Consultancy - Revision and copyediting of draft report - Evaluation of UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme in Namibia (2014 - 2020), Windhoek, Namibia (Open for Internati

Contract

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For every child, clean water

Introduction

The UNICEF Namibia Country Office (NCO) recently completed the Evaluation of UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme in Namibia (2014-2020). This evaluation was commissioned to provide the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) and UNICEF with an independent and forward-looking appraisal of the operational experience, achievements, opportunities, and challenges from implementing the WASH programme. The evaluation (referred to as the WASH evaluation hereon) covers the UNICEF supported WASH interventions aimed at improving access to WASH in schools, rural communities and informal urban settlements from approximately January 2014 until December 2020. Therefore, the geographical scope of the evaluation is the Khomas, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Kavango East, and Zambezi regions in Namibia.

The WASH evaluation was designed around the OECD-DAC criteria – relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact – to meet its specific objectives and consisted of various primary qualitative data collection methods. The evaluation approach is built heavily on the document and literature review and uses qualitative interviews to dig deeper into the multisectoral topics at both national and field levels. This data was then strengthened (or challenged) through site visits with field observations and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) or interviews with beneficiaries. The methodology was tailored to incorporate the views of all primary stakeholders in identifying progress and challenges and developing conclusions and recommendations. The evaluation furthermore tested programme risks and assumptions as they relate to the Theory of Change.

Justification

The results of the WASH evaluation described above can contribute to advancing the agenda for the rights of all children in Namibia vis-à-vis the access to water, sanitation and hygiene. However, to ensure that duty bearers can confidently use the evaluation findings and main messages, the final evaluation report must meet the highest quality standards. For this reason, the PME section in the UNICEF NCO seeks to hire an individual consultant who will provide support by revising the draft evaluation report and ensuring it’s aligned with UNICEF’s Global Evaluation Reports Oversight System (GEROS) quality standards (click here : Global Evaluation Report Oversight System (unicef.org)). Since the evaluation is and should remain an independent assessment, it is inappropriate for a staff member to undertake this assignment.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work

Goal/Objective

This consultancy aims to help the PME section at NCO ensure that the final report for the WASH evaluation is aligned with UNICEF’s GEROS evaluation quality standards. The individual consultant will provide support by revising the draft evaluation report based on detailed feedback shared by NCO during the inception phase of the consultancy and ensuring that the final report receives a “Satisfactory” or higher rating when reviewed against the GEROS rating template (see Annex 1).

Activities and Tasks

With the overarching goal of ensuring the final report is aligned with UNICEF’s GEROS evaluation quality standards, the individual consultant will seek to:

• Strengthen the evaluation report’s gender and equity component – through a review of existing gender and equity data collected during the evaluation and potentially additional data collection on gender and equity aspects (if necessary);
• Improve articulation of evaluation findings by (i) drawing clearer reference between the evaluation findings and the programme’s Theory of Change (ii) providing performance indicators, standards, benchmarkers or other means of comparison to assess the key achievements of the programme where possible.
• Professionally proofread and copyedit the draft report for language, structure and presentation – this will include a revision of the current text with tables and figures to achieve an optimal flow of information and presentation of the findings bearing in mind the requirements of an independent evaluation:
  • Remaining faithful to the evidence
  • Ensuring a red thread for different' story lines', building arguments that are based on findings, and link to conclusions and recommendations
• Bring in additional elements of UNICEF’s GEROS evaluation quality standards that are missing from the draft report currently;
• Add a professionally designed cover and layout to the report;

• Draft a short advocacy brief document based on the key messages of the evaluation report (approximately two pages).

  Approach and Methods

NCO will share the draft evaluation report and UNICEF’s detailed feedback on the report with the consultant. This feedback will, among other things, highlight elements of UNICEF’s GEROS evaluation quality standards that are currently missing from the draft report, such as insufficient integration of a gender and equity dimension in the evaluation and weak formulation of findings.

NCO will also make available to the consultant all of the data and analysis and other resources generated from the evaluation so far. If a need to collect additional data is identified and agreed upon during the inception phase, NCO will facilitate the process for local field data collection.

Work relationships

The individual consultant will be recruited by NCO and report to the NCO PME manager.

Output / Results (Deliverables)

The consultant will be hired under a UNICEF individual contract. The consultancy fee will be paid as a lump sum amount after acceptance of the two deliverables.

• One revised, copyedited, proofread evaluation report
• One advocacy brief drafted and edited (2 pages)

The evaluation report will need to receive a “Satisfactory” or higher rating when reviewing against the GEROS rating template to be finalised.

The deadline for completion of the consultancy work is 17 December 2021.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Desired profile

• Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to evaluation (social policy, economics, demography, anthropology, public health).
• Minimum of eight years of experience in conducting similar or related evaluations or evaluative reviews.
• Knowledge and experience in evaluating programmes related to WASH is an advantage.
• Experience in drafting or editing evaluations would be a considerable advantage, including familiarity with United Nations Evaluation Group and/or GEROS guidance on evaluation reports.
• Excellent command of English, with a proven ability to prepare high-quality reports.
• Experience in editing and proofreading UN documents and familiarity with UNICEF's style.
• Experience in drafting advocacy documents from evaluations or research.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible attitude.

Administrative issues

This consultancy will take place in 20 working days over two months (November – December). The individual consultant is expected to provide their own space and equipment to carry out the work. The proposed assignment will be entirely home-based and will not require travel.

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

Risks

Unforeseeable challenges could arise that may affect the tight timeline of the consultancy period.

How to Apply

The proposed assignment is seeking an individual consultant. Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement online. Please indicate your ability, availability, one writing sample technical proposal and a financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.