Country Programme Evaluation (CPE)

Contract

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Background

UN Women Malawi Country office has commissioned a Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE) to be implemented between February 2022 to June 2022. The CPE is a gender-responsive systematic assessment of the performance and contributions made by a Country Office for the achievement of gender equality results in the country they serve. The CPE utilizes the entity’s strategic plan as a reference for measuring progress towards the achievement of expected outcomes and impacts. Similar, to other evaluations, the CPE is compliant with UN Women Evaluation Policy and aligned with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation in the UN System and Ethical Guidelines. The CPE is managed by the UN Women Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Specialist with support from the Un Women Regional Evaluation Specialist.

Specifically, the CPE will assess the UN Women Malawi’s strategic positioning, and the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the portfolio with reference to the Strategic Note cycle of 2016-2021. The CPE will target programmes and projects that the CO has implemented during the past 5 years on their individual and combined success in advancing gender equality in Malawi. It will use the Strategic Note as the main point of reference.

It is against this background that UN Women Malawi wishes to hire a team of four consultants, one Senior Evaluator and three National Evaluators/Experts on (1) Gender Based Governance and Humanitarian) (2) Violence Against Women and Girls (3) Women Economic Empowerment will work together and undertake the evaluation. The estimated duration required for the Senior Evaluator is 45 days and 35 days for the Evaluators / Team Members.

Evaluation Objectives

The following are specific objectives of the country portfolio

• Assess the relevance of UN Women contribution to the intervention at national levels and alignment with international agreements and conventions on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Assess effectiveness and organizational efficiency towards the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment results as defined in the Strategic Note.
• Support the UN Women Malawi CO to improve its strategic positioning to better support the achievement of sustained gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Analyze how human rights approach and gender equality principles are integrated in the design and implementation of the Strategic Note.
• Identify and validate lessons learned, good practices and examples of innovation that supports gender equality and human rights.
• Provide insights into the extent to which the UN Women Malawi CO has realized synergies between its three mandates (normative, coordination and operations).
• Provide actionable recommendations with respect to the development of the next UN Women Malawi CO Strategic Note.

Duties and Responsibilities

The evaluation will apply OECD/DAC evaluation criteria [relevance, effectiveness (including normative, and coordination mandates of UN Women), efficiency, human rights and gender equality, coherence, and sustainability] and Human Rights and Gender Equality as an additional criterion. This evaluation will consider the current Strategic Note covering the period 2016 – 2021. A new Strategic Note is due to be developed in 2021, for the period 2022 – 2027. The period covered by the evaluation will be 2016-2021. The CPE will focus on all activities undertaken by the CO under the Strategic Note, including general support to normative policy and UN coordination. Programme work will be considered in relation to the thematic areas established by the UN Women Strategic Plan 2021-2027. The CPE will be implemented between February 2022 to June 2022.

Methodology

The portfolio analysis will include: (i) Desk review of documentary evidence. The method should include a wide range of data sources (including documents, field information, institutional information systems, financial records, beneficiaries, staff, funders, experts, government officials and community groups) (ii) Consultation with main stakeholders; and an independent assessment of development effectiveness using Contribution Analysis.

The use of participatory analysis, video, photography, or other methods are particularly encouraged as means to include rights holders. The evaluator should specify how protection of participants and respect for confidentiality will be guaranteed. The evaluation is expected to reconstruct the theories of change using a participatory process during the evaluation. This should be critiqued based on feminist and institutional analysis. The CPE will sample programmes and projects that the CO has implemented during the past 5 years. Special attention will be given to the WEP in a case study.

Expected Deliverables

• Draft and revised inception report
• Final evaluation report

Both draft inception report and draft evaluation report will be reviewed by the Evaluation Management Group (EMG) and Evaluation Reference Group (ERG).

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Required Skills and Experience

The Senior Evaluator must possess the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in sociology, international development, gender/women studies, or related area
• At least 15-years practical experience in conducting gender-responsive evaluations of development strategies, policies, and programs.
• Extensive knowledge of, and experience in applying, qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.
• A strong record in designing and leading evaluations.
• Proven knowledge of the role of UN Women and its programming, coordination, and normative roles at the regional and country level
• Country or regional experience in the region.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and communications skills and ability to interact with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Process management skills, including facilitation presentations and communication skills.
• Experience on women peace and security is considered a strong asset.
• Experience in conflict and post conflict countries is considered a strong asset.

The Three Evaluators/Team members must possess the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in sociology, gender, international development, social sciences, or another related area
• Atleast 7 years of professional experience on relevant development GEWE related issues, including substantive support to several evaluation processes.
• Experience in evaluation any of the three thematic components namely, Gender and governance: Women and Youth empowerment through enterprise development and Elimination of Violence against women and girls.
• Technical knowledge in monitoring and evaluation
• Experience of gender analysis and human rights-based approaches
• Process management skills, including facilitation and communication skills with stakeholders.
• Data analysis skills.

Please note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.