Pacific Menstrual Health Network project evaluation: Short-term consultancy

Please note: Do not apply through LinkedIn.To apply:Interested applicants are requested to submit a proposal with the following:

• A 1-2 page cover letter outlining your approach to the evaluation and the expertise you will bring to the review.
• A CV
• Final proposal with daily rates and a total budget
• 2-3 executive summaries from recent evaluation reports where you were the lead evaluator.Please submit proposals to recruitment@wateraid.org.au by 5pm AEDT 12 March 2025. Please include 'Application: Pacific Menstrual Health Network Evaluation'.About WaterAid Australia

WaterAid's vision is a world where everyone, everywhere has safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Our mission is to transform the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people by improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

About the role

We are seeking an individual consultant from the Pacific region to complete a short-term contract leading a small evaluation of a WaterAid project, funded by the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Background: About WaterAid’s project: ‘Galvanising action on menstrual health in the Pacific’

This six-year project (phase 1: 2019-2022; phase 2: 2023 - 2025) aimed to strengthen Pacific-led menstrual health collective action. The project’s three outcome areas were to i) establish and drive a regional multi-sectoral menstrual health network; ii) strengthen collective advocacy, action and shared learning; and iii) to build a greater collective understanding of key opportunities to bring about improved menstrual health outcomes across the Pacific.

The project works closely with a small group of local rights-holder organisations; CSO’s and small businesses to lead the network across five Pacific Island Countries: Fiji; PNG; Samoa the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The first phase evaluation found that despite COVID-19 disruptions, strong relationships were built; governance structures set up and an evidence base to better understand the menstrual health context across the region, see the brief report here.

Purpose and scope of the evaluation

The purpose of the evaluation is to build off the first phase evaluation, and to document progress during phase 2, exploring achievements, impacts and lessons. The evaluation will be led by a Pacific Island practitioner and take a strengths-based and participatory approach to critically analyse the project’s progress, with a view to informing future directions of the Network. Specifically, the evaluation will work with partners and WaterAid teams to understand what has worked well and why; and what the outcomes have been to inform programming going forward. The evaluation will provide recommendations to inform the Network’s future, and to inform practice across development sectors of how to support rights-movement building in the Pacific.

Objectives

The evaluation objectives are to:

1. Understand the progress and impacts of phase 2 of the Pacific MH Network, building off the phase 1 evaluation findings;

2. Inform the Pacific MH Network’s future and sustainable model

Key evaluation questions

Key evaluation questions will be refined in consultation with the preferred consultant. The following draft questions provide an indication of the scope of the evaluation.

1. What changes or outcomes are evident across the region as a result of the Network activities? What factors have enabled or impeded the regional network’s progress towards influencing other stakeholders to support menstrual health across the Pacific?

a. What activities or approaches have been the most effective in building collective advocacy and shared learning?

b. What measurable changes (interest, practice, or awareness) have occurred because of the network’s activities?

c. What innovative practices or approaches emerged during Phase 2, and how can they be replicated or scaled up?

2. How can the Pacific MH Network evolve into a sustainable model for the future?

a. How can the P MH Network balance the actions of Network members, given the diversity in missions across pad production, service delivery and advocacy?

b. What resources or partnerships are needed to ensure the network’s sustainability post-project funding?

3. What opportunities are there for the PMHN to further strengthen commitment to menstrual health in the Pacific in the future?

a. To what extent is the Network more visible and how known is the vision to others?

b. How effectively has the network included diverse stakeholders, particularly marginalized groups (e.g., persons with disabilities)?

4. What lessons and opportunities are there for WaterAid in relation to supporting autonomous movement-building in the Pacific?

Methodology

The review will be primarily qualitative, with consultations completed in 1-2 Pacific Island countries (depending on location of consultant), and the rest remote. It will draw on existing program documentation and monitoring data, along with interviews or focus groups with members of the regional coalition; WaterAid and other in-country stakeholders. The consultant will be required to prepare a detailed evaluation plan outlining how data will be collected and analysed for each key evaluation question.

Responsibilities

WaterAid Australia's Head of Learning and Evidence and Head of Strategy will jointly coordinate the review, with support from our Pacific Coordinator. WaterAid will provide program documentation and reports; provide a list of key contacts for interviews/ consultations and provide general support throughout the process. WaterAid will also review key deliverables, provide feedback and sign-off on the final report. The consultant will be expected to develop their own schedule of consultations.

Qualifications

We seek an individual consultant for this assignment who would bring the following knowledge and experience:

• Experience working in the Pacific and/ or with Pacific stakeholders
• Experience working in menstrual health or water sanitation and hygiene with a strong gender equality focus
• Gender equality and social inclusion - particularly using advocacy or coalitions to effect change
• Evaluation - particularly methods for qualitative data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Theory of change - particularly supporting organisations to apply the concepts in development programming
• Knowledge of feminist development approaches and coalition building an advantage

Deliverables and Timeframe

We expect to appoint a consultant in March 2025 and conclude the process by 26 June 2025.

Deliverables/outputs:

1. Methodology and workplan
2. Validation workshop to co-shape recommendations
3. Final report with recommendations to inform next design phase

A proposed timeframe and activities:

5 March - Applications close

14 March - Consultant contracted

End March - Evaluation plan submitted

April - May - Document review; data collection; analysis

30 May - Presentation to share initial findings and inform recommendations

6 June - Draft report submission

13 June - Report feedback

26 June - Final report submission

Consultant Qualifications

We seek an individual consultant for this assignment who would bring the following knowledge and experience:

• Experience working in the Pacific and/or with Pacific stakeholders

• Experience working in menstrual health or water sanitation and hygiene with a strong gender equality focus

• Gender equality and social inclusion - particularly using advocacy or coalitions to effect change

• Evaluation – particularly methods for qualitative data collection, analysis and interpretation

• Theory of change– particularly supporting organisations to apply the concepts in development programming.

• Knowledge of feminist development approaches and coalition building an advantage

Budget

The budget for this review is approx. AUD25,000 (inclusive of GST and reimbursable expenses).

To apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a proposal with the following:

1. A 1-2 page cover letter outlining your approach to the evaluation and the expertise you will bring to the review.
2. A CV
3. Final proposal with daily rates and a total budget
4. 2-3 executive summaries from recent evaluation reports where you were the lead evaluator.

Please submit proposals to recruitment@wateraid.org.au by 5pm AEDT 12 March 2025. Please include 'Application: Pacific Menstrual Health Network Evaluation'.