Background
The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at Wits Business School invites qualified monitoring, evaluation and learning experts (organisations or individuals) to express interest in conducting a Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) of a research project, designed in 2022 and now in its third year of a five-year implementation.
The research investment focuses on generating knowledge that can enhance the ‘Contribution of the Nonprofit Sector to creating Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Youth in Africa’. It is being undertaken in seventeen African countries: Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The project integrates Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) from inception as a strategic mechanism to ensure accountability, methodological rigour, and adaptive learning. The Mid-Term Evaluation marks a pivotal stage in assessing how research, capacity building, project coordination and dissemination processes have progressed in relation to the original learning objectives. The envisaged evaluation is not conceived as a retrospective audit, but as a formative exercise aimed at generating timely lessons that enhance ongoing implementation and inform adaptive management.
Purpose and focus
The MTE aims to assess progress and generate actionable lessons across five core interventions:
1. Conducting research in 17 Countries and publishing outcomes
2. Education and training
3. Strengthening the project delivery capacity of CAPSI
4. Communication and dissemination
5. Monitoring and evaluation
The evaluation will focus on timeliness, effectiveness, and learning value of these interventions rather than retrospective accountability. The evaluator should adopt a developmental and utilisation-focused approach consistent with the CAPSI MEL framework.
The emphasis on lessons for action relates to the stage and momentum of ongoing activities. These create a tight time window to ensure that lessons have practical value.
Proposed structure and timeline
The consultancy is expected to run for approximately six to eight weeks (early November 2025 to mid-January 2026). The following stages are envisaged.
· Week 1: In-house orientation and familiarisation with CAPSI systems and data sources.
· Week 2: Submission of MTE approach and methodology
· Weeks 3 – 6: Data collection, synthesis and lesson generation.
· Mid-December: Presentation of draft lessons and actionable recommendations
· Mid-January: Submission of final report
· Inception note outlining approach, methodology, and work plan
· Field and desk review outputs aligned with the five interventions
· Presentation of preliminary lessons learned (for internal review)
· Final MTE report with actionable recommendations and implementation roadmap
· Demonstrated experience in developmental or utilisation-focused evaluation of multi-country or complex research programmes.
· Strong understanding of MEL systems, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and adaptive learning.
· Experience working with higher education institutions, non-profit or philanthropic organisations, and donor-funded projects.
· Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
Submission requirements
Please provide CV(s) together with 2-to-3-page selection note explaining motivation and suitability for undertaking this task, including an indicative budget.
Clarifications can, in the first instance, be obtained from Dr. Wycliffe Ouma wycliffe.ouma@wits.ac.za or Professor Alan Fowler, alan@alanfowler.org
Submission deadline: 27th October 2025
Email submissions to: wycliffe.ouma@wits.ac.za and alan@alanfowler.org with subject line “EOI – Mid-Term Evaluation Consultancy”
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. CAPSI reserves the right not to make an appointment.
