UNDP Jobs - 83596- Consultancy Post: International Terminal Evaluator

Consultancy Post: International Terminal Evaluator (SLM)

Location :

Manila, PHILIPPINES

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

06-Mar-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

37 days spread over 3 months

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 Implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Practices to Address Land Degradation and Mitigate Effects of Drought (otherwise known as the SLM Project) (PIMS #5365).

Evaluation approach and method

An overall approach and method for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects has developed over time. The evaluation should include a mixed methodology of document review, interviews, and observations from project site visits, at minimum, and the evaluators should make an effort to triangulate information. The evaluator is expected to frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in 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 (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, DA Bureau of Soils and Water Management Office, SLM Project Team, UNDP GEF Technical Adviser and key stakeholders.

The evaluator is expected to conduct a field mission to select project sites in the aforementioned two priority sites of the Programme. The complete list of these projects, their corresponding project sites, grantees and their contact details is included in Annex B. Interviews will be held with the following organizations and individuals at a minimum:

· Members of the Project Board

· Officials of the DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (DENR-FASPS)

· Officials of the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM)

· GEF Operational Focal Point

· Staff/Consultants of SLM Project

· Officials and Staff of the Local Responsible Partners

· Officials and Staff of the UNDP Country Office

· Officers and Staff of Local Government Units

· Members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC)

· Members of the Local Technical Working Group (LTWG)

The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, project budget revisions, 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.

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 in Annex D .

Project finance / cofinance

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 , 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. Conclusions should build on findings and be based in evidence. Recommendations should be prioritized, specific, relevant, and targeted, with suggested implementers of the recommendations. Lessons should have wider applicability to other initiatives across the region, the area of intervention, and for the future

Implementation Arrangements

The principal responsibility for managing this evaluation resides with the UNDP CO in the Philippines. 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.

Evaluation timeframe / Duration of Work

The total duration of the evaluation will be 37 days spread over 3 months

* An evaluation matrix will also be submitted as an annex to the Inception Report (Annex C). The matrix will outline the data sources and data collection tools and methods required to answer each evaluation question. The Inception Report should also include submission of accomplished Annex E.

**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.

SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL

The financial proposals from possible candidates should be expressed in lump sum amount inclusive of all financial costs related to this engagement (i.e. professional fees, transportation/travel to and from country of origin if residing outside the Philippines, subsistence allowance during the entire stay in Manila not exceeding the UN prescribed DSA daily rate, reproduction, communications including internet). Domestic airfare, food and accommodation of the team outside Manila will be shouldered by UNDP separately and only 20% of the DSA following the NIM rates will be provided.

Payment Modalities and Specifications

First Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the Inception Report;
Second Tranche - 40% - Upon submission and acceptance of the draft Terminal Evaluation Report;
Third Tranche - 50% - Upon submission and acceptance of the (UNDP-CO and UNDP RTA) of the final Terminal Evaluation Report

Duties and Responsibilities

The project was designed to strengthen the SLM frameworks to address land degradation process and mitigate the effects of drought in the Philippines through the following outcomes: Outcome 1: effective national enabling environment to promote integrated landscape management; and Outcome 2: long-term capacities and incentives in place for local communities and LGUs to uptake of SLM practices in two targeted municipality in the Philippines.

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.

Competencies

CORPORATE COMPETENCIES

Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision, values and ethical standards
Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences
Treat all stakeholders fairly and without prejudice
Maintains objectivity and impartiality in handling evaluation processes

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

Experience in project development, implementation and evaluation--particularly in directly managing results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies
Demonstrated experience in conducting evaluation of multi-year and multi-component programmes and projects
Familiarity with the norms and issues in early recovery and rehabilitation work in disaster-affected areas
Ability to process large amounts and diverse set of data and documents related to infrastructure development, livelihood, resettlement, disaster risk reduction and management, and governance
Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions with national/local governmental officials, peoples organizations and communities
Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment and to deal with complex multi-stakeholder environment
Demonstrated ability to prepare and present comprehensive reports

Required Skills and Experience

There will be an international consultant who will conduct the terminal evaluation. The consultant shall have prior experience in evaluating similar projects. Experience with GEF financed projects is an advantage. The evaluator selected should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have conflict of interest with project related activities. He/She will travel to the Philippines from country of origin to during the evaluation mission to validate the documents and reports of the project and present his/her initial findings to the project management and UNDP CO.

Education - 20%

Master’s Degree on agriculture, development studies/ management, environmental science, environment & natural resources management, or any related course

Experience

Minimum ten (10) years of relevant professional experience especially on results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies-20%

Skills

Knowledge of UNDP and GEF, and experience of working on GEF evaluations (20%)
Technical knowledge in the targeted focal area and familiarity with land degradation issues globally, and if possible, in the Philippines or in Southeast Asian countries (20%)
Knowledge of sustainable land management approaches and practices in production landscapes (20%)

Language:

Fluency in the English language and excellent oral and written communication skills both required for consultant

Criteria for selection process:

The offer will evaluated based on the Combined Scoring method:

- Qualifications - 50%

- Methodology - 20%

- Financial Proposal - 30 %

Application requirements:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Financial Proposal Template) using the template provided by UNDP;
Brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment; (max 1 page)
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price and all other travel related costs (such as flight ticket, per diem, etc), supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template attached to the Letter of Confirmation of Interest template. If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP
Personal Curriculum Vitae, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

Application requirements should be emailed to procurement.ph@undp.org and registry.ph@undp.org on or before 06 March 2019.

Attachments in this link given below can be downloaded at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=53396

- Terms of Reference (TOR), Financial Proposal Template and Terms & Conditions for Consultants.

In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.