Antecedentes

This is the Terms of Reference for the UNDP-GEF Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the full-sized project titled “CLIMATE Change Adaptation programme in water and agriculture in anseba region” (PIMS 4540) implemented through the MoLWE/ MoA Zoba Anseba, which is to be undertaken in 2013-2018. The project started in 2013 and is in its final year of implementation. In line with the UNDP-GEF Guidance on TEs, this TE process was initiated before the submission of the second Project Implementation Report (PPR). The TE process must follow the guidance outlined in the document Guidance For Conducting Terminal Evaluation of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects (see Annex).

The project objective was to:

  • Increase community resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change through an integrated water management and agricultural development approach in the sub-zobas of Hamelmalo and Habero, Zoba Anseba—Eritrea. The programme will adopt a participatory approach working with vulnerable groups in particularly drought-prone areas of Zoba Anseba, including small-scale farmers, agro-pastoralists and rural women. The project duration is five years and the budget allocated is $ 6,010,000.00.

Deberes y responsabilidades

The TE team will consist of two independent consultants that will conduct the TE - one team leader (with experience and exposure to projects and evaluations in other regions globally) and one team expert, usually from the country of the project.?

The TE team will first conduct a document review of project documents (i.e. PIF, UNDP Initiation Plan, Project Document, ESSP, Project Inception Report, PPRs, Finalized GEF focal area Tracking Tools, Project Appraisal Committee meeting minutes, Financial and Administration guidelines used by Project Team, project operational guidelines, manuals and systems, etc.) provided by the Project Team and Commissioning Unit. Then they will participate in a TE inception workshop to clarify their understanding of the objectives and methods of the TE, producing the TE inception report thereafter. The TE mission will then consist of interviews and site visits to Sub Zoba Habero and Hamelmalo, Anseba Region and surrounding villages.

The TE team will assess the following four categories of project progress and produce a draft and final TE report. See the Guidance For Conducting Terminal Evaluation of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects (attached or hyperlinked) for requirements on ratings. No overall rating is required.

Project Strategy

Project Design:

  •  Review the problem addressed by the project and the underlying assumptions.? Review the effect of any incorrect assumptions or changes to the context to achieving the project results as outlined in the Project Document.
  • Review the relevance of the project strategy and assess whether it provides the most effective route towards expected/intended results.?
  •  Review how the project addresses country priorities
  • Review decision-making processes

Results Framework/Logframe:

  •  Undertake a critical analysis of the project’s log frame indicators and targets, assess how “SMART” the midterm and end-of-project targets are (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), and suggest specific amendments/revisions to the targets and indicators as necessary.
  •  Examine if progress so far has led to or could in the future catalyse beneficial development effects (i.e. income generation, gender equality and women’s empowerment, improved governance etc...) that should be included in the project results framework and monitored on an annual basis.

 Progress Towards Results

  • Review the log frame indicators against progress made towards the end-of-project targets; populate the Progress Towards Results Matrix, as described in the Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects; colour code progress in a “traffic light system” based on the level of progress achieved; assign a rating on progress for the project objective and each outcome; make recommendations from the areas marked as “not on target to be achieved” (red).
  • Compare and analyse the GEF Tracking Tool at the Baseline with the one completed right before the Terminal Evaluation.
  • Identify remaining barriers to achieving the project objective.
  •  By reviewing the aspects of the project that have already been successful, identify ways in which the project can further expand these benefits.

Project Implementation and Adaptive Management

Using the Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects; assess the following categories of project progress:

  • Management Arrangements
  •  Work Planning
  •  Finance and co-finance
  •  Project-level monitoring and evaluation systems
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Reporting
  • Communications

Sustainability

Assess overall risks to sustainability factors of the project in terms of the following four categories:

  •  Financial risks to sustainability
  • Socio-economic risks to sustainability
  • Institutional framework and governance risks to sustainability
  •  Environmental risks to sustainability

The TE consultant/team will include a section in the TE report setting out the TE’s evidence-based conclusions, in light of the findings.

Additionally, the TE consultant/team is expected to make recommendations to the Project Team. Recommendations should be succinct suggestions for critical intervention that are specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant. A recommendation table should be put in the report’s executive summary. The TE consultant/team should make no more than 15 recommendations total.

 Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The TE consultant/team shall prepare and submit:

  •  TE Inception Report: TE team clarifies objectives and methods of the Terminal Evaluation no later than 1 weeks before the TE mission. To be sent to the Commissioning Unit and project management. Approximate due date: 10/09/2018
  • Presentation: Initial Findings presented to project management and the Commissioning Unit at the end of the TE mission. Approximate due date: 05/10/2018
  •  Draft Final Report: Full report with annexes within 3 weeks of the TE mission. Approximate due date: 16/10/2018
  •  Final Report*: Revised report with annexed audit trail detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final TE report. To be sent to the Commissioning Unit within 1 week of receiving UNDP comments on draft. Approximate due date: 17/11/2018

*The final TE report must be in English. If applicable, the Commissioning Unit may choose to arrange for a translation of the report into a language more widely shared by national stakeholders.

 Institutional Arrangement

The principal responsibility for managing this TE resides with the Commissioning Unit. The Commissioning Unit for this project’s TE is MOLWE and UNDP Country Office.

The Commissioning Unit will contract the consultants and ensure the timely provision of per diems and travel arrangements within the country for the TE team. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the TE team to provide all relevant documents, set up stakeholder interviews, and arrange field visits.

Competencias

Functional Competencies:

  • abilto undertake technical policy-focused research related to invironment and climate change;?
  • Strong analytical capacity and experience in climate change analysis, needs assessment and programme design;
  • Good knowledge and substantial field experience in environmental impact assessment and planning;
  • Good knowledge on the policy and implementation of environmental sustainability;
  • Ability to plan own work, report on work progress and deliver outputs in a timely manner;
  • Excellent report writing, communication and interpersonal skills; and
  • Ability to work under pressure and to deliver in a timely manner without compromising quality standards.

Core Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism; and
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

  • A Master's degree in Climate Change, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management,? ?Agriculture, Land Management, or other closely related field.

Experience:

  • Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies;
  • Experience applying SMART targets and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios;
  •  Competence in adaptive management, as applied to the project “Climate Change Adaptation Programme in Water and Agriculture in Anseba Region”
  • Experience working with the GEF or GEF-evaluations; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis is an added value;
  • Experience working in Africa;
  • Work experience in relevant technical areas for at least 10 years;
  •  Excellent communication skills; fluency in English (both oral and written) and the local language/Tigregna (for national consultant), is required
  • Demonstrable analytical skills;
  •  Project evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset;

Language:

  • Excellent knowledge of the English language (knowledge of local language is a plus); and
  • Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (Government authorities, Development Partners, etc.).