UNDP Jobs - 11739- Consultant: Environment Outcome Evaluation

Consultant: Environment Outcome Evaluation

Location :

Kingston, JAMAICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2009

Application Deadline :

17-Aug-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 20 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

UNDP Jamaica, in the mid term of its cycle of the Country Programme of 2007-2011, plans to conduct an outcome evaluation in the environment and energy sector.

Jamaica is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean and is approximately 1 million hectares, with an altitudinal range from sea level to 2,195 metres. The population is approximately 2.7 million with an annual growth rate of 0.5 percent. Jamaica’s development after independence in 1962 has been characterized by periods of economic growth alternating with periods of stagnation, including political turmoil (late 1970’s to early 1980’s); a financial crisis (1995 to 1997); an international recession (200 to 2001 and again in 2009); rising oil prices (2004 to 2007) and devastating impacts of storms and hurricanes (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008). The Environment and Energy Programme at UNDP aims to accelerate sustainable land management and the effective governance water resources, to promote effective adaptation and mitigation to climate change, and to encourage the adoption of good energy practices. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is also a priority, given that the poor, especially in rural areas, depend on biodiversity for food, fuel, shelter, medicines and livelihoods and that it reduces vulnerability to some natural disasters. At the policy level, all this is underpinned by the CO support to the formulation of frameworks and strategies for sustainable development, as pledged in the Millennium Development Goals. In so doing, the CO addresses broader challenges such as poverty, political instability and conflict, population growth, and disease, as well as integrating environmental sustainability into development policy and practice. The UNDP Jamaica Multi-Country Office supports five countries in the region.

There are currently four areas of emphasis under the E and E Programme: Biodiversity and Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction. The last three of these programme areas are aligned with the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s Medium Term Framework to achieve the long term Vision 2030. Expected outputs of the programme are strengthening of institutional capacity to implement policies and plans, appropriate land management techniques in communities, improved and integrated watershed management practices, improved energy efficiency, reduction of risk to communities in the event of certain natural disasters.

The projects range from small, single-issue projects, such as improved land management practices in four schools to large multi-faced projects that meet Jamaica’s obligations under international conventions such as the ten-component Second National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC.

Currently the funding is provided by UNDP TRAC, BCPR, and GEF, and the project portfolio is over US$ 8,000,000.00. Key implementing partners include the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Forestry Department, the Meteorological Services, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission. A close partnership also exists with the Ministry of Health and environment and the Planning Institute of Jamaica, as well as the Governments of the Cayman and Turks and Caicos.

Duties and Responsibilities

This purpose of this evaluation is two fold:

to review the achievements made during the first half of the CPD 2007-2011 and take stock of lessons learned and challenges; and
to receive recommendations to inform the programmes in the latter half of the period and in the next programme cycle. The information will be used by UNDP Jamaica as well as the key national counterparts and Implementing Partners.

The key evaluation deliverables include:

Evaluation Inception Report. An inception report should be prepared by the evaluator before going into the full fledged evaluation exercise. It should detail the evaluators’ understanding of what is being evaluated and why, showing how each evaluation question will be answered by way of: a) proposed methods, b) proposed sources of data, and c) data collection procedures. The inception report should include a proposed schedule of tasks/activities and deliverables, designating a team member with the lead responsibility for each task or product. The inception report provides the programme unit and the evaluator with an opportunity to verify that they share the same understanding about the evaluation and clarify any misunderstanding at the outset.
Draft evaluation report. The programme unit and key stakeholders in evaluation should review the draft evaluation report to ensure that the evaluation meets the required quality criteria (See Annex 8).
Final Evaluation report. This should include lessons learned and recommendations.
Evaluation brief and other knowledge products or participation in knowledge sharing events (if relevant – see Chapter 8).

Competencies

The consultant must have relevant experience in conducting the development project evaluations, preferably in environment and energy sector, and projects of similar sizes in UNDP, other UN agencies or international organizations. The experience should include applying various evaluation methodologies which are internationally recognized. The required knowledge includes substantive knowledge in environment and energy sector, as well as human right based approach and sustainable human development with strong gender sensitivity.

The evaluator should follow the principles outlined in the Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation (UNEG 2007) and should address the principles in the design and implementation of the evaluation.

Required Skills and Experience

Maters degree or equivalent in environmental sciences, natural resource management or a related field
Over ten (10) years experience in the assessment and evaluation of the implementation of projects and programmes
Demonstrated experience in assessment and evaluation of programmes within the UN system
Experience in project management and proposal preparation may be an asset
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Proficiency in the English language