Kyrgyzstan: Terms of Reference: End of project evaluation of Saferworld's community security/community policing programme in Kygryzstan

Background and context

Saferworld is an independent non-governmental organisation that works to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with civil society, governments and international organisations to encourage and support effective policies and practices through advocacy, research and policy development, and through supporting the development of local capacities and structures.

Since 2010, Saferworld and local partner organisations from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have been implementing a joint community security/policing programme on the border areas between Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan as well as other volatile, ethnically-diverse (Osh and Jalalabad) areas of the Ferghana Valley. Our programme approach centres on changing behaviour and establishing/promoting constructive and cooperative relationships between community members, local authorities and law enforcement agencies to address local-level tensions and human security issues in areas at risk of violence and conflict.

Kyrgyz Republic is failing to provide a stable and secure environment for growth and development and large sections of the population are responding by opting for alternative sources of stability and security. The most common survival strategies for the population include emigration and seasonal migration, however, there is evidence that segments of the population (including young people) are looking to religions, ethno-nationalist and criminal structures for opportunities, provision of order and values. Many responses by national governments and their security forces (which have been characteristically aggressive and suppressive at the cost of religious plurality and human rights) are not achieving their stated aim of countering radicalisation, but are instead contributing to further alienating the population. In addition, the Soviet legacy of the law enforcement agencies is that the police (and the public) typically understand their roles as agents of state control rather than the institutions charged with providing services and responding to the security needs of the population. They do not see the need to interact with the public other than to obtain information required for investigations or during public disorder. There are also material and technical issues (numbers of neighbourhood inspectors, vehicles, radios etc.) which limit law enforcement agencies’ ability to respond adequately to the public’s security requirements.

However, if these material needs are addressed without proper attention to fundamental shifts in behaviour, attitude and ways of working, any technical police support programme risks supporting further corruption and abuse of power.

This is why programmes which promote the development of relationships with, and improvement of, services to the public in general, and to vulnerable communities in particular, are essential in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, we are promoting changes in the way security is provided in the country: from the top-down we are encouraging systematic reform within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoI), and from the bottom-up, creating capacity and platforms for local-level police-public partnerships, and supporting communities to respond proactively to their security needs and challenges and to work more closely with local authorities and police. Local-level work has been complemented by our establishment and support of a nationwide network of 27 civil society organizations (CSOs) working on the reform of security provision – the Civic Union for Reforms and Results (CU), the recommendations of which have been incorporated into the official national agenda on police reform.

Within this framework, since 2012, we have been working with the United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and contributing to the institutionalisation of community policing and development of sustainable problem-solving partnerships between the police, local governments, and communities in which members jointly identify, prioritise, and resolve community problems related to crime, safety, security, and quality of life, many of which are drivers of radicalisation and violent extremism.

1. Purpose of the evaluation
   Saferworld would like to engage a short-term consultant to work with the Central Asia programme team and its local partner(s) to conduct an end of Community Policing project evaluation of its programme in Kyrgyzstan. This involves assessing the extent to which the programme has contributed to achieving the changes articulated in the M&E framework, and links/extent that those changes have contributed to a wider set of measures to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism that leads to terrorism.

2. Key evaluation questions

3. Changes observed (and extent) in the behaviour of target actors?

4. Changes observed (and extent) in relationship between the community members, police, local authorities in the target areas?

5. How identified changes in behaviour and relationships have or might in the future have an impact on the way that police, community members, and authorities are able to identify and address factors contributing to insecurity and conflict, and causing radicalisation/violent extremism?

6. How has strategic funding for Saferworld supported the quality and effectiveness of the programme?

7. How has the programme addressed previous recommendations made by earlier evaluations undertaken in 2012, 2013 and 2014?

8. Methods and process
   Review of external documents and previous evaluations, outcome harvesting (Saferworld’s organisational approach to Monitoring Evaluation and Learning inspired by Outcome Mapping and Outcome Harvesting (OH)) , individual interviews with key stakeholders, focus group discussions, and observations.

9. Role and responsibility of Saferworld
   Saferworld’s Central Asia team will conduct outcome harvesting together with our local partner Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI). The team will document and compile a summary of outcomes for each target community, explaining the changes that have taken place in the behaviour, attitudes and relationships within each community over the course of the last 2-3 years and their significance. The team will also conduct a workshop to analyse these changes together with the participation of the ‘evaluator’.

10. Role and responsibility of the consultant
    The consultant will undertake an extensive literature review of the existing programme documentation and previous evaluations; analyse and verify outcomes from the Central Asia team and FTI; conduct additional interviews with relevant stakeholders and will draft an evaluation report (not to exceed 30 pages).

The number of days allocated for this assignment is 12 with an anticipated start date during the week commencing 22 February 2016. The draft schedule outlined below will be further elaborated and decided in cooperation with the consultant: 12 working days (between 22 February – 18 March 2016) (travel not included):

• 2 days: desk review of the resource material, and consultation with Saferworld staff to become thoroughly familiar with Saferworld’s work in Kyrgyzstan
• 6 days: field visits to 3 regions of the South Kyrgyzstan and, possibly, to Bishkek for individual interviews with key stakeholders and focus group discussions
• 0.5 day: Initial feedback and planning with the programme team
• 2.5 days: writing draft report and submitting it to Saferworld
• 1 day: Incorporating feedback and finalising the report.

Management and timing:

• Outcome harvesting – January-February 2016 undertaken by Saferworld’s Central Asia team
• Interviews with key stakeholders and focus group discussions – end of February-early March 2016 to be undertaken by the evaluator, assisted by Saferworld’s Central Asia team
• Evaluators verification – end of February-early March 2016
• First draft report by the evaluator – mid-March 2016
• Final report by the evaluator – end of March 2016

Consultant’s competencies:
The consultant (consortia) is expected to meet the following person specification:

• Excellent knowledge of Kyrgyzstan context (especially in the area of security provision or community policing)
• Proven M&E experience and producing evaluation reports
• Excellent English and Russian language skills - both written and verbal
• Knowledge of Kyrgyz is an asset.

Saferworld invites expressions of interest from teams or individuals with the required skills and experience. The expression of interest should comprise:An expression of interest and a broad outline of the approach that you would use (2 pages max).

• Capacity and experience to meet the requirements of the ToR (include CV’s of the lead team members).
• Proposed timeline and indicative budget covering daily rate(s).
• Rates should be in USD and inclusive of VAT. International flights, visas and accommodation will be arranged for and covered by Saferworld.

Please submit completed expression of interest with all supporting information to znazarova@saferworld.org.uk by 18 Feb 2016.