OPEN CALL: ‘Anhar: Culture and Climate Platform’ evaluation
Individuals and consultants with a knowledge of climate justice, cultural sustainability and civil society empowerment in the MENA region are invited to respond to a call for proposals in order to assess the external impact and document key learnings of the inaugural programme. The elected individual must be prepared to employ a mixed-method approach (i.e., using interactive, quantitative and qualitative methods) and undertake a brief literature and practice review to inform the evaluation framework and contextualise the findings.
Applicant profile
- Proven experience and track record of evaluating arts and/or environment and social change programmes, especially in the MENA region using mixed methods including participatory approaches.
- Knowledge of climate justice, sustainability in cultural sectors, and civil society empowerment.
- Knowledge of international climate and sustainability policies would also be beneficial.
- Fluency in English and Arabic, spoken and written.
- Familiarity with British Council and/or Art Jameel working models (or similar) preferred.
- Demonstrated familiarity with grassroots cultural work and community-centred methodologies.
- Comfort with multi-lingual, multi-contextual interviews and data gathering.
- A strong understanding of the political sensitivities surrounding civic expression and sustainability in the MENA region.
How to apply
Applicants are invited to submit a proposal outlining their approach to delivering the Anhar programme evaluation in line with the scope, methodology and deliverables detailed in this document. The deadline for submissions is 27 February 2026.
Application format
Applications should be submitted as one consolidated PDF document (maximum 5-7 pages), accompanied by separate CV(s) for the proposed evaluator(s).
The proposal should be structured using the following headings:
-Evaluator profile and suitability
Statement outlining how the proposed evaluator(s) meet the profile requirements for this open call. This should address your capacity to deliver an independent, rigorous evaluation within tight timelines. As well as overview your understanding of Anhar’s aims, scope, and context, including its cultural, political and regional dimensions.
-Proposed methodology and approach
Description of your proposed evaluation framework and methods, including qualitative, quantitative and participatory elements, and how these respond to the key evaluation questions outlined in this call.
-Workplan and timeline
Proposed schedule of activities aligned to the programme timeline, including key milestones, data collection phases, draft and final reporting.
-Team and roles
Details of the proposed evaluator(s), their roles and responsibilities, and how the work will be delivered.
-Relevant experience
Summary of previous experience in evaluating arts, culture, climate, or social change programmes, particularly within the MENA region or comparable contexts.
-Budget and fee proposal
Breakdown of fees and costs, clearly aligned to the proposed methodology and workplan.
Supporting documents
In addition to the proposal, applicants must submit:
- CV(s) of the proposed evaluator(s) (maximum 2–3 pages per person)
- Optional: links to previous evaluation reports, publications, or relevant work samples
Submission process
Applications should be submitted through the following link
Evaluation methodology
Literature review requirement
The consultant must undertake a brief literature and practice review to inform the evaluation framework and contextualise the findings. This should include:
- Review of other arts-based or creative climate action programmes, particularly those operating in MENA.
- Review of relevant literature on:
- The role of arts and culture in climate change awareness, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.
- Creative methodologies for public engagement and environmental behaviour change.
- Cultural dimensions of climate justice and community-based responses to ecological crises, particularly in the MENA region
- Relevant British Council strategies and frameworks
- Relevant Key international policies and frameworks
The consultant will be provided with relevant documentation to include as part of the literature review.
The consultant should employ a mixed-methods approach that is:
- Interactive: Participatory methods such as focus groups and workshops with grantees, British Council and Art Jameel teams.
- This should include a group discussion with all the grantees to document their key learnings from their respective projects. This will be an opportunity for peer learning and reflections. (to be included in Stage 2 of Draft report).
- Qualitative: Semi-structured interviews, case studies, document reviews.
- Quantitative: Analysis of grantee reporting data number of projects, audiences engaged, workshops delivered, etc, surveys, other
Data sources
- Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 grantee application forms and reports.
- Anhar programme documents and communications.
- Monitoring data collected during implementation.
- Testimonials and media coverage.
- Interviews with:
- Grantees (sample from each tier)
- British Council country, regional & global teams
- Art Jameel programme leads
- Community stakeholders (where feasible)
Key evaluation questions
The evaluation will provide both quantitative insights (reach, outputs, participation) and nuanced qualitative analysis (social change, community agency, shifts in practices and perceptions).
1 – Artistic and Cultural Outcomes
- Contribution to high-quality, context-relevant cultural production related to climate and sustainability.
- Innovation in form and content—how artists and organisations used interdisciplinary, traditional, or community-based approaches.
- Did the projects lead to sustained networks, collaborations, or new funding opportunities?
- How did each project define and measure “impact” in their context?
2 – Climate Awareness
- What climate themes were addressed and how?
- To what extent have projects raised awareness or influenced attitudes toward climate change?
- Evidence of audience engagement, attitude/ knowledge/behaviour change, or dialogue stimulated by artistic interventions.
- In what ways did the projects address climate issues hyper-locally, what was needed to consider in the local context?
3 – Engagement with Communities
- How have funded projects enabled community voices, especially marginalised or underrepresented groups?
- Role of arts in opening community spaces for environmental advocacy in restrictive or complex contexts.
- How/if in opening space for environmental advocacy in restrictive or complex contexts impact other areas (gender/socio-economic access/mobility/fluidity)
- If/how did grantees engage with civil society or underrepresented groups?
- Did the programme support new or expand community space for climate discourse?
- If/how inclusion, diversity and gender equality been embedded within their projects
4 – Sustainability Practices in the Cultural Sector
- Adoption of environmentally sustainable practices by grantees (e.g., decarbonisation strategies, green infrastructure).
- Development of new models or toolkits that may be scaled or replicated.
5 – Regional Network-Building and Knowledge Exchange
- Extent to which Anhar has contributed to a regional ecosystem of cultural practitioners working on climate.
- Cross-border collaborations, exchange of knowledge, solidarity among grantees and future opportunities.
- To what extent did grantees respond to their local communities’ understanding around climate?
- Was there any engagement with wider sectors (including specialist support)? What impact or learnings did this bring?
6 – Learning and Knowledge Production
- What unexpected outcomes, challenges, learnings, or adaptations emerged during implementation?
- How did the programme support knowledge exchange between grantees and the wider field?
- What tools or models developed during Anhar could be scaled or adapted elsewhere?
7 – Cost Effectiveness
- The extent to which the proposed methodology, team structure and delivery model represent value for money in relation to the scope, complexity and geographic spread of the Anhar programme.
- How the evaluator will ensure efficient use of resources while maintaining methodological rigour and sensitivity.
The successful application will represent value for money when compared against Art Jameel and British Council regional evaluations of similar scope, and should be inclusive of VAT and all other costs.
Expected deliverables
- Inception Report: Detailing methodology, work plan, and data collection tools.
- Draft Evaluation Report: Including executive summary, findings, analysis, and recommendations.
- Sense Making workshop: Involving grantees and other stakeholders to present a draft report and act as a verification method.
- Final Evaluation Report (Long-form PDF): A comprehensive written report incorporating feedback from Art Jameel and the British Council, including executive summary, methodology, findings, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations. The report should include annexes with evaluation tools, data collection instruments, transcripts, and any other supporting materials.
- Presentation Deck (Slides): A structured slide deck summarising key findings, insights, and recommendations, suitable for internal presentations, partner briefings, and board-level review.
- Public-facing Summary (2 pages): A concise, accessible two-page summary of the evaluation findings, written for a general audience and suitable for publication and external dissemination.
