External Evaluator - International Consultancy

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Deadline for Applications June 28, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) B Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type CONS International Target Start Date 2026-07-01 Terms of Reference 1. Introduction This external review will assess the project's achievements and performance against planned targets, identify lessons learned, and provide actionable recommendations to inform future programming and potential scale-up or replication. It will focus on implementation quality and early results, not long-term impact. 2. Purpose of the Review and its Context Background and Context The project "Support to Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion of Eritrean Refugees in the Afar Region and Addis Ababa Urban Area" was launched in September 2024 with the objective of strengthening the self‑reliance and economic inclusion of Eritrean refugees and host communities in the Afar Region and Addis Ababa. The project targets approximately 51,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries and focuses on expanding access to sustainable livelihoods and protection‑sensitive economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. Key interventions under the project include: (i) expanding access to wage and self‑employment opportunities; (ii) promoting gender equality and strengthening gender‑based violence (GBV) prevention and response mechanisms; and (iii) supporting the issuance of digital refugee identity cards with embedded national ID (Fayda) numbers, thereby facilitating refugees' access to legal documentation, financial services, and broader economic opportunities. This external review will cover the implementation period from September 2024 to December 2025. The Terms of Reference (ToR) outline the objectives, scope, and methodology of the review, which will guide the review process and ensure transparency regarding its purpose and expected outputs. The findings of the review will be shared with the donor, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Switzerland, and disseminated among relevant partners engaged in supporting refugees and host communities in Ethiopia. UNHCR Ethiopia is therefore seeking qualified individual consultant with demonstrated expertise in livelihoods, economic inclusion and protection review or evaluation to undertake this external review in accordance with the ToR. Ethiopia context With a population of approximately 126.5 million, Ethiopia has made significant progress in reducing poverty, with the proportion of people living below the national poverty line falling from 30 per cent in 2011 to 24 per cent in 2016. However, these gains are undermined by rising inequality, recurrent conflicts, and environmental pressures that slow progress and threaten stability. Livelihoods are determined by agro-ecological diversity: 80 per cent of Ethiopians live in the humid highlands, which rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture, while the arid lowlands are home to pastoral communities. Climate change is intensifying vulnerabilities, with droughts and floods becoming more frequent and severe. Agriculture, the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, is under pressure from recurrent droughts, soil erosion, land degradation and deforestation. Rapid population growth puts additional pressure on fragile ecosystems, increasing risks to both food security and biodiversity. Refugees in Ethiopia Ethiopia hosts more than one million refugees and asylum seekers (approximately 1,115,839), making it the second-largest refugee‑hosting country in Africa. Refugees come mainly from South Sudan (43%), Somalia (32%), Eritrea (15%) and Sudan (9%), and reside in 20 camps and rural settlements near border areas. Although relations with host communities are generally peaceful, refugees face significant challenges. Around 80 per cent live in camps with limited economic opportunities, heavily dependent on humanitarian aid, informal trade, and subsistence support. Access to employment, education, and essential services remains restricted. The situation for refugees is further complicated by Ethiopia's own humanitarian and development challenges. Internal conflicts in Tigray, Oromia, Amhara, and Gambella have displaced some 3.4 million people. Ethnic tensions, rising youth unemployment and economic decline, including persistent inflation, add to the strain. The effects of climate change exacerbate these pressures, creating overlapping humanitarian and development needs. Policies and commitments Ethiopia has demonstrated a strong commitment to refugee protection and inclusion through progressive policies and international frameworks, including: - The 2019 Refugee Proclamation, which guarantees refugees access to education, health, employment, business and financial services. - The extension of policy outside camps, the issuance of identity documents, and access to work permits and financial services. - The commitments of the Global Compact on Refugees (2018) to promote self-sufficiency, integrat

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