Call for interest - Final evaluation of the project “Libri”

OrganizationBibliothèques Sans FrontièresPosted 9 Oct 2025 Closing date 26 Oct 2025 The action and the actors involvedBSF presentationBibliothèques Sans Frontières (BSF), a French association under the French law of 1901, has been working since 2007 to bring knowledge to those who are deprived of it. Today, 750 million people in the world cannot read or write and only 35% of people in developing nations have access to the internet (World Bank 2023). People's vulnerabilities are exacerbated when they do not have access to the information they need to make decisions, acquire new skills and integrate into societies. Access to knowledge allows people to exercise their rights, to be included in society and to be empowered.Therefore, for the past 17 years, BSF has been working with 6 million people in France and in 50 countries around the world to provide access to information, education and culture. BSF intervenes in various fields where school time is reduced, family units are broken up and where the lack of information and open spaces reinforces resentment between communities. BSF campaigns for a better consideration of the intellectual dimensions (information, education, culture) in the aid provided to vulnerable populations.To act, BSF has created revolutionary tools such as the Ideas Box - a multimedia library in kit form designed by Philippe Starck1 - or the Ideas Cube - a digital and ultra-portable offline library2. In all its projects, the association defends innovation, sharing, respect and cultural diversity.BSF's expertise in content creation has been recognized for many years. Therefore in 2019, BSF created the Lab. Both a product and a research and development centre, the Lab is the embodiment of BSF's innovative spirit. The Lab is the core of BSF's expertise and innovation.Project presentationEurope is facing a major challenge regarding the reception and integration of third-country nationals. In 2023, EU member states received more than 1.1 million asylum applications, a record high in the past seven years. The war in Ukraine also pushed over 6 million people to seek refuge in Europe. These dynamics have led traditionally emigration countries such as Romania and Poland to become countries of destination. Moreover, in 2022, the risk of poverty and social exclusion was 37% for third-country nationals living in Europe, compared with 14% among locals. It is therefore crucial to take action to reduce barriers to integration by facilitating access to education, culture, and information for people in situations of migration.With more than 65,000 libraries across Europe (according to EBLIDA), libraries are spaces of unconditional welcome, a basic and trusted public service that enables interaction and contact between newcomers, librarians, and citizens. They are also spaces of access to information in multiple languages, lifelong learning, and internet connection. Libraries continuously adapt their services to the evolving needs of their visitors, including new audiences in situations of migration. However, European libraries that wish to develop an action plan on reception at the territorial level often face a lack of documentation and information, as well as public policies that have sometimes only partially addressed the issue.On the basis of this observation, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders), through the Library Bridges project, has brought together a consortium of organizations engaged on the themes of libraries and reception. This innovative two-year project, co-financed by the European Union, aims to create a strong European network of welcoming libraries for third-country nationals, particularly multilingual, vulnerable, and displaced audiences. Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (BSF), together with ANVITA in France, the Information Society Development Foundation (FRSI) in Poland, Kulturas Informacijas Sistemu Centrs (CIS) in Latvia, Asociatia Comunitatile Viitorului (ACV) in Romania, Biblioteche Senza Frontiere in Italy, and finally the European Bureau of Library Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA), will work together to map initiatives already undertaken by libraries in these five countries and to support 50 libraries in working in partnership with reception actors to design actions that foster the integration of people in situations of migration.Library Bridges will also develop tools such as thematic mediation toolkits and a handbook on building synergies between local stakeholders, based on the consortium’s experience.The Project Consists In 5 Work PackagesWP1: Project Management & CoordinationWP2: Mobilization of 50 cities in Europe & documentary researchWP3: Creation of 50 local partnerships (Local Authorities + Library + Associations) to support them in the creation of 50 local integration strategiesWP4: Creation of toolkits on the inclusion of migrant users in Libraries and training of the 50 participating librariesWP5: Communication and Capitalization – Events, communication campaign, community of practice, digital ressource hub,Consortium PartnersBibliothèques Sans Frontières (BSF) - France – Coordinator of the project & Lead of WP1 & WP4ANVITA: National Association of Welcoming Cities and Territories – Lead of WP2FRSI: Information Society Development Foundation (Poland) - Lead of WP4Kulturas Informacijas Sistemu Centrs (CIS): Culture and Information System Centres (Latvia)Asociatia Comunitatile Viitorului (ACV): Communities of the Future Association (Romania)Biblioteche Senza Frontiere (Italy) - Affiliated entity to BSFEBLIDA: European Bureau of Library Information and Documentation Associations – Lead of WP5ANVITA, FRSI, ACV, BSF Italy and in a reduced extend BSF are responsible for implementing WP2 & WP3 and WP4 in their respective countries.Targeted BeneficiariesDirect beneficiaries:50 Libraries and their staff (from 2 to around 15 librarians involved per city)50 cities and their local authorities (usually the people responsible for culture and integration)50 associations led by TCN or working in the field of integrationTCN participating in the WP3 process: About 500Additional libraries and associations to which the tool developed in the project will be shared.Indirect BeneficiariesTCN living in the cities where the integration strategies have been developed (currently being assessed) EvaluationExpectations and objectivesThe study consists in the final evaluation of the project and will help BSF and the implementing partners to:Evaluate the impact, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and relevance of the actionMeasure the value of EU-contractual specific objectives indicators.The Evaluation Will Bring a Specific Focus OnLibrarians & Libraries and any possible support or change bring to their programming and practice by the projectLocal authorities and any possible change and support bring to their mission of integration and strategies by the projectTCN and the impact the project had on them (perception of libraries, feeling of integration...)TCN led association & associations working in the integration field and if the project has supported them in their mission and strategy.Planned processAt this stage, the methodology envisaged for this evaluation is the following:Analysis of the existing data in the five countries of the projectQuantitative survey covering the five countries of the projectSemi-directed interviews with all partners and project teams involved in project implementationCase studies in 2-3 countries to collect qualitative data - France, Poland and RomaniaLanguage, interpretation and translation tasks should rely on BSF & partners’ support as little as possible.Local partners will support the evaluation team by providing contacts & insights.Expected deliverablesThe expected deliverables for this evaluation are the following (in English):A scoping report highlighting the evaluation methodologyData collection and analysis toolsRaw and cleaned collected data, with a data cleaning log (showing how, what and why data transformations occurred)Draft evaluation reportFinal evaluation reportPowerPoint presentation of the resultsOn BSF side, the evaluation will be coordinated by the LiBri European project coordinator, supported by BSF MEAL Manager. Regular follow-up points will be organized between the evaluation team and BSF team throughout the evaluation, especially after field missions.BudgetThe maximum budget for this evaluation is 30 000 euros (all tax included). Selection processExternal expertise soughtRequiredA consultant or a team of consultants (one of whom will be the mission leader) is sought for this evaluation. The skills required are as follows:Experience in conducting external evaluation for projects financed by the European Union or other international donorsExperience in the three countries where onsite data collection activities will be implemented (France, Poland and Romania) – experience in the other two countries targeted by the project is an asset (Italy and Latvia)Demonstrated expertise in working and/or conducting research on migration related issuesPrevious experience working and/or conducting research on issues related to access to culture and the context of librariesUnderstanding of result-based Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems and toolsExperience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, using participatorymethodsStrong analytical skillsAbility to respond to the comments and questions on time and in an appropriate mannerAbility to produce high quality work, including excellent English writing skills to deliverclear and concise reportFluent in English (French or any other language of the project is an asset).Preference will be given to a team of consultants that includes consultants from the countries where the project is being implemented.Eligibility criteriaParticipation in the procedure is equally open to the entities that respect the following eligibility criteria:The applicant must be a registered company: individual consultants will not be eligible to apply to this callThe applicant must be legally and physically able to conduct onsite activities (with staff operating on the field) in the 3 countries where onsite data collection activities will be conducted (France, Poland, and Romania)In order to respect the rules of the donors who finance BSF’s programs, the participants in the Call for expressions must clearly stipulate in their offer the nationality of their company.ProcessThis call for expressions of interest is intended to identify consultants. Following this call for expressions of interest, a pre-selection will be made, and then a restricted call for tenders will be issued to the pre-selected consultants, on the basis of the finalised terms of reference of the evaluation.Taking into account the working languages of Bibliothèques Sans Frontières and the project partners, the responses to this call of interest, restricted call for tenders and deliverables are expected to be in English.At this stage, the CV of the consultant proposed to be the mission leader as well as the CV of the associate consultant(s) are requested.Provisional timetableSTEP - DATECall for interestIssuance of the Call for interest - October 6, 2025Proposal submission deadline - October 26, 2025Evaluation of proposals - Between the 27th and 30th of October, 2025Selection of proposals - October 31, 2025Restricted call for tenders (provisional)Issuance of the call for tenders - November 3, 2025Proposal submission deadline - November 23, 2025Evaluation of proposals - Between the 24th and 27th of November, 2025Selection of proposals - November 28, 2025How to applyIf you wish to express your interest, please send your CV by e-mail before Sunday 26 october at midnight (Paris time) to the simultaneous attention of: Claire Helluin, LiBri project European Coordinator, claire.helluin@bibliosansfrontieres.org and Marie Le Prigent, LiBri project assistant, marie.le-prigent@bibliosansfrontieres.orgJob detailsSourceBibliothèques Sans FrontièresTypeConsultancyCareer categoryMonitoring and EvaluationYears of experience3-4 yearsThemeProtection and Human RightsShare Share this on Facebook Share this on X Post this on LinkedIn