UNDP Jobs - 71673- Terminal Evaluation Consultant for UNDP GEF Agri A

Terminal Evaluation Consultant for UNDP GEF Agri Adaptation Project

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2017

Application Deadline :

10-May-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

23 Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

23 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 UNDP and GEF M&E policies and procedures, all full and medium-sized UNDP support GEF financed projects are required to undergo a terminal evaluation upon completion of implementation. These terms of reference (TOR) sets out the expectations for a Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Projects titles”Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change by Mainstreaming Adaptation Concerns into Agricultural Sector Development in Liberia (PIMS #4439) .

The project was designed to: The project “Enhancing resilience to climate change by mainstreaming adaptation concerns into agricultural sector in Liberia” was developed in 2010, approved in 2011, and launched in the last quarter of 2012 with the objective of increasing the resilience of poor, agriculturally-dependent communities and of decreasing the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate change in Liberia. By doing so the project sought to respond to Liberia's NAPA priorities.
This was expected to be achieved through two components, namely: 1) capacity development and 2) enhancing resilience to climate change by mainstreaming adaptation concerns into agricultural sector development in Liberia. Specific contributions toward the reduction of vulnerabilities to climate change are expected to be achieved through the pursuit of specific outcomes including:

integrating climate change concerns into relevant policies and planning processes at the state and national levels;
comprehensive capacity development for individuals in national agencies focusing on agriculture and in pilot counties, and farmers;
demonstration of risk reduction strategies and measures at pilot sites;
strengthening technical capacity to integrate climate change risk management into farmer level agricultural capacity; and
capturing and disseminating lessons learned to key stakeholders.

Originally intended to be executed through the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM), the project was delivered through a National Implementation (NIM). Executing arrangements also evolved in 2013, when the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), as lead Implementing Partner, requested the FAO to deliver Component 2. This resulted in changes in the project activities diverting from what was originally intended in the project document.

The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.
The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming.

Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluation Approach & Method

An overall approach and method for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects has developed over time. The evaluator is expected to frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in the UNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-supported, GEF-financed Projects. A set of questions covering each of these criteria have been drafted and are included with this TOR (fill in Annex C) The evaluator is expected to amend, complete and submit this matrix as part of an evaluation inception report, and shall include it as an annex to the final report.
The evaluation must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful. The evaluator is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with government counterparts, in particular the GEF operational focal point, UNDP Country Office, project team, UNDP GEF Technical Adviser based in the region and key stakeholders. The evaluator is expected to conduct a field mission to Grand Gedeh and Bong Counties, including the following project sites:

Panta District Farmer Field School, Bong County
Zleh Town Farmer Field School, Grand Gedeh County

Interviews will be held with the following organizations and individuals at a minimum:

Ministry of Agriculture/Extension Officers in Grand Gedeh and Bong Counties
Participants of the Farmers Field Schools in Grand Gedeh and Bong Counties
UNFAO
Environmental Protection Agency,etc

The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, project budget revisions, midterm review, progress reports, GEF focal area tracking tools, project files, national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment. A list of documents that the project team will provide to the evaluator for review is included in Annex B of this Terms of Reference (to be provided to the selected candidate)

Evaluation Criteria & Ratings

An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework (see Annex A), which provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification. The evaluation will at a minimum cover the criteria of: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. Ratings must be provided on the following performance criteria. The completed table must be included in the evaluation executive summary. The obligatory rating scales are included

Project Finance / Co Finance

The Evaluation will assess the key financial aspects of the project, including the extent of co-financing planned and realized. Project cost and funding data will be required, including annual expenditures. Variances between planned and actual expenditures will need to be assessed and explained. Results from recent financial audits, as available, should be taken into consideration. The evaluator(s) will receive assistance from the Country Office (CO) and Project Team to obtain financial data in order to complete the co-financing table to be provided, which will be included in the terminal evaluation report.

Mainstreaming

UNDP supported GEF financed projects are key components in UNDP country programming, as well as regional and global programmes. The evaluation will assess the extent to which the project was successfully mainstreamed with other UNDP priorities, including poverty alleviation, improved governance, the prevention and recovery from natural disasters, and gender.
IMPACT
The evaluators will assess the extent to which the project is achieving impacts or progressing towards the achievement of impacts. Key findings that should be brought out in the evaluations include whether the project has demonstrated: a) verifiable improvements in ecological status, b) verifiable reductions in stress on ecological systems, and/or c) demonstrated progress towards these impact achievements.

Conclusions, Recommendations & Lessons

The evaluation report must include a chapter providing a set of conclusions, recommendations and lessons.

Implementation Arrangements

The principal responsibility for managing this evaluation resides with the UNDP CO in Liberia. The UNDP CO will contract the evaluators and ensure the timely provision of per diems and travel arrangements within the country for the evaluation team. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the Evaluators team to set up stakeholder interviews, arrange field visits, coordinate with the Government etc.

Team Composition

The evaluation team will be composed of 1-international and 1-national. The consultants shall have prior experience in evaluating similar projects. Experience with GEF financed projects is an advantage. The international consultant will be the team leader and will be responsible for finalizing the report. The evaluators selected should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have conflict of interest with project related activities.

Deliverables

Inception Report: No later than 2 weeks before the evaluation mission
Presentation: End of evaluation mission
Draft Final Report: Within 3 weeks of the evaluation mission
Final Report: Within 1 week of receiving UNDP comments on draft.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Proven ability to work with governments and local communities in an agricultural settings
Demonstrated experience in Mid-term and terminal evaluations
Knowledge of and/or experience with UNDP and/or GEF;

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master in natural sciences; social sciences with a specialization in environment, biodiversity, climate change or any other closely related field; PhD would be a plus.

Experience:

At least 10 years’ experience with GEF related project evaluation;
Experience in UN/international organizations project monitoring and evaluation, preferably UNDP-GEF experience, is an advantage.

Language:

Fluent in English.

Evaluation criteria:

Shortlisting

Education: 4 points : Experience: 6 points (Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and forwarded the UNDP procurement notice)

Technical proposal:

Technical skills, given by qualifications and training record (20 points);
Overall experience in the provision with the services given above (50 points);
Adequacy of competencies & skills responding to the Terms of Reference (30 points).

To be qualified candidate should obtain minimum 70% of the total 70 points.

Contract Award

Contract will be awarded to highest scored candidate (technical score + financial scores)/100
Rating will be as follow:

Rating the Technical Proposal (TP):

TP Rating = (Total Score Obtained by the Offer / Max. Obtainable Score for TP) x 100
Rating the Financial Proposal (FP):
FP Rating = (Lowest Priced Offer / Price of the Offer Being Reviewed) x 100

Total Combined Score:
(TP rating) x (Weight of TP, e.g. 70%) + (FP Rating) x (Weight of FP, e.g., 30%)