Background

The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UNCC:Learn) is a collaborative initiative of more than 30 multilateral organizations supporting countries to design and implement systematic, recurrent and results-oriented climate change learning. At the global level, the partnership supports knowledge-sharing and the dissemination of common climate change learning materials. It also coordinates training interventions through collaboration of UN agencies and other partners, contributing to a growing critical mass of professionals and individuals with the necessary understanding of the basics of climate change to inform their decisions and take effective action. At the national level, UN CC:Learn supports countries in addressing learning priorities relevant to their National Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and other climate- related policies, plans and strategies, through the development and implementation of climate change learning strategies, in collaboration with national education and training institutions. The Secretariat for UN CC:Learn is hosted by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Funding for UN CC:Learn is provided by the Swiss Government and United Nations partners.

Zimbabwe is among the countries which are developing National Climate Change Learning Strategies. The country joined the UN CC:Learn Programme to scale up the efforts being done to strengthen climate change learning within the country. The National Climate Change Learning strategy developed in partnership with UN CC:Learn and UNDP aims to advance effective implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC),National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and other climate related policies, plans and strategies, which would further help Zimbabwe to address the several challenges posed by climate change, such as extreme weather events, high temperatures and unreliable rainfall patterns.

The national evaluation will Identify lessons from national projects to provide an opportunity for independent reflection in countries to keep the momentum raised through the development of climate change learning strategies and action plans. It also provides important feedback at the international level for refining methodologies and facilitating knowledge-sharing related to the implementation of Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Education, Training and Public Awareness, and the 2012-2020 Doha Work Programme. The project evaluation will examine results and lessons learned using the overall project objectives as a reference point, as well as the evaluation criteria listed below. It will also examine the extent to which UN CC:Learn projects have been compatible with principles of the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (e.g. country-ownership, donor alignment, etc.)

It is against this background that UNDP in Zimbabwe in partnership with UN CC:Learn and the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry seeks to engage the services of a consultant to evaluate the UN CC:Learn project in Zimbabwe.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Evaluation Consultant will function under the support and guidance of the UNDP Head of Poverty Reduction, Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director, Climate Change Management and the UN CC: Learn Project Coordinator. Broad functions to be performed by the incumbent include:

  • Review of the strategy/action plan development: This element of the evaluation serves the purpose of obtaining feedback from participants and key stakeholders concerning the process of developing a national strategy/action plan. The areas to be covered under this will address  issues to do with relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability. Further guidance will be provided to the successful candidate.
  • Review of initial progress in implementing the strategy/action plan: The objective of this part of the evaluation is to examine to what extent the strategy/action plan has fostered delivery of more specific implementation action/results and a structured and coordinated implementation process. It also seeks to generate recommendations to ensure long term and sustained implementation of the strategy/action plan. The areas to be covered under this will address issues to do with relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and coherence. Further guidance will be provided to the successful candidate.
  • Country feedback on support provided by UN CC: Learn: As part of the national project evaluation, national and regional implementing partners are invited  to provide feedback on methodological and substantive support provided by the UN CC: Learn Secretariat and UN partners. Of interest are the following questions;
    • Has the UN CC: Learn Secretariat been effective and efficient in supporting the delivery of UN CC: Learn activities at the national/regional levels?
    • How useful was the support provided by UN CC :Learn for:
      • Developing and launching the National Strategy?
      • Planning and implementing initial Priority Action?
      • Creating linkages with UN agencies?
      • Enabling knowledge-and experience exchange among countries?
  • How valuable were the communication and outreach services provided by UN CC: Learn (e.g. website and social media)?
  • To what extent did the support provided by UNCC: Learn enable a country-driven process?

Expected deliverables

  • Report on the stakeholders’ feedback concerning the process of developing a national climate learning strategy and action plan – within 11days after signing contract, that is between 1 – 15 January 2021;
  • A detailed report on initial progress in implementing the National Climate Change Learning Strategy and priority actions, with recommendations for long term and sustained implementation of the Strategy and action plan – within 21 days after signing contract, that is between 16 – 31 January 2021;
  • A report detailing feedback on methodological and substantive support provided by the UN CC: Learn Secretariat and UN partners – with 26 days after signing contract, that is between 1 – 6 February 2021.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Geography / Environmental Studies, Economics or related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years’ experience in international development and evaluation;
  • At least 5 years’ experience of conducting project/programme evaluations;
  • Experience in climate change related programs or interventions is an advantage;
  • Experience working with bilateral and international donor agencies;
  • Good understanding of national and state government priorities, policies and planning process on climate change in Zimbabwe.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in both written and spoken English.

Application procedure:

  • Applicants are requested to upload copies of:

Please group all your documents (CV, P11, Technical Proposal and certificates) into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.
Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation criteria:

The Consultant will be evaluated based on qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToR.  In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:
 
Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
Financial Criteria weight: 30%;

The award of the contract shall be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the Terms of Reference.

“UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Well qualified candidates, particularly women and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply”.