UNDP Jobs - 65851- Terminal Evaluation for the Sustainable Land Manag

Terminal Evaluation for the Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

Location :

Asmara, ERITREA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-May-2016

Application Deadline :

02-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

25 Days

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

Background information and project summary:

Natural resources are central to the livelihoods of the Eritrean population with over 80% of the rural population being engaged in agricultural and natural resource related activities. In the Central Highland Ecological Zone, this dependence is particularly critical since approximately 65% of Eritrea’s total population lives there. However, severe land degradation which is arguably the most critical environmental problem facing the country has negatively affected agricultural production leading to increased vulnerability of local communities.

Although land degradation is prevalent throughout the country, it is particularly manifested in the central and northern highlands, with a degraded area covering 2.4 million hectares, constituting 19% of the total area of the country. This zone loses between 2 and 25 tons of soil per ha annually. The main direct causes of land degradation identified in Eritrea are: deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, overgrazing, insecure land tenure systems which act as a disincentive to investing in sustainable practices, poorly coordinated land use planning and limited application of knowledge and technologies by farmers to enhance productivity. Additionally, capacity, knowledge and policy barriers have hindered application of sustainable land management in the country.

To address these challenges, the Government of the State of Eritrea in collaboration with UNDP, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Norwegian Embassy developed the project Sustainable Land Management (SLM) which has been implemented from 2009 to December 2015. The project goal was to have “Better managed land that provides the basis for ecosystems services and for meeting national development needs”. This was to be achieved through provision of an enabling environment for sustainable land management (policy, capacity, knowledge, alternatives) necessary for adoption of SLM practices and alleviation of environmental degradation while improving livelihoods of the farming communities of the central highland zone. The design of the project was also in line with the objectives of the GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM in Sub-Saharan Africa (SIP) and UNDAF. The project had four outcomes as summarized below:

Outcome 1: Replicable models of SLM are developed and representative communities use them to manage land in 28 villages of the central highland that are representative of the major agro-ecological zone for Central highlands, reducing the rate of land degradation. Outcome 1 was to be achieved through the following six outputs:

Sustainable models for improving agriculture, grazing lands and forested lands developed and piloted in 28 villages covering 140,000 ha and a suite of technologies made available.
System of incentives and penalties are developed and applied at multiple levels to further the adoption of SLM practice.
Regulations and standards for land redistribution of agricultural lands under the 1994 Land Proclamation are developed, approved and applied.
Community-based, village-level land use planning and land redistribution methodologies are developed and piloted in 28 villages.
Alternative income generating options piloted and linked to markets in 28 villages.
Feedback from pilot villages used to finalize the SLM model, LUP and land redistribution methodologies and an integrated extension package to facilitate replication – potentially over 2 million ha; SLM extension package successfully replicated in adjacent sub-zobas in Zoba Maekel.

Outcome 2: A system of knowledge management (KM) for SLM is developed and used to achieve SLM through mainstreaming of SLM principles into the regional and national development programs, projects, strategies, policies and legislation. Outcome 2 was to be achieved through the following 4 outputs:

Knowledge management (KM) network formed of institutions and projects concerned with SLM in the country.
Capacity for research on SLM supported.
SLM M&E established and linked to SLM country program and SIP.
SLM is mainstreamed into relevant programmes, policies and legislation, and is integrated throughout development planning and budgeting processes.

Outcome 3: Capacity for adoption of improved land management techniques and for upscaling to non-project areas provided at all levels: This outcome was to be achieved through the following 4 outputs:

Training programmes on SLM for different groups (farmers, land managers, technical officers) are available and training conducted (with a focus on pilot site).
Extension package updated with SLM best practice provided and other relevant materials developed through KCAS successfully delivered to key target groups and intended impacts on awareness and skills base achieved.
Service providers (example agricultural input suppliers, extension services, financial service providers) strengthened to provide effective and relevant SLM support to community level.
SLM actions are linked to adaptation and mitigation measures.

Outcome 4: Learning, evaluation, and adaptive management increased. Outcome 4 had the following 2 outputs:

Effective project management and implementation structures are established and function.
Project M&E system established, adaptive planning takes place and project performance on track.

The project was implemented through the National Execution (NEX) modality project with Central Region (Ministry of Agriculture) being the lead implementing partner. Other partners included: Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Central regional Administration Office, National Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Energy and Mines (Energy Research and Training Center), Toker Integrated Community Development (local NGO).

Objective and scope of the evaluation:

The overall objective of the Terminal Evaluation is to review the achievements made to deliver the specified objectives and outcomes of the Sustainable Land Management project. It will establish the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, performance and success of the project, including the sustainability of results. The evaluation will also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of project design, implementation, monitoring and adaptive management and sustainability of project outcomes, including the project exit strategy. The evaluation will also collate and analyze specific lessons and best practices pertaining to the strategies employed, and implementation arrangements, which may be utilized to inform future programming.

The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead and manage the evaluation mission;
Assume overall leadership and responsibility for the analysis, quality and timely submission of the final report to the UNDP Country Office;
Desk review of documents, development of draft methodology, detailed work plan and Evaluation matrix/outline;
Briefing with UNDP, agreement on the evaluation scope, methodology and approach, including the methods for data collection and analysis; and outline of the Evaluation report;
Prepare, finalize, and lead the presentation of the inception report;
Decide the work specification for members of the evaluation team; ensure efficient division of tasks between the mission members;
Interviews with project implementing partners, relevant government bodies, experts, beneficiaries and donor representatives;
Field visit to the project sites and conduct interviews with local stakeholders;
Elaboration of a summary key findings based on interviews and site visits performed;
Debriefing with UNDP and project implementing partners;
Conduct the evaluation in accordance with the proposed objective and scope of the evaluation and UNDP evaluation guidelines;
Development and submission of the first evaluation report draft. The draft will be shared with the UNDP CO, and key project stakeholders for review and commenting;
Present draft findings in the stakeholder workshop;
Finalization and submission of the final Evaluation report through incorporating suggestions received on the draft report;
Finalize the entire evaluation report and lessons learned report in English and submit it to UNDP CO Eritrea.

Competencies

Good analytical and strategic thinking skills;
Extensive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods;
Proven knowledge of evaluation methods;
Sound knowledge of results-based management systems, and monitoring and evaluation methodologies; including experience in applying SMART indicators;
Strong working knowledge of the UN and its mandate region, and more specifically the work of UNDP in support of Environment and Sustainable Development initiatives in the region;
Excellent inter-personal, communication, and teamwork skills;
Ability to meet tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum MSc. degree in natural resource, environment and sustainable development, environmental science or related fields.

Experience:

Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience;
Excellent technical knowledge of Sustainable Land Management;
Knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and policies;
Previous experience with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
Previous experience in conducting evaluation and programme reviews, especially in developing countries;
Proven experience in Results-Based Management (RBM) and good understanding of gender mainstreaming into programmes/projects;
Experience working with a wide range of institutions/organizations, including high-level government, UN agencies, and civil society;
Excellent knowledge and experience of development issues including the MDGs, poverty reduction, environment and sustainable development, gender equity, gender mainstreaming in development.

Language:

Excellent written and spoken English and presentational capacities.