This document sets out the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the IUCN-GEF Midterm Review (MTR) of the full-sized project titled “Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management for Large-Scale Impact in the Grazing Lands of Limpopo and Northern Cape Provinces, South Africa” (Project ID: 10179), implemented through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the Department of Agriculture (DoA), and to be undertaken in 2026.

The purpose of the MTR is to provide an independent, evidence-based assessment of whether the project is on course to achieve its objective and intended outcomes, and to identify the management, technical, institutional and strategic adjustments required to maximise results during the remaining project period.

The MTR will assess progress towards achieving the project objective and outcomes as specified in the Project Document, and identify early signs of project success or failure, with the goal of identifying the changes needed to set the project on track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also review the project’s strategy and its sustainability risks.

The total duration of the MTR will be approximately 92 calendar days, commencing with the close of applications on 07 August 2026 and concluding with issue of the final MTR report by 07 November 2026.

Job responsibilities

The specific objectives are to:

• Assess overall project performance and progress towards outcomes, outputs, and targets, including PRMP and SLMP implementation across Limpopo and the Northern Cape;
• Assess the effectiveness of implementation approaches, technical strategies, and the continued validity of the Theory of Change;
• Evaluate the efficiency of project delivery, financial management, procurement, and resource use;
• Assess governance, coordination, and partnership arrangements among DFFE, DoA, responsible parties, municipalities, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders;
• Validate field-level progress through site verification, including PRAGA-based assessments;
• Assess the sustainability of project outcomes across financial, socio-economic, institutional/governance, and environmental dimensions;
• Assess gender-responsiveness, youth, and social inclusion in planning, capacity building, governance, and benefit-sharing;
• Identify key lessons learned and good practices; and
• Provide clear, prioritised, and actionable recommendations for the remaining implementation period.

The MTR team will assess the following four categories of project progress: (i) Project Strategy; (ii) Progress Towards Results; (iii) Project Implementation and Adaptive Management; and (iv) Sustainability.

The Lead Consultant holds overall responsibility for the design and delivery of the MTR, the quality of the methodology, and the final report. Indicative responsibilities include: review and analysis of project reports; reflection on the appropriateness of the original design and approaches; consideration of project methodologies in relation to policy; engagement of partners and key stakeholders; reflection on the expected impact pathway; and identification of approaches with future implications.

The National Expert provides in-country and technical grounding for the review, including: analysis of project context and progress over the lifespan of execution; facilitation of and support to stakeholder engagement and field logistics; identification of key lessons learned; and contribution to the overall findings and recommendations. The National Expert supports the Lead Consultant in finalising the report and addressing review comments.

The MTR team will review all relevant sources of information, including documents prepared during the preparation phase, together with any other materials the team considers useful.

The review will be conducted through a collaborative and participatory approach, drawing on appreciative enquiry to facilitate reflection and learning, and ensuring close engagement with the Project Management Unit, government counterparts, the IUCN South Africa Country Office, the IUCN Multilateral Finance Regional Portfolio Manager and Regional M&E lead, and other key stakeholders.

Job requirements

The MTR will be conducted by a two-person team working under a single contract arising from these Terms of Reference: an international Lead Consultant and a national/local expert based in South Africa. The team members should not have participated in the project’s preparation, formulation, or implementation (including the writing of the Project Document) and must not have any conflict of interest with the project’s activities.

The team, collectively, should demonstrate the following:

Evaluation team composition

• Proposed team structure: Lead Consultant (International), National / Local Expert (South Africa)
• CVs of all team members proposed attached to Technical Proposal.

Experience relevant to the terms of reference

• Competence in adaptive management, aligned with the GEF Strategic Objective and Programme (Land Degradation)
• Recent experience with results-based management evaluation methodologies
• Experience working with the GEF or GEF evaluations
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrable analytical skills
• Project evaluation/review experience within the UN system (asset)
• Master’s degree in environmental management, biodiversity and conservation, development studies, or a related field
• Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing/validating baseline scenarios
• At least 10 years’ work experience in relevant technical areas
• Understanding of gender and the up-scaling of SLM, including gender-sensitive evaluation and analysis

Independence

• Statement of independence from work being evaluated or mitigation measures [1] (e.g., exclusion of team members from components of evaluation design, data analysis, or exclusion of components of the project from the sample for the evaluation).

Understanding of the terms of reference

• Understanding of the evaluation ToR, in particular the purpose
• Clear understanding of the project design, objectives, context, and constraints.

Evaluation methodology

• Consultant should propose a sound and robust mixed methodology for the evaluation
• Methodology should demonstrate appropriateness, quality, and clarity.
  Appropriate approach to sampling of both quantitative and qualitative data
• Clear evaluation matrix
• A robust and sound data analysis plan
• A robust Data quality management plan

Evaluation work plan

• Proposed evaluation work plan that demonstrates feasibility, quality, and clarity.
• Provide evaluation deliverables and/or milestones; allocation of consultant days to each deliverable or evaluation phase.

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A technical proposal detailing the proposed methodology, evaluation approach, work plan, and timeline;
• A financial proposal with a cost breakdown by deliverable, including professional fees, travel, and any other costs;
• CVs of the proposed team members (Lead Consultant and National Expert) demonstrating the qualifications set out in Section 11; and
• Two examples of comparable assignments — previous project evaluations or midterm/terminal reviews, ideally of GEF-financed or land-degradation/SLM projects.

Proposals will be assessed using a Quality- and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method. The technical proposal accounts for 70% and the financial proposal for 30% of the total score; only proposals scoring at least 70% on the technical evaluation will proceed to financial assessment.

How to apply: IUCN Procurement Portal.