Historique

In 2014, the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is conducting a thematic evaluation of the contribution of UNDP to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). The primary objectives of the evaluation are to: (1) assess UNDP’s contributions to gender equality and women’s empowerment during the 2008-2013 period; (2) assess the extent to which the Gender Equality Strategy (GES) 2008-2013 was used and successfully functioned as guidance to UNDP programming in the implementation of the Strategic Plan; and (3) provide actionable recommendations with respect to the implementation of the UNDP’s new, approved Gender Equality Strategy (2014 – 2018).

The scope of the evaluation is aligned with the 2008-2013 Strategic Plan vision of mainstreaming gender throughout the four UNDP focus areas of poverty reduction, democratic governance, crisis prevention & recovery, and environment & energy at the global, regional and country levels. It covers two distinct but inter-linked results areas as framed in the GES namely, development results and institutional change, and assess the extent to which the GES functioned as “an integrating dimension of UNDP’s work in the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Please click the following link to view the Terms of Reference for the evaluation - http://erc.undp.org/evaluationadmin/downloaddocument.html?docid=7907.

A Consultant is required to support the IEO and the Gender Thematic Evaluation team during the synthesis, report finalization and dissemination and post-report communication phase of the evaluation. The consultancy is scheduled to commence in January 2015 and conclude at the end of June 2015.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Evaluation Manager, the consultant will contribute to management and implementation of the Thematic Evaluation of UNDPs contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment (2008-2013). Summary of key functions includes: Contribute to evaluation report drafting and knowledge management; Support the management of the evaluation; and Manage evaluation dissemination.

Contribute to evaluation report drafting, finalization and knowledge management activities

  • Contribute to report review and editing as required – with particular attention to assisting in the review of five focus area reports;
  • Support the collection and analysis of three surveys associated with this evaluation;
  • Liaise with the authors of the Benchmarking study and the UN SWAP case study and assist in extracting key lessons to be incorporated in the synthesis report;
  • Assist in preparation of penultimate document for clearance and approval within UNDP and externally;
  • Assist in framing and supporting the organization of review panel meetings, stakeholder feedback process;
  • Assist in setting and maintaining an audit of trail of comments/management response;
  • Quality assure final report (in consultation with UNDP/EO editors and designers) and prepare it for submission to the Executive Board Secretariat;
  • Compose lesson learned technical notes which summarize evaluation criteria used on criteria for country-visits, update the methods handbook, record of lessons learned from Most Significant Change and Outcome Harvesting experiments;
  • Support the formulation of a Journal Article/Occasional Paper on the Gender Evaluation experience overall.

Support the management of the evaluation including logistics and budget tracking/reporting

  • Be responsible for the management of the evaluation workplan and provide the Evaluation Manager/Associate Evaluation Manager with weekly updates on progress;
  • Act as liaison between the IEO evaluation team and the thematic consultants, specific country offices and regional service centres, in terms of following-up with specific requests after data collection visits;
  • Liaise as needed with the authors of the Benchmarking study and the UN SWAP case study and assist in extracting key lessons to be incorporated in the synthesis report;
  • Assist in planning and delivery of the Evaluation Synthesis Workshop, scheduled for February 2015;
  • Ensure that data records collected and analysed for the evaluation are  compiled and stored as per standard IEO protocols
  • Be responsible for maintaining a record of consultancy contracts and travel costs;
  • Preparing periodic updates based on tracking of allocations and expenditures of  the evaluation budget.

Manage evaluation dissemination

  • In consultation with Communications Specialist, formulate a participatory dissemination strategy to be implemented throughout the process;
  • Maintain Teamworks portal for the evaluation;
  • Prepare periodic updates, presentations, social media information (Twitter/Facebook) for key stakeholders.

Any other tasks that may emerge during the course of the evaluation.

Accountability and duration

The Consultant will be directly supervised by the Evaluation Manager, and also work with the Associate Evaluation Manager as required. He/She will also liaise with the Team of Evaluation Consultants. The contract will commence in January 2015 for 6 months. It is expected that the consultant will work 5 days a week in the Independent Evaluation Office in New York.   The consultant will be paid 21.75 working days per month.

Compétences

Core Competencies

  • Demonstrates Integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.

Functional Competencies

  • Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources;
  • Able to prepare strategic information for decision makers;
  • Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise;
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write in a clear and concise manner;
  • Analytical and strategic thinking and results orientation/commitment to excellence;
  • Demonstrated aptitude for research and writing, including desk research;
  • Knowledge of women’s rights issues, gender mainstreaming, women’s international conventions and instruments, organizational change theory.
  • Must enjoy problem solving associated with multiple, simultaneous demands;
  • Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work under pressure while maintaining equanimity;
  • Attention to detail and superior organization skills in terms of collating diverse types of information and storing it in a Share Point portal;
  • Demonstrated ability to function in a calm and skilful manner when dealing with a fast-paced workstream characterized by tight deadlines and multiple demands.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

  • A master’s degree in social or political science, or equivalent.

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of previous experience working with the UN system.  Specific experience in working in programme evaluation offices of the UN system, an asset.
  • Previous work in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment both within and outside the UN system, a plus
  • Specific experience with human rights and gender equality/sensitive evaluation methodology and the administering of evaluation surveys and analysis of interview, a plus
  • Previous research experience in support of evaluations that are comparable to those conducted by the Evaluation Office of UNDP, highly desirable.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to quickly grasp and synthesize information, particularly in relation to production of UN and UNDP evaluation and thematic reports
  • Good mastery of information technology required for organized presentation of information, including quantitative information and graphical presentations, and for organizing information and materials on the internal website. Experience in Excel skills, SenseMaker, N’Vivo knowledge, an advantage.
  • Previous experience in communication (newsletters, social network postings etc.), a plus
  • Experience of working independently as well as  interactively with a team, often responding to varying requests, a must
  • Experience in framing, implementing and delivering a research assignment with minimal supervision, a plus;
  • Experience in reviewing draft reports, providing feedback to authors, report synthesis, quality assurance, editing and proofing a plus.

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent English oral and written skills;
  • Working knowledge of other UN languages, especially French or Spanish, would be an advantage.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

The following documents should be supplied and uploaded as one document:

  • Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
  • Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.