Background

The GoTL requested UNDP to assist in formulation and implementation of projects to implement NAPA priorities, in its capacity as Implementing Agency accredited to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that administers the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF).? UNDP is supporting the Government of Timor Leste in the implementation of two National Adaptation Programme of Actions (NAPA) follow-up projects under the least developed country fund (LDCF) administered by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Through these projects, the government aims to strengthen the capacity of local administration to address climate and disaster risks mainly flood, erosion and landslides through a) introduction of climate resilient small scale rural infrastructures (SSRI Project) and b) community based watershed approach to disaster risk management along the Dili to Ainaro Road Development Corridor (DARDC Project).?

The Full-Scale Project “Strengthening the Resilience of Small Scale Rural Infrastructure and Local Government Systems to Climatic Variability and Risk” is being implemented between the period of November 2013 and December 2017 to support the Ministry of State Administration (MSA) and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment (MCIE) to implement climate resilient rural infrastructure projects in the three focus Municipalities of Baucau, Ermera and Liquica.

The project was designed to support the Ministry of State Administration (MSA) and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment (MCIE) to implement NAPA priorities and work closely with government and local authorities in the development and implementation of climate resilient rural infrastructure projects in three focused municipalities (Baucau, Ermera and Liquica). The Government of Timor-Leste requested UNDP to assist in formulation and implementation of this project to implement NAPA priorities, in its capacity as Implementing Agency accredited to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that administers the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF).

The objective of the project is critical small scale rural infrastructure is climate resilient designed and implemented through participatory approaches and strengthened local governance systems, reflecting the needs of communities vulnerable to increasing climate risks.? The overall goal of the project is to safeguard development benefits for rural communities from future climate change induced risks. This goal is consistent with and underpinned by, number of important policies and strategies governing Timor-Leste’s national development and its specific respond to climate change.

The LDCF funds for this project are being used by the Government of Timor-Leste to address these barriers through 3 components.

Component 1 to support the capture and dissemination of evidence on local climate risks and vulnerabilities for national policy influencing, the development of an overarching climate change policy framework and the establishment of a multi-stakeholder knowledge exchange platform.
Component 2 to support the development of climate variability risk and vulnerability assessment tools and the integration of climate risks in local planning, budgeting, infrastructure design, construction and maintenance. This will be accompanied by substantial capacity development measures to strengthen the capacity of Local Administrations and service providers on climate resilient local planning/budgeting processes and infrastructure engineering and implementation.
Component 3 is to provide incentives for implementation of climate resilient local plans via investment grants for climate resilient small-scale infrastructure and ecosystem services, which will directly benefit over 100,000 people.

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 Project title (PIMS # 4817). Therefore, UNDP is seeking a qualified National consultant to provide support to the Team Leader of the evaluation mission to undertake the terminal evaluation of the project and all activities undertaken between 2013 – 2017 and prepare and present the Terminal Evaluation Report.

The Terminal Evaluation 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.?

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager/CTA and in consultation of UNDP Sustainable Development and Resilience Unit and other projects staff, the Consultant will be responsible for the evaluation covering all activities as outlined in the framework of the project.?

The evaluator is expected to conduct a field mission to Baucau and Ermera Municipal Authorities and Liquica Municipality, including the selected project sites. Interviews will be held with the following organizations and individuals at a minimum:?

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment (MCIE)
Ministry of State Administration (MSA)
Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communication (MPWTC)
Director General for Environment and GEF Focal Point, MCIE
Director General for Urban Management, MSA
National Director for Climate Change, MCIE
National Director for Toponomy, MSA
National Director for Pollution Control and EIA
Director, Centre for Climate Change and Biodiversity (CCCB)
President of Municipal Authorities of Baucau and Ermera
Administrator of Liquica Municipality
Chief of Villages in Baucau and Ermera Municipal Authorities and Liquica Municipality
UNDP Country Team

The evaluator will 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. The project team will provide these documents to the selected evaluator.

EVALUATION CRITERIA & RATINGS:

An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework, 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:?

Monitoring and Evaluation design at entry
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Implementation
Overall quality of M&E
Relevance
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Overall Project Outcome Rating
Quality of UNDP Implementation – Implementing Agency (IA)
Quality of Execution - Executing Agency (EA)
Overall quality of Implementation / Execution
Sustainability of Financial resources
Socio-political Sustainability
Institutional framework and governance sustainability
Environmental sustainability
Overall likelihood of sustainability

The completed Required Ratings table (as found in the TE Guidance) must be included in the evaluation executive summary.? The obligatory rating scales can be found in the TE Guidance.

A full recommended report outline can be found in the TE Guidance.

The main phases of the terminal evaluation are as follows:

Preliminary Document Review

The evaluation team will carry out a preliminary documentation review which is expected to help the team to identify the evaluation questions and indicators to guide the evaluation process.

Inception Phase

The national consultant is expected to support the drafting and submission of an inception report based on the documentation review and proposed the evaluation structure (evaluation matrix, evaluation questions, indicators, sources of information and collection methods to be used). The report will include the sites selected for the field visits in the municipalities, proposed field mission timetable based on the selection of sites and stakeholders to be interviewed in the field, an updated work plan for the evaluation process, and interview protocols designed for each of the different type of stakeholder to be interviewed.

Field Mission in Timor-Leste and Presentation- Initial Findings

Conduct field mission in Timor-Leste, facilitate meetings and conduct interviews with stakeholders in Dili, Baucau and Ermera Municipal Authorities and Liquica Municipality, and site visit to selected sites in the three focus districts and
At the end of the field mission, the evaluation team will facilitate a comprehensive mission debriefing in UNDP Timor-Leste Country Office providing the initial findings and recommendations from the evaluation mission.

Draft Evaluation Report:

Prepare and submit the Draft Final report in English within 3 weeks of completion of the field mission detailing the key findings and recommendations which should be submitted to UNDP Timor-Leste and UNDP GEF RTA.

Terminal Evaluation (Final) Report.

The final report should be submitted within 1 week of receiving comments from UNDP CO, UNDP GEF RTA, Government counterparts and other key stakeholders. When submitting the final 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.

Project Finance and Co-Finance:

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 Required Co-Financing Table (as found in the TE Guidance), 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.??

Competencies

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.
• Capability to work effectively under deadline pressure and to take on a range of responsibilities;
• Ability to work in a team, good decision-making skills, communication and writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced post-graduate university degree in engineering, environmental studies, developmental studies, rural development, public policy, climate change, or other closely related field OR Undergraduate university degree with relevant combination of professional training, certification and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years professional experience in climate change adaptation, DRM, rural development, gender sensitive evaluation and analysis with experience working and conducting evaluations with UNDP and GEF.
Previous experience with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
Technical knowledge in the targeted focal area(s): climate change, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, rural development, local governance, rural livelihood and resilience
Broad experience working in Timor-Leste and considerable knowledge of the local context.

Language requirements:

English Language required with good written and oral communication skills. Fluency in Portuguese, Tetun and/or Bahasa Indonesia is a requirement.

TOR, P11, and Financial Proposal template are available for downloading from this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=40987 Please note that all application documents composed of a Cover Letter/Proposal, CV or completed P11 form, and Financial Proposal must be submitted or uploaded as one set document in the online application.