Call for proposals and terms of reference: Evaluation of Rainforest Foundation Norways work on livelihoods

1) Background

Over the past years, Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) has invested consistently in livelihoods efforts as part of its rights-based approach to rainforest protection. This has taken two main forms: (i) a large, dedicated intervention in Brazil through the ForEco Forest Economy (Advancing Sustainable Management in the Brazilian Amazon) programme portfolio, and (ii) livelihood components embedded within broader programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Peru & Colombia (PeCo), and Indonesia. Across these contexts, RFN and partners have explored how livelihoods can strengthen territorial governance, resilience, and forest stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and Local (forest dependent) Communities (and vice versa) while navigating the tension between green market mechanisms (forest products, restoration, certification, PES/carbon) and so-called buen vivir - culturally grounded, community-defined ways of living that sustain people and forests. To inform programmatic choices and align with organisational learning ambitions, RFN now seeks to evaluate and consolidate findings across programmes and to set direction for future livelihoods efforts. In 2025, livelihood was elevated to a thematic priority through the revision of RFN’s frameworks, underscoring the need for an organisation-wide evidence base to guide scale-up, refinement of future investments, and quality improvements.

2) Purpose

The evaluation will provide actionable learning to guide RFN’s programme development and strategic choices. It will determine what has worked in RFN’s livelihoods projects, what did not, and most importantly, why, identifying key factors, do’s and dont’s, and the types of projects RFN should prioritize or avoid. The evaluation should come up with a consolidated and refined methodology/theory of change/pathway of change for RFN’s livelihood work.

The evaluation should clarify RFN’s distinct added value compared to other actors and provide insights not only on project-level results but also on patterns and lessons across countries and interventions.

Findings should feed into programme improvements, and support RFN’s aim to strengthen its MEL system. RFN aim to publish the evaluation report on our website.

3) Intended Use and Users

• Primary users: RFN Programme country teams (Brazil, DRC, Peru and Colombia, Indonesia and Papa New Guinea), team leaders, Knowledge & Learning (SALT), and other relevant RFN teams.
• Secondary users: Partners and (relevant) donors, as well as other allied organisations, and the general public.

4) Objectives

Review and synthesize literature on livelihoods and socio-bio economy approaches in tropical rainforests (research and grey literature, plus best practices from implementing organisations, government actors and other stakeholders) to identify pathways, strengths, weaknesses, and examples that can inform RFN’s future programming and strategy.

Synthesize RFN’s livelihoods results to date, moving beyond project-level reporting to develop a cross-country perspective, with Brazil and the ForEco Forest Economy programme as the largest intervention and selected cases from DRC, Peru Colombia, Indonesia and Papa New Guinea.

Input to RFN’s new livelihood indicator (SO Indicator 1.5) for consistent reporting across all projects.

Distill lessons from the ForEco programme in Brazil and its data material that can strengthen other RFN country programmes.

Evaluate RFN’s approach comparatively to other implementing organisations and programmes/project (incl. RFUK/US)

Identify how RFN can better define and strengthen its livelihoods approach organisation-wide, highlighting RFN’s unique contribution and strategic angle within its thematic priorities, and provide recommendations for improving MEL systems.

5) Evaluation Questions

EQ1 Results so far: What are the main results achieved through RFN’s livelihoods work to date, focusing on Brazil and selected interventions in DRC, Peru- Colombia, Indonesia and Papa New- Guinea, and what insights emerge when looking across countries and projects? What has worked and what has not worked, so far, and Why? How can these findings inform reporting against RFNs new livelihood Indicator (SO indicator 1.5)?

EQ2 Added value and evidence base: What do existing studies and implementation experiences from implemented projects (including public programmes and initiatives) reveal about effective livelihood and socio-bio economy approaches, including key strengths, gaps, territorial scope, and best practices to guide RFN’s future work? What is RFN’s added value compared to other actors, and how can this angle be sharpened?

EQ3 Strengthening and strategy: How should RFN and partners strengthen livelihoods efforts related to RFN’s strategic objective 1 (rights-based management) and 2 (policies at local, national and regional levels). With livelihood work we include; approaches, capacities, partnerships, risk management, gender youth and inclusion. How should these insights inform RFN’s thematic priorities and future strategy? What strategic shifts are needed to position RFN distinctly in the livelihoods space?

6) Scope

• Geographies: Brazilian Amazon (primary case), plus targeted cases in DRC, Peru, Colombia, Indonesia and Papa New Guinea. (Selection to be finalised at inception-stage based on learning value and feasibility).
• Who: This evaluation will focus on livelihood and income generating activities developed by Indigenous peoples, other forest dependent communities and their representative local organizations, supported by RFN partner organisation in the six project countries.
• Period: 2019–2025.
• Depth: Mixed portfolio-level synthesis and deep-dive cases (Brazil + up to 2–3 additional cases).

10) Required Qualifications (evaluation team)

• Proven evaluation experience from livelihoods/socio-bioeconomy initiatives in forest contexts with Indigenous Peoples and Forest Dependent Communities.
• Knowledge of territorial sociobioeconomy systems, market-oriented non-timber forest products (NTFP) and services derived from biodiversity resources.
• Proven track record in designing and performing quantitative and qualitative data collection, comfortable with contribution analysis; experience with creating impact stories, and in making recommendations.
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant national and international policy arenas and instruments for rainforest protection, including the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD) and socio-biodiversity related public policies in Brazil and the other partner countries.
• Demonstrated expertise in gender, youth & inclusion and participatory validation approaches.
• Excellent track record in preparing well-written reports on time.
• Regional/language competence is an asset.

11) How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates (team or individual consultant) must submit technical and financial proposals by Wednesday, 30 November, 2025.

The proposal must include the following information:

• CV of all members in the team, and a summary of their qualifications (maximum two pages combined)
• Proposed methodology and timetable (max 2 pages)
• A financial offer, including daily fees based on 8 working hours per day. If team members have different fees, the expected division of labour between them must be indicated. The financial proposal must contain all the information related to the prices for the performance of the deliverables described in these terms of reference. The economic proposal to be offered must contain all direct and indirect costs, including audit fees and taxes. The financial offer should not surpass 385 000 NOK.
• At least two references for similar work.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Proposals must be sent electronically by 30.11.2025 to Johanne Døhlie Saltnes, Senior Knowledge and Learning Manager, johanne@rainforest.no

For more details or questions about the the Call/Term of Reference (ToR) please contact Johanne Døhlie Saltnes johanne@rainforest.no

12) Evaluation of proposals

Tenderers will be ranked according to a score based on the following criteria:

• Understanding of the assignment and methodology: 50%
• Past experience and livelihood competency: 30%
• Budget proposal: 20%

Responsibilities

The division of responsibilities for the evaluation is defined according to the following table. Interested party Responsibilities

Team of Evaluators

Full implementation of the evaluation, including practical arrangements such as: Organization of consultations and interviews; lead the development and implementation of evaluation and writing methods; conduct interviews and synthesize results; organize validation workshops; ensure the timely submission of the Inception Report, the Draft Evaluation Report and the Final Evaluation Report; timely incorporation of customer comments; and presentation of report conclusions and recommendations to RFN and ForEco partners.

Communication modalities, feedback mechanisms and contact with stakeholders will be agreed upon during the initial phase.

RFN

Election of Evaluators/evaluation team. Contract management. Assist in providing contact details to key informants and relevant stakeholders to be consulted/interviewed during data collection; provide inputs and documentation to the consulting team; review of the draft report.

13) Eligible Tenderers

i) Tenderers must provide information on their legal form and ownership structure.

ii) Tenderers shall be excluded from participation in a procurement procedure if:

(1) they are bankrupt, are having their affairs administered by the courts, or have suspended business activities.

(2) they or persons having powers of representation, decision-making, or control over them have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a final judgment.

(3) they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct.

(4) they have not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established, or those of the country where the contract is to be performed.

(5) they or persons having powers of representation, decision-making, or control over them have been convicted for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organization or money laundering by a final judgment.

(6) they make use of child labour or forced labour and/or practice discrimination, and/or do not respect the right to freedom of association and the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining pursuant to the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

iii) Tenderers shall confirm in writing that they are not in any of the situations listed above. RFN reserves the right to investigate any of the situations listed above if it has reasonable grounds to doubt the contents of such confirmation.

iv) Contracts shall not be awarded to tenderers which, during the procurement procedure:

(1) are subject to a conflict of interests.

(2) are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required as a condition of participation in the tender procedure or fail to supply this information.

RFN reserves the right to reject any of the proposals that it does not consider relevant.

14) Ethical considerations

Ethical considerations will be upheld throughout the development of the consultancy, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and respect for the rights and privacy of participants. The assignment should be conducted in accordance with the highest professional standards. As such, the work will ensure sensitive, safe, non-discriminatory participation, confidentiality, and anonymity of respondents. Specific consideration must be given to ethical issues of design, data collection, reporting and storage. According to the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), the consultancy must maintain appropriate measures to protect personal data. Info on GDPR can be found here: https://gdpr.eu.