Pakistan Job Openings
Accelerate Prosperity
Endline Assessment of Accelerate Prosperity in Central and South Asia (AP Asia)
October 23, 2024
-
Context and Background:
-
Project Background | EU Funded Accelerate Prosperity in Central & South Asia (AP Asia)
-
Objectives and Scope
-
Provide an overall learning on the project through recommendations on specific areas of focus that the project should consider based on the findings of the final evaluation and
-
Examine the extent, magnitude, sustainability and potential for project impacts; coherence with the provincial and national policies, identify any project design problems; assess project outcomes and outputs; and draw lessons learned that can contribute to the organization’s learning and follow-up programming.
-
Also assess the entrepreneurship activities of the AP Asia project from 2020 to 2024 through a robust research methodology, to gauge progress against the intended results and partner KPIs, gather lessons learned from implementation, and draw a comparison with the baseline values to gauge the project’s achievements.
-
Evaluate Project Outcomes and Impact: Focusing on the effectiveness and efficiency of the project also assesses whether the project met its objectives and the extent of its impact on the target population. This involves comparing baseline and end line data to measure changes and improvements. It is crucial that the assessments demonstratehow the project contributed to broader goals, such as social inclusion and economic development. The assessment will also determine how effectively the EU’s role and contribution were communicated to stakeholders affiliated with the action.
-
Ensure Accountability and Transparency: Provide a detailed account of how funds were used and ensure that all activities were carried out as planned. This includes financial reporting, adherence to timelines, and compliance with EU regulations. Transparency in reporting helps build trust with stakeholders and funding bodies.
-
Identify Best Practices and Lessons Learned: Highlight what worked well and what didn’t, offering insights for future projects. This helps in refining strategies, improving project design, and sharing knowledge across similar initiatives. Documenting best practices and lessons learned is essential for continuous improvement and for informing future EU-funded projects.
-
Methodology
-
Desk review: The firm should review all the relevant project documents, which have been stored in AP’s Share Point Drive, including the project description of action (Do A) document, policies, logical framework, progress results, Interim Annual Reports, monthly briefs, variance reports, and any other relevant documents. The selected firm is also expected to conduct a literature review of the entrepreneurship landscape in Central and South Asia to assess AP Asia’s relevance within the respective ecosystems.
-
The assessment should employ a mixed method approach, using both qualitative and quantitative data to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the project.
-
Quantitative Data: Gather data through structured surveys, including pre-existing monitoring and evaluation tools used during the project’s implementation.
-
Existing Beneficiary Data:This will include analyzing existing quantitative data related to job creation (direct and indirect), enterprise growth (business performance and profitability), investment and financing (seed, growth, and leveraged private capital), market linkages (cross-border trade), beneficiary demographics (gender, youth participation, and sectoral distribution), and training and capacity building (number of entrepreneurs trained and perception data).Examine beneficiary tracking data to measure progress against indicators.
-
Secondary Data Sources: If relevant, external or publicly available secondary data (e.g., national or regional datasets) can also be used to complement the beneficiary data, especially if there are gaps in key metrics.
-
Primary Data from Online Surveys: Considering it might not be possible to conduct field visits to interact with all the beneficiaries and stakeholders in the concerned AP countries, the consultant should also conduct online survey(s) of a representative sample to collect required additionaldata from project beneficiaries.
-
Qualitative Data: Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and/or focus group discussions (FGDs) with project beneficiaries, stakeholders, and partners to gain insights into the impact of the project on their lives and communities.
-
KIIs with key stakeholders: The consultant should conduct KIIs with key program stakeholders including the Executive Director, Country Directors, Partner Agencies, project teams, and others.
-
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): Considering the fairly short timeline of the assignment, it is advised that the firm conducts FGDs in each country of implementation to gain insights from the entrepreneurs and businesses the project worked with, other entrepreneurship support organizations who may have benefitted from the project, lead firms, investors and any other relevant key stakeholders.
-
Case studies: The consultant should document/extract case studies highlighting the impact of AP Asia, highlighting best practices, and lessons learned.
-
Impact Assessment Results: Cross-reference findings from the previous impact assessment with project-specific outcomes.
-
Deliverables
-
An Inception Report with a Detailed Work Plan
-
Describe the conceptual framework that will be used to undertake this study.
-
Explain the methodology proposed with changes as required.
-
Set out in detail the data required to answer the key questions, data sources by a specific question, data collection methods, sampling, and selection criteria of respondents for interviews, surveys, and FGDs.
-
Detail the work plan for the assessment, indicating its phases, key deliverables, and milestones.
-
List the key stakeholders to be interviewed and the tools to be used for interviews and discussions.
-
Present a detailed and tentative outline / table of contents for the final Endline Assessment report.
-
Present Initial Findings [& Share Report Outline]
-
Prior to the formulation of a first draft of the Endline Assessment Report, the consultant should provide a briefing document and formal presentation of initial findings of the Assessment to the AP Asia team. This presentation should provide the AP Asia Team with an understanding of the results of the Key Questions posed under the Assessment and provide an opportunity for the AP Asia team to provide feedback on the parameters of the assessment prior to report drafting stage. The firm will be required to share a detailed outline of the report to showcase the expected structure and flow of its content prior to commencing work on the actual draft.
-
First Draft of Endline Assessment Report
-
The consultant should provide the first draft of the Endline Assessment Report to the AP Asia team following the agreed schedule. The draft will be improved by incorporating AP Asia’s management team’s comments and input. The AP Asia’s management team holds the responsibility of providing the first round of approval on this draft. This updated draft report will be shared with relevant stakeholders including the European Union (EU) and the firm will be obligated to incorporate their feedback into the final draft, which will then be approved by the EU.
-
Final Endline Assessment Report and Presentation
-
The consultant(s) will submit the final report, incorporating and responding to all comments from AP, EUand other key stakeholders.
-
The consultant should also hand over the complete dataset including filled questionnaires and transcripts of the interviews, survey results, to AP at the end of the assignment.
-
The consultant will prepare a Power Point of the findings from the final Report and present the findings to AP leadership (including the Executive Committee).
-
Duration, Implementation Arrangements, and Work plan
-
Budget and Payment
-
Consultant(s)/Firms Experience and Qualification
-
Over 10 years’ experience in conducting Endline Assessments and Evaluations in Central and South Asia, preferably with experience conducting these types of evaluations for the EU.
-
Proven experience in assessing entrepreneurship programs in Central and South Asia.
-
Should consist of team members who are subject matter experts with a postgraduate degree in business, research, economics,or other relevant fields.
-
Extensive conceptual and methodological skills and experience in quantitative and qualitative assessments, including evaluation designs, participatory and theory-based approaches, and quantitative and qualitative methods.
-
Prior work experience in Central and South Asia with proven understanding of the entrepreneurship context in the region.
-
Should have excellent facilitation, coordination, negotiation, and English writing skills especially report writing.
-
Fluency in regional languages where AP Asia is working will be an advantage (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan). Alternatively, the firm must have translators onboard to readily support it with interviews, FGDs, and such where communication skills in the local language will be required. The firm should also have access to reliable technological tools or human resources for translations of the survey tool, interview and FGD instrument, and later the qualitative primary data from the interviews and FGDs, as needed.
-
The firm must also have HR capacity to run different research activities for the assessment simultaneously.
-
Selection Criteria
-
Conceptual framework and methodology proposed in the proposal and responsiveness of the proposal to the Terms of Reference (To Rs).
-
Evaluation questions as per the DOA of AP Asia Project
-
Relevant professional experience of the consulting firmdemonstrated through CVs of the team.
-
Organizational profile with 10 years or more of relevant experience
-
Quality and relevance of sample evaluation reports (at least two reports from the last five years)
-
Financial Quote
-
To assess the alignment of the AP Asia project with other local, national, and regional interventions, including government policies and strategies aimed at promoting equitable economic development, enterprise growth, and employment generation in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
-
To evaluate how well the AP Asia project complements and coordinates with other donor-funded initiatives and programs in the target regions, particularly those focusing on gender equality and youth.
-
How well does the AP Asia project align with and support national development strategies and policies in the four target countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) aimed at promoting rural economic growth, enterprise development, and gender equality?
-
To what extent does the project coordinate with and complement other donor-funded programs and initiatives implemented by AKF focused on economic development, employment generation, and gender equity in the region and beyond? Are there any overlaps or synergies?
-
To what extent did the project support or align with local and regional trade policies or initiatives aimed at fostering cross-border trade and economic collaboration among enterprises in the target countries?
-
Does the project’s implementation avoid conflicts or contradictions with other ongoing programs in the region, particularly those aimed at economic development, rural enterprise growth, and employment creation?
-
How effectively did the project build partnerships and leverage existing networks of private sector, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to ensure coherent and unified efforts toward enterprise growth and self-employment in rural areas?
-
Were there any coordination challenges between the AP Asia project and other initiatives in the region? If so, how were these challenges addressed to maintain coherence across the different programs?
-
How does the project align with broader international initiatives or policies?
-
What measures were taken to avoid overlap or duplication with other projects in the same sector?
-
How effectively has the EU’s role and contribution been communicated to stakeholders associated with the action?
-
To assess if the AP Asia project was designed to meet the specific economic needs of women, youth, and rural communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan through its program theory, logic, and assumptions.
-
To evaluate the relevance of the tools, approaches, and methodologies developed and implemented throughout the AP Asia project in addressing the context-specific needs of the target communities, particularly in promoting self-employment, business growth, and trade.
-
To determine if the project’s interventions, objectives, and targets are responsive to the evolving needs, priorities, and challenges of the beneficiaries and their socio-economic environments, especially in rural areas.
-
Does the program’s logic and theory of change effectively support the project’s objectives, such as promoting equitable economic well-being and increasing employment opportunities for women and youth in rural areas?
-
Were the targets set by the AP Asia project, such as the growth of supported enterprises and increased trade, realistic given the socio-economic conditions in the four target countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan)?
-
Do the project’s objectives reflect the actual economic needs of the target groups, including women, youth, and rural communities, in the host countries? How well do they align with the local priorities and policies?
-
Did the planning and implementation of interventions account for local contexts, including (a) conducting adequate needs assessments, and (b) understanding and supporting the livelihoods, capacities, and socio-economic conditions of the target populations?
-
Did the project team and local partners (e.g., local governments, business centers, community leaders) have the necessary institutional capacity, including staffing, local knowledge, and experience, to effectively implement the project’s objectives and respond to the evolving needs of the communities?
-
To what extent did the community and key stakeholders (e.g., women-led enterprises, youth groups, local business associations) participate in the planning and implementation of the project interventions? Were their insights integrated into the project design?
-
Did the AP Asia project effectively respond to the needs and priorities of the target groups, including addressing gender-specific economic barriers and fostering youth employment, while also adapting to any changes in circumstances or needs over the project’s 60-month timeline?
-
To what extent are the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) being integrated in the initiative?
-
How have changing needs or external factors influenced the project’s relevance over time?
-
Were beneficiaries involved in the design process to ensure the project’s relevance to their needs?
-
To evaluate the effectiveness of the project’s interventions in increasing the growth of supported enterprises, fostering new start-ups, and enhancing trade between enterprises, producers, and clients in the targeted areas.
-
To assess the progress made towards achieving the project’s goal and objectives based on the log-frame, design and monitoring data.
-
Did the project’s interventions lead to significant changes in the economic status of the target beneficiaries, particularly women and youth in rural settings? Were there observable improvements in income, employment, or enterprise growth?
-
To what extent did the project’s interventions, such as business training, mentorship, and financial support, directly contribute to the growth of women- and youth-led ventures? Were these interventions effective in overcoming barriers to economic participation for these groups?
-
To what extent did the programme achieve its outputs, outcome and goals? Following are the key outcome level indicators to assess:
-
To what extent has the visibility of the EU contributed to achieving the project’s objectives?
-
To assess how efficiently the AP Asia project used its financial, human, and technical resources to achieve its objectives related to enterprise growth, self-employment, and trade enhancement in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan
-
To assess how well the project optimized available resources, avoided duplication of efforts, and leveraged partnerships for greater impact.
-
To what extent did the AP Asia project use its financial and human resources efficiently to achieve its objectives of enterprise growth, employment creation, and trade facilitation in rural areas? Were the resources allocated appropriately across the four countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan)?
-
Were the project’s interventions cost-effective in achieving the desired outcomes, such as increased enterprise growth, self-employment opportunities, and enhanced trade? Did the benefits of the interventions justify the costs?
-
Were there any areas where the project could have reduced costs without compromising quality or results? Were there alternative approaches that could have achieved similar outcomes at a lower cost?
-
Was the project delivered on time and within budget, and were any deviations from the plan managed effectively to maintain efficiency
-
To assess the long-term impact of the AP Asia project on the economic well-being of women, youth, and rural communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, focusing on improvements in self-employment, enterprise growth, and trade.
-
To determine the extent to which the AP Asia project contributed to systemic changes in the local economic environment, such as enhancing entrepreneurial ecosystems, business networks, and local markets
-
What were the positive and negative, intended and unintended, changes produced by the project?
-
What unforeseen positive or negative impacts (if any) have resulted from the project’s interventions, and how have these affected the local economic or social conditions in the target regions?
-
Did the AP Asia project lead to systemic changes in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the target countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), such as better access to markets, improved business networks, or increased support for start-ups and SGBs?
-
To what extent has the project influenced broader policy or systemic change?
-
To evaluate the sustainability of the institutional and capacity-building efforts made to support women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs, and whether these efforts will endure without external support.
-
To assess the likelihood that the benefits of the AP Asia project, particularly related to enterprise growth, employment generation, and trade enhancement, will continue beyond the project’s duration
-
To what extent are the benefits of the AP Asia project, such as enterprise growth, self-employment, and increased trade, likely to be sustained beyond the project’s completion?
-
Have the project’s interventions (e.g., training, capacity building, business development services) equipped women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs with the skills and resources necessary to continue growing their businesses without external support?
-
What mechanisms (e.g., partnerships, business networks, access to finance, market linkages) have been put in place to ensure the ongoing success of enterprises supported by the project? Are these mechanisms sustainable over time?
-
To what extent has the project built local ownership and capacity among stakeholders (e.g., local governments, business associations, educational institutions) to sustain the impacts of the project, particularly in promoting economic well-being and enterprise development?
-
How well are local institutions equipped to maintain and expand the project’s impact?
Proposal Submission
Email applications should be forwarded to the Accelerate Prosperity at procurement_appk@akdn.org Wednesday , November 04, 2024,
The application should comprise:
- A detailed technical proposal with proposed methodology
- A detailed budget
- An updated copy of the lead consultant’s CV, including two references with contact details
- Two examples of recently completed Endline Assessment reports.
New Job Alerts
Meeras By Nilofer Shahid
Office boy
Lahore
FULL TIME & PART TIME
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionPakistan Facilities Management (Pvt.) Ltd
Procurement Executive
Islamabad
FULL TIME
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionLaar Humanitarian Development Programme (LHDP)
Request for Quotation – for the Construction 30 Climate Resilient Demo Latrines
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionVisionary Merger
Junior Content Writer
Lahore
FULL TIME & CONTRACT
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionLooking for similar job?
Catholic Relief Services - CRS
Inclusive Education Research and Assessment Officer
Islamabad
August 27, 2024
View Job DescriptionNutrition International
Feasibility and Learning Assessment of Maternal Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) scale-up transition in Pakistan
August 27, 2024
View Job DescriptionWaterAid
Impact Level Baseline Assessment for WASH & Health – Country Programme (CP)
September 2, 2024
View Job DescriptionWaterAid
Impact Level Baseline Assessment for WASH & Health – Country Programme (CP)
September 2, 2024
View Job DescriptionNational Poverty Graduation Programme
REOI for Hiring of firm to conduct Endline Survey
Islamabad
September 28, 2024
View Job DescriptionAccelerate Prosperity
Endline Assessment of Accelerate Prosperity in Central and South Asia (AP Asia)
October 23, 2024
View Job DescriptionSee What’s New: Accelerate Prosperity Job Opportunities
Accelerate Prosperity
Endline Assessment of Accelerate Prosperity in Central and South Asia (AP Asia)
October 23, 2024
View Job DescriptionAccelerate Prosperity
Investment Analyst
Islamabad
FULL TIME
September 11, 2024
View Job DescriptionNew Job Alerts
Meeras By Nilofer Shahid
Office boy
Lahore
FULL TIME & PART TIME
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionPakistan Facilities Management (Pvt.) Ltd
Procurement Executive
Islamabad
FULL TIME
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionLaar Humanitarian Development Programme (LHDP)
Request for Quotation – for the Construction 30 Climate Resilient Demo Latrines
November 7, 2024
View Job DescriptionVisionary Merger
Junior Content Writer
Lahore
FULL TIME & CONTRACT
November 7, 2024
View Job Description