Open Call for: External Evaluator

External Evaluator – Project “Breaking the Moulds, Shaping the Future”

1. Background

The Albanian Women in Audiovisual (AWA) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting gender equality, representation, and empowerment of women in media, culture, and the creative industries. Founded by leading professionals in the Albanian audiovisual sector, AWA has become a key advocate for women’s voices, diversity, and inclusion in public communication. Its work spans across media development, research, training, and policy dialogue, ensuring that women’s narratives are visible, valued, and transformative.

The project “Breaking the Moulds, Shaping the Future” embodies AWA’s mission to challenge systemic barriers faced by women in media and to foster gender-sensitive communication practices. Implemented in partnership with SCiDEV, the project strengthens the professional capacities of women journalists and media workers, promotes collective agreements for fair labor rights, and advocates for ethical and inclusive media narratives across Albania.

In line with European Union priorities on gender equality and democratic governance, the consortium seeks to ensure that all interventions are evaluated rigorously and transparently. To this end, AWA and its partners invite an External Evaluator to assess the project’s achievements, identify lessons learned, and propose recommendations for future initiatives.

2. Objective of the Evaluation

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct an independent external evaluation of the project’s implementation, outputs, and results.

Specifically, the evaluator will:

• Examine the relevance of project activities in addressing the needs of women in the media sector;
• Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of project implementation and management;
• Evaluate the impact and sustainability of results at institutional and community levels;
• Identify key lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for improving future programming.

The evaluation will focus on both quantitative and qualitative results, using the project’s logical framework, key performance indicators (KPIs), and partner reports as guiding tools.

3. Scope of Work

The External Evaluator will:

1. Review all relevant project documentation (application form, interim reports, training materials, subgrantee reports, monitoring data, etc.).
2. Conduct interviews and focus group discussions with project staff, beneficiaries, trainers, and external stakeholders.
3. Analyze project outcomes in relation to gender equality objectives, professional development of media practitioners, and institutional collaboration.
4. Evaluate the efficiency of budget allocation, human resources, and management mechanisms.
5. Assess cross-cutting issues such as innovation, inclusivity, and alignment with EU and national strategies.
6. Provide a comprehensive Final Evaluation Report with actionable recommendations.

4. Methodology

The evaluation will apply a mixed-method approach, combining:

• Desk research and document review;
• Semi-structured interviews with partners, trainees, and stakeholders;
• Quantitative analysis of monitoring indicators;
• Qualitative assessment of project relevance and social impact.

The evaluator is expected to adopt a participatory approach, ensuring that partners’ perspectives and beneficiaries’ feedback are integrated into the findings.

5. Deliverables

6. Duration and Timeline

The evaluation is expected to take place between March and mid-June 2026, coinciding with the project’s closing phase and final reporting period.

7. Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in social sciences, gender studies, communication, or related fields.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in evaluating EU-funded or development projects.
• Proven expertise in gender equality, media development, and organizational capacity building.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

8. Budget and Payment

This call for applications is open for financial offers.
Interested experts are invited to submit their proposed financial offer in EUR, taking into consideration the project’s scope, number of activities, and expected complexity.

The financial proposal should include all costs related to the completion of the assignment (e.g., taxes, travel, communication, and other related expenses).

9. Reporting and Coordination

The evaluator will report directly to the Project Steering Committee, chaired by AWA, and will coordinate closely with SCiDEV for data collection and logistical arrangements. All communication and documentation will be conducted in English.

10. Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

All information and data collected during the evaluation shall remain confidential and may not be used for purposes other than this assignment. The final report and related materials will become the property of AWA and its project partners.

11. Application Documents

Interested applicants are required to submit the following documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – outlining relevant professional experience, qualifications, and previous evaluations conducted.
2. Financial Offer – detailed quotation in EUR, inclusive of all applicable costs.
3. Technical Proposal / Motivation Letter – briefly explaining the applicant’s understanding of the assignment, methodology, and approach.
4. List of Previous Assignments or References – showcasing prior experience in project evaluations, preferably EU-funded or donor-supported projects.
5. Copy of ID or Passport – for administrative verification purposes.

Applications should be submitted via email to awa.albania@gmail.com no later than 31 October 2025, clearly indicating in the subject line:
“Application – External Evaluator: Breaking the Moulds, Shaping the Future”.