Species on the Edge is looking for an independent external evaluator to collaborate with us in our final year (2026 – 2027).
Over the past three years, NatureScot and seven nature conservation charities have been working together to support communities across Scotland’s coasts and islands to help them take action for and secure a future for some of Scotland’s rarest and most vulnerable species. We’re looking for an experienced evaluator to help us evaluate the impact of our programme, working within the parameters of our existing evaluation framework.
The successful applicant will lead and deliver on the evaluation of our efforts to create sectoral change; to provide a blueprint for and inspire a new way of working within the conservation sector. The evaluation should be presented via two thematic reviews and one high-level final report assessing the impact and effectiveness of our programme to inform future service development.
We’re looking for someone that can provide demonstrable experience in strategic evaluation in conservation and/or community engagement.
Application deadline: Midnight 8th February 2026
Contract value: £30,000 (ex VAT)
Timeframe for delivery: March/April 2026 – end of Feb 2027
For further information and to find the statement of requirements please visit the UK Evaluation Society website or email sarah.duly@nature.scot.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the extent of face-face or onsite input required, and are there any key events that would need in-person attendance?
A: We anticipate the majority of the work can be done remotely online and therefore are open to tenders outside of Scotland. We would like our chosen evaluator to join us for our final conference which will be in person in mainland Scotland to consolidate learning and speak to our team ahead of the final report. Please build the cost of that into your costings.
Q: Is this tender open to self-employed sole tenders?
A: We are absolutely open to working with independent professionals. For this project we are looking for specific expertise and a high standard of work over the size of the organisation. If you feel your skills and capacity align with the project requirements, we would welcome your application. Please also state in your application what your contingency plans would be for delivery of the work in the event of illness or other unforeseen circumstances that may arise during the contract.
Q: Has the ongoing evaluation to date been undertaken internally, or by an external provider?
Our current evaluation framework is being led and undertaken internally with guidance from across the partnership and our National Lottery Heritage Fund RoSS consultants. The partners have identified the need for additional expertise to ensure a robust and useful final report and contribute objectively to our sectoral change aim. We’re looking for a specialist who brings their unique experience with the ability to apply those insights within our existing framework.
Q: The 5% scoring for Fair Work First appears to relate to larger employment structures, and as such would this be challenging for a sole trader to score highly in?
A: Applicants will not be penalised for policies that are not appropriate to their organisation. The Scottish Government’s Fair Work First Guidance can be found here. Applicants may also wish to use the Fair Work Employer Support Tool.
Q: Does NatureScot intend to apply for specific further Heritage Fund support on the back of the project in the future?
A: All our partners regularly work collaboratively for people and nature and we will continue to advocate for good practice across our sector and take these learnings into future bid development. The current partnership is not developing a specific bid at this time.
Q: Could you please confirm whether applications led by an independent evaluator, with a clearly defined specialist associate or subcontractor role, would be acceptable for this tender?
A: Yes, applications from a lead contractor, working with a specialist sub-contractor are welcomed. Within your application, please detail how this would work and where responsibilities would lie. Sub-contracting should be fully detailed in your costings and you will need to consider how the Fair Work First principles will apply. NatureScot’s Procurement Strategy can be found here.
Q: We saw in the Q&A that the evaluation has been led internally with support. Would you be able to share the current evaluation framework, or give us a sense of the general approach you’ve been taking? What data collection tools/methods are currently being used across the six thematic reviews?
A: Our current framework centres around six thematic reviews which will evaluate our impact across our outcomes. Evidence is gathered through quantifiable data drawn from target monitoring, people engagement tracking and species recovery data. The thematic reviews are supported by qualitative single and embedded case studies, participant surveys and interviews with staff and participants. The successful contractor will be given access to any source data as required.
Q: What does ‘strategic sectoral change’ look like for you in practice? Are there specific policies, practices, organisations or institutions you’re hoping to influence? What data and documentation already exists for Outcomes 7, 8 and 9?
A: We have key advocacy messages and a legacy plan which supports this work. This aim is continually being developed as we move towards the end of the programme and we’re looking for expertise on how to evaluate its effectiveness and impact.
Q: How have you found partners and others involved in the evaluation engage best so far, in terms of their availability and openness to engage in reflection processes?
A: Our programme is a partnership between NatureScot and seven conservation NGOs who are all committed to the success of the programme with full representation on the steering group and board, and willingness to engage and contribute to programme delivery and evaluation. Availability of delivery partners, e.g. community groups and participants to participate in evaluation activity, is dependent on their capacity and ways of engaging with them need to be tailored accordingly.
Q: Is there a theory of change or logic model that articulates how the multi-partner structure is expected to enable multi-taxa conservation? What mechanisms for knowledge exchange and resource sharing are built into the programme design?
A: Our delivery of multi-taxa conservation is based around an innovative cross-partnership model of resource and knowledge exchange, including training and multi-partner meetings and area delivery plans which are led by one partner but delivered collaboratively by several.
Q: We’d be keen to enable the conference to be a space for learning and dialogue as much as dissemination – and work closely to support you with this. Do you feel that there will be time to go beyond dissemination and explore what the learning from the evaluation means for the practice of those attending?
A: We are keen that our conference supports our advocacy messages and moves beyond celebration and dissemination. We would welcome working closely with you in developing that scope.
Q: With the exception of the two sectoral change thematic reviews, will the other reviews that you are doing be complete by the time the successful contractor is appointed? If not, when do you anticipate that they will be delivered?
A: The other thematic reviews are being delivered to a staggered timeline built around availability of data and other factors but are all due to be complete before the final conference and a few months prior to the final report. The timeline will be shared with the successful contractor at start-up to allow them to fully consider the timing of the thematic reviews in planning delivery of the contract.
Q: How much additional data collection (e.g. interviews) do you anticipate might be needed to cover gaps in the reviews?
We’re looking for the contractor’s evaluative experience to lead on the depth, questions, format, and quantity of those interviews for our sectoral change aim to obtain a considered review representative across our partnership and project areas.
Q: What do you see as the key challenges for external evaluators to overcome – if any?
A: We anticipate the main challenge will be coming into a 4-year programme during its final year and navigating a complex programme. We’re looking for someone that can work collaboratively and closely with us in an open manner.