Consultancy: Midterm Review of WWF GEF Corridor Project in Ecuador

CONSULTANCY DETAILS* Preferred timeframe: May – August 2026 * Maximum budget: USD 33,000 * Potential sites to visit: Visits to both corridors suggested: Yasuni-Limoncocha-Cuyabeno corridor will include flight to Coca and car transport to Aguas Negras. Palora Pastaza corridor will include bus from Quito to Puyo and various project sites from there.PROJECT DATA* Project: Connectivity Corridors in two priority landscapes of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region * GEF Project ID: 10259 * Implementing Agency: WWF GEF * Executing Agency: Conservation International * Executing Partner: Ministry of Environment and Energy of Ecuador (MAE) * Countries: Ecuador * Focal Areas: Biodiversity, Land Degradation, Sustainable Forest Management * GEF Operational Program: GEF-7 – GET * Total GEF Approved Budget: $ 6,353,852.96 * Total Co-financing Committed: $45,061,551RELEVANT DATES* Agency Approval Date: 9/1/2022 * Implementation Start: 06/30/2023 * Project Completion Date : 6/30/2028 * Period to Be Evaluated: CEO Endorsement until time of evaluationWorld Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF) policies and procedures for all GEF financed full-sized projects require a midterm evaluation (MTE). The following terms of reference (TOR) sets out the expectations for the MTE for the project: Connectivity Corridors in two priority landscapes of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region, hereafter referred to as the “Project.” The technical consultant selected to conduct this evaluation will hereafter be referred to as “evaluator.”The Project seeks to improve the ecological connectivity of two priority landscapes of the Ecuadorian Amazon, through the establishment of two connectivity corridors and associated management mechanisms, to ensure the long-term biodiversity conservation of its ecosystems. This project supports the implementation of the Ecuadorian government's ecological connectivity model, which, according to Ministerial Agreement 019 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Territorial Planning and Environment (now MAE) in 2020, defines Connectivity Corridors as “Special areas for biodiversity conservation, primarily established between areas of the National System of Protected Areas, the National Forest Heritage, and other special areas for biodiversity conservation, under a sustainable landscape management approach”. The Project was organized into the following components:* Establishment of two connectivity corridors in two priority areas of the Amazon.- To implement a technical analysis to select the best option for structural connectivity, based on geospatial, social, economic, cultural, ecological, and political criteria. Develop their planning and management instruments; and a biological and social monitoring system for measuring impacts on connectivity. * Implementation of sustainable productive activities in the two connectivity corridors.- To reduce significant threats to connectivity in the two proposed corridors, by promoting sustainable agricultural production practices in key areas and supporting bioeconomy initiatives to improve livelihoods within the corridors. * Enabling conditions for ecological connectivity.- To establish the enabling conditions for the effective and participatory management of the two corridors, being governace mechanisms, public policies and capacity building for corridor management. * Monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and regional coordination.- To promote spaces for dialogue and exchange of knowledge at the national and regional levels, in order to take advantage of successful strategies and lessons learned from other initiatives; to implement a monitoring and evaluation system for project activities and to prepare communication materials for supporting project activities and promoting stakeholder participation.Scope and Objective for the evaluationWWF is seeking an independent consultant to undertake a Midterm Evaluation (MTE) of the Project. The scope of the MTE will cover the WWF GEF financed components.The objective of this evaluation is to examine the extent, magnitude, sustainability and potential for project impacts to date; identify any project design problems; assess progress towards project outcomes and outputs; and draw lessons learned that can improve the project effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of project benefits. Based on this assessment, it is expected that the evaluator will provide feasible recommendations that could be applied for the remaining duration of the project.Evaluation Approach and MethodThe evaluation will adhere to the relevant guidance, rules and procedures established by WWF and align with guidance from the GEF Terminal Evaluation and Ethical Guidelines. The evaluation must provide evidence‐based information that is independent, participatory, transparent, and ethical. The evaluator must be unbiased and free of any conflicts of interest with the project. The evaluator is expected to reflect all stakeholder views and follow a participatory and consultative approach. There should be close engagement with government counterparts, the GEF operational focal points in each country, the Executing Agency project management unit (PMU), partners and key stakeholders. Contact information will be provided.The Evaluation process will include the following, with deliverables marked by “*”:1. Kickoff meeting; 2. Desk review consisting of, but not limited to: * Project Document and CEO Endorsement Letter; * Relevant safeguards documents, including the Safeguards Screen, gender action plan and Categorization memo, and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan; * Annual Work Plans (AWP) and Budgets; * Project Progress Reports (PPR) including Results Framework and AWP Tracking; * GEF Agency reports, including Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) and Supervision Mission Reports (PrISM); * Relevant financial documents, including financial progress reports; co-financing monitoring tables and co-financing letters; * Meeting minutes (Project Steering Committee (PSC)) and relevant virtual meetings with the WWF- GEF Agency and support team; and * Other relevant documents provided by the Executing Agency and partners. 3. Inception Workshop to agree on approach and methods used; 4. Inception report (draft* and final* version) that outlines evaluation methodology, which shall include data sources and data collection procedure, initial list of partners and stakeholders to be contacted for visits and interviews, revised timeline, survey tools or questionnaires to be utilized, Evaluation Matrix with guiding questions, etc.; 5. Site visits with PMU and project partners, including participation in project annual reflection workshop tentatively scheduled for end of May/beginning of June; 6. Interviews, discussions and consultations at local levels, national and international levels, including executing partners, GEF Operational Focal Points (OFP), Project Steering Committee (PSC) members, and beneficiaries. 7. Post-field visit debrief and/or presentation* of initial findings to project management team and other partners as feasible; 8. Draft evaluation report* not to exceed 50 pages (excluding annexes) shared with GEF, AMU, and PMU for review and feedback. A sample outline will be provided; and 9. Final evaluation report* that has incorporated feedback and comments. Data from evaluation, including feedback log required as part of package.Expected Content of Evaluation ReportThe Midterm Evaluation report will include:* Information on the evaluation process, including when the evaluation took place, sites visited, participants, key questions, summary of methodology and rating rubric, and feedback log showing how comments on draft were incorporated; * Assessment of Relevance (project design, theory of change); * Assessment of project Effectiveness and rating of project objective and outcomes (individual and overall); * Assessment and rating of risks to the Sustainability of project outcomes; including financial and governance sustainability of corridors * Assessment of Monitoring and Evaluation design and implementation; * Assessment of knowledge management approach, including activities and products; * Assessment of replication and catalytic effects of the project; * Assessment of Relevance of the project (e.g. with WWF and country priorities) and Coherence; * Assessment of stakeholder engagement and gender-responsive measures; * Assessment of any environmental and social impacts and safeguards used for the project. A review of risk category classification and mitigation measures; * Assessment of Efficiency, financial management and summary of co-financing delivered; * Assessment of Implementation and Execution, including institutional arrangements and coordination; * Summary table of key findings by core criteria. * GEF ratings, including justification and/or indicators for their determination; * Key lessons tied to identified strengths or issues; * Recommendations per criteria/assessment area that include: practical and short-term corrective actions to address issues and findings. Please include recommendations centered around financial/governance sustainability of corridors and advancing ecological monitoring systems for the corridors.Qualifications of evaluator(s)Required Qualifications and Experience* Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience * Previous experience with evaluation methodologies * Excellent written and oral communication in EnglishPreferred Qualifications and Experience* Recent experience conducting evaluations (for GEF financed projects is an advantage); * Technical knowledge in the targeted Biodiversity and Land Degradation Focal Areas, ecological connectivity/corridors, protected area management * Knowledge of GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy; * Experience with WWF Project and Program Management Standards or Conservation Standards; * Experience with social assessments, participatory techniques, and gender mainstreaming; * Knowledge and experience in implementing or reviewing application of social and environmental safeguards policies in GEF (or similar) projects; * Fluent Spanish preferred; * Country experience an asset.1. ^For additional information on evaluation methods adopted by WWF, see the WWF Evaluation Guidelines, published on our WWF Program Standards public website. 2. ^See GEF Terminal Evaluation Guidelines for additional information. 3. ^Please see the GEF Ethical Guidelines as published on GEF website. 4. ^See annex AHOW TO APPLYInterested consultants are invited to submit a technical and financial proposal in English (maximum 20 pages). The package should also include their curriculum vitae, a relevant writing sample and three professional references that would be contacted in the shortlisting phase*.* Only complete proposals will be accepted.The financial proposal should be all inclusive, e.g., taxes, fee and travel or administrative expenses, translators, etc.. The total budget shall not exceed USD $33,000. Individual, team or consulting firm proposals are welcome. Women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.Interested consultants are requested to send their proposals to [email protected] by April 3, 2026 All questions about the requirements or process should be submitted to this e-mail address by March 27, 2026. Responses to frequent and submitted questions will be available to all interested consultants until the deadline in Annex F: WWF Midterm Evaluation TOR_EC _ASL_Official.docxThe technical proposal and qualifications/experience of the individual or team will account for 90% of the weighted score of the proposal. The technical score will be based on how the proposal reflects an understanding of the work and adherence to the TOR and quality of the proposal (readability, depth/breadth and suitability of the methodology), as well as the degree to which the candidate meets desired and required qualifications/experience mentioned in the terms of reference above. The financial elements of the proposal will account for 10% of the weighted score.Once all proposals have been scored by the review committee, a shortlist of proposals will be determined, and the candidates notified. Shortlisted candidates will have their references contacted, proposal reviewed by project stakeholders and will participate in an interview.The selection process will be in compliance with WWF and GEF requirements. Any questions or concerns about non-compliance or irregularities in the process can be raised through WWF’s mechanism for reporting concerns available here: https://wwfus.ethicspoint.com.