UNDP Jobs - 55614- UNDP CO Outcome Evaluation on Programme Component

UNDP CO Outcome Evaluation on Programme Component 1: Poverty Reduction and Achievement of MDGs

Location :

Dushanbe, TAJIKISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days within May-July 2015

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 w/d

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 country programme for the period of 2010-2015 aims to achieve the objectives set out in the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2015 (NDS), in accordance with the UN Millennium Development Goals. Promotion of the national development policies and programmes are undertaken through a combination of policy support for the MDGs and capacity development support for service delivery, strategic planning, and resource mobilization. Building on its comparative advantages, programme strengths and lessons learned from previous interventions, UNDP focuses its interventions on the areas (components) of (1) Poverty Reduction and Achievement of MDGs, (2) Reducing burden of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, (3) Good Governance, (4) Crisis Prevention and Recovery, and (5) Environment and Sustainable Development. Particular attention is given to the scaling up of proven successful initiatives, utilizing best practices and lessons learned to inform policy reform, and promoting gender equality as a cross-cutting issue.

Programme Component 1: Poverty Reduction and Achievement of MDGs.

The overall desired outcome was to enhance poverty reduction and economic development programmes, with a particular focus on the rural poor, women and marginalized people (e.g. returning labour migrants). To reach this outcome, UNDP supported the Government in formulating and implementing sectoral strategies and policies in selected economic and social sectors to support achievement of MDGs and the implementation of the government’s NDS; facilitated development a more transparent business registration, regulatory and taxation framework that promotes businesses and public-private partnerships; provided low-income households, women and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to a broad range of financial, microcredit/financing, legal, income generation and business support services; and, lastly, strengthened national capacities to negotiate and efficiently coordinate development finance with international donors and to encourage trade and foreign direct investments.

As such during 2010-2014 years UNDP has supported the Government of RT in formulation of two midterm development strategies Poverty Reduction Strategy 2010-2012 and Living Standards Improvement Strategy of RT for 2013-2015 years to support the implementation of NDS. UNDP has introduced the development planning and implementation process at the local level as a localized instrument for implementation of priorities given in national level strategic documents.

Country background and context[1]

Despite of the worsening global and regional economic situation, in 2014 Tajikistan’s economy was growing stably (6,7% in 2014 ). The poverty rate reduced to 32% in 2014. Inflation has subsided but remains susceptible to higher global food and commodity prices, standing at 7,4% in 2014. According to MEDT, macroeconomic stabilization and reducing poverty happened due to increasing volume of labor migrants’ remittances (around $US 3.5 billion, 42% of GDP in 2014). The economic sanctions imposed on Russia affected the inflow of remittances and inflation in consumption market of Tajikistan.

The year 2014 for Tajikistan was significant in terms of strengthening the regional economic and political cooperation. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Dushanbe concluded to enhance the economic cooperation between the member states and create more favourable conditions for improving the transportation infrastructure. The International Economic and Investments Forum gathered the representatives from more than 30 countries and created opportunities to present Tajikistan as a favourable country for investment. In terms of investment, China declared to invest about 6 billion USD to Tajikistan during upcoming 5 years to implement the project in the areas of gas transportation, mining and roads.

UNDP has continues supporting to the Government of Tajikistan to implement the country strategic priorities and strengthening the M&E capacities of the national and local authorities for better implementation of strategies and programmes to reduce the poverty and improve the livelihoods of population. UNDP provided support to evaluate the outcomes of National Development Strategy implementation and formulation of vision for the new long term strategy 2016-2030, which will be formulated in 2015. UNDP facilitated the process of formulation of district development programmes to support the national level priorities implementation at local level. UNDP supported the initiative of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of RT on joining the efforts of public, private organizations and donor communities to harmonize the legislation according to WTO requirements and create more favourable conditions for business development and integration of Tajikistan into the world economy.

Although Tajikistan’s HDI remains lowest in the region, the country continues demonstrating sustainable HDI growth rate (133rd out of 187 countries). Tajikistan’s HDI is gradually increasing (0.607 in 2013 vs. 0,507 in 2012), mostly due to increasing income per capita.

Institutional set up and UNDP response

Communities Programme

Globally, UNDP advocates for nationally-owned solutions to reduce poverty and promote human development. UNDP sponsors innovative pilot projects, connect countries to global good practices and resources, promote the role of women in development, and bring governments, civil society and outside funders together to coordinate their efforts.

In Tajikistan, UNDP contributes to poverty reduction both by working on the central policy level and by supporting local level development. On the policy level, UNDP and its sister UN agencies have been active in supporting the government of Tajikistan to align its development planning with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). At the local level UNDP supports implementation of national development priorities which is mainly carried out by the Communities Programme

UNDP’s Communities Programme (CP) is aimed at the sustainable development of the most marginalized communities throughout the country. CP is a multi-year initiative launched in 2003 and built on the previous achievements of UNDP since 1996. UNDP CP supports localization and operationalization of the MDGs and the implementation of the NDS for the period 2007-2015, Living Standards Improvement Strategy of Tajikistan for 2013-2015. The mission of UNDP CP is to support improving the living standards of the Government of Tajikistan through improving local governance and creating conditions for sustainable local economic development. CP’s operations on ground are implemented through five Area Offices (AO) located in Sughd and Khatlon regions, as well as in the Rasht and Zerafshan valleys. To date, UNDP CPs operations have covered 2/3 of the country’s territory and 4 out of 10 people living in the country.

The programme is currently in its third phase which will continue until end of 2015. The timeframe was aligned with the strategic frameworks of UNDP and the Government of Tajikistan. This includes UNDP’s Country Programme Action Plan (2010 – 2015) and the NDS. The CP directly contributes to the following outcomes of the Country Programme Document:

Poverty reduction - Poverty reduction and economic development programmes are enhanced, with particular focus on the rural poor, women and marginalized people;
Good governance - National and local levels of government have the capacity to implement democratic governance practices, and effectively and strategically plan, finance and implement development initiatives in an inclusive and participatory manner.

Owing to its strong network of local, national, and international partners, CP goes beyond its focus areas – reduced poverty and improved local governance – and substantially contributes to other areas addressing development challenges related to health, crises prevention and recovery, as well as energy and environment.

Indirectly, through ‘Delivering as One UNDP’ approach, the CP also supports other vertical programmes of UNDP to deliver their activities at local level such as Energy and Environment, Crises prevention and recovery, Health components programmes.

The expected outputs of the Communities Programme are:

Sub-national governments capacities to plan, budget and implement development and to provide public services are strengthened (especially benefiting poor and women);
Capacities of private sector and civil society to develop, participate in decision-making, partner with government, exercise influence and hold governments accountable are enhanced;
Policies, reforms, framework regulations in the areas of poverty reduction, local governance, aid coordination and CP focus areas (rural economic development, environment and energy, crises prevention/mitigation and health) are improved.

UNDP CP applies an integrated approach to local development. This is achieved by enhancing both supply and demand sides of governance. On supply side, has consistently engaged with the local, sub-nation and national governments in order to improve governance accountability, accessibility and representation, and to bring about positive changes in poverty alleviation across the country. On the demand side, UNDP CP builds the capacity of the civil society and private sector representatives and thereby ensures their active engagement in local planning and decision making processes. At the same time, CP provides tools such as methodology on district development planning and creates platforms such as participatory District Planning Process that brings together the supply and demands sides around their needs. To date, with the support of UNDP CP, 41 out of 67 districts and towns of the country have been covered with the planning process.

[1] Data is given as of end 2014.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the evaluation

UNDP Tajikistan CPAP Outcome 1. Poverty reduction and economic development conditions re improved, with particular focus on the rural poor, women and marginalized people, represent one of the largest portion of resources spent by UNDP in the country.

The outcome evaluation will not only assess progress towards or achievement of the outcome but will also make recommendations on the realignment of programme design and response arrangements to be adopted both for the immediate, short term and long term. The findings and recommendations of the outcome evaluation will be used to identify UNDP involvement in the Sustainable and inclusive economic development area in Tajikistan within the corporate planning frameworks and documents for the new programming period 2016-2020 such as new United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and Country Programme Document (CPD) which will ensure achievement of the expected development outcome (s).

Scope of the evaluation

The scope of the evaluation is expected to include lessons learned, findings and recommendations in the following areas:

Identify whether the outcome results as stated in the CPAP are achieved or what is the progress made towards its achievement. The outcome should be assessed within the context of the overall national policies and strategies response as well as in the context of UNDP mandate in the field of poverty reduction and economic development.
Identify contribution of key UNDP outputs to achievement of the outcome results.
Review the contribution of the UNDP outputs towards attainment of targets set in the Millennium Development Goals, UNDAF and CPD/CPAP and national strategic goals according to NDS/PRS/LSIS and sectoral national programmes and action plans on poverty reduction and economic development.

Analyze the underlying factors within and beyond UNDP’s control that affect the outcome (including analysis of the UNDP strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats affecting the achievement of the outcome).
Identify whether UNDP’s inputs and other interventions can be credibly linked to the achievement of the outcome, including the key outputs from programmes, projects and soft (i.e policy advice and dialogue, advocacy and brokerage/coordination services) and hard assistance that contributed to the outcome.
Review whether UNDP’s partnership strategy was appropriate and effective including the range and quality of partnerships and collaboration developed with government, civil society, donors, the private sector and how it has contributed to improved programme delivery. Analyze the degree of stakeholder and partner involvement in the various processes related to the outcome.
Analyse the overall status and effectiveness of UNDP’s collaboration with other organisations of the United Nations system within the framework of the UNDAF Thematic Group on Poverty Reduction and Governance.
Review the extent of mainstreaming and addressing of gender, environmental and human rights issues in UNDP programming and how it has contributed to the achievement of the outcome.

The evaluation should be based on the following criteria: Relevance: Effectiveness: Efficiency: Sustainability: Impact:

Products expected from the evaluation

Inception report with finalized and agreed terms of reference, evaluation matrix, questionnaires and agreed methodology of evaluation (one week after beginning of assignment/contract)
A comprehensive evaluation report with findings, recommendations, lessons learned, rating on performance of both the outcome and outputs.

It is expected that draft report will be submitted to UNDP CO in two working weeks after in-country mission, and the final report with all comments and recommendations incorporated submitted to UNDP CO for final endorsement not later that in two working weeks after receipt of UNDP formal feedback with comments to a draft.

Competencies

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.

Functional Competencies:

Management and Leadership

Possesses in-depth knowledge in poverty reduction (economic development) and governance areas;
Knowledge and experience with programming development, monitoring and evaluation;
High level of awareness and understanding of social, cultural, economic and political situation in Central Asia;
Proven ability to lead and manage “smart” business solutions in challenging environments;
Builds strong client relationships, focuses on impact and results for the client;
Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs, gain support, and is proactive in developing solutions;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;
Demonstrates openness to change, flexibility, and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to work under pressure and with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams and possess excellent inter-personal skills;
Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication and analytical skills;
Remains calm, in control, and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
Ability to establish priorities for self and others, and to work independently.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Proven problem-solving skills creative thinking to develop and implement smart business solutions in a challenging waste management sector/environment and chemicals area;
Proven ability to develop high level policy briefs, strategies, including experience in conducting cost effectiveness analysis.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in social sciences, management and other related areas.

Experience:

The consultants should have not less than 10 years of professional development experience and be competent and experienced in some of the following areas:

University degree in social sciences, management and other related areas;
More than 10 years of technical background in poverty reduction, economic development, good governance, public administration, local development issues, pro-poor economic development, private sector in development;
Experience and expertise in project design, management, implementation and monitoring and evaluation;
Proven experience in evaluating and programmes/projects;

Experience with development management /organizational capacity building programming

Expertise in policy analysis
Experience in development aid and technical cooperation would be an added advantage.
Knowledge of UNDP procedures and programme implementation strategies will be additional asset.
Good report writing skills and advanced computer literacy
Ability to make recommendations focused on results and impact, with a strong understanding of value for money concepts
Knowledge of CIS context, preferably Central Asia region (desirable).

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English with proven writing skills;
Knowledge of Russian language would be an asset.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:

www.undp.tj/files/IC_PN_for_Outcome1_Evaluation_international.doc.