Introduction
ILGA Asia is the Asian Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, representing East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. The Region was first established in Mumbai in 2002. Our vision is a world where Asia is a safe place for all, where all can live in freedom and equality, be properly informed in the nature of sexual orientation and gender identity & expression and sex characteristic (SOGIESC) rights, have access to justice, and diversity is respected.
Our missions are:
To promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the elimination of all forms of discrimination and stigmatization based on SOGIESC in Asia and including the specific provisions of the UN conventions and covenants specified in the Constitution of ILGA;
To work for the equality of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression and sex characteristics, as well as liberation from all forms of discrimination and stigmatization;
Empower and support LGBTIQ communities, organizations, and individuals in Asia, while encouraging community building and networking.
Background and Purpose of this Consultancy
Background: In 2021, ILGA Asia developed its second SPTOC (Strategic Plan and Theory of Change), drawing from the previous success of ILGA Asia’s first SPTOC 2017-2019, and significant input from extensive country consultations to inform ILGA Asia’s SPTOC from 2021-2025. ILGA Asia’s Theory of Change is a direct response to the current landscape of the LGBTI movement in Asia and articulation of ILGA Asia’s place within it; through four core arenas:
Solidarity and Effectiveness
Capacity Strengthening
Mobilising Movements and Activating Allyship
Strategic Information & Knowledge Use
And four pillars of work: Global/UN advocacy, Campaigning (digital and in-person), Research and Policy, and Strategic Communication.
ILGA Asia's Strategic Plan and Theory of Change (SPTOC) for 2021-2025 aims to achieve the following outcomes:
Outcome 1 – Enhance committee solidarity of LGBTIQ communities through networking and collaboration.
ILGA Asia Regional Conference is a unique space which brings LGBTIQ activists and their allies together for connecting, cross-countries learning, applying lessons learned, and sharing best practices. We organize regional meetings, convenings, webinars, and workshops to provide a platform for networking among LGBTI communities and key stakeholders, and knowledge exchange on strategies of emergency responses in Afghanistan, strategic litigation, and LGBTIQ and Faith.
Outcome 2 – Strengthened capacity of LGBTIQ civil society to effectively advocate for the respect, protection, and fulfillment of their human rights.
ILGA Asia organises regional training on human rights and UN mechanisms, campaign strategies, and program management which equips our member organisations to engage and manage national-level advocacy and campaign projects for changing laws, policies, norms, and practices. We provide sub-grants to our members to implement in-country projects and supporting activities such as community-based surveys, community consultations, engagement with relevant policymakers, lawyers, media, human rights institutes, and stakeholders, desensitization of lawyers, public campaigns, and storytelling through photo essays and other media products. We supported technical and financial support to LGBTIQ activists to attend international advocacy spaces and advocate directly to relevant stakeholders to influence on SOGIESC inclusive law and policy reform process.
Outcome 3 – Increase understanding and acceptance of the public on SOGIESC.
ILGA Asia conducts regional digital advocacy/campaigns on eliminating conversion therapy, decriminalising same-sex relationships/activities, promoting freedom of expression and association among the LGBTIQ community, accepting legal recognition of same-sex relationships, and adopting comprehensive anti-discrimination laws. The campaigns' messages are developed by consolidating information and inputs from member organisations. The regional campaigns also amplify the national-level campaigns of member organisations to show the collectiveness and demand on specific topics.
Outcome 4 – Establish a platform for strategic information and knowledge sharing to build data-driven responses to SOGIESC issues.
ILGA Asia supports general knowledge on the impacts of Indirect/vague laws that criminalize LGBTIQ individuals and capital punishment against SOGIESC status, human rights violations faced by LGBTI communities, progressive and regressive SOGIESC-related laws and policy changes in the regions. Support technical and financial support to LGBTIQ activists to attend international advocacy spaces and advocate directly to relevant stakeholders to influence on SOGIESC inclusive law and policy reform process.
Purpose: The primary goal of the Mid-Term Review is to assess the progress of our program implementation of 2021-2025 SPTOC and provide us with insights and strategic recommendations to improve our program and member engagement in the future, as well as to identify new areas and emerging themes which will apply into formulating of 2026-2030 strategic plan. Furthermore, the review results will help us learn about the project's successes/key achievements and areas for improvement for the second phase of implementation. The Mid-Term Review focuses on two areas: program level and member engagement.
Objectives
The MTR will assess or evaluate:
Progress towards our goals to date on the expected outputs and outcomes in relation to our Strategic Goals and Theory of Change.
Regional advocacy interventions and needs, research, campaigns’ emerging themes, communications, humanitarian project assessment, and each department’s effectiveness, needs, outputs, and progress regarding outcomes, and their contributions to the overall strategic vision.
The sustainability of outcomes.
Interlinkages of various interventions with cross-cutting themes, challenges, and recommendations to incorporate those themes into program designs.
Alignment of programs and activities with the SPTOC, and their impact on reaching outcomes.
Context analyses and shifts with regard to the legal/political environment for the LGBTIQ community that relate to the Theory of Change.
New identified risks and their relevance to the strategic goals and Theory of Change.
Level of engagement among key stakeholders and identification of opportunities and areas for improvement in stakeholder relationships.
Lessons learned and recommendations for improvement that capture various assessment objectives stated above.
Contextualized country-level and sub-regional theme identification for intervention with recommendations on possible strategic shifts and adaptations.
Country-level strategic partnership for new opportunities and improvement in advocacy that translate into lessons learned and recommendations.
Methodology
During the initial evaluation phase, the consultant will collaborate with ILGA Asia's responsible person(s) to develop and design the methodology. We anticipate that the Mid-Term Review will be primarily qualitative in nature, as it is intended to learn from our previous progress and make suggestions for improvements and strategic inputs. To be considered valid, qualitative claims must be supported by multiple sources or data points that are found in key documents and collected during this consultancy. ILGA Asia supports a participatory approach to mid-term reviews, incorporating diverse perspectives and perceptions throughout the evaluation process.
Deliverables and Timeline
Budget
The maximum budget for this assignment has been set at 5,000 USD, including VAT. This is a home-based assignment, so no travel-related expenses will be accepted.
Payment Schedule
Payment of 20% will be made upon satisfactory delivery of the final MTR Inception Report and Secretariat approval.
40% payment upon delivering the first draft of the MTR report to the Secretariat.
40% payment will be made once the final MTR report is delivered, approved by the Secretariat, and presented to the Board. The final MTR report includes all requirements outlined in the MTR ToR and is in accordance with the MTR guidance. It is clearly written, logically organized, and specific to this project.
Reporting and Communication
The MTR consultant(s) will communicate directly with the Secretariat's designated contact person(s). Progress updates will be delivered in the form of concise and regular interim reports that provide snapshots of accomplishments, challenges, and initial recommendations. The frequency of these reports will correspond to key milestones in the review process. The consultant ensures accessibility by being available for inquiries and discussions and is willing to schedule meetings on request. This commitment to open communication and collaborative engagement aims to provide the organization with timely insights for strategic decision-making, promoting a responsive and efficient MTR process.
Ethical Considerations
In conducting the MTR, the selected consultant(s) or consultancy will adhere to the highest ethical standards. With an unwavering commitment to confidentiality, no data will be shared with third parties without the explicit written consent of the ILGA Asia Secretariat. This commitment includes protecting participants' data with proper safeguards and maintaining the confidentiality of ILGA Asia's strategic frameworks and key documents.
Application Procedure and Selection Criteria
Application Procedure and Key Dates:
We invite consultancies/consultants to submit a concept note (maximum 4 pages) and Financial Proposal; CV or CVs if applying as a team with a maximum of one-page role description; one sample of similar assignments delivered in the past by 3 March 2024. The concept note will consist of why the consultancies/consultant(s) are most suitable for the assignment, a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work. Please submit your applications here: https://bit.ly/MTR2024application.
Evaluation of the proposals by an internal evaluation committee. The evaluation committee will evaluate the proposal based on the understanding of the assignment and quality standards shown in the concept note and profile of the evaluator or evaluating team. Please review the assessment criteria mentioned below.
Interviews will be conducted between 11 and 15 March 2024, and a decision will be made by 22 March 2024.
Profile of the evaluator or evaluating team:
Experience in the planning and implementing evaluations of multi-country and regional or global organizations.
Has experience in working with Theory of Change and Results-Based Management systems.
Demonstrated expertise in working alongside minorities and/or vulnerable communities, a human rights-based approach, capacity development, advocacy, community-based programming, and knowledge of programs implemented at multiple levels (national and regional).
Has experience conducting community-based research using participatory methods and culturally sensitive approaches.
Experience with/understanding of LGBTIQ community-specific sensitivities, SOGIESC themes, and security concerns, particularly in the Asian context.
Assessment Criteria:
Only applications that meet the requirements will be considered for an interview after they have been evaluated for responsiveness and compliance. A total score of 30 will be assigned, which will be used to determine candidates for interview and final selection. For transparency and clarity, the specific scoring elements, criteria, and score breakdown are listed below.
