Selection of Consulting Services for the External Project Mid Term performance evaluation.

GENDER DIVISION – CABINET OFFICE

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM)

GIRL’S EDUCATION AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND LIVELIHOODS FOR HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (GEWEL2.0 No. 181391)

Grant No.: 1DA E3020

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: THE EXTERNAL MID TERM REVIEW

Reference No. ZM/GD/C/CQS/26

The Government of Zambia, with support from the World Bank, is implementing the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods for Human (GEWEL 2) Project with the main objective of increasing girls’ access to education and supporting women with productive grants for improved livelihoods, complemented by the provision of cash transfers and social protection systems strengthening. The project is being implemented across three government agencies: The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the Gender Division (GD). The project has four components: (i) Support to Women’s Livelihood (SWL) currently implemented and coordinated by the Department of Community Development in MCDSS; (ii) Keeping Girls in School (KGS) implemented and coordinated by MOE; (iii) Social Cash Transfer (SCT) implemented and coordinated by the Department of Social Welfare in MCDSS; and (iv) Institutional Strengthening and Systems Building (ISSB) implemented by the Planning Departments at MCDSS and the Gender Division.

The Girls Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods for Human Capital Development (GEWEL 2) Project implemented by the Government of the Republic of Zambia with technical support from the World Bank, aims to promote human capita development and productivity among poor and vulnerable girls and women, while strengthening adoptive social protection delivery systems. This is for the period 2024 to 2028. The mid-term review is due in 2026.

The Mid-Term review (MTR) and external monitoring and evaluation are intended to assess whether the Project is on track to achieve the objectives outlined in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) and the Project Implementation Manual (PIM). The evaluation will also generate lessons to improve implementation during the remaining half of the GEWEL 2 Project life cycle and inform the final project evaluation.

Overall Objective

The main purpose of the assignment is to assess whether the project is on track to achieve the objectives set out in the GEWEL 2 Project Appraisal Document (PAD)[1], while also generating lessons to improve implementation during the remaining half of the GEWEL 2 Project life cycle. The findings and recommendations generated from this assignment will be discussed at length in the GEWEL 2 Mid-Term Review (MTR), an in-depth assessment held roughly midway through implementation to assess project performance, diagnose issues, and recommend concrete actions. In addition, the performance evaluation aims to build the capacity of those responsible for project implementation by equipping them to better carry out their mandates. To achieve this, the performance evaluation will adopt a participatory approach, engaging project partners and stakeholders in line with their respective roles and responsibilities. This will ensure that the evaluation process is not only an accountability exercise, but also a learning opportunity for all actors involved.

The role of the firm will also be to facilitate a process of self-evaluation and reflection among key stakeholders and participants, thereby strengthening ownership of findings and commitment to adaptive actions.

-centered support, while adhering to ethical standards for data privacy and protection.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained from Office of the President Cabinet Office, New Secretariat Building P.O Box 30208 Lusaka or through e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

The Gender Division now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The assignment is expected to be conducted by the firm with the following qualifications or requirements. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage

Knowledge/Expertise/ Skills required

• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in conducting large scale evaluations, mid-term reviews, impact assessments, or performance audits for government, development partners, or international organizations.

• Proven experience evaluating projects in social protection, gender equality, education, women’s economic empowerment, or related sectors.

• Demonstrated ability to design and implement mixed methods evaluations, including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory approaches.

• Evidence of having successfully completed a minimum of three (3) similar assignments in the past 5–7 years.

• Experience working in multi-stakeholder environments, particularly with government ministries, community structures, implementing partners, and development partners.

• Strong organizational capacity to mobilize multi-disciplinary teams and deliver outputs within tight timelines.

• Information detailing the company existence to include: PACRA Certificate of Registration, PACRA documents showing shareholding structure, valid ZRA tax clearance and Social Security (NAPSA, Workers Compensation or NHIMA)

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” February 2025 (Procurement Regulations). The consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method.

Consultants may associate with other Consultants to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form in sealed envelope must be deposited in the tender box no later than Friday, 20th March, 2026 at 10:00 hours local time and be clearly marked The External Mid Term Review for the GEWEL 2 Project.

Office of the President Cabinet Office,

New Secretariat Building

P.O Box 30208

Lusaka

Tel: +260977218434

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

[1] PAD is the Project design document that outlines the project concept and policies and which can be found in the above linked prof