Brazil - AE-led Interim Evaluation - Marajó Resiliente Project

AE-led Interim Evaluation
Marajó Resiliente Project - Fundación Avina - Brazil

Fundación Avina is seeking an independent evaluator or evaluation team to design, plan and conduct the interim evaluation of the Marajó Resiliente Project in Brazil, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

About Fundación Avina

Fundación Avina is a Latin American foundation that aspires to a sustainable, prosperous, democratic and just world that embraces diversity. By partnering with leaders from grassroots organizations, academia, non-governmental organizations, governments and the private sector, Fundación Avina promotes collaborative processes that generate large-scale positive impacts and contribute to systemic changes in favor of human dignity and care for the planet.

Its work is grounded in a Global South perspective and focuses on climate action, fair and regenerative economy, and democratic innovation.

About the Marajó Resiliente Project

The Marajó Archipelago harbors some of the most vulnerable populations in the Amazon Delta and the estuary of other coastal regions of Brazil. These populations face increasing exposure to hydroclimatic disturbances associated with rising sea levels, climate anomalies, extreme tidal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion and high temperatures. These dynamics affect the livelihoods of family farmers, Indigenous peoples and traditional communities in the municipalities of Soure, Cachoeira do Arari and Salvaterra.

To address these challenges, locally developed and climate-adapted Diversified Agroforestry Systems, known as SAFs in Portuguese, are being implemented as a solution to strengthen human and institutional adaptive capacities, improve food security, diversify livelihoods and reduce vulnerability in the territory.

The Marajó Resiliente Project aims to increase the resilience of smallholders, Indigenous peoples and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change through the implementation of diversified agroforestry systems in the Marajó Archipelago, Brazil, with a focus on the municipalities of Soure, Salvaterra and Cachoeira do Arari.

The project is designed to achieve three main outcomes:

Outcome 1: Improved land management and food security through the implementation of diversified agroforestry systems across 800 hectares in the three target municipalities, using a results-based payment scheme that supports effective selection and participation of beneficiaries.

Outcome 2: A local enabling environment for implementing and scaling diversified agroforestry systems as a climate adaptation solution, with emphasis on policy instruments, participatory governance, information sharing, and alignment with local, state and federal policies.

Outcome 3: Diversified income for smallholders through the implementation of diversified agroforestry systems, strengthening associations to access markets for agroforestry products and facilitating access to credit.

Project duration: 2024-2028.

Objective of the consultancy

Fundación Avina seeks to procure the services of an independent evaluator or evaluation team to design, plan and conduct an interim evaluation of the Marajó Resiliente Project, funded by the Green Climate Fund.

The evaluator will provide an independent, rigorous and useful evaluation function, designing and implementing a framework to assess the project against the GCF evaluation criteria and in accordance with the GCF Evaluation Policy and applicable guidelines.

The evaluation will identify findings, lessons learned and actionable recommendations to support adaptive management, accountability, learning and sustainability.

The findings of the evaluation will be used to:

• Inform improvements in project implementation by the project management team, delivery partners and relevant stakeholders.
• Support the ongoing development and implementation of the project sustainability strategy.
• Demonstrate accountability for the funding received from the Green Climate Fund.
• Enable partners, stakeholders and government actors to learn from the project, replicate what works and/or scale up approaches and activities proven to be effective.
• Strengthen Fundación Avina’s institutional learning on climate adaptation, collaborative implementation, territorial resilience and inclusive results management.

Scope and focus of the evaluation

The interim evaluation will assess project implementation, progress, overall management, credibility of results and reporting, achievement of results and/or contributions towards expected results, including behavioral, organizational and institutional changes necessary to achieve the expected results.

The evaluation must apply the GCF evaluation criteria set out in the GCF Evaluation Policy and further defined in the relevant evaluation guidelines.

The evaluation must balance accountability and learning. It should not be limited to verifying activities delivered. It should also analyze whether the project is creating the enabling conditions for long-term territorial resilience, climate adaptation, community ownership, gender equity and scalability.

The external evaluator or evaluation team may refine the evaluation questions and develop additional sub-questions, as necessary and in agreement with Fundación Avina, to address the specific learning, accountability and analytical needs identified during the inception phase.

Methodology

The interim evaluation must be rigorous, evidence-based, inclusive and participatory. It must allow verification and triangulation of findings and involve principal stakeholders and beneficiaries in ways that are culturally appropriate, ethically sound and feasible in the Marajó context.

A mixed-methods approach is required. At minimum, the evaluation should include:

A desk review of relevant documents, including project proposal, Theory of Change, baseline studies, progress reports, monitoring records, stakeholder maps, governance documents, risk registers, gender and safeguards documents, previous surveys and other relevant project documentation.

Qualitative methods such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions, participatory sessions and/or field observation to explore and explain observed changes, implementation dynamics, stakeholder perceptions and contextual factors.

Quantitative methods such as survey analysis, secondary data analysis or review of monitoring data to assess and validate reported results, trends and performance against indicators.

Fieldwork in the Marajó territory, designed in a way that respects community time, avoids extractive consultation practices and ensures inclusive participation.

Triangulation across data sources, stakeholder groups, methods and levels of analysis, clearly distinguishing evidence, interpretation and recommendations.

The evaluation team may propose additional data collection methods as needed, including government data and records, field observation, GIS data, public expenditure reporting, verification of implementation records and other contextually relevant evidence to validate results and assess changes.

The methodology must also include:

• A complete evaluation matrix covering criteria, questions, sub-questions, indicators or evidence markers, data sources, collection and analysis methods, data availability, reliability and limitations.
• A sampling strategy explaining who will be consulted, why, and how the sample reflects relevant differences across municipalities, stakeholder groups, gender, age, ethnicity, race, vulnerability and participation in project activities.
• A learning and validation approach, including how preliminary findings will be tested with relevant stakeholders before finalization.
• A limitations section explaining methodological constraints, risks of bias, data gaps and how these will be mitigated.
• An ethical and safeguarding protocol covering informed consent, confidentiality, data protection, protection of vulnerable participants and do-no-harm principles.
• Quality assurance, ethics and risk management

Applicants are required to submit a quality assurance plan that sets out the systems, roles and processes for ensuring that all evaluation deliverables and activities are of high quality, technically sound, ethically responsible and aligned with the objectives of the evaluation.

The quality assurance plan should include:

• Internal peer review or senior technical review of key deliverables before submission.
• Procedures to ensure consistency between evaluation questions, methods, findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Evidence management and traceability protocols, including how sources will be documented and protected.
• Processes for fact-checking, validation and management response to comments.
• Quality control for translation, interpretation and bilingual reporting, if applicable.
• The applicant must also demonstrate understanding of risks associated with the evaluation and provide a contingency plan to mitigate potential impacts on evaluation outputs. Risks may include field access constraints, climate events, political or institutional changes, data gaps, stakeholder availability, safeguarding concerns, security risks, language barriers and delays associated with GCF review.

Ethics and safeguarding requirements

The evaluation must be guided by do-no-harm, informed consent, confidentiality, respect for dignity, non-discrimination and cultural sensitivity.

The evaluation team must ensure that participation is voluntary and that participants understand the purpose and use of the evaluation.

Data collection with vulnerable participants, including youth, must be designed with appropriate safeguards and consent procedures.

The evaluation team must protect personal data and comply with applicable data-protection regulations and Fundación Avina policies.

The evaluation team must immediately inform Fundación Avina of any ethical, safeguarding or conflict-of-interest concern that may arise during the evaluation.

Territories to be covered

The evaluation will cover Brazil, State of Pará, including Belém and the municipalities of Cachoeira do Arari, Salvaterra and Soure.

The specific fieldwork itinerary will be agreed during the inception phase, based on methodological relevance, feasibility, safety, community availability and budget. The evaluation should consider differences across territories and stakeholder groups, avoiding overgeneralization from one municipality or group to the entire project area.

Main activities

The consultancy will include, at minimum, the following phases and activities:

• Inception phase
• Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant documentation.
• Hold inception and alignment meetings with Fundación Avina and relevant stakeholders.
• Refine evaluation questions and sub-questions in agreement with Fundación Avina.
• Develop the evaluation matrix, methodological framework, stakeholder map, sampling strategy and work plan.
• Prepare ethics, safeguarding, data protection, quality assurance and risk management protocols.
• Data collection phase
• Conduct interviews with key informants.
• Facilitate focus group discussions and/or participatory sessions.
• Carry out fieldwork activities in the Marajó territory.
• Review and validate quantitative and qualitative monitoring evidence.
• Document evidence in a secure, organized and traceable manner.
• Analysis phase
• Systematize and analyze the data collected.
• Triangulate qualitative and quantitative information from multiple sources.
• Analyze findings by GCF evaluation criterion and by relevant cross-cutting dimensions, including gender, youth, race/ethnicity, territoriality and vulnerability.
• Identify lessons, risks, adaptive management opportunities and implications for sustainability and scalability.
• Reporting and validation phase
• Prepare and present initial findings.
• Prepare the draft final report.
• Organize and facilitate a validation workshop or equivalent validation moment.
• Integrate comments and prepare the final report.
• Review phase
• Review comments received by the GCF and make necessary adjustments.
• Provide clarifications, evidence and revised text as requested and within the agreed timeline.

Expected deliverables

The selected evaluator or evaluation team will be expected to deliver the following products:

Inception Report / Work Plan

The report must clarify evaluation objectives, refined questions, evaluation matrix, sampling strategy, stakeholder mapping, ethics and safeguarding approach, quality assurance plan, risk mitigation plan, detailed work plan and fieldwork protocol.

Expected timing: at least two weeks before fieldwork, and no later than August 3, 2026.

Presentation of Initial Findings

A concise presentation of preliminary evidence, emerging findings, risks, validation questions and early recommendations.

Expected timing: at the end of fieldwork, expected by September 11, 2026.

Draft Final Report

A full draft report with executive summary, methodology, limitations, findings by criterion, conclusions, recommendations, lessons learned, annexes and evidence trail.

Expected timing: no later than three weeks after fieldwork, expected by October 5, 2026.

Final Report

A revised full report addressing Fundación Avina’s comments and including all required annexes.

Expected timing: within one week of receiving comments, and no later than November 1, 2026.

Review and Final Report after GCF Comments

Final version incorporating GCF comments and any required clarifications.

Expected timing: within two weeks of receiving GCF feedback.

All reports must be submitted in editable format and include an executive summary, clear methodology, findings grounded in evidence, conclusions, prioritized recommendations, lessons learned, limitations and annexes.

Final language requirements will be confirmed during contracting. At minimum, the team must be able to work in English and Portuguese.

Evaluation governance arrangements

During implementation of the contract, the evaluator will report to Fundación Avina, which will provide guidance on process requirements and ensure satisfactory completion of evaluation deliverables.

Fundación Avina will coordinate with the project team, who will assist in connecting the evaluator with senior management, government and development partners, beneficiaries and other relevant key stakeholders.

The project team will provide key project documentation prior to fieldwork and assist in developing a detailed programme to facilitate consultations as necessary.

The evaluator or evaluation team will operate independently and is expected to maintain impartiality, objectivity and professional judgment throughout the evaluation process.

To protect independence, the evaluator or evaluation team must not have been directly involved in the design, implementation, management, monitoring or supervision of the activities being evaluated.

Any potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest must be disclosed before contracting and throughout the evaluation process.

Fundación Avina will designate a focal point for contractual and operational coordination. This coordination does not imply subordination or employment relationship. The evaluator retains technical autonomy and is responsible for delivering the agreed products in accordance with this Terms of Reference and the contract.

Required profile

The evaluator or evaluation team must demonstrate proven experience in climate change adaptation and development evaluations, familiarity with GCF evaluation frameworks, experience working in the Amazon or similar socio-environmental contexts, strong mixed-methods skills and excellent analytical writing capacity.

Inclusion of local or regional expertise is strongly encouraged and will be explicitly assessed in the selection process.

Minimum requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Proven experience in evaluations of climate change adaptation, resilience, agroforestry, environmental, rural development and/or socio-environmental projects.
• Strong knowledge of the GCF Evaluation Policy, GCF Evaluation Criteria and IRMF, or demonstrable experience with comparable climate finance evaluation frameworks.
• Experience working with vulnerable territories and community-based interventions, preferably in the Amazon, coastal territories, delta regions or similar contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to apply mixed quantitative and qualitative methods, including participatory and culturally appropriate methods.
• Excellent analytical, synthesis and report-writing skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct fieldwork and stakeholder engagement in Portuguese.
• Demonstrated ability to translate evidence into clear, actionable and prioritized recommendations for adaptive management, accountability, learning and sustainability.
• Capacity to conduct fieldwork in the municipalities covered by the project, subject to safety and feasibility considerations.
• No actual or perceived conflict of interest with the project, its partners or the activities under evaluation.

Highly desirable qualifications

• Local or regional expertise from Brazil, Pará, the Amazon region and/or Marajó.
• Experience working with smallholders, Indigenous peoples, quilombola communities, traditional communities, women, youth and other groups in vulnerable situations.
• Expertise in gender equity, diversity, inclusion, intercultural approaches, safeguarding and ethical research with communities.
• Knowledge of diversified agroforestry systems, food security, income diversification, market access, credit access, community organization and territorial resilience.
• Experience facilitating validation workshops and translating findings into practical learning products for implementation teams and stakeholders.
• A diverse and complementary team composition, with clear roles, availability and senior technical oversight.

Eligibility and contracting principles

The selection and contracting process will follow the principles of transparency, equal opportunity and non-discrimination, best value for money, technical quality and suitability for purpose, independence and absence of conflict of interest, documentary traceability and auditability, ethical conduct, safeguarding and protection of information, and respect for the autonomy of the service provider.

The contract will be established as a service provision agreement or consultancy agreement, as applicable.

The selected evaluator or evaluation team will be responsible for the organization, quality and delivery of agreed products, in accordance with the contract and the Terms of Reference.

Proposal evaluation

Before scoring, proposals will be reviewed against the eligibility requirements. Only eligible proposals will proceed to technical evaluation.

Eligibility screening will consider whether the applicant has submitted a complete proposal package by the deadline, signed a declaration of absence of conflict of interest and independence, demonstrated availability for the full evaluation period, demonstrated ability to operate in English and Portuguese, accepted confidentiality, data protection and ethical requirements, and has the legal and administrative capacity to contract with Fundación Avina under the applicable procurement process.

Technical and financial scoring

The recommended weighting is 85% technical quality and 15% financial proposal.

The financial proposal should only be opened or considered for proposals that reach the minimum technical threshold.

The technical evaluation will consider:

Technical quality and methodological approach: 35%.

This includes understanding of the assignment, GCF evaluation criteria, refined evaluation questions, mixed-methods design, evaluation matrix, triangulation strategy, sampling logic, participatory and culturally appropriate approach, use of evidence and limitations. High scores require a coherent, feasible and context-sensitive methodology, not a generic evaluation template.

Relevant experience and qualifications: 20%.

This includes proven experience in climate adaptation, development and/or socio-environmental evaluations; familiarity with GCF or comparable climate finance evaluation frameworks; experience with agroforestry, livelihoods, resilience, community-based interventions and/or Amazonian or similar territories. High scores require evidence of comparable assignments and quality evaluation products.

Team composition, local expertise and diversity: 20%.

This includes clear team roles, seniority and availability; Portuguese and English fluency; local or regional expertise; experience working with smallholders, Indigenous peoples, quilombola and traditional communities; gender, youth and intercultural competencies. High scores require credible local anchoring, not only international expertise.

Quality assurance, ethics, safeguarding and risk management: 10%.

This includes quality assurance plan, ethical protocols, informed consent, confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding of vulnerable participants, independence, conflict of interest controls and contingency planning. High scores require operational protocols, not general statements.

Financial proposal and value for money: 15%.

This includes reasonableness and transparency of costs, alignment between budget and technical approach, efficient use of resources, clear breakdown of fees, travel, fieldwork, taxes and other costs. Price should not override quality. Abnormally low offers may require clarification or be rejected if they compromise quality or ethics.

Minimum technical threshold

The minimum technical score recommended is 70 out of 85 technical points.

Proposals scoring below the threshold should not proceed to financial evaluation.

A proposal may also be disqualified if it fails to meet minimum ethical, independence, conflict-of-interest, language or fieldwork requirements, even if its total score is otherwise competitive.

If two proposals obtain similar total scores, preference may be given to the proposal with stronger local expertise, stronger safeguarding protocols and better evidence of comparable evaluation work.

Financial proposal

Applicants are required to submit a detailed financial proposal outlining the costs associated with the delivery of the services described in the Terms of Reference.

The proposal should clearly demonstrate cost efficiency, transparency and alignment with the proposed technical approach.

The financial proposal should include, as applicable:

Professional fees by team member or role.

Estimated number of days by activity or phase.

Travel, accommodation, local transportation and fieldwork logistics.

Translation, interpretation, facilitation or local support costs, if applicable.

Taxes, administrative costs and any other applicable charges.

Clear assumptions, exclusions and validity period of the proposal.

Proposals will be evaluated based on value for money, considering the balance between cost, quality, expected results and feasibility. The lowest-cost proposal will not necessarily be selected if it does not provide sufficient technical quality, ethical safeguards, local expertise or methodological robustness.

Contract duration

The contract is expected to last between six and eight months, depending on the timing of fieldwork, review cycles, Fundación Avina comments and GCF review.

The work plan and deliverable schedule will be confirmed during the inception phase and incorporated into the contract.

Requirements to apply

• Applications must include the following documents:
• Organizational background and relevant experience.
• Technical proposal, including methodology, work plan and team composition.
• Financial proposal with detailed budget breakdown.
• CVs of key team members.
• Declaration of absence of conflict of interest.
• Quality assurance plan.
• Ethics, informed consent, safeguarding and data protection protocol.
• Contingency plan to mitigate risks that could affect evaluation outputs.
• Examples or references of similar evaluations, if available.

Fundación Avina may request clarifications, interviews with shortlisted bidders and/or additional documentation before final selection.

Intellectual property and confidentiality

All deliverables produced under this consultancy shall be the exclusive property of Fundación Avina.

Institutional principles and non-discrimination

Fundación Avina promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and non-discrimination, guaranteeing equal opportunities and rejecting all forms of discrimination.

We welcome applications from individuals, organizations and teams with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities and perspectives.

How to apply

Interested applicants must submit a complete application package through this platform by the deadline 18th june 2026.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

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