Contractor Evaluation Consultant Central America

Evaluation of an Oxfam program to strengthen the preparation, rapid response, and recovery of communities in Central America.

Geographic Scope: Guatemala and El Salvador

Consultancy Duration: 40 days between August 2025 - December 2025

Detailed Terms of Reference: https://oxfam.box.com/s/cm8zdnuv2znco9efgtckvwhiz4e8po5u1

Background and Evaluation Rationale: This Central American program for Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Resilience, titled "Strengthening community preparation, rapid response, and recovery," has been implemented in El Salvador and Guatemala since January 2023, with a planned completion date of December 2025. Following two previous phases (a grant from 2017-2020, and another from 2020-2022), this program continues working in highly vulnerable communities and populations affected by neglected natural disasters. This evaluation focuses on assessing the impacts and lessons learned from this phase, considering the findings from previous final evaluations and understanding the most recent impacts. Guatemala and El Salvador, situated in a highly vulnerable region to natural disasters, have developed institutional frameworks for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and community resilience. In Guatemala, the National Disaster Reduction Coordinator (CONRED) leads risk management with policies like the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Law. In El Salvador, the General Directorate of Civil Protection coordinates actions under the Civil Protection Law. Historically, both countries have faced risks from earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. Current challenges include institutional issues with financing, inter-institutional coordination, and a territorial approach. Unsustainable investments in territories, institutional fragmentation, and socio-economic vulnerabilities continue to hinder effective risk management and resilience.

Program Goal: To ensure communities affected by recurrent natural disasters have greater capacity for anticipation, preparation, response, and recovery in case of disaster, and are better equipped to co-lead relief and recovery activities in collaboration with local authorities, aiming to reduce vulnerability and suffering in disaster-prone communities in the Central American dry corridor.

Target Population and Participants: The project aims to directly reach 7,746 people across 48 communities in the Dry Corridor.

Evaluation Purpose and Objectives: The purpose is to comprehensively evaluate the impact of the program "Strengthening community preparation, rapid response, and recovery" as part of the ongoing DRR effort since 2017, in order to generate lessons that inform the design of future DRR and resilience programming in Central America. The evaluation will also identify best practices that contribute to strengthening humanitarian programming in the region. This evaluation must be participatory to highlight the local perceptions of partners and different sociodemographic groups within the communities.

Specific Evaluation Objectives: 1) Identify and demonstrate the impacts generated by ATECA 3, considering its advancements and challenges based on previous evaluations and the program's monitoring framework, in the context of its continuity with ATECA 1 and 2. 2) Analyze the differentiated and transformative impacts in communities after 8 years for some and 5 years for others (integrated into ATECA 2), considering the continuity of ATECA 1 and 2, according to the three expected results of the program: development of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacities, protection and strengthening of livelihoods, and exchange of DRR practices. 3) Generate lessons learned on the actions that should be continued, adjusted, or redesigned within the program, and share DRR and disaster preparedness practices. These lessons will serve to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian sector in future interventions.

Evaluation Criteria and Questions: The evaluation will focus on impact, effectiveness, and institutional aspects.

Methodological Considerations: Applicants must propose methodologies that address impacts, gender, inclusion, power dynamics, diversity, ethical considerations, and geographic contexts.

Ethical Considerations and Safeguarding: The evaluation team must adhere to Oxfam's Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Principles, and Data Management Policy. The disclosure of any data or information provided by communities, partner organizations, or Oxfam is prohibited. All produced materials are the property of partner organizations and Oxfam, and cannot be disclosed, reproduced, marketed, or shared without prior written permission from the parties involved.

Evaluation Team and Support: The evaluation team must meet required competencies. (Detailed criteria in the full ToR)

Timeline, Products, and Budget: The evaluation will have a specific timeline with detailed products and a budget cap of USD 20,000.

Selection Process: Interested individuals or teams should submit a brief expression of interest, a sample of previous work, a CV, and contact information to marion.cabanes@oxfam.org by June 16, 2025.

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