Evaluation Consultant – APHEDA Women Workers Rights in Cambodia

Evaluation of Project

‘Women Workers and Decent Work in Cambodia’

Phase 2

Terms of Reference

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA was established in 1984 by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) as the Australian union movement’s overseas aid arm. Our purpose is for Australian unions to work globally in partnership for the achievement of dignity at work, social justice, economic equality and the realisation of human rights.

We work to achieve this through strong unions and social movements, sustainable development programs, global solidarity and support in times of crisis. We work through local partner organizations and unions in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and southern Africa.

History

Women workers in Cambodia, particularly in the construction, informal, and food/service sectors, face multiple challenges that limit their access to safe and secure employment. Most women are employed in the informal economy, where work is unregulated, low paid, and often unsafe. Jobs such as domestic work, street vending, waste collection, or small-scale restaurant work usually lack contracts, legal protections, or access to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Barriers such as lack of documentation or legal status further exclude women from social protection schemes. Occupational health and safety risks are widespread, especially in construction and entertainment sectors, where enforcement of labour standards is weak. Many women report exposure to unsafe environments, harassment, and intimidation. Gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) remain serious concerns, particularly where women have limited bargaining power or representation.

Despite making up a large share of the workforce, women remain underrepresented in union leadership, with men still occupying most decision-making positions. This reduces the visibility of women’s issues such as maternity leave, equal pay, GBVH, and OSH in collective bargaining agreements and policy discussions. These challenges are reinforced by restrictive gender norms, which assign women the overwhelming burden of unpaid care and household responsibilities, limiting their ability to pursue training, leadership, or better-paid work.

Together, these structural barriers leave women vulnerable to exploitation, restrict their livelihoods, and exclude them from the benefits of Cambodia’s economic growth. Addressing them requires integrated strategies that strengthen women’s representation in unions, improve workplace protections, and ensure women’s voices are included in labour policy and decision-making processes.

Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA has supported projects in Cambodia since 1985, working with a range of local partners in programs in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kampot, Battambang, Tboung Khmum, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vehear provinces aimed at improving livelihoods, rights and conditions of workers and their communities.

Since 2020, we have worked in partnership with three unions/worker’s associations  – Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Confederation (BWTUC), Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation (CFSWF), and Independent Democracy Informal Economy Association (IDEA), and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), to implement the Women Workers’ Rights and Decent Work Project. The project aims to increase women workers’ access to Decent Work in Cambodia through stronger representation in unions, transformation of gender relations within worker organisations, and improved engagement in labour-related policy dialogue. Building on achievements from Phase 1 (2020–2023) of the project, phase 2 (2023-2026) continues to contribute to gender equality, women’s leadership, and improved protection of women workers in the construction, informal economy, and food/service sectors.

Purpose of the evaluation

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA seeks to examine in-depth the second three-year phase of the project (1 July 2023 – 30 June 2026) and our ongoing strategic relationship with our partners BWTUC, CFSWF, IDEA and MoWA. Evaluation findings will inform the design of a potential third project phase.

The evaluation will cover the entire phase 2 project period, building on the findings of a 2023 evaluation. It will examine progress in improving outcomes for women workers in precarious and informal sectors, as identified by union partners, with a focus on expanding their access to Decent Work through stronger representation within trade unions. Particular attention will be given to lessons learned, tangible outcomes, and progress toward organisational and structural changes aimed at transforming gender norms within unions and workers’ associations. The evaluation will assess how far these changes have strengthened unions’ capacity to identify and represent the needs of women workers. It will also review the extent to which the project has promoted dialogue on women’s workplace issues with decision-makers, including through MoWA.

The assessment will also consider environmental considerations and integration of cross-cutting priorities such as safeguarding.

Project staff and beneficiaries will actively participate in the process and contribute to shaping recommendations informed by the evaluation’s findings.

Overview of the project

This project is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) through its Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), Australian unions and Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA donations, and is a continuation of a longer-term program of work.

The project’s first three-year phase (January 2020 – June 2023) sought to advance equality for women workers in Cambodia by mobilising women workers, transforming gender relations within union structures, and challenging attitudes and values about women and work. Activities focused on strengthening gender equality within BWTUC, CFSWF, and IDEA and increasing women workers’ access to Decent Work in the sectors these organisations represent, through stronger union representation. The project also aimed to promote engagement with decision-makers through labour-related policy dialogue, encouraging policy reforms to improve women workers’ rights and protections.

The second phase (July 2023 – June 2026) builds on these achievements, guided by lessons and recommendations from an external evaluation completed in 2023. This phase continues to deepen organisational change within unions, expand opportunities for women’s leadership, and strengthen advocacy to advance women workers’ rights. Phase 1 demonstrated measurable progress in shifting gender dynamics within unions and increasing visibility of women’s workplace issues, laying a strong foundation for continued impact in Phase 2.

Objectives of the project

 Goal: Women in Cambodia will have increased access to Decent Work through stronger representation within and through the union movement related to gender equality.

 Outcome 1: Increase the capacity of unions to analyse and respond collaboratively to gender inequalities, through stronger unions and effective advocacy for women’s labour rights.

 Outcome 2: Improved livelihoods, health and wellbeing of women workers through increased awareness of and access to Decent Work.

 Outcome 3: Increased inclusion of women worker’s issues and needs within labour related policy dialogue.

Key strategies include:

• Strengthening unions’ internal structures, leadership, and policies to ensure gender equity.
• Developing and delivering gender-inclusive education and training programs for members and leaders.
• Supporting awareness campaigns and advocacy on priority issues including GBVH, OSH, and access to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
• Facilitating policy dialogue with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) and other stakeholders.

Evaluation questions

 1. Impact and effectiveness:

1. 1. To what extent did the project contribute to women in Cambodia having increased access to Decent Work through stronger representation within and through the union movement related to gender equality?
   2. To what extent did the project increase the capacity of unions to analyse and respond collaboratively to gender inequalities, through stronger unions and effective advocacy for women’s labour rights?
   3. To what extent did the project contribute to improved livelihoods, health and wellbeing of women workers through an increased awareness of and access to decent work?
   4. To what extent did the project contribute to Increased inclusion of women worker’s issues and needs within labour related policy dialogue?
   5. What were the enablers and barriers to achieving project outcomes?

2. Relevance: How well is this program suited to the current environment in Cambodia in relation to the following considerations:

1. 1. Union capacity and independence
   2. Political and legislative changes
   3. Global development context and changes
   4. Needs of workers

3. Efficiency:

1. 1. To what extent is the relationship between inputs and outputs timely, cost-effective and to expected standards?
   2. How could the project better utilise resources to improve outcomes?
   3. Are project approaches efficient ways to achieve the intended outcomes?
   4. Describe areas where the project may better utilize resources for greater outcomes or impact.

4. Cross-cutting issues: to what extent did the project consider and incorporate safeguarding mechanisms to protect participants (including where relevant children, people with a disability and the environment)?

5. Sustainability:

1. To what extent are outcomes achieved by the project sustainable? These include behaviour change, policy changes and systems changes.
2. What relationships could be built with the broader workers’ movement in Cambodia?
3. What other strengthening capacity outcomes have resulted from the partnership between Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and partners and what impact have these had?

Methodology

 Please send your proposed methodology in your application. Please outline how you would incorporate participatory approaches, ethical data collection and gender analysis.

Expected output

1. a final methodology and planning before the start of the field research
2. a draft evaluation report
3. a final report
4. a detailed acquittal (timesheet, receipts and summary expenses).

The final report should include the following chapters:

1. an executive summary (maximum 3 pages)
2. a critical description of methods used (and potential limitations) (maximum 2 pages)
3. findings of the study (maximum 20 pages)
4. lessons learned (maximum 5 pages)
5. recommendations (maximum 2 pages)

Selection criteria

 The consultant/s should ideally meet the following selection criteria:

1. Strong international development project evaluation experience
2. Substantive experience in women’s rights and/or worker’s rights organising programs in Cambodia or the region
3. Demonstrated experience with a range of evaluation methodologies, including participatory approaches
4. Ability to synthesize and communicate complex development project lessons, in English and in writing
5. In-depth understanding of worker’s rights in Cambodia.
6. Knowledge and understanding of DFAT/ANCP processes and requirements (desirable).

Budget

 Please submit a budget with your application.

Timeline

 Submission of offers
By 9am (AEST) 22 October 2025

Selection of consultant(s)
24 October 2025

Field research in Phnom Penh, including observation of a National Stakeholder Forum to be held in the first week of December (Exact dates TBC)
To be completed between November 2025–January 2026. Number of days to be mutually agreed based on proposed methodology and budget.

Submission of draft evaluation report
1 February 2026

Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA provides comments on draft report
13 February 2026

Submission of final report
1 March 2026

 Logistics

 Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA will facilitate the consultant(s) work in Cambodia, in particular with regards to introduction to partners and other key stakeholders.

Applications should include:

•  CV of evaluator(s)
• An evaluation plan to include (no more than 5 pages):
  • Proposed methodology, scope
  • Planning/timetable
  • Budget (clearly indicating number of days)
• A written example of prior evaluative work.

Contact

Holly Fingland [email protected]