UNDP Jobs - 79583- Ref.2018-0019_International Consultant for Country

Ref.2018-0019_International Consultant for Country Programme Document Outcome Evaluation

Location :

home-based with 1 mission to Kazakhstan

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

08-Jul-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

August-September 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

23 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

Please note!

Your Proposal (max 10 MB) preferably to be submitted by email to: procurement.kz@undp.org with the indication of Ref.2018-0019 in the subject line not later than July 8, 2018.

For detailed information on the position, please refer to the Procurement Notice and Terms of Reference.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail: zhanetta.babasheva@undp.org copying meruyert.bolyssayeva@undp.org.

Background

Kazakhstan has begun actively implementing the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by 193 UN member states in 2015. The Government is considering a number of approaches to develop and implement a national SDGs Roadmap, including through utilizing the UN Development Group’s (UNDG) Mainstreaming, Acceleration, and Policy Support (MAPS) approach. In addition, as an emerging donor and a prominent South-South/West-East cooperation partner, Kazakhstan is also playing an active role in championing the regional and global dialogues on the SDGs and other globally important agendas such as the Paris Agreement on climate change. The international EXPO 2017 ‘Future Energy’ is one of the most prominent thematic international platforms Kazakhstan is offering to the world to support the implementation of the energy-related SDGs.

UNDP internalizes the lessons learned from the previous UNDP CPD and UNDAF cycles (2010-2015) and works towards building a next stage of effective partnership arrangements, including through facilitation of national and international dialogues to support the new stage of reforms, as well as supporting policies that aim to address structural impediments. The advancement of the SDGs agenda at local and national levels in line with Kazakhstan strategy remains a focused priority for UNDP’s programmes and projects.

Three years of UNDP efforts has culminated in Kazakhstan adopting an enabling legislation to establish the official development assistance (ODA) system, provisionally called KazAid. With the growing role of Kazakhstan as a middle-income country and an active international player, an unprecedented opportunity is presented for UNDP to promote regional cooperation as one of the main priorities in the new country programme cycle. UNDP has worked with key government agencies to introduce a new model of civil service and public administration. As a result, the Regional Hub for Civil Service in Astana was established in 2013 as a platform to exchange knowledge and best practices in civil service modernization among Kazakhstan and other countries in the region. This promises to become one of the country’s major platforms for institutionalizing South-South and triangular partnerships.

UNDP is scaling up its fourth, international pillar through two strategic initiatives: KazAid, to support the establishment of Kazakhstan’s ODA system, and the Regional Hub of Civil Service in Astana (Hub). The Hub initiative demonstrates scaling up to meet high demand and expectations both domestically and internationally, by delivering concrete results and innovations in research, knowledge management and capacity building. The Hub platform also presents an opportunity to strengthen practical South-South/West-East partnerships and collaborations, especially for SDG 16 (governance and institutions) and SDG 17 (partnerships). The Hub continues strengthening linkages with UNDP global centres and hubs and other similar entities in order to build broad partnerships and synergies. UNDP supports transforming the KazAid concept into practice by providing policy advisory and technical support on ODA establishment and delivery. UNDP is forming tripartite partnerships with the Government of Kazakhstan and well-known experienced ODA Agencies, such as JICA, USAID, and others to deliver practical ODA projects in Central Asian countries, while providing learning-by-doing platforms for the future KAZAID staff. UNDP supports the Government in regional and global dialogues and initiatives on the SDGs, especially on those issues of shared concern such as management of natural resources, building inclusive societies and accountable institutions, and safe and resilient cities and human settlements.

The UNDP Country Office is commissioning an outcome “The government of Kazakhstan, together with partners, assists neighboring countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and leads the regional cooperation by promoting United Nations principles, standards and Conventions” (further – Regional Cooperation) evaluation to obtain credential, an evidence-based information on UNDP’s contribution to the development results during the 2016-2018 country programme cycle. To achieve the Outcome on Regional Cooperation, the UNDP has focused on enhancing capacities for integrated management of government agencies, private sector, NGOs/CSOs etc.

For more details, please refer to the Terms of References.

Duties and Responsibilities

The evaluation will cover UNDP CPD Outcomes 3.1 under current UN PFD in Kazakhstan for 2016-2020. This outcome evaluation will assess progress towards the outcome, the factors affecting the outcome, key UNDP contributions to outcomes and assess the partnership strategy. The evaluation will also assess the portfolio alignment and its relevance to the UN PFD in Kazakhstan for 2016-2020. Specifically, the scope of works consists of the following:

1) Determine whether there has been progress made towards the Outcomes 3.1 achievement, and also identify the challenges to attainment of the outcomes. Identify innovative approaches and capacities developed through UNDP assistance. Assess the relevance of UNDP outputs to the outcomes.

2) Analyze the underlying factors beyond UNDP’s control that influenced the outcomes. Distinguish the substantive design issues from the key implementation and/or management capacities and issues including the timeliness of outputs, the degree of stakeholders and partners’ involvement in the completion of outputs, and how processes were managed/carried out.

3) Examine the distinctive characteristics and features of UNDP’s inclusive development programme and how it has shaped UNDP's relevance as a current and potential partner. The Country Office position will be analyzed in terms of communication that goes into articulating UNDP's relevance, or how the Country Office is positioned to meet partner needs by offering specific, tailored services to these partners, creating value by responding to partners' needs, demonstrating a clear breakdown of tailored UNDP service lines and having comparative advantages relative to other development organizations in the regional cooperation result area.

4) Ascertain whether UNDP’s partnership strategy has been appropriate and effective. What were the partnerships formed? What was the role of UNDP? How did the partnership contribute to the achievement of the outcome? What was the level of stakeholders’ participation? Examine the partnership among UNDP and other donor organizations in the relevant field. This will also aim at validating the appropriateness and relevance of the outcome to the country’s needs and the partnership strategy and hence enhancing development effectiveness and/or decision making on UNDP future role in development.

5) Identify lessons learnt and best practices and related innovative ideas and approaches in incubation, and in relation to management and implementation of activities to achieve related outcomes. This will support learning lessons about UNDP’s contribution to the outcomes over the current PFD and CPD cycle so as to design a better assistance strategy for the next programming cycle.

For detailed CPD outcome indicators, baselines, targets, as well as the indicative country programme outputs please refer to the Terms of Reference.

Deliverables:

Conducting a desk review;
Preparing the detailed evaluation inception report (to finalize evaluation design and methods);
In-country evaluation mission (visits to the field, interviews, questionnaires) and in country analysis with preliminary feedback to country stakeholders;
Preparing the draft report;
Finalizing the evaluation report (incorporate comments provided).

Competencies

Professionalism

Good knowledge of the UNDP system and UNDP country programming processes (CPD/CPAP);
Specialized experience and/or methodological/technical knowledge, including data collection and analytical skills, mainstreaming HRBA and gender to programming;
Results Based Management (RBM) principles, logic modelling/logical framework analysis, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and participatory approaches.

Communications

Good communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to write reports, conduct studies and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in social science, economics, or related field.

Experience

7 years of the relevant professional experience; previous experience with CPD/CPAP evaluations and/or reviews including previous substantive research experience and involvement in monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, result-based management (preferably in regional and international cooperation, ODA establishment and management, partnership communications, partnership policies etc.);
Practical experience in Eastern Europe and CIS region and/or knowledge of the development issues in Middle Income Countries is an asset.

Language Requirements

Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of Russian is an asset;
Excellent report writing skills as well as communication skills.

The candidates must submit proposal, including the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Signed UNDP P11 form or detailed CV;
Letters of recommendation (if any);
A list of provided services in the field of the evaluation, monitoring and social studies in public policy, development studies, sociology or a related social science for the last three years;
Membership in the research organizations is an asset;
Proposed methodology of final Evaluation;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided

Application Procedure: Only full submitted application will be considered!!!