UNDP Jobs - 65995- Consultancy Services for Mid-Term Review for Stren

Consultancy Services for Mid-Term Review for Strengthening the Multi-Sectoral Management of Critical Landscapes Project (SMSMCL)

Location :

Apia, SAMOA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

31-May-2016

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

25 working 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

This is the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Global Environment Fund (GEF) Midterm Review (MTR) of the Full-sized project titled Strengthening the Multi-Sectoral Management of Critical Landscapes (SMSMCL) (PIMS4536), implemented through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) in Samoa, which is to be undertaken in 2016.

The project started on the 31st October 2013 and is in its third year of implementation. In line with the UNDP-GEF Guidance on MTRs, this MTR process was initiated before the submission of the second Project Implementation Report (PIR). This ToR sets out the expectations for this MTR. The MTR process must follow the guidance outlined in the document Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects.

The project was designed to strengthen local capacities, incentives and actions for integrated landscape management in order to reduce land degradation and greenhouse emissions and promote nature conservation whilst enhancing sustainable livelihood. This project is the first upscaling initiative by the Government of Samoa to ensure land degradation issues across all level of society are well addressed through the integration of sustainable landscape management into planning framework and actions across multi-sectoral arrangements in order to achieve the Government of Samoa’s long-term goal:

“Samoa’s productive landscapes are protected and sustainably managed to mitigate land degradation and to increase soil carbon sequestration so as to contribute to poverty alleviation and mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts, as well as to contribute to global environmental benefits by overcoming barriers to integrated sustainable land management.”

The primary objective of this project is to strengthen local capacities, incentives and actions for integrated landscape management in order to reduce land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions and promote nature conservation whilst enhancing sustainable local livelihoods.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the consultancy is to undertake the MTR of SMSMCL.

The MTR will assess progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the Project Document, and assess early signs of project success or failure with the goal of identifying the necessary changes to be made in order to set the project on-track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also review the project’s strategy, its risks to sustainability.

The MTR will seek to review achievements made during the period 31st October 2013 to 31st May 2016.

The objectives of the 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 and provide recommendations on options in addressing issues/challenges and a way forward to ensure the achievement of project outputs and ultimately the outcomes of the project.

The Evaluation will also collate and analyze specific lessons and best practices pertaining to the strategies employed, and implementation arrangements, which may be of relevance to other projects in the country and elsewhere in the world. 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 MTR 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.

Please download a copy of the Terms of Reference for more details : http://procurement-notices.undp.org.

Competencies

Corporate

Demonstrates integrity by complying with the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional

The independent consultant should possess proven and strong analytical and communication skills, including the ability to produce high quality reports.

Project & Resource Management

The independent consultant should have strong organizational skills;
The independent consultant should be able to work independently and collectively to produce individual high quality inputs and collectively high quality and TOR-compliant outputs;
The independent consultant should possess sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Teamwork

Demonstrated ability of the consultant to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Post-graduate degree in environmental science or natural resource management, sustainable land management, or other closely related field.

Experience:

Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in Natural Resource Management / Sustainable Land Management;
Minimum of 5 years experience with evaluations, results-based monitoring, and/or evaluation methodologies;
Experience working with the GEF/GEF-LDCF programs and in the targeted focal areas: Natural Resource Management / Sustainable Land Management;
Experience working in the Pacific region.

Language:

Fluency in English (oral and written) is a requirement.

Note:

Please visit the procurement website to download copy of the TOR and relevant templates to assist with your proposal: http://procurement-notices.undp.org.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document or send all documents to procurement.ws@undp.org.