UNDP Jobs - 57807- Outcome EvaluatHome-based with Trip to Kazakhstano

Outcome EvaluatHome-based with Trip to Kazakhstanor in the Practice Area of Environment and Climate Change

Location :

Home-based with Trip to Kazakhstan

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

17-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

06-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

According to the Evaluation Plan of UNDP Kazakhstan for 2010-2015, an outcome evaluation is to be conducted to assess the impact of UNDP’s development assistance in the Practice Area of Environment and Climate Change - outcome “The Government, industries and civil society take steps to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact through energy efficiency measures and climate change adaptation policies” (the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) and the Country Programme Document (CPD) for Kazakhstan for 2010-2015).

UNDP Outcome 3 is also an integral part of Environment Sustainability - one of three pillars under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in Kazakhstan for 2010-2015 with its outcome “By 2015, communities, national, and local authorities use more effective mechanisms and partnerships that promote environmental sustainability and enable them to prepare, respond and recover from natural and man disasters.” UNDP supports the Government of Kazakhstan in development and implementation of the comprehensive climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies that would enable the Government to move towards the Green Economy and utilize the potential of the Nurly Zhol Programme.

UNDP Country office Kazakhstan (further refereed as UNDP) would like to evaluate its performance during 2010-2015 against the expected results in outcome 3 and to receive an unbiased analysis of the effort – time ratio. These evaluation and analysis will help UNDP to draw the lessons learnt, and will be used to build up a more efficient strategy for next UNDAF 2016-2020.

In the past decade, Kazakhstan has been able to manage its oil-dependent economy prudently and is trying diversify its economic base. For this reason the Government of Kazakhstan has made a bold step to support economic development by introducing in 2015 a new economic stimulus package, Nurly Zhol. It represents a commitment to major investments in building new or modernizing the existing public infrastructure- regional and municipal roads, transport systems, housing, utilities- as well as developing small- and medium- businesses and creating jobs in non-oil sectors. This policy is one of the steps towards diversifying policy options for building greater societal and economic resilience.
Kazakhstan has already achieved many of its Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets, especially in the areas of poverty reduction and education. The main ‘unfinished business’ in the MDGs lies in Goal 7 - achieving environmental sustainability. Even though the country had embraced the ‘green economy’ and ‘sustainability’ vision, it requires support from the UNDP to practically implement the green aspects of its economic diversification policy.

The UNDP Country Office during the 2010-2015 country programme cycle has emerged as a ‘partner of choice’ in supporting the Government in many of its development priorities, and especially in energy efficiency and climate change portfolio. This is evident from the fact that the number of government costs-shared projects has been increasing steadily during the past five years. In 2015, the share of the government cost-sharing constituted over 50% of UNDP budget, compared to only 4% at the beginning of the CPD cycle in 2010.
Based on this experience, the Government supported UNDP in the launch of joint programmes in Kyzylorda and Mangystau regions. The three local development programmes have demonstrated UNDP’s ability to advise the Government, and support the implementation of the Nurly Zhol policy, as well as other national policies such as the national Energy Efficiency 2020 (2011-2020) and the National Programme on Development for Regions (2014-2020).

Based on evaluations of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) projects, implemented by UNDP during the 2010-2015 period, UNDP is recognized by national and local partners as being at the forefront of promoting energy efficient technologies and sustainable transport solutions, through demonstration projects in energy efficient housing, modern lighting, and ‘green’ public transport options.
Since Kazakhstan is at the cross-roads in its development path and is seeking balance between “brown” and “green” development, the UNDP is launching its Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Outcome Evaluation. An independent analysis will help the UNDP to utilize its available resources and capacities more effectively and efficiently in next 2016-2020 programme cycle.

Evaluation purpose

The overall objective of the outcome evaluation will be to assess how UNDP’s environment programme results contributed, together with the assistance of partners, to a change in development conditions. The purpose of the proposed evaluation is to measure UNDP’s contribution to the outcome outlined above with a view to fine-tune the current UNDP environment programme, providing the most optimal portfolio balance and structure for the the next programmatic cycle.

Detailed information is available in the TOR:

http://www.kz.undp.org/content/kazakhstan/en/home/operations/procurement/ic-contracts/outcome-evaluator-in-the-practice-area-of-environment-and-climat.html.

Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluaion scope

The evaluation will cover UNDP outcome 3 (Table 1.) under current CPAP period 2010-2015. This outcome evaluation will assess progress towards the outcome, the factors affecting the outcome, key UNDP contributions to outcomes and assess the partnership strategy. The evaluation will also assess the portfolio alignment and its relevance to the UNDAF 2010-2015.

Outcome status

Determine whether there has been progress made towards achieving the targets in Outcome 3 and identify the challenges to the attainment thereof. Identify innovative approaches and capacities developed through UNDP assistance. Assess the relevance of UNDP outputs to the Outcome.

Underlying factors

Analyze the underlying factors beyond UNDP’s control that influenced the Outcome. Distinguish the substantive design issues from the key implementation and/or management capacities and issues including the relevance and nature of outputs, degree of stakeholders’ and partners’ involvement in the completion of outputs, and implementation strategies employed by the projects and UNDP.

Strategic Positioning of UNDP: Examine the distinctive characteristics and features of UNDP’s environment programme and how it has shaped UNDP's relevance as a reliable partner. UNDP’s position will be analyzed in terms of communication, i.e. how UNDP articulates the need for its presence in the country, how UNDP meets partner needs by offering specific, tailored services to these partners, how UNDP mobilizes resources for the benefit of the partners. A specific attention should be given to the UNDP’s comparative advantages over other development organizations in Kazakhstan.

Partnership strategy

Ascertain whether UNDP’s partnership strategy has been appropriate and effective. Specific attention should be given to how new partnerships were formed, level of stakeholders’ participation and efficiency of the partnerships. Examine the partnership among the UN Agencies and other donor organizations in the relevant field. The Evaluation will also aim at validating the appropriateness and relevance of the Outcome to the country needs, hence enhancing development effectiveness and/or decision making on UNDP future role in environment.

Lessons learnt: Identify lessons learnt, best practices and related innovative ideas and approaches in relation to the management and implementation of activities. Lessons learnt is the critical aspect of the Outcome Evaluation as it will be use to design a better implementation strategy for the programmatic cycle.

The consultants will pay particular attention to the following:

Relevance:

Extent to which UNDP support is relevant to Kazakhstan’s low carbon development agenda and environmental priorities as articulated in the National Strategy of Kazakhstan 2030, Nurly Zhol Programme, sectoral development programs of relevant line ministries and the UNDAF;
Relevance of programme and project design in addressing the identified environmental priority needs in CPAP 2010-2015;
Extent of the progress towards the achievement of the targets in the Outcome; Extent of UNDP’s contribution to mainstreaming the Outcome’s targets in the national programmes.

Efficiency:

How much time, resources and effort it takes to manage the portfolio, what could be improved and how UNDP practices, policies, decisions, constraints and capabilities affect the performance of the Portfolio;
Roles, engagement and coordination among the stakeholders;
Synergies and leveraging with other programmes in Kazakhstan;
Extent of synergies among UNCT programming and implementation.

Effectiveness, results and sustainability:

Extent of UNDP’s effectiveness in producing results aligned with CPAP;
Extent of UNDP achievement in national partners’ capacity development, advocacy on environmental issues and climate change related policymaking;
Contributing factors and impediments and extent of the UNDP contribution to the achievement of the outcomes through related project outputs;
Extent of UNDP partnership with civil society and local communities to promote environmental awareness in Kazakhstan.

Sustainability:

Extent to which UNDP established mechanisms ensure sustainability of the policymaking interventions;Extent of the viability and effectiveness of partnership strategies in relation to the achievement of the outcomes;
Effective use of Environment portfolio to support appropriate central authorities, local communities and civil society in climate change related agenda in a long term perspective;
Possible areas of partnerships with other national institutions, NGOs, UN Agencies, private sector and development partners.

Based on the above analysis, provide recommendations on how UNDP should adjust its partnership arrangements, resource mobilization strategies, working methods and/or management structures to ensure that the Energy and Climate Change related portfolio fully achieves its outcomes in the next UNDAF 2016-2020 period.

Detailed information is avaliable in TOR

http://www.kz.undp.org/content/kazakhstan/en/home/operations/procurement/ic-contracts/outcome-evaluator-in-the-practice-area-of-environment-and-climat.html.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competenises:

Reports to the Programme Analyst/OIC of Energy and Environment Unit;
Provides timely and quality completion of terms of reference;
Ensures completion of all contract requirements.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum Master’s degree in environmental management, business administration, development economics, financial management
Knowledge of the Central Asian economy and development priorities;

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of professional experience relevant to the sustainable development, climate change, energy efficiency and carbon emissions;
Previous exposure to the international development organizations, in particular the UN;
Previous experience with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies.

Language:

Excellent English writing and communication skills, excellent Russian reading comprehension.

Important note:

For detaile information please refer to UNDP Kazakhstan web site: http://www.kz.undp.org/content/kazakhstan/en/home/operations/procurement/ic-contracts/outcome-evaluator-in-the-practice-area-of-environment-and-climat.html

All the application including:

Filed and signed P11;
Personal CV including past experience in relevant field/area;
Methodology;
Cover letter explaining why he/she consider himself/herself the most suitable candidate for the work;
Confirmation of interest and submission of financial proposal shall be sent to Aliya.akhmetova@undp.org

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