Call For Expression Of Interest for External Evaluation Of The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (2021-2024)

BACKGROUND:

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) is a regional organization formed in 1988 and the Secretariat was established in 1992 by Indigenous Peoples’ movements across Asia.  It acts as the forum and mechanism for building and strengthening the solidarity and cooperation of indigenous peoples in Asia for the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly their right to self-determination, promoting and defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Asia, including protection of bio-diversity and the environment and promotion of intersectionality and sustainable development.   Through the years, AIPP has developed its programmes to address the key issues of indigenous peoples in Asia through capacity building, lobby and advocacy, organizational strengthening, movement building and networking.

AIPP has 46 member organisations (MO) across fourteen countries from four sub-regions in Asia. There are sixteen ethnic-based organisations, six indigenous women’s organisations, four Indigenous youths’ organisations, and one organisation of indigenous persons with disability. Further, AIPP also works beyond member countries and organisations through indigenous-led regional networks like – Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP), Indigenous Women Network in Asia (NIWA), Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders Network (IPHRD), Indigenous Voices in Asia Network (IVAN), and Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples in Asia (IKPA). AIPP serves as the Regional Secretariat of these networks

An external evaluation of AIPP was conducted in 2021. The findings and recommendations of the evaluation guided the formulation of the strategic programme of AIPP for 2021-2024, which was adopted by the AIPP members during its 8^th General Assembly held in March 2021.  This strategic programme provided the guidance to the formulation of the annual plans of AIPP. The   Executive Council is mandated to adopt the annual plan and budget, and the Regional Secretariat based in Chiang Mai, headed by the Secretary General, was mandated to carry out the annual plans, including fund-raising to support the implementation of the programmes.

KEY ASPECT OF AIPP PROGRAMME 

The key Programmes of AIPP from 2021 to present are as follows:

1. Organizational Strengthening and Movement Building (OSMB)

The organizational strengthening and movement building (OSMB) activities of AIPP include the conduct of the sub-regional meetings of members, country level assessment and consultation, the regular meetings of the Executive Council, the strengthening and management of the secretariat in the day-to-day implementation and coordination of the AIPP programmes and activities, organizational strengthening of members. The OSMB program guides and provides coherence of the overall programs of AIPP at the Secretariat through streamlining, inter-program collaboration and integration, build inter-linkages of projects and thematic issues such as on women and youth, and movement building.

2. Communication Programme (CP)

This involves the regular sharing of information to members, contacts and partners on key developments and issues relating to indigenous peoples in Asia through different channels of media including e-media.  It also includes the translation of relevant documents, production of info-posters, animation, video documentaries and the operation of the Indigenous Voice Asia Network as a joint platform of journalists/media practitioners and indigenous activists in amplifying the voices of indigenous peoples.

The CP guides and support the communication strategy of all programs such as on campaign strategy and activities on thematic or human rights cases.

3. Regional Capacity Building 

AIPP, as a regional federation of indigenous peoples’ organizations representing the movements in Asia, believes in the self-organizing capacity of member-organizations (MOs) and indigenous communities and that they are the drivers of change in solidarity with vibrant democratic forces i.e. CSOs, institutions and individuals. It is for this reason that AIPP identifies capacity-building as its core program and focusses on empowerment of indigenous movements and communities and integrated dialogue with various state and non-state actors for change to come.

AIPP implements several capacity building activities under its six thematic programs. However, AIPP also has its specific program called “Regional Capacity Building Program” in response to its specific capacity building needs for community empowerment and movement building. The focus of RCB is also to direct its capacity-building efforts towards supporting vertical structures of AIPP from local organizations to the top-level of its governance structure and secretariat. The RCB program makes sure that members of the organization internalize this value such that their indigenous identity comes to the fore in all aspects of the organization’s activities and focus.

The regional capacity building program implements several training programs such as on community organizing, leadership, UNDRIP Advocacy and institutional building, etc. for grass roots leaders and organizations.

4. Human Rights Campaign Policy Advocacy Programme

The Human Rights programme of AIPP includes the building and the strengthening of Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders Network (IPHRDs) through trainings and documentation and regional and international lobby and advocacy using UN mechanisms, bodies and procedures, ASEAN, international financial institutions, the guiding principles regarding business and human rights, and the SDGs. The program is involved in campaign and community mobilization for responding to human rights issues and violations relating to extractive industries, large-scale development projects, economic land concessions, eviction and displacement issues, etc.

5. Environment Programme

This programme addresses the issues relating to climate change, biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge promotion and protection. In particular, forest conservation under the Reducing Emissions on Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) and climate change adaptation at the community level, and sustained advocacy with REDD+ and climate change related bodies such as the UNFCCC and CBD are the focus of this programme in partnership with member-organizations and network. The program has also taken issues relating to Indigenous Knowledge and coordinates the recently established Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples of Asia (IKPA).

6. Indigenous Women Programme

This programme provides capacity building to indigenous women organizations and network and their increased participation and engagement in different levels of advocacy work.  It also includes the enhancement of the roles and contribution of indigenous women in climate change, sustainable resource management among others. AIPP has adopted its Gender Policy and has produced a gender main-streaming Manual as a guide to the regional secretariat and its members. The program also coordinates the Network of Indigenous Peoples in Asia (NIWA) that was recently established which has prioritized land rights and governance.

OBJECTIVES OF EVALUATION:

1. To assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness, sustainability and impacts of the strategies and programme of AIPP based on its strategic plan from 2021-2024.
2. To review the institutional capacity and structure of AIPP, particularly its strategies and activities for organizational strengthening and movement building as a regional federation of indigenous organizations, including the implementation of the Gender Justice Policy and PSEAH Policy of AIPP
3. To identify and analyze the challenges and lessons learned and provide key recommendations that can guide AIPP in improving and defining its institutional strategies and programme development, including its next strategic programme 2025-2028.

SCOPE OF EVALUATION:

The external evaluation will focus on the programme development and implementation of AIPP from 2021 to present. This shall include the review of the evaluation report of AIPP conducted in 2021, the annual reports of AIPP from 2021 to 2023, project evaluation reports and systems audit conducted shall be reviewed.

The specific areas to be covered by the evaluation are as follows:

A. Programme Development and Implementation

1. To assess the level of achievements and impacts of AIPP Programme implementation including advocacy based on the defined general and specific objectives as well as expected results
2. To review the effectiveness and responsiveness of programme implementation to the needs, priorities and aspirations of member-organizations
3. To assess the implementation of the Gender Justice Policy and PSEAH Policy of AIPP and gender mainstreaming in all the AIPP programmes in terms of achievements, good practices, lessons learned, gaps and challenges, as well as integration of Indigenous Women’s organizations and their issues in the larger Indigenous Peoples’ movements from local to regional level
4. To evaluate the impacts and sustainability of AIPP programme implementation especially in relation to its information dissemination and communication and organizational strengthening and movement building

B. To review the institutional capacity of AIPP

1. To review the quality of programme planning and implementation of AIPP with focus on the role of the Executive Council, programme committees, the secretariat, member-organizations and networks as well as meeting their capacity needs
2. To review the achievements of the specific objectives and strategies for organizational strengthening and movement building as a regional organization, including country-level processes among members and networks towards alliance building and setting common agenda
3. To assess the organizational capacity to carry out multiple projects, coordination, monitoring and impact assessment
4. To assess the organization’s strategies for fund-raising, resource mobilization and financial sustainability
5. To assess the implementation of organizational policies and guidelines at secretariat and member and partners level
6. To review and integrate the result of the systems audit of AIPP

C. Recommendations:

1. To identify and analyze lessons learned, gaps, and good practices especially in relation to organizational strengthening and movement building including gender mainstreaming and integration in the Indigenous movement.
2. To develop recommendations for institutional strategies, programme development and sustainability
3. Based on the outcome of the evaluation, support in the preparation of a new four years strategic plan with inputs provided from the AIPP partners and Secretariat.

METHODOLOGY:

• Desk review of AIPP reports and relevant documents, including the four years AIPP strategic plan and its progress and other documents.
• Interactions/consultations/meetings with AIPP Secretariat, Thailand based Board members and AIPP partners and relevant stakeholders, etc.
• Visits to four AIPP partner countries viz. Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Nepal; interactions with AIPP partners through country level consultations.
• Focus group discussions, community workshops and interviews, etc.
• Consultation session with EC members and the Secretary General
• Group interviews, consultations or workshops (as appropriate) with AIPP members
• Individual or group interviews with AIPP members, allies and networks
• Interviews with key project partners (non-members)
• Feedback session at the end of the evaluation
• Strategy formulation based on the findings

COMPOSITION OF THE EVALUATION TEAM:

The evaluation will comprise two external evaluators (team Leader and a team member) of which one shall be an indigenous person and at least one of the evaluators should be based in Asia. Their combined qualifications shall include in depth knowledge and understanding of indigenous issues including activities of indigenous organizations in Asia; and practical experience in conducting evaluation.

Additionally, the team should have the following qualification and combined expertise:

• Knowledge and familiarity on Indigenous Peoples’ issues and movement in Asia
• At least a master’s degree in related fields and/or equivalent work experiences.
• Policy and institutional knowledge in the subject matter.
• Experience in, and a thorough understanding of, national, regional and/or international best practices in the subject areas.
• Solid analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think creatively.
• Good knowledge of local context (culture, politics, and geography); familiarity with the situations in Asia will be added asset.
• Pro-active, independent and responsible personality.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

OUTPUT/DELIVERABLES:

The team leader is responsible to submit a final Evaluation Report in English by 30 July, 2024.  The report shall be a maximum of 35 pages long, excluding annexes.

TENTATIVE TIMEFRAME AND SCHEDULE (1 May – 30 JUNE 2024)

The work should be undertaken from 1 May to 30 June 2024. The total number of workdays should not exceed 30 days.

CONSULTANCY FREE AND REMUNERATION:

Interested candidates are requested to submit a proposal with detailed work plan and consultancy fee. AIPP shall cover tickets/airfares, accommodation and local travel expenses for traveling to field visits.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

AIPP will be the sole copy right’s owner of the report. The report, either fully or in part/ parts should not be reproduced or published, nor used for any commercial publication, gain without obtaining prior written approval of the competent authority of AIPP.

 Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit an Expression of Interest to hr-aipp@aippnet.org on or before 15 April 2024. The Expression of Interest should include:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Brief technical proposal, indicating main methodological considerations and consultancy fee in USD
• Three references, to whom AIPP Secretariat may contact

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the interviews.

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