Evaluation Specialist for Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF projects "Ecosystem Approach to Haiti Cote Sud (GEF ID5531); Macaya Grand Sud II; Support Program for Watershed Management (PIMS

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UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 23 Feb 2023 at 23:59 UTC

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Result of Service The Evaluation Team will submit for each of the three projects a concise evaluation report.

Work Location Home-Based with field visits

Expected duration 8 months

Duties and Responsibilities Org. Setting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. This consultancy is located at Headquarters in the Evaluation Office which reports directly to the Executive Director. The consultant reports to the Evaluation Manager and the Director of the Evaluation Office.

The Evaluation

In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme Manual , the Terminal Evaluation is undertaken at operational completion of the project to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability. The Evaluation has two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote operational improvement, learning and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP and the main project partners (to include Ministries, Donors, UN agencies, other strategic partners and associated projects). Therefore, the Evaluation will identify lessons of operational relevance for future project formulation and implementation, especially where a second phase of the project is being considered. Recommendations relevant to the whole house may also be identified during the evaluation process.

The Projects

Ecosystem Approach to Haiti Cote Sud (GEF ID5531) The project goal is to rehabilitate the Haitian environment and reduce poverty. The project’s specific objective is increasing resilience to climate change risks and decreasing disaster risk using an ecosystem management approach targeting protected areas and fragile ecosystems in the southwestern peninsula of Haiti.

Macaya Grand Sud II ((PIMS ID 2027) The overall objective of the project is to “enhance local capacities to address ecosystem degradation, and to introduce sustainable local livelihoods at scale in the Macaya and Port Salut-Abacou protected areas and in their buffer zones.”

Support Program for Watershed Management (PIMS ID 02013) The overall objective of the project is to “to improve ecosystems management through sustainable agroforestry and livelihoods, improved land and watershed management in the cultivation of key value chains, and through strengthened environmental governance, in Southern Haiti.”

The Evaluation Team

For this Evaluation, the Evaluation Team will consist of a Principal Evaluator and one Evaluation Specialist who will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Office represented by an Evaluation Manager in consultation with the UNEP Project Manager, Fund Management Officer and the Sub-programme Coordinator of the UNEP Sub-programmes on Climate Change and of the Healthy and Productive Ecosystems.

Specific Responsibilities for the Evaluation Team

The Principal Evaluator will be responsible, in close consultation with the Evaluation Office of UNEP for overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs. The Evaluation Specialist will make substantive and high-quality contributions to the evaluation process and outputs. Both consultants will ensure together that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered. Specifically, Evaluation Team members will undertake the following:

Inception phase of the Evaluation, including: - preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff; - draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project; - prepare the evaluation framework; - develop the desk review and interview protocols; - draft the survey protocols (if relevant); - develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission; - plan the evaluation schedule; - prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager

Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including: - conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders; - (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews. - regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and; - keep the Project/Task Manager informed of the evaluation progress.

Reporting phase, including: - draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that the evaluation report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Evaluation Manager guidelines both in substance and style; - liaise with the Evaluation Manager on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Evaluation Manager - prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted by the Evaluation Consultant and indicating the reason for the rejection; and - (where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons)

Managing relations, including: - maintain a positive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence; - communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.

The Evaluation Specialist shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the projects and will be independent from the participating institutions. The Evaluation Specialist will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form.

The Specialist will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract.

Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with the Evaluation Team separately.

Qualifications/special skills A university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable

A minimum of 7 years of technical/evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach

A broad understanding of ecosystems management (more specifically in protected areas) as well as familiarity with ecosystem-based approaches, is desired.

Working knowledge in a development related organization especially the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an advantage.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English and French is a requirement and knowledge of Haitian Creole is desirable.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org