UNDP Jobs - 32610- Evaluation Team Leader

Evaluation Team Leader

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2012

Application Deadline :

23-Sep-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Partners for Prevention (P4P) is a UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, and UNV regional programme for Asia and the Pacific that began in late 2008. P4P is undertaking a coordinated approach that combines evidence, capacity development and communications for a more comprehensive response to gender-based violence. For more information, please see: http://www.partners4prevention.org/.

A project evaluation will be conducted to assess the performance and achievements of Partners for Prevention: Working to Prevent Gender-based Violence in achieving its stated outputs on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention over the period from August 2008 to October 2012. The project evaluation will assess P4P progress made towards output achievements and directly inform the development of the planned next phase of the programme (2014-2018).

Specifically, P4P’s performance related to the following three original project outputs are to be evaluated:

Output 1: Public awareness campaigns mobilising boys and men for GBV prevention implemented at the regional, national, and local levels
Output 2: Selected government, civil society and UN advocates in the region are equipped with enhanced capacities to implement initiatives working with boys and men for GBV prevention
Output 3: Government, civil society and UN advocates gain access to regional knowledge resources and evidence-based policy tools on working with boys and men for gender-based violence prevention

After a midterm review, these outputs were simplified in 2011 as follows:

Output 1: Partners are equipped to design and implement evidence-based GBV prevention campaigns
Output 2: Selected government, civil society and UN advocates in the region are equipped with enhanced capacities to implement initiatives for GBV prevention
Output 3: Government, civil society and UN advocates gain access to regional knowledge resources and evidence-based policy tools for gender-based violence prevention

Objectives of the Assignment:

Purpose:

This project evaluation is commissioned at the time of the project’s preparation to transit to the next phase. The current phase of the project, which started in 2008, will come to an end in 2013, which includes a two-year project extension. The project is currently in the process of assessing and formulating the next phase, which will be from 2014 to 2018. The evaluation is commissioned at the recommendation of the project’s Steering Committee, and it is expected that the evaluation findings are based on an assessment of the results achieved so far, the challenges and opportunities encountered, the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme approach and strategies applied and the partnerships developed, including adjustments made during the implementation of the programme regarding the original outputs and outcome. Based on these findings, forward-looking and actionable recommendations will be provided that will inform P4P’s strategic priorities in the next phase for promoting effective gender-based violence prevention in the Asia-Pacific region.

The evaluation report and findings will be used by the project team and will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders including partner agencies, donors, CSO and academic partners.

Objectives:

In order for the evaluation findings to inform the next phase of the project, the overall objective of the evaluation is to assess the performance of P4P in achieving the three planned outputs using specific evaluation criteria with a forward-looking approach. Specifically, this evaluation will assist P4P in gaining a better understanding of the following aspects of its interventions:

Determine the extent to which the planned outputs have been or are being achieved and assess the potential contribution to the intended outcome including the use of case studies as a tool to explain results and the mechanisms by which outputs lead to the achievement of the specified outcome
Evaluate changes made in the programme direction (and reasons for this)
Determine to what extend the programme was complementary to/ or overlapping with to the ongoing UN agencies’ GBV programmes
Assess factors that facilitate and/or hinder the progress in achieving the outputs, both in terms of the external environment and those internal to the portfolio interventions including: weaknesses in design, management, human resource skills, and resources
Determine if and which programme processes e.g. strategic partnerships and linkages are critical in effectively achieving outputs
Determine the strategic value of regional joint interventions in achieving the intended outputs and outcomes; strengths and weaknesses of this implementation modality
Determine lessons learned from the implementation of the activities under each output, as also evidenced by case studies (see above).

Duties and Responsibilities

The evaluation is to be conducted in the months of October – December 2012, based on the following time frame (maximum 35 working days).

The Evaluation Team Leader will perform the following tasks:

Liaise with P4P staff to organize country missions and meetings or telephone calls with stakeholders
Develop and submit the Inception Report. Design the detailed evaluation scope and methodology (including the methods for data collection and analysis)
Review documents, implement interviews and surveys
Conduct an analysis of the project (as per the scope of the evaluation described above)
Present initial evaluation findings and collected feedback
Develop and submit the draft evaluation report
Incorporate suggestions received on draft report with a view to overall quality and timely submission of the evaluation report to P4P
Finalize and submit the evaluation report, including case studies and other final products.

Duty Station:

Home-based with travel to Bangkok and 2 country visits (to be determined which countries).

Deliverables/Outputs:

The Evaluation Team is expected to produce the following deliverables:

Evaluation Inception Report detailing the evaluator’s understanding of what is being evaluated and why, showing how each evaluation question will be answered (which methodologies will be used), in a proposed schedule of tasks (evaluation matrix/framework). A presentation of the inception report will be made to and discussed with an “Evaluation Management Team” to be established by P4P and consisting of representatives of all participating agencies and representatives of UNEDAP.
Draft Evaluation Report to be shared with P4P and relevant stakeholders for feedback and quality assurance.
Evaluation debriefing meeting with P4P and key stakeholders where main findings will be presented.
Final Evaluation Report
Evaluation Brief (a concise summary of the evaluation findings in plain language that can be widely circulated)
Recommendations to inform the development of the planned next phase of the programme (2014-2018), specifically regarding enhanced outputs, partnership & sustainability strategies, and how to improve the M&E framework.

The final report is expected to cover findings with recommendations, lessons learned, and rating on performance. The report will include the following contents:

Executive summary
Table of Content
List of Acronyms
Introduction
Description of the evaluation methodology, including data collection methods, sampling, ethics (UNEG), gender aspects, respondent confidentiality, stakeholder participation in evaluation process, study limitation.
Findings

- An analysis of the situation with regard to the outcome, outputs and the partnership strategy

- Analysis of opportunities to provide guidance for the future programming

- Key findings including best practices and lessons learned

Conclusions
Recommendations to inform the development of the planned next phase of the programme (2014-2018), specifically regarding enhanced outputs, partnership & sustainability strategies, and how to improve the M&E framework
Annexes: ToR, field visits, people interviewed, documents reviewed, data collection instruments, etc.

Competencies

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Excellent inter-personal, teamwork, and communication skills
Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills
Work well under pressure
Ability to establish effective working relations in multi-cultural team environments
Strong verbal and written communication
Resourcefulness, initiative and mature judgment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree relevant disciplines (e.g. gender studies, social science, population studies, public health science, communication, etc.)

Experience:

At least fifteen years of experience in programme evaluation and proven accomplishments in undertaking evaluation for international organizations, preferably including the UN
At least fifteen years of solid working experience in the area gender, gender-based violence and/or related issues in the Asia-Pacific region, with preference on capacity development or communication and research & advocacy
Expertise with and experience in working with men and boys programmes (for gender equality) would be an advantage
Experience in conducting at least eight evaluations, including as a team leader, in the development field and with international organizations, preferably in the area of gender
Extensive knowledge of evaluation methods
Knowledge of the political, cultural, and economic contexts of the Asia-Pacific region

Language requirements:

Excellent written and spoken English and presentational capacities.

Please visit http://asia-pacific.undp.org/whatsnew/consultants.html to see full job description.