Background

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project on “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities” supports the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change  to enhance the resilience of the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, in the coastal areas of India to climate change and extreme events, using an ecosystem-centred and community-based approach. In addition, this project contributes towards the achievement of climate priorities outlined in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008), the State Action Plans, as well as commitments outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (2015). 

The project will enhance the resilience of coastal communities throughout India, through the implementation of interventions under the following inter-linked outputs:

  • Output 1: Enhanced resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their services; 
  • Output 2: Climate adaptive livelihoods for enhanced resilience of vulnerable coastal communities; and 
  • Output 3: Strengthened coastal and marine governance and institutional frameworks for climate resilient management of coastal areas

This above will be  achieved through interventions in target landscapes in the three states to i) protect and restore ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass, and the services they provide, especially buffering storm surges, and ii) help communities adopt climate-adaptive livelihoods and value chains iii) mainstream EbA principles into coastal planning and governance, enabling intersectoral coordination for addressing climate risk across all of India’s coastal states

Context

With the above background in preview, an Impact Evaluation is to be undertaken under the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities project during the first year of project implementation. This impact evaluation will be a thorough exercise, that is evidence-based, and that can inform achievement of project outcomes over the course of the project period. The Impact Evaluation specialist is expected to design the impact evaluation for the project as well as conduct the validation of the evaluation design through the analysis of baseline and end-line data based on a pilot. The final output of the assignment will be a report on the Impact Evaluation - including methodology, Theory of Change, validation results and recommendation/conclusions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Impact Evaluation specialist will function under the support and guidance of the UNDP Senior Economist. Broad functions to be performed by the incumbent include:

1. Develop an Evaluation Design: Develop an impact evaluation design which isolates the causal impact of the intervention on key outcome indicators, in consultation with UN Senior Economist and project team. S/he will propose a preliminary experimental or quasi-experimental design for the impact evaluation in Country that is consistent with the common framework detailed. S/he will seek stakeholder feedback on the preliminary experimental design and revise design based on feedback. S/he will develop a detailed Impact Evaluation design document and Gantt Chart with the Country team which details the agreed upon identification strategy, data collection and analysis plan, staffing, budget and time frame. Specifically,

  • Develop the impact evaluation theory of change
  • Identify key outcomes indicators and other variables that will be measured as part of the impact evaluation.
  • Carry out power calculation and sample size with indicated budget for impact evaluation.
  • Gantt Chart outlining the impact evaluation implementation plan.

 

2. Support the identification of a Qualified Survey Firm(s): will support the Project team to recruit and contract the survey firm(s) required to complete data collection and entry activities.  This includes:

  • Draft TOR for survey firm
  • Review technical and financial proposals
  • Provide recommendations on preferred firm(s)

Number of days – tasks (1) to (2) together – 15 working days.

 

3. Oversee Questionnaire Development/Adaptation: This will include individual, household, community, and programmatic indicators. It will also include defining the data sources and methods of collection and preferred measurement methods.  Specifically,

  • Develop the questionnaire that will be used to implement the IE design in collaboration with the survey firm ensuring key indicators and outcomes are appropriately measured.
  • Participate in questionnaire pretesting
  • Review questionnaire with project team and UNDP Senior Economist responsible for impact evaluation.
  • Finalize questionnaire based on feedback from pilots and project team

 

Number of days - 3 working days

4. Develop Research Protocol: The Impact Evaluation specialist will collaborate with the Survey Firm(s) to identify all requirements for ethical clearance of the impact evaluation activities.  In addition, the Impact Evaluation specialist will lead development of the research protocol, which will include:

  • Overview of methodology, data collection and analysis plan
  • Overview of measures taken for the protection of human subjects, including informed consent and respondent confidentiality
  • Assessment of respondent risks and benefits

 

Number of days – 5 working days

 

5. Finalize the Sampling Plan: The Impact Evaluation specialist will work with the survey firm to define the sample sizes required to estimate program impacts, as well as the sampling strategy. This will include:

  • The outcome indicator(s) that are used to determine the sample size(s)
  • The minimum impacts that the study should be designed to measure
  • The number of communities in each of the control and treatment groups
  • The number of households and individuals in each community; and (if relevant) the number of repeat visits before and after the interventions
  • Definition of the sample inclusion criteria
  • Definition of central or field-based sampling methodology in collaboration with the Survey Firm(s)

 

6. Oversee Impact Evaluation Preparation and Implementation Activities: The Impact Evaluation specialist will oversee all activities related to preparation and implementation of the impact evaluation, including:

  • Developing the Field Work Plan with the Survey Firm(s)
  • Interviewer recruiting and training
  • Pilot testing with field team(s)
  • Review of Survey Firm progress reports
  • Review of any required secondary data (e.g., market reports, community surveys, etc.)

 

Number of days – (5) and (6) together - 10 working days

 

7. Validation of Evaluation Design: The Impact Evaluation specialist in collaboration with the survey firm is responsible for analysis of the baseline and end line data in order to validate the evaluation design (through baseline difference in means tests) and verify the quality of data produced. This will also include producing the impact evaluation report in collaboration with UNDP’s senior economist responsible for the impact evaluation.

Number of days – 8 working days

 

8. Manage Data Documentation and Storage: The IE specialist is responsible for ensuring proper, comprehensive documentation of the impact evaluation activities and ensuring all data and corresponding documentation is stored in line with UNDP guidelines for data protocol.

Number of days – 5 working days

 

9. Drafting final report on Impact Evaluation – including methodology, Theory of Change, validation results and recommendation/conclusions.

Number of days – 4 working days

Deliverables:  

  1. Report on Development of an impact evaluation design and theory of change.
  2. Draft TOR for survey firm, evaluation of proposals and final selection of survey firm
  3. Finalization of survey questionnaire based on feedback from pilots and advisory panel
  4. Development of Research Protocol
  5. Finalization of the Sampling Plan with the Survey agency
  6. Data system protocol for effective monitoring and evaluation of the project.
  7. Validation of Evaluation Design
  8. Final report on Impact Evaluation

Payment Schedule and other Conditions:

  • Payment will be based on deliverables as per the ‘Deliverables’ table below.
  • The assignment is expected to commence within a week after the signing of the contract to the successful bidder.

Deliverables:

Sl. No.

Deliverable

Time frame

Payment percentage

1

Report on Development of an impact evaluation design and theory of change along with Draft ToR for survey firm.

 

Within 20 days of signing of contract

15 days of professional fees

2

Report on Development of Research Protocol

 

Within 2 months of signing of contract

8 days of professional fees

 

3

Report on Validation of Evaluation design in collaboration with the survey firm

Within 6 months of signing of contract

18 days of professional fees

 

4

Presentation to UNDP on results of the ground work

 

Within 8 months of signing of contract

 

5

Drafting final report on Impact Evaluation including methodology, Theory of Change, synthesis of impact evaluation results, lessons learnt and conclusions

Within 12 months of signing of contract

9 days of professional fees

 

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Excellent drafting, documentation and communication skills in English;
  • Knowledge of Climate Change and project management skills;
  • Proven record on similar documentation work at the National level.

Corporate Competencies:

  • Promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity;
  • Support creativity and innovation;
  • Help create an enabling environment for open communication;
  • Share knowledge and support a culture of learning;
  • Demonstrate fairness and transparency.

Language:

  • An excellent command of English is required.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in economics or econometrics or similar field
  • A PhD is an advantage.

Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years’ experience in international development and evaluation
  • At least 5 years’ experience of conducting econometric analysis with a focus on experimental or quasi-experimental approaches. Experience in climate change related programs or interventions is an advantage.
  • Good knowledge of best practices and indicators to measure impact of climate change adaptation projects including current trends in large project portfolio management, monitoring and evaluation
  • Experience working with bilateral and international donor agencies
  • Good understanding of national and state government priorities, policies and planning process on climate change

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive

Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

  • Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
  • Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Relevant Experience:50 Marks;
  • Qualification: 20 Marks

Documents to be submitted:

  • Detailed CV with contact details of three references.
  • Financial proposal specifying per day consultancy fee based on the work as defined in the Term of Reference above.
  • Prior approved travel expenses will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules or would be arranged by UNDP.

Notes:

  • Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed; Tickets will be issued considering the most direct and economical option and Consultants are not eligible for DSA;
  • Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
  • Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
  • CV and Financial proposal have to be clubbed in one file for uploading. Complete Proposal has to be sent online only;

The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment. 

 

Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment, including
Financial Proposal template

http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/careers/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors-Letter-UNDP.pdf

For any clarifications, please write to: ic.india@undp.org

UNDP strives to have a workforce which reflects diversity and gender balance, and applies an equal opportunities approach. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. All selections are on merit.