its logical framework, funding agreement, relevant minute sheets, implementation plan, performance evaluation plan, progress reports, other relevant documents and studies. |
Project staff, ESDC |
Fifteen days |
Meeting with the project staff: the evaluator will meet the project staff for briefing in San José Costa Rica, and hold virtual meetings with country managers. |
Project staff |
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Collection of data and interview with stakeholders: the evaluator will communicate with relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project. |
Key partners, and relevant stakeholders, beneficiaries. |
Five days |
Debriefing phase: the evaluator will organize a debriefing meeting to present and discuss the preliminary findings. |
Evaluator, Funpadem |
one day |
Submission of the first draft of the report: The evaluator will submit a draft evaluation report. |
Based on the debriefing and the seminar discussion, the evaluator will send a first draft of the evaluation report for comments. |
Three days (email the report then Skype) |
Collection of feedback on the first draft: the evaluator will finalize the report incorporating any comments deemed appropriate and providing a brief note explaining why any comments might not have been incorporated. |
Comments of the draft evaluation report |
5 days |
Submission of the final report: the evaluator will submit the final report to the evaluation manager.
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The evaluator incorporates comments as he/she deems it appropriate and submits the final report to the evaluation manager |
One day |
Total number of days |
30 days |
ANNEX 2. INCEPTION REPORT OUTLINE
OVERVIEW
Title of projects being evaluated |
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Organization responsible for administrating the project |
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Type of evaluation (e.g. independent, internal) |
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Timing of evaluation (e.g. mid-term, final) |
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