1. Background and the context

a. Project duration: April 1st, 2023 – September 30, 2025

b. Project partners: Institute Circle (Slovenia), NGO Impuls (Montenegro), NGO Runolist (Montenegro)

c. Financed by: Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

2. The main project outline:

Introduction

Montenegro (MNE) is a highly patriarchal country facing economic and other forms of gender-based discrimination. The situation is particularly concerning in the northern, less developed part of the country, where every third woman/girl is a victim of some form of violence.

The project, implemented by Zavod Krog, NVU Impuls, NVO Runolist, is taking place in northern Montenegro and aims to empower women/girls through awareness-raising and training for different target groups. It focuses on gender equality rights, knowledge for violence prevention, and active support for their efforts toward economic independence.

The project activated a network of 10 NGOs in northern Montenegro to prevent violence and empower women/girls in gender equality (EKOS Network). It has also engaged local public institutions to incorporate these topics into local strategic plans.

A web academy has been established to provide education on gender equality rights, violence prevention, and economic empowerment. Additionally, 16 members of the EKOS Network was trained to provide appropriate counselling and assistance to vulnerable groups. These trained members conduct interactive workshops to guide vulnerable groups in exercising their gender equality rights.

Moreover, 20 women/girls from rural areas were trained in cultivating medicinal and herbal plants to ensure their economic independence, including the development of business plans and promotional activities.

The project has also conducted a major awareness campaign in five participating cities, highlighting the importance of gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence.

3. The evaluation principles (based on the Evaluation Guidelines for International Development Cooperation)

The evaluation must be carried out based on the OECD (Organisation for economic cooperation and development) evaluation principles – how to carry out the evaluation?

Annexes: EVALUATION GUIDELINES

4. The purpose of the evaluation is to evaluate

a.) the impact of the project;

b.) what could have been improved or changed;

c) the recommendations for further measures.

The main findings of this evaluation will be included in the final report of the project.

5. Methodology

To provide reliable answers on the evaluation questions, that are defined above, the evaluation process needs to combine qualitative and quantitative methods. The partner organisations will leave the finalisation and elaboration of the tools for data collection and methods for data analyses to the evaluator; it is however suggested that – among others – the following methods are used:

- Desk research and study of the project documentation, reports, means of verification (lists of participants, reports from trainings and other activities etc.)

- Interviews with the project team

- Interviews with the representatives of the respective authorities and experts

- Focus groups/interviews/questionnaires with beneficiaries (benefitting from access to educational activities, benefiting from medical herb activities…)

The evaluator is asked to propose the precise combination of methods to be used in carrying out the evaluation.

6. The final report must reflect a compiled assessment of the project as a whole. The quality of the evaluation report is determined as follows:

7. Timing and deliverables

By June 20th, 2025 – any meeting(s) with the project team (from both partner organisations) done to get information needed to prepare an evaluation plan and to select data collection tools and methods for data analyses.

By June 30th, 2025 – an inception report and the final proposal for the methodological approach is prepared

By 10th August 2025 – the draft evaluation report is presented to the partner organisations

By 15th September 2025 – the final evaluation report is submitted

By 25 September 2025 – the short version of the evaluation report for public is submitted

8. Communication plan

Evaluator will timely (according to the needs) inform Zavod Krog of the evaluation progress and perceived or occurred challenges that need joint considerations.

9. Budget and Payment

The selected candidate or company will be paid 5.000 Euro gross, divided in two instalments (first one upon preparation of the evaluation plan and second one upon the final report).

10. Requirements and Proposal Submission

In your proposals include:

o Clearly stated experience in design and leading evaluation on human rights projects

o One work sample from previous work as evaluators

o Draft presentation of the methods to be used in carrying out the evaluation

o CV Send the proposals to info@zavod-krog.si until June 11, 2025.