Background

To apply for this consultancy assignment please refer to http://www.ir.undp.org/content/iran/en/home/procurement.html  with reference number of 51512 under the subject: "RFP for Providing International Consultancy Services for Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Building a Multiple-Use Forest Management Framework to Conserve Biodiversity in the Caspian Hyrcanian Forest Landscape - UNDP Country Office - IRAN"

 Please note that all interested applicants are requested to email their technical and financial proposal in accordance with template which has been placed in above website to registry.ir@undp.org

 

The project was designed to conserve biodiversity in key landscapes within the Caspian broadleaf deciduous forest ecoregion. The ecoregion is recognized for its high levels of endemism; it is also an important storehouse of threatened species. It will do this by strengthening the national and local policy framework governing land use in the Caspian forests (which cover an area of approximately 1.8 million hectares), enhancing the rights and roles of the local communities in their management and demonstrating ways and means of improving management (including land use planning, zoning, compliance monitoring and enforcement).

The project will trigger a paradigm shift from sector-focused management to multiple use management, to reduce the conjunction pressures arising from different land uses. It will put in place the necessary policy and regulatory mechanisms needed to mainstream biodiversity conservation considerations into land use plans and build the capacities of key institutions to implement the reformed planning and management approach. The project is thus consistent with GEF Strategic Objective 2 of GEF 5: Mainstream biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into production landscapes, seascapes and sectors and in particular Outcome 2.1: Increase in sustainably managed landscapes and seascapes that integrate biodiversity conservation. The successful implementation of this project will set the foundations for replication of the approach in other important forest ecosystems across the country.

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

To apply for this consultancy assignment please refer to http://www.ir.undp.org/content/iran/en/home/procurement.html  with reference number of 51512 under the subject: "RFP for Providing International Consultancy Services for Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Building a Multiple-Use Forest Management Framework to Conserve Biodiversity in the Caspian Hyrcanian Forest Landscape - UNDP Country Office - IRAN"

 Please note that all interested applicants are requested to email their technical and financial proposal in accordance with template which has been placed in above website to registry.ir@undp.org

 

The evaluator is expected to conduct below tasks for each phase of evaluation process:

 

Approach & Methodology:

  • Frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact;

  • Amend, complete and submit the evaluation questions matrix as part of an evaluation inception report;

  • 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;

  • Conduct a field mission to Golestan, Mazandaran, Guilan and Tehran provinces;

  • Conduct interview with stakeholders;

  • 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;

  • Carrying assessment of project performance based on expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework.

Project Finance and Cofinance:

  • Assess the key financial aspects of the project;

  • Assess variances between planned and actual expenditures.

Project Mainstreaming:

  • 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

  • Assess the extent to which the project is achieving impacts or progressing towards the achievement of impact;

Conclusion

  • Write report that include a chapter providing a set of conclusions, recommendations and lessons

Competencies

To apply for this consultancy assignment please refer to http://www.ir.undp.org/content/iran/en/home/procurement.html  with reference number of 51512 under the subject: "RFP for Providing International Consultancy Services for Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Building a Multiple-Use Forest Management Framework to Conserve Biodiversity in the Caspian Hyrcanian Forest Landscape - UNDP Country Office - IRAN"

 Please note that all interested applicants are requested to email their technical and financial proposal in accordance with template which has been placed in above website to registry.ir@undp.org

 

N/A

Required Skills and Experience

To apply for this consultancy assignment please refer to http://www.ir.undp.org/content/iran/en/home/procurement.html  with reference number of 51512 under the subject: "RFP for Providing International Consultancy Services for Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Building a Multiple-Use Forest Management Framework to Conserve Biodiversity in the Caspian Hyrcanian Forest Landscape - UNDP Country Office - IRAN"

 Please note that all interested applicants are requested to email their technical and financial proposal in accordance with template which has been placed in above website to registry.ir@undp.org

  • Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience

  • Knowledge of UNDP and GEF;

  • Academic and/or professional background in institutional/governance aspects of natural resource management, forest management or biodiversity conservation;

  • Experience in project design, project cycle management, and project monitoring and evaluation at the international level outside Iran;

  • Previous experience with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;

  • Experience in the review of sustainable development projects at the international level, preferably with UNDP or GEF or other United Nations development agencies Technical knowledge in the targeted focal area of biodiversity;

  • Have a broad-based knowledge and international/national experience related to capacity building, local community development and natural resource/forest management;

  • Understanding of political, economic, institutional issues associated with natural resource/forest management and good environmental governance within the Iranian/Middle-Eastern context;

  • Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written.