UNDP Jobs - 81606- Evaluation Consultant Team: Cluster Evaluation of

Evaluation Consultant Team: Cluster Evaluation of UNDP Country Programmes in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States

Location :

Home-based with country missions

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

02-Jan-2019

Application Deadline :

04-Nov-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

35-40 days per country depending on country programme size, spread out between Jan-Oct 2019

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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: Applications are accepted ONLY via: UNDP Procurement Site

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is undertaking a cluster evaluation of UNDP Country Programmes in 10 countries and 1 territory of Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC) each of which goes to the UNDP Executive Board in 2020 for the approval of their new Country Programme Documents (CPDs).

Each of the 11 countries (and territory) will undergo an Independent Country Programme Evaluation (ICPE), examining UNDP’s work at the country level during the ongoing programme cycle 2016-2020. Results of the ICPEs are expected to provide a set of forward-looking recommendations as input to the new CPD development process for the next country programme development.

The UNDP programme countries under review, which can be grouped under three sub-regions based on their unique challenges and priorities, include:

Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

South Caucus and Western CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia

Western Balkans & Turkey: the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo*

The outputs of this cluster evaluation will include 11 Independent Country Programme Evaluation (ICPE) Reports and a Regional Synthesis Report building on the ICPEs.

The Consultancy

IEO is seeking proposals consulting firms/think tanks/research institutions/individual consultants (who can coordinate and apply as a team with the team leader making the submission) - herinafter referred to as "External Consulting Teams", to propose a team of consultants (comprising of a mix of both international/regional and national consultants) who have substantial work experience and knowledge of the countries in the RBEC region/ sub-region.

The proposed team should demonstrate evaluation expertise in one or more of the UNDP work areas in the countries, which include:

Environment and Natural Resources Management (including climate change adaptation, resilience and disaster risk reduction, environmental governance and related areas)
Governance (including rule of law and judicial reforms, public administration and service delivery, local governance and related areas)
Inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods (including social protection, SMEs and private sector engagement, youth and women employment and related areas.

IEO will recruit up-to a maximum of three external consultancy teams to cover UNDP countries in each of the three RBEC sub-regions.

Consulting Team 1: Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Consulting Team 2: South Caucus and Western CIS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia

Consulting Team 3: Western Balkans: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo*

The external consulting team(s) have the option to submit their proposal for any specific RBEC sub-region or more than one RBEC sub-regions demonstrating their relevant technical expertise and country experience. In making their proposal, the Team Leaders should clearly indicate the sub-region(s) for which they are applying.

Each team will have one Team Leader (covering all countries in the sub-region), who will be supported by local/ regional evaluation consultant(s) to conduct ICPEs in the specific countries in that sub-region. The team should demonstrate a balance of both country and thematic experience.

The duration of the consultancy will vary depending on the size of the UNDP country programme in the country and can range between 35 to 40 consultant days per country (including 5-7 days field mission to the country), spread between January-October 2019 as per the evaluation timeline stated above.

For more information on IEO, visit http://web.undp.org/evaluation

*All references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the IEO Lead Evaluators, the recruited external consulting teams will contribute to the research, data collection and analysis of the country programme by providing their technical expertise and knowledge in the assigned thematic area(s) including cross-cutting areas like gender, human rights, partnerships and capacity building, and contribute in the analysis of findings, conclusions and recommendations leading to the preparation of the final ICPE report for each of the assigned country. Their responsibilities will include:

Conduct preliminary desk review research based on country specific reference material provided by the IEO;
Participate in the finalization and analysis of pre-mission surveys for the country offices and the regional programme;
Prepare pre-mission draft country analysis paper (based on secondary review of literature, pre-mission surveys and preliminary stakeholder discussions) on emerging findings, data gaps, and prepare field data collection and validation mission plans;
Participate in data collection activities, both prior to and during the in-country mission. These include interviews and meetings with relevant stakeholders (virtual, Skype/telephone, and in person);
Participate and contribute in the analysis of findings, conclusions and recommendations leading to the preparation of the final ICPE report for each of the assigned country.
In addition, building on the ICPE reports, the team leader for each of the sub-regional consulting team will contribute in the preparation of the sub-regional synthesis report for their sub-region and contribute in the preparation of the regional synthesis report. The synthesis reports will focus on the key development issues, UNDPs response and lessons learned, and future intervention strategies for UNDPs work in the sub-regions and RBEC region.

Competencies

Functional competencies

Strong analytical skills, including ability to quickly assess a diverse range of information with a discerning sense for quality of data; and
Good mastery of information technology required for organized presentation of information.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Adhere to the principle of confidentiality and ethical code of conducts during the evaluation;
Ability to work under pressure, multi-tasking skills;
Available to travel and conduct required analysis within the agreed timelines; and
Strong oral and written communication skills in English and preferably in local languages.

Corporate Competencies

Knowledge of UNDP work in the country and sub-region; and
Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, acting with professionalism, diplomacy, tact and courtesy.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Each of the proposed team member will have a post-graduate degree or higher in interested thematic area(s) indicated above, or Social Sciences, Public Policy, International Relations, or other relevant fields.

Experience

Each of the proposed team member will have a minimum of seven (7) years of work experience in one or more of the thematic areas under review and relevant fields (e.g. governance, justice and rule of law, human rights, gender, social equity, inclusive development, peacebuilding, disaster risk management, climate change, aid coordination, policy and strategic advisory services in developing countries);
Familiarity with UNDP/UN programmes in the country and sub-region;
Experience in conducting evaluations in development settings, and familiarity with techniques and methods of data collection and quantitative and qualitative analysis; and
Experience of gender-focused evaluation of development programmes.

Languages

Fluency in English required; Knowledge of specific country languages in the RBEC sub-region will be an asset.

Application Instructions

Please do NOT apply via this site (UNDP Jobs site) . This is a request for proposals and therefore full application documents and instructions are available on the UNDP Procurement site: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=50702

Applications submitted via the UNDP Jobs site will not be entertained. Interested parties MUST visit the UNDP Procurement site and follow the indicated submission instructions.