UNDP Jobs - 55267- Evaluation Team Leader for Terminal Evaluation of

Evaluation Team Leader for Terminal Evaluation of the UNDP/GEF Project “Sustaining Agricultural Biodiversity in the Face of Climate Change in Tajikistan”

Location :

Dushanbe, TAJIKISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2015

Application Deadline :

14-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 month

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 working days (during May-June 2015)

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

The UNDP/GEF’s project of “Sustaining agricultural diversity in Tajikistan in the face of climate change” is a five-year nationally implemented project. The implementing partner is the National Biodiversity and Biosafety Center under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. The aim of this project is to test and demonstrate the replicable ways in which rural farmers and communities can benefit from agro-biodiversity conservation in ways that also build their capacities toward adapting to climate change. The project, implemented in partnership with the National Biodiversity and Biosafety Centre, the UNDP Communities Programme and the GEF Small Grants Programme, features three inter-linked complementary processes. The first of these focuses on strengthening existing policy and regulatory frameworks in support of agro-biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change, emphasizing the local level implementation. The second focuses on developing community, institutional, and system capacities to enable farmers and agencies to better adapt to climate risks through the conservation and use of agro-biodiversity. The third focuses on the development of agro-enterprises that support the conservation and production of agro-biodiversity friendly products, with a view to providing farmers and communities with alternative sources of income to offset the negative impacts and shocks related to climate change.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP in Tajikistan is seeking for an International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader to undertake the Terminal Evaluation of the UNDP/GEF project “Sustaining agricultural biodiversity in the face of climate change in Tajikistan” in accordance with the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.

The objectives of the terminal evaluation are - to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming.

The Terminal Evaluation will assess the extent to which the project was successfully mainstreamed with other UNDP priorities, including poverty alleviation, improved governance, prevention and recovery from natural disasters, and gender.

An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework (see Annex 3), which provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification.

The evaluation will assess the aspects as listed in evaluation report outline attached in Annex 4.

The Report will include a table of planned vs. actual project financial disbursements, and planned co-financing vs. actual co-financing in this project, according the table attached in Annex 5.

The Report will be supplemented by Rating Tables, attached in Annex 6 of Terms of Reference.

The scope of work

The International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader will be responsible to assess the extent to which the project is achieving impacts or progressing towards the achievement of impacts. Specifically, International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader is expected to undertake the following tasks and produce following deliverables:

Desk review of documents, development of Inception Report, consisting of draft methodology, detailed work plan and Terminal Evaluation (TE) outline (No later than 2 weeks before the evaluation mission);
Debriefing with UNDP CO, agreement on the methodology, scope and outline of the TE report (1 day);
Interviews with project implementing partner, relevant Government, NGO and donor representatives and UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor (maximum 3 days);
Field visit to the pilot project site and interviews (2-4 days);
Debriefing with UNDP (1 day);
Development and submission of the first TE report draft (Within 3 weeks of the evaluation mission). The draft will be shared with the UNDP CO, UNDP/GEF (UNDP/GEF IRH) and key project stakeholders for review and commenting;
Finalization and submission of the final TE report through incorporating suggestions received on the draft report (within 1 week);
Based on the results of the evaluation, development of at least 4 knowledge products, in line with UNDP’s format of success stories / lessons learnt (4 days).
Supervision of the work of the national consultant (during entire evaluation period).

The International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader is expected to frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in the UNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-supported, GEF-financed Projects. A set of questions covering each of these criteria have been drafted and are included with Terms of Reference (Annex 8 ). The International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader is expected to amend, complete and submit this matrix as part of an evaluation inception report, and shall include it as an annex to the final report.

In cooperation with National Consultant, International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, project budget revisions, midterm review, progress reports, GEF focal area tracking tools, project files, national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment. A list of documents that the project team will provide to the evaluator for review is included in Annex 7 of Terms of Reference.

The International Consultant / Evaluation Team Leader is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with government counterparts, in particular the GEF Operational Focal Point, UNDP Country Office, Project Team, UNDP GEF Technical Adviser based in the region and key stakeholders:

National Biodiversity and Biosafety Center of the Republic of Tajikistan;
Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CEP) and its subsidiary bodies;
Ministry of Agriculture;
National Center for Genetic Resources;
Agency on Hydrometeorology;
Agency on Land Management, Geodesy and Cartography;
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan;
Institute of Botany;
Local government authorities at jamoat (sub-district,) district and regional levels;
Jamoat Resource Centers;
Micro Finance Institutions;
Local farmers;
Non-governmental organizations;
UNDP Country Office;
UNDP/GEF Istanbul Regional Hub;
The GEF Secretariat, who is not involved in project implementation, but to whom the Evaluation Report to be prepared under Terms of Reference will be submitted.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Thorough knowledge of GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy;
Recognized expertise in the biodiversity conservation and excellent understanding of climate change issues;
Familiarity with biodiversity policies in CIS would be an asset;
Conceptual thinking and analytical skills;
An independent, reliable, responsible self-motivator able to work under time pressure;
Excellent communication, team-building and diplomatic skills to develop partnerships.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standard;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Postgraduate or other advanced university degree in the fields of Biodiversity Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Economics or other related areas.

Years of experience:

At least 7 years of demonstrated working experience in providing management or consultancy services to biodiversity conservation projects, preferably with components on climate change;
Professional experience in monitoring and evaluating of GEF-financed projects for UN or other international development agencies (at least in one project);

Languages:

Fluency in English is a must;
Fluency in Russian will be considered an asset.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:

http://www.undp.tj/procurement/panel/uploads/IC_Agro_TE_International_LAST_FINAL.DOC.