Evaluation of the support of the HRDF 2021-2027 for the implementation of the European Child Guarantee

The subject of the public procurement includes conducting an evaluation of ten procedures related to the support for the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria, which has been carried out under the OP HRD and HRDF. Within this support, operations financed by HRDF and OP HRD continue to be implemented, which are part of the operational plans for the implementation of the long-term Action Plan for the implementation of Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 for the establishment of the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria (2030), for the periods 2023–2024 and 2025–2026. The objective of the contract to be concluded as a result of this public procurement is to evaluate the overall support of OP HRD and HRDF for the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria, including its effectiveness, scope, results, and contribution to achieving the initiative's objectives. The evaluation should build upon the evidence base created through the evaluations of support for de-institutionalization and social inclusion of children carried out in previous programming periods, while ensuring continuity in monitoring the results of the support provided. The focus of the evaluation should be on the implementation of the European Child Guarantee as a strategic framework for improving access to essential services and reducing child poverty and social exclusion. The evaluation will only include activities under the evaluated procedures that are aimed at the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria. The report is the final product and main outcome of the evaluation and should contain answers to all evaluation questions, based on reliable evidence and systematic analysis. It should clearly distinguish between evidence (established facts and data), findings (results of the analysis of evidence), conclusions (evaluative interpretation of the main findings), and recommendations (proposals for action based on the conclusions). The report should be structured in a way that allows clear traceability of the logical connection between the evidence used, the analysis performed, the main findings, the formulated conclusions, and the proposed recommendations. Specifically, the report should: - show how and to what extent the support under OP HRD and HRDF contributes to achieving the objectives of the European Child Guarantee in Bulgaria, as well as what factors determine this; - present the main findings, conclusions, and lessons learned; - have a maximum volume of 120 pages, excluding the summary and annexes; - contain sufficient information and analytical justification to allow the reader to trace the evidence used and the logic of the conclusions drawn without the need for additional materials; - be prepared in clear and professional language and use visual elements (tables, graphs, diagrams, and charts) when they improve the understanding and presentation of the results; - contain systematic citation of all external sources and materials used.