Mission objectives

The main objectives of this lessons learned exercise are to:

•       Improve, replicate, and harmonize best practices, while avoiding past mistakes;

•       Demonstrate and enhance impact by supporting communication, advocacy, and evidence-based decision-making to influence development practices and justify strategic and operational actions and choices;

•       Document and manage knowledge to ensure its preservation and effective transfer.

This exercise is all the more important because it is taking place 10 months after the completion of the implementation phase, so it is important to have the feedback from the project stakeholders on lessons learnt, integration of new practices and ownership and dissemination of capacity-building activities.

More specifically, this lessons learned exercise aims to:

§  Record and document project progress outcomes, and key strategic or operational decisions to contribute to institutional memory;

§  Clarify the concepts and approaches used to foster a shared understanding among stakeholders;

§  Identify effective operational methods and best practices to consolidate and build on acquired knowledge;

§  Document innovations with the potential for replication or with a view to scaling them up;

§  Reflect on partnership to support its continuity and identify areas for improvement;

§  Analyze the support experience and the implementation carried out, and make the most of the experience and know-how of the stakeholders involved;

§  Share the key lessons learned from the process and the recommendations adopted to fuel strategic thinking and pass them on to other teams/organizations

This lessons learned exercise is a project milestone to document learning for the lessor (AFD) and the implementing agency (Expertise France). It should also help identify lessons learned, good practices and highlight innovative aspects that will serve to improve the performance of other projects carried out by Expertise France.

Scope of capitalization : 

Capitalization will cover the following items: 

Period: November 2018 – July 2024;

It would be necessary to pick milestones during all this long period. The project had different phases interrupted by different factors. Below is a (non-exhaustive) list of milestones, which is expected to be adjusted by the consultants during the inception phase of the mission:

1.              The design of the policy Matrix in 2018 – 2019 and the identification of the first TA activities

2.              Design of the TA program, first activities implementation 2029-2020

3.              Launching phase, Implementation of the 2020-2021

4.              Implementation phase 2022-2024. Which is the most important period in terms of practices, lessons to be learnt. The main focus of the capitalization will be put in this phase.

Project components : 

component 0 - coordinating program implementation, visibility and supporting the program’s monitoring (program management)

component i - improving women’s access to assets and information about their rights

component ii - levelling the playing field to enhance labour market opportunities for women

component iii - strengthening intuitional arrangements for gender-informed policy making

Country: Albania;

The lessons learned exercise will take place during the period indicated below using the following resources:

Timing: The capitalization will take from 26^th of May to 31^st July 2025.: Detailed Project Description (DPD), minutes of meetings and steering committees, project dashboard, and any other documents deemed relevant by the consultant.

Contributors: 

1.     Project management team EF: Team leader, project manager.

2.     Agence Française de Développement (AFD) ; World Bank (WB).

3.     Agence Nationale pour la Formation Professionnelle des adultes (AFPA)

4.     Focal points of the different stakeholders (Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Ministry of Health and Social Protection)

5.     At least one key expert;

Target users: The first deliverable (internal lessons learned brief) is intended for internal use by Expertise France. The second deliverable (a PowerPoint) is for external audience and communication.

Steering group members during the lessons learned exercise: EF project team, AFD project manager, WB.

Expected result of asaignment

Deliverables:

This lessons learned exercise should provide Expertise France (field and head office teams), AFD, and the stakeholders with the following information and under two different deliverables:

1.Produce a lessons learned brief (in Word and Canva formats – according to the EF templates).  

2. Produce a PowerPoint presentation for external communication. To produce this deliverable, the consultant(s) could build on some of the content from the internal lessons learned briefing (making sure the content of the PowerPoint is tailored for an external audience). This PowerPoint should, a part from the lessons learned briefing content, highlight the achievements and added value of EF as a technical agency in Albania’s care and employment sectors.

The production of these deliverables will entail:

·       An independent and comprehensive analysis of the experience gained by stakeholders during project implementation

·       Identification of lessons learned (both what worked and what did not work) and best practices to inform current and future initiatives

·       Recommendations on strategies, concepts, methods, techniques, and practices to be applied in future projects;

·       Identification of innovative or alternative approaches that could inspire future projects;

·       Assessment of the potential for scaling up or replicating effective interventions;

·       Suggestions for future pilot or experimental projects to be developed and implemented.

The service provider will need to provide evidence to explain analyses, cause and effect links, and attempt to identify factors generating or hindering progress. It is hoped that this work will stimulate accountability, decision-making and learning.

Approaches : 

·         How has the project supported stakeholders in achieving the program objectives and facilitated the disbursement of the second tranche of the loan by AFD to the Albanian Government?

·       What specific processes or approaches has the project implemented to improve women’s access to assets and their rights?

·       How has EF, as a technical cooperation agency demonstrated its added value in supporting Albania’s efforts to enhance women’s economic participation, particularly in the context of the UE candidacy?

·       What approaches has EF used to meet the needs of Albanian institutions in terms of the timing and quality of technical expertise?

·       How has the AFD Group’s approach contributed to co-construction and shared ownership with project stakeholders  during project implementation, and how has this helped to foster synergies and avoid overlaps with on-going policy reforms, including those supported by other development partners?

·    How has the technical Assistance (TA) worked in a complementary manner with other institutions (e.g. World Bank, GIZ, UNWOMEN, UNICEF) to support the Government of Albania’s reforms aimed to  improving women’s economic inclusion?