Multi Year Evaluation of Redd Barna’s Introduction of Program Based Approaches (PBA) in Humanitarian Programming in Afghanistan (2025-2029)
Save the Children
Posted
Sep 11, 2026
Location
Remote
Type
Full-time
Deadline
⏰ Sep 28, 2026
Mission
What you will drive
Terms of Reference (ToR)
Multi‑Year Evaluation of Redd Barna’s Introduction of Program Based Approaches (PBA) in Humanitarian Programming in Afghanistan (2025-2029)
1. Background
Redd Barna (Save the Children Norway) has introduced a Program Based Approach (PBA) modality as part of its humanitarian programming through a new multi-year programme in Afghanistan. The PBA aims to shift from fragmented, project-based funding modalities towards adaptive, holistic, multiyear, and needs-based approach aligned with the overall Country Strategic Plan (CSP). By increasing flexibility, coherence, efficiency, and child-focused impact, the modality is intended to strengthen humanitarian responses in complex contexts and enable agile responses to sudden onset or deepening crises.
The Afghanistan Country Office (CO) began the startup phase of PBA implementation in mid-2025, including the development of programmatic frameworks, partner engagement, and resource allocation mechanisms. Since January 2026, the second annual plan has been under implementation, with the CO using the flexibility of the PBA modality to expand to an additional province and allocate resources to a new thematic area.
Given the complexity of the operating environment and the strategic importance of PBA for future humanitarian work, Redd Barna seeks an independent evaluation from fall 2026 to 2028. The evaluation will be both formative and summative, generating lessons learned and recommendations for ongoing and future use of PBA.
Recognising that PBA is not only a programmatic model but also an organisational change process, the evaluation will assess coherence across the Country Office, partner organisations, Redd Barna Norway, and Save the Children International (SCI) systems, structures, incentives, technical functions, and governance.
The evaluation represents a critical opportunity to understand barriers, enablers, and future requirements for scaling PBA modalities. Further, the programme offers significant learning potential regarding organisational adjustments, localisation commitments and alignment with the Grand Bargain.
3. Evaluation Objectives and Questions
The overall purpose of the evaluation is to generate evidence-based learning regarding organisational readiness and the impact of applying Program Based Approach in a complex humanitarian context.
Continuous learning and adaptions of the PBA pilot in Afghanistan, will serve as the basis to provide actionable recommendations for strengthening future PBA modality across Redd Barna Norway and Save the Children International. The evaluation will:
- Strengthen the PBA pilot in Afghanistan through continuous evaluation, learning and recommended adaptations opportunities.
- Strengthen the Afghanistan CO’s programme, partnerships, systems, and improve structural resilience.
- Improve organisational readiness for multi‑year, flexible humanitarian approaches.
- Inform decision making for future PBA rollouts within Redd Barna and Save the Children.
- Provide evidence to donors regarding the effectiveness of PBA modalities.
- Capture good practices and lessons learned to improve program quality and impact for children.
3. Evaluation Objectives and Questions
Objective 1: Assess the relevance, design, and early implementation of Redd Barna Norway PBA in Afghanistan.
- How appropriate and relevant is the PBA design in Afghanistan’s operational, political, and humanitarian context, and to what extent does it respond to the priorities and needs of stakeholders?
- To what degree did the Afghanistan Country Office receive the necessary, timely, and accurate guidance and support during the planning, start-up, and implementation phases, and how effectively were internal and external stakeholders engaged in these processes?
- To what extent do the Country Office, partners, Redd Barna, and Save the Children International (SCI) share a common understanding of the purpose, expected outcomes, and core principles of the PBA modality?
Objective 2: Examine whether and how PBA has improved or constrained flexibility, opportunities, efficiency, and adaptive management.
- To what extent has PBA improved or constrained flexibility, timely decision making, adaptability, and adaptive management in practice, and to what degree do SCI systems (finance, awards, MEAL, supply chain, HR, risk, compliance) enable or constrain the PBA’s intended flexibility?
- To what degree has the PBA affected budget utilisation, administrative load, coordination, and internal governance and decision-making structures?
- To what degree has organisational readiness changed between annual implementation years for the Country Office, partners, and Redd Barna?
Objective 3: Assess how the PBA modality contributed to achieving strategic outcome and goals.
- What programme achievements can be attributed—fully or partially—to the PBA modality?
- To what degree do the PBA contribute to the Country Strategic Plan? Programmatic and/ or strategically? If significant contribution, how is this contribution different from regular programmes?
- To what degree did the PBA, including the crisis modifier (including possibility to the CM allocation as mechanism for revolving funds), allow for agile response to changing context?
Objective 4: Identify actionable recommendations for future PBA design, scale-up, and institutionalisation.
- What conditions must be in place across the organisation and partners to ensure sustainability and scalability of PBA?
- What forms of organisational stability, systems, and support structures are required to maintain strategic oversight, avoid loss of direction and keep flexibility?
- What adjustments are required to country office, partners, Redd Barna, and SCI systems, structures and capacities for effective future PBAs?
Priorities and specifics on key questions will be agreed during the inception phase.
4. Scope of the Evaluation
Timeframe:
- Full evaluation period: October 2026 – December 2028
- Covers initial rollout and implementation until planning of last implementation year (2029).
Geographic scope:
- Afghanistan (Kabul, Faryab, Jawzjan, Sari-Pul)
- Norway (representatives from technical teams involved in design, oversight, and donor engagement)
Thematic scope includes:
- Program design and management
- Partnership, power-shifting, and localisation aspects
- Operational and administrative systems and procedures
- Resource allocation, decision making and financial flexibility
- Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) and adaptive management
- Programmatic results and child-level outcomes
Comparative scope:
The evaluation should contain a literature-based comparison to examine how other NGOs and institutional donors have used PBAs or similar multi‑year humanitarian approaches, to contextualise Redd Barna’s experience and draw comparative learning.
5. Evaluation Design and Methodology
Redd Barna expects an appropriate mixed methods approach, combining qualitative, quantitative, and comparative analysis, possibly including:
- Document review (programme documents, budgets, donor agreements, MEAL data and assessments)
- Key informant interviews and/ or workshops (Redd Barna Norway, Afghanistan Country Office, field teams, partners, peer NGOs)
- If deemed relevant, participatory methods involving children, caregivers and communities, where safe and appropriate
- Comparative analysis with other NGOs using PBA modality
- Contribution analysis or theory-based evaluation to understand how PBA affected results‑based evaluation
- Organisational/system mapping, decision flow mapping, and transaction-cost analysis
- Gender, equity, child rights, and safeguarding lenses integrated throughout
Data ethics and safeguarding
The evaluation team is required to adhere to the Save the Children Child Safeguarding; Protection
from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; Anti-Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying; and Data Protection
and Privacy policies throughout all project activities.
6. Requirements for the Evaluation Team
External Evaluation Team Qualifications
- Lead evaluator (senior, with experience in humanitarian programming, funding modalities and PBA expertise)
- Specialists in MEAL, finance, award management
- Child rights, localisation and gender/inclusion expert
- National researchers in Afghanistan/ or extended experience with evaluations in Afghanistan
Mandatory requirements for Evaluation Team:
- Ability to operate in Afghanistan and Norway over a multi‑year period
- Demonstrated experience in humanitarian evaluations
- Capacity to carry out data collection in complex and insecure settings
- Adherence to safeguarding principles, ethical research and full GDPR compliance.
7. Deliverables
- Inception Report (TBD: fall 2026)
- Evaluation matrix, including detailed methodology, sampling and tools. Work plan, including ethics, and agreement of final deliverables.
- Mid‑term / Periodic Report (2027)
- Early findings on start‑up, opportunities/challenges, emerging results and recommendations for adaptation
- Stakeholder validation workshop(s) to review preliminary findings, verify interpretations, and strengthen ownership of recommendations.
- Final deliverable (2028)
- Final Evaluation Report (2028)
- Full analysis, findings, and programmatic and organisational recommendations.
- Recommendation Brief: Implementing PBA in Humanitarian Contexts
- Practical guidance for Save the Children
- Presentations / Validation Workshops
- To Country Office, Redd Barna and partners
- Raw Data and Methodological Annexes
- As per Save the Children’s evaluation requirements
- Final Evaluation Report (2028)
8. Budget
Estimated budget: NOK 1.2 million (incl. 25% VAT) (2026–2028)
- The budget will cover all consultancy relevant expenses including field travels and security related costs.
9: Call for Proposals
We welcome applications from organizations, institutions, or consultant teams possessing the required combination of skills and expertise.
Profile
What makes you a great fit
Terms of Reference (ToR)
Multi‑Year Evaluation of Redd Barna’s Introduction of Program Based Approaches (PBA) in Humanitarian Programming in Afghanistan (2025-2029)
1. Background
Redd Barna (Save the Children Norway) has introduced a Program Based Approach (PBA) modality as part of its humanitarian programming through a new multi-year programme in Afghanistan. The PBA aims to shift from fragmented, project-based funding modalities towards adaptive, holistic, multiyear, and needs-based approach aligned with the overall Country Strategic Plan (CSP). By increasing flexibility, coherence, efficiency, and child-focused impact, the modality is intended to strengthen humanitarian responses in complex contexts and enable agile responses to sudden onset or deepening crises.
The Afghanistan Country Office (CO) began the startup phase of PBA implementation in mid-2025, including the development of programmatic frameworks, partner engagement, and resource allocation mechanisms. Since January 2026, the second annual plan has been under implementation, with the CO using the flexibility of the PBA modality to expand to an additional province and allocate resources to a new thematic area.
Given the complexity of the operating environment and the strategic importance of PBA for future humanitarian work, Redd Barna seeks an independent evaluation from fall 2026 to 2028. The evaluation will be both formative and summative, generating lessons learned and recommendations for ongoing and future use of PBA.
Recognising that PBA is not only a programmatic model but also an organisational change process, the evaluation will assess coherence across the Country Office, partner organisations, Redd Barna Norway, and Save the Children International (SCI) systems, structures, incentives, technical functions, and governance.
The evaluation represents a critical opportunity to understand barriers, enablers, and future requirements for scaling PBA modalities. Further, the programme offers significant learning potential regarding organisational adjustments, localisation commitments and alignment with the Grand Bargain.
3. Evaluation Objectives and Questions
The overall purpose of the evaluation is to generate evidence-based learning regarding organisational readiness and the impact of applying Program Based Approach in a complex humanitarian context.
Continuous learning and adaptions of the PBA pilot in Afghanistan, will serve as the basis to provide actionable recommendations for strengthening future PBA modality across Redd Barna Norway and Save the Children International. The evaluation will:
- Strengthen the PBA pilot in Afghanistan through continuous evaluation, learning and recommended adaptations opportunities.
- Strengthen the Afghanistan CO’s programme, partnerships, systems, and improve structural resilience.
- Improve organisational readiness for multi‑year, flexible humanitarian approaches.
- Inform decision making for future PBA rollouts within Redd Barna and Save the Children.
- Provide evidence to donors regarding the effectiveness of PBA modalities.
- Capture good practices and lessons learned to improve program quality and impact for children.
3. Evaluation Objectives and Questions
Objective 1: Assess the relevance, design, and early implementation of Redd Barna Norway PBA in Afghanistan.
- How appropriate and relevant is the PBA design in Afghanistan’s operational, political, and humanitarian context, and to what extent does it respond to the priorities and needs of stakeholders?
- To what degree did the Afghanistan Country Office receive the necessary, timely, and accurate guidance and support during the planning, start-up, and implementation phases, and how effectively were internal and external stakeholders engaged in these processes?
- To what extent do the Country Office, partners, Redd Barna, and Save the Children International (SCI) share a common understanding of the purpose, expected outcomes, and core principles of the PBA modality?
Objective 2: Examine whether and how PBA has improved or constrained flexibility, opportunities, efficiency, and adaptive management.
- To what extent has PBA improved or constrained flexibility, timely decision making, adaptability, and adaptive management in practice, and to what degree do SCI systems (finance, awards, MEAL, supply chain, HR, risk, compliance) enable or constrain the PBA’s intended flexibility?
- To what degree has the PBA affected budget utilisation, administrative load, coordination, and internal governance and decision-making structures?
- To what degree has organisational readiness changed between annual implementation years for the Country Office, partners, and Redd Barna?
Objective 3: Assess how the PBA modality contributed to achieving strategic outcome and goals.
- What programme achievements can be attributed—fully or partially—to the PBA modality?
- To what degree do the PBA contribute to the Country Strategic Plan? Programmatic and/ or strategically? If significant contribution, how is this contribution different from regular programmes?
- To what degree did the PBA, including the crisis modifier (including possibility to the CM allocation as mechanism for revolving funds), allow for agile response to changing context?
Objective 4: Identify actionable recommendations for future PBA design, scale-up, and institutionalisation.
- What conditions must be in place across the organisation and partners to ensure sustainability and scalability of PBA?
- What forms of organisational stability, systems, and support structures are required to maintain strategic oversight, avoid loss of direction and keep flexibility?
- What adjustments are required to country office, partners, Redd Barna, and SCI systems, structures and capacities for effective future PBAs?
Priorities and specifics on key questions will be agreed during the inception phase.
4. Scope of the Evaluation
Timeframe:
- Full evaluation period: October 2026 – December 2028
- Covers initial rollout and implementation until planning of last implementation year (2029).
Geographic scope:
- Afghanistan (Kabul, Faryab, Jawzjan, Sari-Pul)
- Norway (representatives from technical teams involved in design, oversight, and donor engagement)
Thematic scope includes:
- Program design and management
- Partnership, power-shifting, and localisation aspects
- Operational and administrative systems and procedures
- Resource allocation, decision making and financial flexibility
- Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) and adaptive management
- Programmatic results and child-level outcomes
Comparative scope:
The evaluation should contain a literature-based comparison to examine how other NGOs and institutional donors have used PBAs or similar multi‑year humanitarian approaches, to contextualise Redd Barna’s experience and draw comparative learning.
5. Evaluation Design and Methodology
Redd Barna expects an appropriate mixed methods approach, combining qualitative, quantitative, and comparative analysis, possibly including:
- Document review (programme documents, budgets, donor agreements, MEAL data and assessments)
- Key informant interviews and/ or workshops (Redd Barna Norway, Afghanistan Country Office, field teams, partners, peer NGOs)
- If deemed relevant, participatory methods involving children, caregivers and communities, where safe and appropriate
- Comparative analysis with other NGOs using PBA modality
- Contribution analysis or theory-based evaluation to understand how PBA affected results‑based evaluation
- Organisational/system mapping, decision flow mapping, and transaction-cost analysis
- Gender, equity, child rights, and safeguarding lenses integrated throughout
Data ethics and safeguarding
The evaluation team is required to adhere to the Save the Children Child Safeguarding; Protection
from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; Anti-Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying; and Data Protection
and Privacy policies throughout all project activities.
6. Requirements for the Evaluation Team
External Evaluation Team Qualifications
- Lead evaluator (senior, with experience in humanitarian programming, funding modalities and PBA expertise)
- Specialists in MEAL, finance, award management
- Child rights, localisation and gender/inclusion expert
- National researchers in Afghanistan/ or extended experience with evaluations in Afghanistan
Mandatory requirements for Evaluation Team:
- Ability to operate in Afghanistan and Norway over a multi‑year period
- Demonstrated experience in humanitarian evaluations
- Capacity to carry out data collection in complex and insecure settings
- Adherence to safeguarding principles, ethical research and full GDPR compliance.
7. Deliverables
- Inception Report (TBD: fall 2026)
- Evaluation matrix, including detailed methodology, sampling and tools. Work plan, including ethics, and agreement of final deliverables.
- Mid‑term / Periodic Report (2027)
- Early findings on start‑up, opportunities/challenges, emerging results and recommendations for adaptation
- Stakeholder validation workshop(s) to review preliminary findings, verify interpretations, and strengthen ownership of recommendations.
- Final deliverable (2028)
- Final Evaluation Report (2028)
- Full analysis, findings, and programmatic and organisational recommendations.
- Recommendation Brief: Implementing PBA in Humanitarian Contexts
- Practical guidance for Save the Children
- Presentations / Validation Workshops
- To Country Office, Redd Barna and partners
- Raw Data and Methodological Annexes
- As per Save the Children’s evaluation requirements
- Final Evaluation Report (2028)
8. Budget
Estimated budget: NOK 1.2 million (incl. 25% VAT) (2026–2028)
- The budget will cover all consultancy relevant expenses including field travels and security related costs.
9: Call for Proposals
We welcome applications from organizations, institutions, or consultant teams possessing the required combination of skills and expertise.