Form of Employment : Short-term consultancy


Starting Date : As soon as possible


Duration : 15 days (between 01 October 2021 — 31 October 2021)


Location : Home based with possible field visits


Background:


Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit


organisation registered in Berlin. Democracy Reporting International promotes political


participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of


democratic institutions world-wide.


With funding from the German Federal Foreign Office DRI is implementing the project


“Preventing electoral violence in Sri Lanka by advancing core electoral reform issues


and strengthening the integrity of the public discourse”, which aims at supporting Sri


Lanka’s institutions in delivering major election-related reform priorities to


prevent violence erupting during the electoral periods and thus threaten Sri Lanka’s


democratic development. The project is focused on rendering the following two


objectives:


1) Increased integrity of the elections through improved electoral framework with a


focus on regulating campaign finances and inclusiveness,


2) Strengthened public awareness and multi-stakeholder response to disinformation


and hate speech through social media to improve online democratic discourse and


the integrity of the elections.


The project is being implemented since 01.10.2019 and will be completed by 31


December 2021. DRI partnered with PAFFREL and CMEV - Sri Lanka’s two leading


and non-partisan election observation organisations working with the Election


Commission of Sn Lanka.


In order to achieve the set-out objectives, the project undertook a series of interventions;


briefing papers on contested reform priorities, social media awareness raising


campaigns, awareness raising workshops on contested reform priorities (based on the


findings/recommendations from briefing papers), in person briefings with political


stakeholders, public multi-stakeholder debates, discussions on reform issues, data


driven analysis of social media, awareness raising workshops for civil society and


grassroots actors on misinformation, hate speech and social media bias. The project


targeted groups from both the political supply side, i.e. political stakeholders such as


parliamentarians, government representatives, political party leaders, the Election


Commission of Sri Lanka, and with demand side actors, i.e. civil society groups


including women and youth groups and students along with communities at risk of


instigating violence.


The combined effect of these interventions is expected to lead to four expected results


of this project.


1. Information and analysis around key electoral framework reform issues is


provided


2. Informed discussion around key electoral framework reform issues is provided


3. Data on misinformation and hate speech online is analysed, published and


critically discussed


4. Momentum among key stakeholders is built on how to address challenges posed


by social media


Objectives of the Final Evaluation:


Now DRI intends to conduct a final evaluation of the project to document learning,


guage effectiveness of DRI’s programming approach and activity implementation. In


particular, the final project evaluation will: (1) focus on assessing the project’s


performance against its main objectives (impact/outcome/output evaluation), and (2)


review and evaluate how the project was implemented (process evaluation).


The consultant will be required to assess the project against OECD-DAC criteria of


relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. The consultant should


also review the effectiveness of gender and diversity in the project's delivery. DRI Sn


Lanka will provide the consultant the relevant project documents for desk-based


review. The consultant will be required to identify local stakeholders including


beneficiaries and local partners and conduct interviews with the identified


stakeholders for primary data collection.


Under the supervision of DRI Sm Lanka’s Programme Director and in close


coordination with Programme Officer — MEL and other team members:


Specific Objectives:

- Evaluate the extent to which the project has met its expected results as per the
project’s logframe,
- Identify the most significant change that occurred as a result of the project
activities
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the project and provide
recommendations regarding areas for improvement for a potential continuation
of the project
- Formulate lessons learnt from the project’s implementation and provide
recommendations to improve design and delivery of a potential continuation of
the project.
- Assess the extent and modes of gender and diversity in the project activities and
how they were affected by the project (including providing recommendations as
to how to improve outcomes and diversity).
-Identify success stories and clearly describe the role of the project activities
and partners
-Identify opportunities for the sustainability of the project outcomes
Deliverables:
- Evaluation Plan, including methodology, and schedule for interviews with local
stakeholders and submission of drafts (no later than the 03 day from the
commencement of the evaluation).
- First draft of Evaluation Report (no later than the 12 day from the
commencement of the evaluation).
- Final Evaluation Report, including findings, conclusions, recommendations and
quotes/basic case studies, after receiving and considering feedback from DRI on
the first draft (no later than the 15" day from the commencement of the
evaluation).
Qualifications:
- University degree in political or social science, international development, or other
relevant fields;
- At least 5 years of work experience as a MEL consultant in the international
development sector and/or policy related field;
-Demonstrated experience in evaluating programmes, including feedback on M&E
frameworks, processes, and tools, and providing lessons learned;
- Understanding of challenges of doing MEL in democracy support programming is
an asset;
© Proficient IT skills, able to create templates in word and excel, ability to work with
online meeting tools;
- Good communication and negotiation skills and ability to work as part of a
culturally diverse team and under pressure;
- Experience working on projects based in Sri Lanka is a strong asset;
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Sinhala/Tamil;
- Ability to travel to districts when necessary;

DRI values diversity and aims to be an equal opportunities employer. Women are
encouraged to apply!

For interested applicants, please send your application (including the Technical and
financial proposal, CV and contact details of two professional references).

 Please include “MEL Consultant: Final
Evaluation” in the subject line.
Application deadline: 15 September 2021

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The position may be filled
before the end of the deadline so early applications are encouraged. Applications by
groups of experts and institutions are also encouraged subject to a single daily rate.
Organisation responsible for this vacancy:

Democracy Reporting International gGmbH
49/3-B Fife Road
Colombo 00500
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 (0) 112 055 018

Data processing of personal data in third countries will not take place. We process your
data in accordance with the provisions of § 26 German Federal Data Protection Act.