UNDP Jobs - 70880- TERMINAL EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT

TERMINAL EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT

Location :

Khartoum, SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

14-Mar-2017

Application Deadline :

06-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

16 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

16 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

In accordance with applicable policies for UNDP/GEF projects, all GEF-funded projects implemented by UNDP are subjective to a mid-term and a final independent evaluation. The purpose for this independent Terminal Evaluation (TE) is to undertake at the end of the last year of implementation an evaluation will determine whether the project has achieved its intended outcomes. The TE will focus on the effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness of project implementation; will highlight issues requiring actions for implementation of similar programmes; and will present the lessons learned about project design, implementation and management. Findings of this TE will be incorporated as recommendations for enhanced implementation of similar projects. The evaluation is to be undertaken in accordance with the “GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy” (see http://www.thegef.org/gef/sites/thegef.org/files/documents/ME_Policy_2010.pdf

The project is funded by the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (FATDC) for Adaptation to climate change (USD 3,080,000). The project is being implemented through the Direct Implementation Modality (NIM) by the UNDP through an LOA with the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR). In terms of project ‘supervision’ (as opposed to ‘implementation’), UNDP is the GEF Implementing Agency and provides strategic, technical and administrative support to the HCENR.

The project is currently implementing NAPA priority interventions to build resilience in the agriculture and water sectors to the adverse Impacts of Climate Change in Sudan which aims at minimizing and reversing the food insecurity and enhance adaptive capacity of small-scale farmers and pastoralists resulting from climate change, including variability in four vulnerable regions representing the different ecological settings. The project has been implemented over three -year period, having started in August 2014 and ending in December 2016.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall purpose of the evaluation is to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of project activities in relation to the stated objective, identify lessons learnt and to produce possible recommendations on how to expand and upscale the best climate change adaptation practices. The Terminal Evaluation serves as an agent of change and plays a critical role in supporting future climate change adaptation programming in the country. Its main objectives are:

To document the lessons learnt on project management and monitoring functions of the climate change adaptation projects;
To document the best lessons learnt for enhancing accountability for the achievement of the climate change adaptation objectives;
To enhance organizational and development learning;
To enable informed decision-making for future climate change adaptation programming.

Particular emphasis should be put on the current project results and the extent of achieving all the outcomes in the given timeframe, taking into consideration the speed, at which the project is implemented. More specifically, the evaluation should assess:

This Terminal Evaluation of the Project is initiated by UNDP as the GEF Implementing Agency. It aims to determine the achievement of the intended outcomes. It aims to provide the Implementation Agency (HCENR), UNDP-Sudan Country Office and UNDP-GEF at all levels with strategy and policy options and lessons for replicating the results.

The Terminal Evaluation will highlight lessons learned about project design, implementation and management.

The evaluators will assess the project design. They should review the problem addressed by the project and the project strategy, encompassing an assessment of the appropriateness of the objectives, outcomes, outputs, planned activities and inputs as compared to cost-effective alternatives. in relation to:

Development priorities at the national level;
Stakeholders – assess if the specific needs were met;
Country ownership /drivenness – participation and commitments of government, states, local authorities, and communities;
UNDP mission to promote assisting the country to build its capacities in the focalarea of adaptation to climate change;
Meeting the GEF adaptation guidelines: Demonstrating increases in adaptive capacity andresilience for climate change and assess whether and how the engagement of communities has had a particular contribution and added value to community adaptation to climate change;
Develop a lesson-learning and replication strategy, and a strategy to integrate project results and lessons learnt into the wider dissemination and scale up plans.

The evaluation will assess the outcomes, outputs, and indicators achieved by the project as well as the likely inroads to sustainability of project results. This should encompass the following:

Attainment of objectives and planned results:

Evaluate how, and to what extent, the stated project objectives are being achieved; taking into account the “achievement indicators”. In addition, the team will assess the indicators matrix as to its utility for determining sustainability and replicability impact.
Assess the level to which the project has followed guidelines of the GEF Strategic Priority on Adaptation and recommend ways to further strengthen this linkage.

Achievement of outputs and activities:

Assess the scope, quality and usefulness of the project outputs produced so far in relation to its expected results.
Assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the work plan in implementing the components of the project.

Assess the quality, appropriateness and timeliness of the project with regard to satisfying the following GEF objectives;

Delivering global environmental benefits; and
Achieving financial and environmental sustainability for the project intervention.

The evaluation must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful. It must be easily understood by project partners and applicable to the remaining period of project duration. The evaluation should provide as much gender disaggregated data as possible.

The evaluation will take place mainly in the field. The Consultant will also be accompanied a National Consultant forming a team. The evaluation team is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with the UNDP Country Office, states’ governments, Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Physical Development, Project Board, project team, and other key stakeholders.

The evaluation team is expected to consult all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual Reports, project budget revision, progress reports, project files, national strategic and legal documents, and any other material that the team may consider useful for evidence based assessment.

The evaluation team is expected to use interviews as a means of collecting data on the relevance, performance and success of the project. The evaluation team is also expected to visit the project sites.

The methodology to be used by the evaluation team should be presented in the report in detail. It shall include information on:

Documentation reviewed;
Interviews;
Field visits;
Questionnaires;
Participatory techniques and other approaches for the gathering and analysis of data.

Although the evaluation team should feel free to discuss with the authorities concerned, all matters relevant to its assignment, it is not authorized to make any commitment or statement on behalf of UNDP, GEF, or the project management.

The evaluation team should reflect sound accounting procedures and be prudent in using the resources of the evaluation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies Functional Competencies:

Corporate Competencies
Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrated experience in technical issues related climate change adaptation;
Demonstrated experience in conducting project evaluation;
Ability to analyze large amounts of complex and diversified data related to adaptation to climate change;
Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions with rural communities and technical governmental officials.

Required Skills and Experience

Master degree in economics, social sciences or environmentally related fields;