Consultant - Independent evaluation of the project “Applied research in ecology and social scie[...]

About Us

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Our multidisciplinary approach focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

Overview

Central Africa’s forests are critical for livelihoods, cultural identity (including indigenous peoples), biodiversity and climate regulation, yet face accelerating deforestation and degradation driven by commodity markets, agro-industrial and extractive investments, infrastructure expansion, and local livelihood pressures. RESSAC has an applied research model anchored in real-world decision needs through a structured consultation mechanism, funding and supporting multi-partner research consortia, and an Information–Communication–Training (ICF) strategy to translate results into usable products for decision-makers and practitioners. The action started on 30 November 2021 for four years and received a 12-month no-cost extension in 2025, bringing total duration to five years, with EU financing of EUR 9 million. The programme has four expected results: 1) an operational consultation mechanism, 2) applied research in ecology and social sciences, 3) strengthened capacity within Central African universities and research institutes, and 4) an ICF strategy to disseminate results and foster uptake.

By end-2023, the programme established a portfolio of 25 research consortia/projects financed through LoAs. In 2024–2025, implementation advanced, with field research and early results shared. The 2025 annual report highlights an increasing emphasis for 2026 on last-mile dissemination and on generating evidence for a potential next phase (RESSAC 2).

A mid-term evaluation highlighted major achievements (e.g., increased research visibility, strengthened scientific writing and project formulation, progress toward postdoctoral recognition, North–South consortia development, and improved integration of ecological and social sciences) and challenges (mobility/visas, administrative/financial constraints, and dissemination gaps).

Evaluation purpose and expected use

This evaluation provides an independent assessment of RESSAC’s performance, results and contributions and aims to generate practical learning for improving the final year of delivery and informing the design of a potential next phase.

The evaluation will pursue the following objectives: assess relevance, coherence and strategic fit; assess effectiveness in delivering results with emphasis on outcome-level achievements and uptake; assess the quality and usefulness of outputs; assess efficiency and management performance; assess sustainability and scalability; identify unexpected outcomes; review implementation and uptake of mid-term recommendations.

The primary intended users include: CIFOR-ICRAF programme management, the European Union (donor), partner universities and research institutes, field actor partners, regional bodies, and prospective funders of a follow-on phase.

Job Description

The evaluation will cover the full programme period (Nov 2021–Nov 2026) and all four expected results. It will include both programme-level performance and a purposive sample of research consortia as case studies to examine pathways from research outputs to uptake and outcome-level change.

Geographic scope will include the COMIFAC/CEEAC region and other countries involved in RESSAC-funded research activities. The evaluation team will propose a feasible sampling plan during inception, balancing country coverage with depth.

Cross-cutting dimensions to address include interdisciplinarity of research design and uptake, evidence of policy use, capacity strengthening (including post-doctoral and Master-level support), and equity and inclusion involving IPLC and other stakeholders.

Indicative key evaluation questions

The evaluation will be guided by criteria such as relevance, scientific quality, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. A reduced list of indicative questions will be finalized during inception and will cover themes and priorities across the portfolio.

Relevance and coherence

• Relevance : Did RESSAC address priority problems and evidence needs for sustainable management identified by decision-makers and practitioners?
• Logic coherence : Is the programme logic coherent (research – capacity – ICF – uptake) and which assumptions proved decisive or fragile?

Scientific quality, interdisciplinarity and knowledge production

• Scientific quality : What is the quality and rigor of the research across biophysical and social sciences, and how is quality ensured?
• Interdisciplinarity : To what extent did RESSAC promote and operationalize interdisciplinary approaches?

Effectiveness, results and uptake

• Achievement of expected results : To what extent were results achieved and what explains variations?
• Outputs and usefulness : Did funded research produce useful deliverables and are these products accessible?
• Uptake and outcome-level change : What evidence exists of uptake by target groups and observable outcome-level changes?
• ICF / “last mile” : Was the ICF strategy effective in moving toward dissemination and uptake?

Capacities, post-docs and unexpected outcomes

• Capacities and post-docs : To what extent did the programme strengthen capacities and what was the contribution of postdoctoral fellows?
• Unexpected outcomes : What unexpected outcomes emerged and why?

Governance, efficiency and implementation learning

1. Governance & management: To what extent did governance arrangements enable timely, high-quality implementation and effective partner involvement? 2. Bottlenecks & MTE: What were the main bottlenecks and were lessons from the mid-term evaluation taken up?

Impact, sustainability and forward-looking perspectives (RESSAC 2)

1. Credible influence: What credible contribution can be established between RESSAC-supported research and observed policy/practice influence? 2. Sustainability and future options: How likely are results to be sustained beyond the project, and what design options should guide a potential RESSAC 2?

Methodology and evaluation approach

The evaluation will use a mixed-methods, theory-based approach, triangulating evidence across sources and acknowledging attribution limits.

Assessment design and sampling

• Portfolio-level assessment of programme results and governance.
• Contribution-focused assessment of outcome-level change and uptake pathways.
• Comparative case studies of a purposive sample of consortia.

Data sources and ethics

The evaluation will apply informed consent procedures, ensure confidentiality, and comply with safeguarding and data protection requirements.

Education, Experience and Technical Skills

The evaluation must be conducted by an independent team with no conflict of interest. The budget allows for a maximum of two consultants. The team should cover:

• Evaluation expertise in research-for-development programmes with theory-based approaches and outcome harvesting.
• Strong understanding of forest ecology and/or landscape approaches in Central Africa.
• Strong applied social science expertise (governance, political economy, rights/IPLC, incentives) and experience tracing policy influence.
• Experience assessing interdisciplinarity and integration of biophysical and social science.
• Experience in capacity development evaluation (individual and institutional).
• Excellent facilitation and analytical writing skills; ability to work primarily in French, with English as an asset.

Roles and responsibilities

• Commissioner / Evaluation manager: Manage procurement, provide documentation, ensure access, coordinate reviews, oversee QA, disseminate and manage responses.
• Evaluation Reference Group: Provide strategic guidance, review inception and draft reports, validate and participate in learning events (without influencing findings).
• Evaluation Team Leader: Lead methodological design, ensure quality and ethics, manage the team, produce inception and final deliverables.
• Evaluation team members: Lead thematic components and contribute to analysis and reporting.

Ethical considerations and quality assurance

The evaluation will maintain high ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and safeguarding, with attention to IPLC engagement. Quality assurance will include inception report review, peer review of drafts, and transparent documentation of methods and limitations.

Deliverables and Reporting

• Inception report with refined evaluation questions, theory of change, evaluation matrix, sampling strategy, data tools, work plan and itinerary.
• PowerPoint presentation of preliminary findings to CIFOR-ICRAF and the Evaluation Reference Group.
• Draft evaluation report (in French; maximum 50 pages excluding annexes) for review.
• Final evaluation report (in French; with an executive summary; maximum 50 pages excluding annexes) with findings, conclusions and prioritized recommendations for the final year and for a potential RESSAC 2.
• Clean annexes: evaluation matrix, documents reviewed, people consulted, and limitations statement.

The final report should be written in French for external audiences; an English executive summary may be requested. The report should include background, methodology, findings by evaluation criteria, conclusions, lessons learned, prioritized recommendations, and annexes.

Terms and conditions

• This is a consultancy position with a maximum of three months (12 weeks) and a maximum of two consultants. Home-based with travel to sites as needed.

• Application timeline: Application deadline 30 April 2025. Submit letter of interest, technical and financial proposals (max 15 pages, excluding annexes). Send to: Clarifying questions: CIFOR-ICRAF reserves the right to modify the number of positions, location, or cancel the hiring as necessary.

For more information, visit: CIFOR-ICRAF promotes gender diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.