UNDP GEF Jobs - 76449- National Consultant – Terminal Evaluation of the U

National Consultant – Terminal Evaluation of the UNDP GEF Project: “Expanding Coverage and Strengthening Management Effectiveness of the Protected Area Network on the Island of Mauritius”

Advertised on behalf of

UNDP GEF

Location :

Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Feb-2018

Application Deadline :

25-Jan-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days spread over 10 weeks

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 days spread over 10 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

Project Title

Expanding coverage and strengthening management effectiveness of the protected area network on the island of Mauritius

Project Description

This project seeks to strengthen the systemic, institutional and operational capacity to: (i) identify, prioritize and target gaps in representation that can be filled through protected area expansion, and complementary conservation, efforts on private and state-owned land; (ii) develop regulatory drivers and an incentives framework to support PA expansion, and complementary conservation, efforts on private and state-owned land; (iii) establish and administer a conservation stewardship program to implement PA expansion initiatives on privately owned or managed land; (iv) effectively plan, resource and manage an expanded PAN comprising both private and state protected areas; (v) cost-effectively mitigate the threats to, and pressures on, the unique biodiversity contained within the expanded PAN (notably the spread of invasive alien species); (vi) ensure better integration of the PAN into the country’s socio-economic development priorities, in particular development of the tourism industry, to ensure its long-term financial sustainability; and (vi) respond effectively to the needs of, and meaningfully involve, different stakeholder groups in the ongoing planning and operational management of the expanded PAN.

Project Rational / Background

This is the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the UNDP-GEF Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the full-sized project titled “Expanding coverage and strengthening management effectiveness of the protected area network on the island of Mauritius” (PIMS 3749). The project is implemented through the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) and the Forestry Service (FS) as delegated by the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security. The TE is to be undertaken in 2018. The project started on 05 March 2010 and is in its seventh year of implementation, considering that the Inception workshop was carried out in August 2011.

This ToR sets out the expectations for this TE. The TE process must follow the guidance outlined in the document: Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluation Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects which may be obtained online.
The project’s goal is to conserve the globally significant native forest biodiversity of Mauritius. The objective is to expand and ensure effective management of the protected area network to safeguard threatened biodiversity.

The Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security is the central body responsible for formulating and implementing the Government’s policy in the field of biodiversity conservation. In the specific area of terrestrial protected areas, NPCS and FS are entrusted with formulating policy, plans and programmes for the development and operationalization of National Parks and Nature reserves and to make proposals for appropriate legislation/regulations that would promote such activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of works

The International Consultant will be the team leader and will be responsible for the quality of the report and timely submission. The National Consultant will provide supportive roles in terms of logistical/ meeting arrangements, professional inputs, knowledge of local policies, local navigation, translation / language support, etc.

The review team is expected to prepare an Evaluation Report based on the outline listed in Annex C while specifically including the following aspects:

Adequacy of the overall project concept, design, implementation methodology, institutional structure, timelines, budgetary allocation or any other aspect of the project design that the evaluation team may want to comment upon;
Extent of progress achieved against the overall project objective disaggregated by each of the individual Outcomes, Outputs and Activities (including sub-activities); as against the Impact Indicators identified and listed in the project document. Extent of the incremental value added with project implementation;
Performance in terms of in-time achievement of individual project activities as well as overall project in terms of adherence to planned timelines;
Relevance and adequacy of mid-course changes in implementation strategy with PSC approval, if any and the consequent variations in achievements, if any;
Degree of effectiveness of the Project Management Unit to identify gaps, if any with lessons learned and alternative scenarios, if any;
Extent to which systemic framework for Protected Area expansion has been improved. Identify gaps, if any, and provide alternative scenarios;
Extent to which Protected Area institutional framework has been strengthened. Identify gaps, if any, and provide alternative scenarios;
Extent to which the Operational know-how is in place to contain threats related to Protected Area;
Evaluate the impact of the project activities on the various government and private institutions;
Extent of effectiveness of awareness generation activities by way of quality of promotional packages / awareness material, number of Awareness Programmes, Trainings undertaken and level of awareness created. Quality of documentation, if any, produced under the project like, brochure, etc. should also be considered;
Pattern, in which funds have been leveraged, budgeted, spent and accounted for in the project;
Preparation of Terminal GEF Tracking Tool in collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor, Project Manager and IAS Manager.

The team should also focus their assessments on project impacts as listed:

Perceptions on the “Situation at the end of the Project” as it seems to the review team at the terminal review stage;
Nature and scale of the policy impact made by the project, if any, on relevant line departments of the Government or other policy making bodies;
Extent of effectiveness of capacity building initiatives undertaken under the aegis of the project;
Appropriateness and effectiveness of the institutional arrangement deployed in the project with alternative scenarios, if any;
Details of co-funding, if any, leveraged by the project and its impact on the project;
The effectiveness of monitoring and overseeing systems such as Project Steering Committee and suggestion on improvements if any.

Expected outputs and deliverables

Deliverable 1: Work Plan;
Content: Evaluator provides work plan;
Timing: No later than 2 weeks before the evaluation mission;
Responsibilities: Evaluator submits to UNDP CO, IEO.

Deliverable 2: Terminal evaluation and knowledge management workshop report;
Content: Report for terminal evaluation and knowledge management workshop on monitoring and evaluation concepts and methodology for capacity development;
Timing: Within evaluation mission;
Responsibilities: Sent to CO, reviewed by RTA, PAN Project team, GEF OFPs, IEO.

Deliverable 3: Draft Final Report;
Content: Full report, (per annexed template) with annexes;
Timing: Within 3 weeks of the evaluation mission;
Responsibilities: Sent to CO, reviewed by RTA, PAN Project team, GEF OFPs, IEO.

Deliverable 4: Final Report*;
Content: Revised report;
Timing: Within 1 week of receiving UNDP comments on draft;
Responsibilities: Sent to IEO and CO for uploading to UNDP ERC.

*When submitting the final evaluation report, the evaluator is required also to provide an 'audit trail' detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final evaluation report.

Institutional arrangement

The Consultant will report directly to the National Project Director, Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security and Environment Programme Manager, UNDP

All reports are to be written in English. The Consultant will provide an electronic version of all the required deliverables;
The Consultant 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.

Duration of the works

The total duration of the evaluation will be 30-person days over a period of 10 weeks for the National consultant.

Activity 1: Document review;
Timing (Number of working days): 4 days;
Completion Date: 09 February 2018.

Activity2: Evaluation Mission including workshop;
Timing (Number of working days): 12 days;
Completion Date: 12 to 27 February 2018.

Activity3: Provide inputs in the drafting of the evaluation report and GEF Tracking Tool;
Timing (Number of working days): 8 days;
Completion Date: 16 March 2018.

Activity4: Final Report and GEF Tracking tool;
Timing (Number of working days): 6 days;
Completion Date: 10 April 2018.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Creative and innovative;
Sound analytic capacities;
Ability to address complex concepts and to gather written materials in a clear, concise and meaningful manner with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail;
Highly organized, able to effectively develop and manage projects, ensuring that deadlines are met.

Functional Competencies

Excellent writing, analytical and research skills;
Showing strong attention to details;
Excellent interpersonal skills;
Ability to work in a multicultural and international environment;
Ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master's in biodiversity, natural resources management, other social sciences or business administration/ project management; Or Bachelor's in biodiversity, natural resources management, other social sciences or business administration/ project management. with at least ten years of relevant experience.

Work Experience

At least 5 years of relevant experience in managing biodiversity or other environment programmes or projects for Master degree holder; OR at least 10 years of relevant experience in managing biodiversity or other environment programmes or projects for Bachelor degree holder.
Knowledge of Adaptive Management, as applied to conservation or natural resource management projects. Past experience as evaluator of GEF projects and knowledge of GEF M&E guidelines and tools (PIR, METT, Financial Score Card, etc.) is a strong asset.
Prior experience in environment project evaluation essential.
Experience in dealing with multi-stakeholder projects and good knowledge of policies and regulations related to biodiversity conservation in Mauritius.
Experience with internationally funded Biodiversity related projects. Experience within GEF and/or United Nations system will be considered an asset.
Experience applying participatory monitoring approaches.
Demonstrable analytical skills.
Fully computer literate with strong editing skills.

Language

Excellent spoken, written English, French and Mauritian Creole required.

Scope of price proposal and schedule of payment

Financial Proposal

A financial proposal has to be submitted by offerors which specifies:

The lump sum amount must be “all-inclusive”. The term “All inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal;
The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components;
An IC Time Sheet must be submitted by the Contractor, duly approved by the Individual Contractor’s supervisor, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of fees.

Schedule of Payments

Payments of fees would be effected by UNDP as follows:

Milestone 1: At submission and approval of work plan: 20%;
Milestone 2: Following submission and approval of the draft terminal evaluation report & draft GEF Tracking Tool: 30%;
Milestone 3: Following submission and approval of report for terminal evaluation and knowledge management workshop on monitoring and evaluation concepts and methodology for capacity development: 10%;
Milestone 4: Following submission and approval (UNDP-CO, UNDP RTA and IEO) of the final terminal evaluation report & GEF Tracking Tool: 40%.