
Background:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and secur
This project evaluation concerns the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-supported project “ Women’s Leadership and Political Participation During South Sudan’s Transitional Period,” jointly implemented by UN Women and UNDP as the Recipient UN Organizations (RUNOs). under the coordination of UN Women as the convening agency, in line with PBF requirements for integrated UN responses to peacebuilding priorities. All findings, conclusions, and recommendations will reflect the joint nature of the project and shared accountability of both RUNOs.
South Sudan remains in a fragile and fluid transitional context in 2026. Political uncertainty linked to delayed implementation of key provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), including security sector reforms and transitional justice mechanisms, has compounded institutional fragility. Governance systems remain fragmented between national, state and local levels, limiting accountability, representation and citizen participation. Localized violence, intercommunal conflict, displacement and humanitarian pressures continue to affect several states, particularly Upper Nile and Jonglei. In addition to bearing the brunt of these conflicts, women’s participation in peacebuilding and economic recovery processes in Upper Nile and Greater Pibor Administrative Area remains limited. Traditional gender norms, patriarchal institutions, and widespread economic marginalization restrict women’s access to resources, influence, and decision-making spaces. As a result, peacebuilding processes frequently fail to reflect the priorities and needs of women, and local tensions persist or escalate. Conflict analysis highlights that when women lack the means, confidence, and institutional channels to participate meaningfully in peace structures, the legitimacy, inclusivity, and sustainability of peace efforts are weakened.
A central driver of instability in South Sudan is the structural exclusion of women, particularly young women, from political leadership, decision making and peace processes. Although the R-ARCSS provides for a 35 percent quota for women’s representation, implementation has been inconsistent and often symbolic. Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms, economic marginalization, limited educational opportunities and high prevalence of gender-based violence restricts women’s ability to participate meaningfully in public life. Young women face compounded discrimination based on gender and age in a political system traditionally dominated by elders, despite approximately 74 percent of the population being under 30 years of age.
The project funded by the PBF under the Gender Promotion Initiative window, was designed in response to these structural conflict drivers. The project is grounded in the premise that extreme gender inequality is not only a rights issue but a root cause of fragmentation, weak social cohesion and cycles of violence. It assumes that enhancing women’s meaningful participation in political and peacebuilding processes contributes to inclusive democratic governance, social cohesion and sustainable peace.
Implemented over a 36-month period i.e. between January 2023 to June 2026 the project aimed to contribute to South Sudan’s commitments under the CEDAW (1979), the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (2015) particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Institutions)- as reflected in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The National Action Plan is still under development and has yet to be adopted on the UNSCR 1325, the Revised National Development Strategy, and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027). The project focused on national-level engagement in Juba (Central Equatoria State) and subnational interventions in Malakal (Upper Nile) and the Pibor (Greater Pibor Administrative Area)by UN Women and UNDP. These areas were selected due to their history of conflict, marginalization, and limited access to political decision-making spaces. The project aimed to strengthen linkages between local constituencies and national institutions to reduce center-periphery disconnect and foster more inclusive governance structures.
The project adopted an intergenerational and conflict-sensitive approach. It supported women parliamentarians, women parliamentary caucuses, civil society organizations, women-led networks, youth groups, media actors, and relevant government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare. It also promoted engagement of male allies and traditional leaders to shift discriminatory norms and fostered shared ownership of gender equality as a national peacebuilding priority. UN- Women and UNDP worked closely with six CSOs implementing partners: EVE Organization for Women's Development, The National Press Club, Lukluk Community Association, Women Progressive Organization, RACBO, and Tukul Africa, to build the capacity of women and youth for meaningful engagement in political and peacebuilding processes across Juba, Pibor, and Malakal.
The project was informed by a Conflict Sensitivity Review, which provided recommendations on risk mitigation, context adaptation, and “Do No Harm” principles. The project incorporated these recommendations to strengthen its responsiveness to evolving conflict dynamics, particularly in Upper Nile and GPAA. The project directly addressed the review’s call to strengthen intra- and inter-group understanding and reduce fragmentation, particularly in conflict-affected areas. In Pibor and Malakal, the project facilitated dialogues that brought together women from diverse ethnic, political, and generational backgrounds, helping bridge historically divided communities, Intergenerational mentorship platforms sought to address divides between senior women leaders and emerging young leaders, strengthening continuity and cohesion in women’s movements. Women leaders are supported to act as peace advocates within their communities, contributing to local conflict mitigation and preventing mobilization.
The project incorporated these recommendations to strengthen its responsiveness to evolving conflict dynamics, particularly in Upper Nile and GPAA.
In line with its Theory of Change, the project seeks to achieve three interrelated outcomes:
Key areas of intervention included:
As the project approaches completion in June 2026, this project evaluation will assess its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, sustainability, catalytic value, and contribution to peacebuilding outcomes. The evaluation will examine the extent to which the project addressed exclusion as a conflict driver, advanced the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas, strengthened institutional capacities, and fostered inclusive democratic governance at national and subnational levels. It will generate evidence to inform future programming by UNDP, UN Women, the Peacebuilding Fund, and national stakeholders in support of gender responsive peacebuilding and inclusive political participation in South Sudan.
Purpose and Objectives of the Evaluation Purpose
This project evaluation presents an opportunity to assess the achievements of the project “Women’s Leadership and Political Participation During South Sudan’s Transitional Period” comprehensively and inclusively by ensuring that the assessment is broad, holistic, and participatory and that it captures the full scope of the project’s effects while giving voice to all relevant stakeholders, especially those who are often marginalized
The evaluation will place particular emphasis on assessing the project’s contribution to peacebuilding outcomes, including its role in addressing gender-based exclusion as a driver of conflict, strengthening inclusive governance, transitional justice mechanisms during the transitional period, and contributing to social cohesion and sustainable peace in South Sudan.
The evaluation will assess the degree to which the project has achieved its intended peacebuilding objectives and outcomes, including enhancing women’s participation in decision-making, shifting perceptions regarding women’s leadership, and advancing gender responsive laws and policies in line with national commitments such as the 35 percent quota. It will also consider how effectively the project has supported women’s participation in dialogue, peace processes, and emerging transitional justice structures at national and sub-national levels.
In doing so, the evaluation will generate evidence on the project’s added value to inclusive governance and social cohesion, including its contribution to strengthening linkages between local, state, and national actors in Juba, Malakal, and the GPPA. It will identify key lessons on effective peacebuilding strategies, partnership modalities, and operational approaches, while also highlighting areas where implementation faced constraints or did not achieve the anticipated results.
The evaluation, therefore, serves both accountability and learning purposes. It will provide a transparent assessment of results achieved against planned objectives and Peacebuilding Fund commitments, while also informing future programming on women’s political participation, gender equality, and peacebuilding in South Sudan’s evolving transitional context.
Objectives and scope of the evaluation:
The project evaluation will pursue the following objectives in relation to the project “ Women’s Leadership and Political Participation During South Sudan’s Transitional Period”:
1. Assess Strategic Relevance
2. Assess Contribution to Peacebuilding Outcomes
3. Assess Effectiveness of Intended Outcomes
4. Assess Efficiency and Implementation Strategy
5. Assess Sustainability and Institutional Strengthening
6. Assess Catalytic Effect of PBF Funding
7. Assess Localization and Inclusion
8. Generate Lessons and Recommendations
Scope of the Project Evaluation
This evaluation will examine the project’s implementation process and peacebuilding results, drawing upon the project’s results framework as well as other monitoring data collected on the project outputs and outcomes as well as context. Evaluation questions are based on the OECD DAC evaluation criteria as well as PBF-specific evaluation criteria, which have been adapted to the context.
Evaluator(s) should ensure that the evaluation of the peacebuilding results is the main line of inquiry. Peacebuilding projects frequently employ approaches that work through thematic areas that overlap with development or humanitarian goals. An evaluation of peace-building projects, however, must include not only reflection on progress within the thematic area but the degree to which such progress may or may not have contributed to addressing a relevant conflict factor.
The evaluation must assess the project’s theory of change in line with PBF Evaluation Guidance.Where shortcomings are identified, the evaluator(s) shall refine or reconstruct the Theory of Change. The Assumptions behind the project’s theory of change must be clearly articulated and assessed for validity by evaluator(s), including causal pathways linking project interventions to peacebuilding outcomes.
Evaluation Questions (within OECD DAC criteria)
The evaluation will assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, sustainability and impact has been February 2023 to June 2026 in line with the OECD DAC criteria and additional PBF-specific criteria.
RELEVANCE:
EFFECTIVENESS:
EFFICIENCY:
SUSTAINABILITY
IMPACT (Peacebuilding Contribution)
During the inception phase, the evaluator will conduct a structured review and refinement of the evaluation questions to ensure coherence, analytical focus, and alignment with UNDP and UN Women Evaluation Guidelines. In line with the UNEG Norms and Standards, on utility, feasibility, and methodological rigor, the evaluator will ensure that the set of evaluation questions is sufficiently focused and manageable, avoiding duplication and overly broad coverage. The final evaluation matrix should present a concise set of strategic evaluation questions, supported by clearly defined sub-questions, indicators, and data sources, to enable credible, evidence-based analysis and actionable findingsIn addition to the above standard OECD DAC criteria, the following additional PBF-specific evaluation criteria should also be integrated within the Evaluation Matrix
CATALYTIC
The evaluation should assess whether PBF Funding:
Key Questions:
LOCALIZATION:
The evaluation should assess:
Key Questions:
Did the project strengthen sustainable local peace infrastructure?
TIME-SENSITIVITY:
RISK-TOLERANCE AND INNOVATION:
The evaluation must identify lessons learned that would have wider applicability and relevance to other similar interventions in South Sudan and in other contexts, and provide no more than 10 useful, realistic and actionable recommendations (including on cross-cutting themes and M&E system), with clear identification of responsible stakeholders.
Methodology and Approach.
The International Consultant will lead the team in applying a participatory approach whereby discussions with and surveys of key stakeholders provide and/or verify the substance of the findings. The evaluation should be based on a mixed method approach to data collection and analysis, employing various forms of evidence vis-à-vis each other to triangulate gathered information.
The methodology for data collection may include but not necessarily be limited to:
The evaluation approach must be responsive to human rights, gender equality, age sensitivity, disability inclusion and Leave No One Behind principles, and based on UN Evaluation Group’s (UNEG) obligation of evaluators and UNEG Ethical Guidelines. Conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm considerations must be apparent within the conduct of the evaluation.
The evaluation approach must be responsive to human rights, gender equality, age sensitivity, disability inclusion and Leave No One Behind principles, and based on UN Evaluation Group’s (UNEG) obligation of evaluators and UNEG Ethical Guidelines. Conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm considerations must be apparent within the conduct of the evaluation.
Deliverables and Timeframe
Inception Report: The Inception Report should refine the evaluation questions and detail the methodological approach, including data collection instruments. The PBF Headquarters (HQ) will review both the evaluation inception report and final evaluation report, in addition to the in-country PBF Secretariat. Feedback from PBF HQ will be incorporated prior to finalization.
The inception report should include the following key elements:
Presentation/validation of preliminary findings with relevant in-country stakeholders and PBF
Draft and Final Report: When preparing Draft Report, evaluator(s) should consult the PBF Project Evaluation Checklist. Draft Report will be shared with an Evaluation Reference Group, composed of representatives of all direct funds’ recipients and the PBF (at a minimum), for their comments. The final accepted version of the report will reflect ERG’s comments. The Final Report must be approved by both the evaluation manager and in-country PBF Secretariats.
The Final Report should be no longer than 30 pages (excluding annexes) and include an Executive Summary of no more than 5 pages suitable for dissemination to senior stakeholders, including government, donors, and UN leadership.
One-pager on project achievements and lessons learned: Evaluator(s) must also develop a stand-alone document (no more than one page long) to outline the main project results at the outcome level as well as key programmatic lessons learned.
Communication Product: In close cooperation with the PBF communications team, evaluator(s) should also develop a communication product (e.g., results story) highlighting key achievements and lessons learned (1200 to 1500 words). The story should highlight lessons learned and achievements of the evaluated project and quotes from stakeholders.
Deliverable
Level of Effort (of days)
Due Date
Payment (%)
Inception Report
5
June 2026
12%
Field data collection and analysis and Validation Exercise
20
June-July 2026
40%
Draft Report
10
July 2026
24%
Final Report, One-pager on key results and lessons learned and Story for the PBF website
10
August 2026
24%
Total
45
Duration, Location and Management Arrangements
The evaluation team will comprise an International and a national consultant, respectively. The evaluation will be conducted in-person within 45-days over 3 months, i.e., June to August 2026, with a 20-day mission to Juba, Malakal, and Pibor, for primary data collection.
The evaluation will be managed by the UN Women M&E lead under the oversight of the Deputy Country Representative. The Evaluation Management Group (EMG) will be comprised of the UN Women programme manager, the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, and the UN Women Regional Evaluation Specialist. The EMG will provide quality assurance to the entire evaluation process and approve all deliverables.
At technical level, the evaluators will be responsible to the Evaluation Manager, supported by an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) , comprised of Government, PBF Secretariat, CSOs, and RUNOs, who will be consulted throughout the evaluation process: They will provide inputs on the inception report, preliminary findings, and final report to ensure it is participatory and has the ownership of the key project stakeholders. The ERG will participate in the inception meeting and presentation of preliminary findings to provide feedback and validation.
Additional guidance on the assignment will be coordinated with UN Women and UNDP. For this assignment, RUNOs will:
[2][2] Catalytic function of the PBF can be understood as mobilizing additional financial funds, and/or unblocking of political or peacebuilding related processes. For the first part of the definition (financial catalytic effect), two approaches are considered: 1) direct amounts mobilized, i.e., funds that have been catalyzed to scale up or extend a specific PBF-funded project, and 2) indirect amounts mobilized, i.e., donors’ contributions to the same sector, theme, or approach after the PBF-funded project.
[3] Note: The evaluation team is comprised of both International and National experts for good complementary infusion. The International expert will be recruited by UN-Women and will work closely with national expert that will be recruited by UNDP. The evaluation will be summative and will employ a participatory approach whereby discussions with and surveys of key stakeholders provide and/or verify the substance of the findings. The evaluation should be based on a mixed method approach to data collection and analysis, employing various forms of evidence vis-à-vis each other to triangulate gathered information.
Competencies :
Core Values:
Core Competencies:
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:
Functional Competencies:
Qualifications
Academic Qualifications:
Experience:
Languages
Statements :
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
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