UNDP Jobs - 58842- Consultancy Evaluation for UNDAF Evaluation

Consultancy Evaluation for UNDAF Evaluation

Location :

Juba, SOUTH SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

16-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 Weeks

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 Weeks

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

The 2012-2016 South Sudan United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) is the United Nations Country Teams’ (UNCT) current strategic programme framework to support implementation of the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP). The overarching objective of the SSDP is to ensure that “South Sudan is a united and peaceful new nation, building strong foundations for good governance, economic prosperity and enhanced quality of life for all.” The SSDP stresses the overarching imperative of maintaining peace and security as the necessary foundation for development. The Plan identifies key development objectives for the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, including nineteen major priorities, across four priority pillars. The UNCT formulated the 2012-2016 UNDAF to support, on the basis of its comparative advantage, key priorities in each of the SSDP’s four pillars:

Governance;
Economic Development;
Social and Human Development; and
Conflict Prevention and Security.

The current UNDAF is the result of adaptation to a shifting context in South Sudan in the years since independence in 2011 that can be separated in three distinct phases:

Phase 1: The UNDAF was originally developed as a response to the SSDP immediately after independence and was meant to only cover the period 2012 to 2013;
Phase 2: Following the oil shutdown and the economic crisis in 2012, the Government decided to extend the SSDP until June 2016, and the UNCT consequently decided in 2013 to also extend the UNDAF for a similar period with some revisions;
Phase 3: After the outbreak of the current internal conflict in December 2013, the UNCT decided in 2014 to again update and revise the UNDAF to respond to this new reality.

As the conflict has extended and set back the development agenda of South Sudan, it became clear in the first half of 2015 that a new strategic approach was needed by the UNCT, and it decided to embark on the formulation of an Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) for 2016-17 to replace the UNDAF.

In line with the 2015 UNCT Annual Work Plan, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) will now engage a consultant to lead the 2012-2016 UNDAF evaluation. The evaluation will cover the whole duration of the UNDAF, and will provide analytical inputs by drawing key lessons learned from the implementation of the 2012-2016 UNDAF into the ongoing UN programmes and the ICF.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible for managing the evaluation and for timely and high-quality delivery.

The purpose of the 2012-2016 UNDAF evaluation is to assess the relevance of the UNDAF as a development strategy for the UN during the three phases mentioned above, how well the UNCT has responded to shifting contexts by adapting the UNDAF and using it as a coordination tool, and the achievements and progress made against planned objectives. This exercise will assess challenges encountered and provide lessons learned, as well as concrete recommendations to guide the formulation of the ICF, and ensure that the new framework responds well to current and emerging issues in South Sudan.

Objectives:

Assess the effectiveness of the UNDAF in terms of progress towards agreed outcomes and outputs and identify the factors that influence achievement of results, including how the UNDAF interacted with humanitarian, peacebuilding and peacekeeping objectives during this period;
Assess the relevance of the 2012-2016 UNDAF, and how its outcomes and outputs were adjusted during the three phases - including an assessment of the adequacy of UNCT’s response to the changing context, both in planning and in implementation.
Assess how the UNDAF has worked as a framework for coordination, monitoring progress, accountability and mobilisation of resources for UN Agencies, the GRSS and donors;
Determine to what extent cross-cutting issues (human rights- based approach, gender equality, environmental sustainability, results-based management, capacity development) were systematically incorporated in the UNDAF design and reporting;
Identify best practices and lessons learned from UNDAF implementation and provide actionable recommendations for the formulation of the UN Interim Coordination Framework.

Main activities and deliverables

Desk review of documents and available data sources, and submission of inception report of 3-5 pages with detailed plan for on-the-ground work in South Sudan;
Introductory meetings with key stakeholders;
Structured interviews with UNCT members, Government partners and donors;
Assessment of impact through direct interaction with UNDAF beneficiaries and stakeholders, including through field visits.
Writing of draft report of 10-15 pages, including 1 page summary, and possible annexes as well as presentation of 8-10 PowerPoint slides to the UNC via VTC;
Incorporation of comments and submission of final version of report.

Methodology

The evaluation will be conducted over a period of 5-6 weeks and must be ready in time for the concluding phase of the ICF work in early November 2015. It is envisaged that the evaluation team could consist of one international and one national consultant member, with the international consultant to serve as the team leader.

It is a key interest to keep the overall costs of the evaluation down, and achieving as many of the objectives listed above to a high quality, within the given timeframe.

As part of the selection process, a 2 page outline of proposed evaluation methodology will be required that will be considered in the technical evaluation of proposals with half the weight. The meth0dology should explain how the consultant intends to organize the work and achieve the objectives within the given timeframe, including approach to data collection and team composition, how the consultant intends to keep overall costs down, and which trade-offs, limitations and risks the proposed methodology will create for the final product.

The proposed methodology will then serve as the basis for the evaluation with possible revision negotiated with the successful lead consultant. The methodology will serve as the basis for organization of the evaluation, including recruitment of additional consultants, data collection, analysis and report writing.

The evaluation will be guided by the UNDG guidelines for UNDAF Evaluations. Data collection methods and process shall consider all programming and other cross-cutting issues as appropriate. The analyses must be evidence based and build on available data sources, statistics and other primary sources.

A part of the evaluation work can take place as desk-work outside South Sudan, some interviews can be conducted through phone, skype or video conferences, while some work will require travel to Juba and locations in South Sudan outside Juba.

Methods of data collection can include but not necessarily be limited to:

Document review, focusing on UNDAF planning documents, UN agencies annual reports, reviews and evaluation reports, strategy papers, national plans and policies, as well as available data and statistics by UNCT members and from other sources;
Interviews with key stakeholders including key government counterparts, donor representatives, UNCT members, and implementing partners;
Discussions with UNDAF beneficiaries.

On the basis of the desk review, the consultant team will submit an inception report with a detailed plan for data collection.

The data collection methodology will depend on availability of existing evidence, including statistics and administrative data, and secondary sources such as evaluations and reviews by UNCT members, logistical constraints (travel costs, timing, etc.), and other considerations such as access to and availability of relevant stakeholder and beneficiary groups given that many parts of South Sudan are experiencing active conflict.

The evaluation process must build on gender sensitivity and gender specific data, as well as other UN programming principles, including capacity development, environmental sustainability, Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and Result-Based Management (RBM).

Competencies

Excellent knowledge of the UN system and UN joint country programming processes;
Strong knowledge and experience with national development frameworks in conflict and post-conflict situations, including Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and UN Peacebuilding;
Specialised technical knowledge, including in data collection and analytical skills, and evaluation principles, methodologies and approaches;
Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork and adept at working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds;
An understanding of and ability to abide by the core values of the United Nations

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Economics, Development Studies, Peace Studies, Social Studies, International Relations or other related field;
UN SSAFE certification will be an advantage. If consultants are not SSAFE certified, an additional three consultant days will be required for this training in Juba before travel outside Juba can be undertaken.

Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant experience and proven expertise with CCA/UNDAF processes, evaluations and reviews, including in post conflict settings, and also including an understanding of UN’s relevant Programming Guidelines on Gender Equality, HRBA, Capacity Development, Environmental Sustainability and RBM;
Excellent report writing skills, analytical skills as well as good computer skills;
Previous experience in UNDAF or related evaluation process;
Experience in working with teams and team processes;
Proven track record in evaluation and review writing.

Language:

Proven excellent command in written and spoken English.

Other relevant information regarding the Consultancy:

Reporting and Quality Control for the assignment:

The consultant team will work in close collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator. The RCO will provide liaison support in identifying institutions and individuals that the consultants are expected to engage with in the course of the assessment, and will help identify and provide existing data sources for the desk review. The UNRCO will also provide support at each stage of the assignment in terms of availing documents and facilitating meetings relevant to the assessment.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Brief explanation (300 words) why the consultant is the most suitable for the work as team leader of the evaluation;
Proposed timing and availability;
2 page description of proposed methodology, including approach to data collection, team composition, calendar, considerations of cost savings, trade-offs, limitations and risks;
Financial proposal;
Personal CV and P11 form of the Consultant. P11 form can be downloaded from this website: http://www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total and all inclusive lump sum amount, and payment terms, around specific and measurable deliverables (qualitative and quantitative) for Consultant’s work. The financial proposal must include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including all travel, insurance, visa, per diems, and number of all anticipated consultant working days by the Consultant, including SSAFE training if required).

Evaluation of proposals:

The award of the contract will be made to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as having received the highest combined score of the technical and financial scores.

Technical Criteria weight: 70%. Of these 70%, half of the weight will be given to the proposed methodology and the other half will be given to the qualifications of the consultant;
Financial Criteria weight: 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points out of 100 points at the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.