Background:
Founded in 2011, Kaleidoscope Trust works to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) people in countries around the world where they are discriminated against or marginalised due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. We work with British and international institutions and partners to support the work of LGBT+ activists to bring about positive legislative, policy, and social change for LGBT+ people everywhere. We do this principally through our research- and evidence-based advocacy and our high-impact programmes.
Kaleidoscope Trust is a founding member and host to the Secretariat of The Commonwealth Equality Network (TCEN), the first civil society network to sustainably advocate on behalf of LGBT+ people in the Commonwealth. Since its foundation in 2013, TCEN has actively participated in Commonwealth spaces to raise the profile and mainstream the discussion of LGBT+ people and their rights and concerns, and to engage with national-level decision-makers and policymakers on these topics. A significant result of this work was our contribution to influencing former Prime Minister Theresa May to express her deep regret for the legacy of discrimination and violence that colonial-era legislation continues to inflict on people across the Commonwealth, at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The network currently comprises over 60 member organisations representing 47 Commonwealth countries drawn from all regions. It was accredited to the Commonwealth in 2017, the first LGBT+-focused group to ever receive this status which recognises commitment to the values and principles of the Commonwealth as laid out in its Charter.
Project background:
Kaleidoscope Trust entered into a binding agreement with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2021 for the implementation of a 6-months project titled Fighting the Reversing Tide. The project’s overall goal is to safeguard and consolidate progress in the fight towards LGBT+ equality across the Commonwealth, securing them against a rollback due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent funding crisis – by continuing to strengthen and support Commonwealth LGBT+ civil society’s capacities to sustainably advance LGBT+ equality at all levels and by generating increased visibility of LGBT+ rights and issues within stakeholder spaces in the UK, the Commonwealth and globally. This project has built on previous work undertaken collaboratively between Kaleidoscope Trust and TCEN to ensure the sustainability of LGBT+ organisations and movements in the Commonwealth.
The Fighting the Reversing Tide project aims its overall goal by:
- Continuing to support TCEN’s institutional strengthening work initiated under previous grants to ensure the network becomes a force for good in the fight for LGBT+ rights and equality in the Commonwealth, combined with practical work on network strategising and movement building.
- Providing technical and financial support to Commonwealth LGBT+ civil society to sustain and advance their human rights work locally and regionally.
- Generating evidence, space, and opportunities for meaningful engagement between Commonwealth LGBT+ organisations and key stakeholders, policy- and decision makers.
The project is now nearing the end of implementation (31st March 2022) and, in compliance with our obligations with the FCDO, Kaleidoscope Trust is interested in commissioning its external evaluation in line with the below scope of work and methodology.
Scope of Work and Methodology:
Kaleidoscope Trust is seeking a consultant/consultancy team to undertake an external evaluation of the Fighting the Reversing Tide Project. It is expected that the evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) to examine and deliver answers to the following points:
- Examine whether the project’s theory of change worked as a concept. Is it still valid and relevant?;
- An assessment of key results to help us understand what progress has been made in six months and what has been our contribution (and that of our partners’) to it;
- An analysis of deliverables to consider if the steps taken to achieve outcome and impact have been valid;
- The identification of strengths and key lessons learned based on partner’s and stakeholders contributions, and
- A proposal on recommendations on which to build on for future programming interventions..
Kaleidoscope Trust is interested in looking at the evaluation through four different angles – relevance, efficiency, impact and value for money. The evaluation should be as consultative as possible and based on methods agreed with Kaleidoscope Trust and TCEN’s Management Committee. The proposed methodologies should recognise the local complexities and the challenging environments in which our partners operate, and the capacities required to effectively and sustainably promote and protect the rights of LGBT+ people in the Commonwealth.
Deliverables and Timeline:
The consultant or team of consultants is/are expected to deliver the followings:
- Proposal – this should detail the evaluators’ understanding of what is being evaluated and why, presenting proposed evaluation questions and showing how they could be answered by way of: proposed methods; proposed sources of data; and data collection procedures. This should be mindful of COVID-19 restrictions and collection of data within these restrictions as well as the project timeframe of six months of interventions. The proposal should include a schedule of tasks and activities.
- Methodology – the approach designed for undertaking the evaluation which will need to be consulted with and approved by the partners. The tools could include, but are not limited to, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and analysis of existing data.
- Evaluation report – including assessment findings from the desk review and remotely based interviews, to be presented to the partners for feedback and further input. The evaluation report should be aligned with the report format stipulated further below. When possible, the consultant will produce other visual resources (summaries, graphics) summarising the report’s key points to be used for communication purposes
Report format
1. Table of Contents
2. Abbreviations/acronyms page
3. Executive summary (maximum 3 pages)
4. A short introduction to the programme
5. The evaluation methodology
6. Findings
7. Lessons learned
8. Summary of recommendations
Annexes must include:
· Terms of reference for the Final Evaluation
· Evaluation schedule/timetable
· List of people interviewed
· Documents consulted and other data
A final agreed timeline for deliverables and a work plan will be discussed with the selected consultant/consultancy team. However, Kaleidoscope Trust expects this assignment to be completed in full by 11:59pm GMT on 15th May 2022. The number of days required to complete the deliverables will be based on the agreed work plan. An estimation can be find below.
| Activity | Expected Timeline |
| Proposal submission | Before 24 March 2022 |
| Kick off meeting | Before 29 March 2022 |
| Methodology development and finalisation | Before 10 April 2022 |
| Desk research, data collection and evaluation | Before 1 May 2022 |
| Draft evaluation report | Before 10 May 2022 |
| Final evaluation report | Before 15 May 2022 |
Qualifications and Experience:
The Evaluator shall have the following expertise and qualification:
- At least Master’s degree in Human Rights, International Development, Public Policy, International Relations/ Diplomacy or any other relevant university degree;
- Extensive expertise, knowledge, and experience in the field of international development, human rights (especially LGBT+ rights and women and girls’ rights) and social injustice in the Global South and Global East;
- Extensive experience in working with international organisations and donors, designing and evaluating projects with multiple partners with complex implementation modalities;
- Understanding of the work of civil society organisations in the Global South and East and appropriate approaches to working with them from a de-colonial and intersectional perspective;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Offers will be evaluated on these criteria as well as the quality of the technical offer (proposed methodology, capacity to mobilise qualified personnel and consideration of COVID-19 restrictions, etc.) and the soundness of the financial offer.
This position is open to suitable candidates, regardless of their current location. Due to the current COVID-19 related situation, it is expected that this consultancy will be based remotely (home-based).
The successful consultant/consultancy team will be expected to attend online meetings in London’s time zone and/or respective focus country time zones.
Fee Structure:
- 50% of fee payable upon signature of contract and 50% of fee payable upon completion of evaluation and submission of invoice.
- Maximum budget applicable: £15,000
How to Apply:
Kaleidoscope Trust is committed to equality and diversity and we particularly encourage applications from women, all sections of the LGBT+ community and all minorities. To apply, please submit a written proposal explaining:
- your interest in consulting with Kaleidoscope Trust;
- how your relevant skills and experience meet the qualifications and experience for this role;
- how you expect to conduct this work, including a proposed timeline for the work and budget.
Please email the above documents to katsiaryna.borsuk@kaleidoscopetrust.com, titling your communication: “FIghting the Reversing Tide External Evaluation”. Closing date: 11:59 pm GMT 24th March 2022
This project was funded with UK aid from the UK government
