Background

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducts Independent Country Programme Evaluations (ICPEs), corporate thematic evaluations (global and regional level), and institutional evaluations. In addition, the IEO also supports the Administrator’s efforts to strengthen the methodology and conduct of decentralised evaluations, i.e., evaluations carried out by the programme units of UNDP. The evaluations capture and demonstrate UNDP contributions to development results and related factors, and are carried out within the overall provisions contained in the UNDP Evaluation Policy. 

To enhance the evaluation recommendation tracking system and to promote implementation actions, IEO is seeking a consultant to assess the quality of IEO evaluation recommendations over the past five years, and to what extent these recommendations have led to concrete actions and outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope

The consultant to be hired will  conduct an assessment of evaluation recommendations made in evaluations completed between 2012 and 2016,  their quality and the corresponding actions that UNDP has indicated will occur to implement them.   This will require the following tasks get carried out:

  • Develop a framework of analysis to assess 1) quality of the recommendations and 2) to what extent actions have been taken as a result and whether these actions have led / are leading to meaningful outcomes;
  • Collect data under the agreed framework, which may include telephone interviews with evaluation focal points in select programme units and country offices of UNDP;
  • Analyze the data obtained to derive findings on the quality of IEO recommendations and the implementation of actions against recommendations.  Note that the analysis should include a rating of recommendations against existing UNEG or other standards, and;
  • Develop a concise paper of approximately 20 pages plus annexes, which summarizes the analysis and findings, and includes suggestions for improving IEO recommendation quality, and UNDP action tracking and validation. 

All evaluations conducted by the UNDP IEO are publically available at: https://erc.undp.org/.  There are 62 evaluations under consideration in this assessment: 43 country level evaluations, and 19 thematic / global evaluations.  While the assessment will take into account this full cadre, the assessment of actions taken in response to IEO recommendations will necessarily include a smaller yet statistically significant sample.

Timeframe

The duration of this consultancy is 20 days between 1 November and 31 December 2017.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling UN values and ethical standards; and
  • Acts as a team player and exercises diplomacy, tact and politeness.

Functional Competencies  

  • Strong analytical skills, including ability to rapidly analyse and integrate diverse information from varied sources; and
  • Shares knowledge and experience.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle a large volume of work; and
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A social or behavioral science education at the master’s level and above.

Experience:

  • Over 10 years of international development experience;
  • Extensive experience evaluating international development programming  or similarly complex public sector work;
  • Strong background in both quantitative and qualitative methods for evaluation; and
  • Familiarity with UNDP programmes and structures desirable.

Language:

  • Fluency in English required.

Application Instructions

The following documents should be uploaded as one document onto the UNDP Jobs site:

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system allows a maximum upload of one document.