International Consultant - Evaluation Expert (SSAs)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counterterrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) is part of the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, Austria. OIO is responsible for planning and delivering internal audits, investigations, and independent evaluations of the Organization's activities, including field operations. The work of OIO assures the adequacy of governance, risk management, and internal control, ensures compliance with the Organization's internal control framework, and enhances performance and the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. The Evaluation Section of OIO conducts independent evaluations and contributes to organizational learning and helps to ensure the quality and relevance of the OSCE's work.

Objective of Assignment:

The OSCE Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) is looking for a consultant for the independent evaluation of OSCE’s Anti-Corruption assistance efforts. The OSCE has delivered anti-corruption assistance to OSCE participating states for around 20 years. An inventory carried out by OIO of OSCE projects initiated between 2011-2021, identified 199 projects that in whole or in part delivered anti-corruption assistance. Total expenditures were around €15.800.000, distributed unevenly among OSCE Executive Structures (ES). The seven ES with the largest expenditures were the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (€2.925.611), the OSCE Secretariat (€1.918.194), OSCE Mission in Kosovo (€1.853.851), while another four ES had expenditures just in excess of €1.000.000 (OSCE Mission to Montenegro, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, OSCE Presence in Albania, and the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe).

OSCE’s assistance projects have involved various types of activities, and both bottom-up approaches and top-down approaches. The projects sometimes focused on civil society actors or the general public, and sometimes on government entities. In terms of concrete activities, sometimes the focus has been on information campaigns, at other times it has involved capacity building or civil servants (e.g., police forces and court officials), support to government bodies, and support to design laws, handbooks and national strategies. There is no comprehensive insight to date what difference these various activities have made in enhancing anti-corruption practices and policies and reducing corruption in participating states.

The purpose of the evaluation is twofold:

1. Accountability: to provide accountability for results vis-à-vis the OSCE participating states, by assessing the difference OSCE anti-corruption assistance efforts have made after 20 years, with a focus on coherence, effectiveness and sustainability of OSCE activities. The evaluation will also assess to what extent the OSCE’s anti-corruption projects have supported gender mainstreaming.
2. Learning: to inform organizational learning through lessons learned and best practices.

To address the evaluation purposes, the evaluation scope is cross-organizational and covers the time period 2011-2021, to ensure that lessons and best practices are based on recent efforts with anti-corruption assistance. In addition to providing an overall mapping, the evaluation will focus on the three ES with the largest anti-corruption related assistance expenditures.

The evaluation will generate a cross-case report that seeks to identify general lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations at the case specific level as well as at the strategic level. The evaluation core target groups are OSCE pS (accountability for results), and OSCE program managers and higher staff categories that are involved in program and project level decision-making and design (organizational learning).

Management of the Evaluation

The evaluation will be managed by an OIO Senior Evaluator and conducted by a subject matter expert evaluation consultant. An OIO Senior Evaluator will be responsible for the overall management of the evaluation process, the quality assurance of the evaluation products, the communications and engagement of stakeholders and the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG). The external consultant will play a lead role in developing the evaluation design, suggesting the evaluation approach and methodology, collecting and analyzing data, participating in field visits and drafting the evaluation report. The evaluation manager will support the consultant with collection of relevant OSCE data and logistical support, including arranging meetings/interviews with OSCE staff and field visits.

Duration of Assignment:

The duration of the contract is 40 working days between November 2022 - April 2023.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the OIO Senior Evaluator, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Developing the design and methodological approach for the evaluation;
2. Doing data collection (through desk research, key informant interviews, and up to three field visits) and analysis;
3. Preparing a brief (3-5 pages) summary of major observations and findings following each field visit;
4. Summarizing preliminary evaluation findings;
5. Preparing the draft and final evaluation reports.

Deliverables:

Upon analyzing all collected information, the consultant will prepare the following documents:

• Inception Report outlining the evaluation approach and methodology, refined evaluation questions and evaluation matrix, timelines, etc.;
• Field reports/mini case studies based on observations and data collected during the field visits;
• Power Point Presentation on emerging evaluation findings and draft recommendations for discussion with the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG);
• Draft evaluation report reflecting the coherence, effectiveness and sustainability of OSCE activities, lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations;
• Final evaluation report (max. 40 pages, excluding annexes) that incorporates any feedback received from the OIO and programme managers;
• The consultant will be expected to submit to OIO all relevant working papers, background information, interview protocols and other documentation produced during the evaluation process.

Necessary Qualifications:

• A second-level (Masters) or higher-level university degree in social sciences, economics, public policy, law, evaluation, business, management or related field(s) from an accredited university;
• A minimum of 15 years documented evaluation experience, which could include managing and/or conducting evaluations of development projects or programmes with an international organization, an NGO, with a government department, research experience with a university or academic institution;
• Experience with/knowledge of international and/or regional organizations;
• Documented extensive expertise on anti-corruption issues and related evaluations;
• Documented experience in qualitative and quantitative analysis;
• Excellent report-writing skills and the ability to convey complex information in a logical, clear and concise manner as demonstrated by previous evaluation reports;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications. Ability to use relevant software and other applications.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

Additional Information

• Issued by: OSCE Secretariat
• Requisition ID: INT00000A
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: OSCE Secretariat, Vienna
• Issue Date: Oct 21, 2022
• Closing Date: Nov 4, 2022
• Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent)