Monitoring and Evaluation of the Gwent Green Grid Partnership

The Gwent Green Grid Partnership is looking to contract a consultant or agency to build on work already completed by the Partnership to evaluate the success of individual projects as well as the impact of the partnership as a whole. The consultant will refer to the Heritage Lottery Fund Evaluation Guidance - Evaluation good practice guidance | The National Lottery Heritage Fund which outlines the generic expectations of the Monitoring and Evaluation framework.A brief introduction to the Gwent Green Grid Partnership projectEstablished in 2020 the Gwent Green Grid Partnership (GGGP) is a collaborative partnership which includes the five local authorities of Gwent as well as Natural Resources Wales and other stakeholders.The Partnership has been successful in securing grants to raise the awareness of climate and nature emergencies; deliver projects to create and improve the quality of green spaces in towns and the wider countryside; and increase the resilience of the environment for wildlife and people.Through collaborative working at a regional level, the following benefits are delivered:• Nature recovery projects to promote Resilient Ecological Networks• Supporting nature-based community projects for health and wellbeing• Green skills training for volunteers and community groups to improve their local green spaces• Nature and climate-based educationThe three-year project is now in it’s final year of delivery and we are seeking a consultant to undertake an evaluation of the project as it nears completion. The partnership employs five full-time regional officers who lead delivery of all aspects of the project. Project outcomes and outputs have been recorded against the approved purposes as set out in the grant agreement. All records and evidence will be made available to the successful consultant.SpecificationThe successful consultant will supply a service to which the following points will apply:• The Gwent Green Grid Partnership is looking to contract a consultant or agency to build on work already completed by the Partnership to measure progress and achievements against the agreed set of outputs and outcome indicators and approved purposes. A list of approved purposes will be provided to the successful consultant.• Evidence collected should provide demographic, economic, social capital and quality of conservation, using suitable research methods including surveys and interviews and a comprehensive data collection exercise.• Legacy, including successes, shortcomings and opportunities, will be considered and reported on. To assist this evaluation the consultant should facilitate a legacy workshop for the GGGP steering group.Data gatheringSince the start of the project a spreadsheet of output and outcome data has been compiled. This will form the starting point for research, which should include the following:• Collection of baseline data.• Review of collated monitoring data• Interviews with GGGP regional officers and delivery leads• Participant and volunteer surveys (details to be determined by consultants)• Legacy workshop for Steering GroupEvaluation of project activitiesProgress should be measured against the key areas as set out in the HLF Evaluation Guidance. Outcomes for heritage should be evaluation in terms of condition and the impact on people, leading to a change in ideas and actions. Wellbeing should also be evaluation in terms of economic, quality of life and environment. The project team will be undertaking a Health Impact Assessment so will work with the appointed consultant to share results.Presentation of resultsResults should be presented to the project team in two parts:• An initial review to the Collaboration Lead, containing recommendations and emerging results• A final report to include an account of each project deliverable and conclusions for each and a review of the successes of the project and lessons learned. The report should include a summary document and clear infographics to demonstrate the successes and impact of the project as well as legacy opportunities.This contract will involve working closely with the Collaboration Lead, regional GGGP officers and the Steering Group.