UNDP Jobs - 64270- Consultant (Evaluation Specialist)

Consultant (Evaluation Specialist) - For Indian Nationals Only

Location :

Home Based, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

04-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Thirty two working days spread over three months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Thirty two working days spread over three 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

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is the main UN agency in the fight against illicit drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism in virtue of the UN Conventions and Universal Instruments in this regard. The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia is located in New Delhi (India) and covers six countries of the region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Its Regional Programme for South Asia” Promoting the rule of Law and countering drugs and crime in South Asia (2013-2015)” has five sub-programmes relating to (1) addressing transnational organized crime, (2) countering corruption, (3) terrorism prevention, (4) promoting efficient, fair and humane justice systems and (5) drug use prevention and treatment and HIV.

In keeping with its sub-programme (5), UNODC Regional Office for South Asia is supporting a regional project titled “Prevention of transmission of HIV among Drug Users in SAARC countries (RAS/H13)” that is being implemented in partnership with the governments of the member countries of the SAARC region.

The project focuses on creating an enabling environment and removing barriers to improved scale-up of HIV prevention and care programs for injecting drug users (IDUs) and oral opioid users through advocacy and demonstration. Its overall aim is to foster national responses which are conducive to the scale required to achieve 100% coverage of comprehensive HIV prevention and care services for injecting drug users.

The project is nearing its completion and as per its approved project document would like to carry out an end-of-project evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is to measure achievements of project objectives, outcomes and impact. The overall expectation of the evaluation is to draw lessons from project implementation that form the basis for instituting improvements to the existing and future project planning, design and management. It will also help UNODC and other stakeholders to take stock of the project, learn from its implementation process and results, and identify gaps. In this regard UNODC seeks to engage a consultant to conduct an end-of-project evaluation from the impact and evaluation perspective.

In line with the approved project document, the final Independent Project Evaluation of RAS/H13 will be undertaken between March-May 2016 with the following purposes:

    To review progress and get feedback and appraisal on the activities undertaken;
    To identify areas for improvement and propose solutions;
    To determine to which extent the project objective was met and whether resources were wisely utilized;
    To assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the project(s);
    To identify lessons learned and provide recommendations for future UNODC drug use and HIV prevention projects.

The results of the evaluation will be used internally by UNODC staff members, donors and other organizational units of UNODC, etc.

The overall evaluation process and field based activities in the SAARC region will be overseen and conducted in consultation with the Project Coordinator (RAS/H13), under the overall supervision of the Representative, UNODC, Regional Office for South Asia, and UNODC’s Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) in line with UNODC’s evaluation policy and UNEG Norms and Standards.

The Independent Evaluation Unit reviews and clears all deliverables of this independent evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Project Coordinator, the Independent Evaluation Unit, the Program Specialist will collaborate with the Sector Specialist on the Independent Project Evaluation of the UNODC project RAS/H13. On the basis of the Evaluation Terms of Reference (which will be shared with the selected candidates), key responsibilities of the Program Specialist include (i) developing the evaluation design with detailed methods, tools and techniques along with the Sector Specialist and finalizing the same (ii) Finalising the Inception Report (iii) Leading the evaluation from the program specialist point of view (iv) Implementing the tools developed for evaluation and data analysis (v) finalizing the evaluation report (vi) ensuring coherence of report writing (vii) ensuring adherence to the UNEG Norms and Standards, UNODC Evaluation Guidelines and Templates, and the evaluation ToR, and (viii) ensuring that all deliverables are submitted timely to the project and IEU in line with UNODC evaluation policy, handbook, guidelines and templates.

The evaluator (Evaluation Specialist) will have the overall responsibility for the quality and timely submission of all the deliverables (including those of the Substantive Expert), as specified below. All products should be well written, inclusive and have a clear analysis process:

Lead and coordinate the evaluation process and the oversee the tasks of the expert;
Undertake the desk review of all relevant project documentation and on this basis finalize the evaluation methodology and tools in coordination with the Substantive Expert, in compliance with the UNODC and UNEG evaluation norms and standards;
Produce an Inception Report based on the UNODC Evaluation guidelines, as well as a Questionnaire in coordination with the Substantive Expert;
Implement quantitative tools and analyse data; triangulate data and test rival explanations in coordination with the Substantive Expert;
Undertake mission to UNODC ROSA and field mission to the agreed upon project countries and provide appropriate briefings;
Provide timely coordinated inputs throughout the process to help to ensure that all aspects of the Terms of Reference are fulfilled;
Draft the evaluation report (with inputs from the expert), to be circulated for comments and factual validation to Project Management and IEU. Once the draft evaluation has been cleared by IEU, it is further sent to Core Learning Partners for their review and comments;
Consider comments received from IEU, as well as comments on factual errors received from Project Manager, Core Learning Partners;
Finalize the final evaluation report on the basis of comments received, as well as a PowerPoint presentation on final evaluation findings and recommendations;
Present the final evaluation report and its evaluation findings and recommendations.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Extensive knowledge of, and experience in applying, qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods and experience in gender sensitive evaluation methodologies and analysis, and understanding of human rights and ethical issues related to evaluation;
Excellent technical writing skills;
Strong coordination and relationship management skills.

Corporate Competencies:

Promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity;
Support creativity and innovation;
Help create an enabling environment for open communication;
Share knowledge and support a culture of learning;
Demonstrate fairness and transparency.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in international development, health, law, public administration, public health, social science, or in a related field, and formal training/education on evaluation methodologies and principles.

Experience:

A minimum of 5-7 years of professional technical experience in the field of evaluation, including a track record of conducting various types of evaluation, preferably with experience in conducting one of several contributions to the accomplishment of evaluations for the United Nations, involving high complexity and impact is desired;
Experience in the subject of evaluation preferably in a development/health-related field (HIV/AIDS prevention), law enforcement, research, criminal justice, countering illicit trafficking and organized crime, drug trafficking, anti-corruption, justice and health areas or other related areas;
Working experience in the region specific to the project;
Expertise and knowledge of the UN System, and preferably of UNODC;
Excellent communication and evaluation report drafting skills in English.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English is required;
Ability to communicate in another UN language is a strong asset.

Payment Terms

The consultant will be issued a lump-sum consultancy contract (including consultancy fee, travel, boarding & lodging and miscellaneous costs). The payment will be done in accordance with rules and regulations on completion of deliverables as per the details given below:

1st instalment of 25% of the consultancy fee upon clearance of the Inception Report by IEU in UNODC Hqrs (in line with UNODC evaluation guidelines, templates, handbook, norms and standards);
2nd instalment of 25% of the consultancy fee upon clearance of the Inception Report by IEU in UNODC Hqrs (in line with UNODC evaluation guidelines, templates, handbook, norms and standards);
3rd instalment of 50% of the consultancy fee after completion of the respective tasks, receipt of the final report (in line with UNODC evaluation guidelines, templates, handbook, norms and standards) and clearance by IEU, as well as presentation of final evaluation findings and recommendations, if needed.

Travel:

70% before the start of the missions, on submission of the travel plan along with the Inception report;
30% on completion of the travels and submission of the draft evaluation report.

Documents to be submitted:

Financial Proposal specifying all-inclusive per day consultancy fee. All travel expenses will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules or arrangements would be done by UNDP;
Detailed CV with contact details of three references;
A brief (not more than 3 pages) technical proposal that includes a write up on the way forward for preparing this Project Document focusing on sustainable livelihoods, community resilience and conservation of globally significant biodiversity in the high range Indian Himalayas. The documents should be referenced appropriately and a select bibliography provided with the proposal.

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive;
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Evaluation Criteria:

Technical Proposal: 35 Marks;
Relevant Experience:25 Marks;
Qualification:10 Marks.

Notes:

Tickets will be issued considering the most direct and economical option and Consultants are not eligible for DSA;
Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;
Payment for travel will be done based actual number of days travelled.
Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion and/or submission of outputs/deliverables and cleared by IEU.