International Independent Evaluator for evaluation of the Disaster Risk Reduction project (SSAs)

Contract

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Background:

Disaster preparedness activities are important as a precursor for a more effective response and for reducing any caseloads during disasters. Experience confirms that an effective disaster response at the onset of a crisis is heavily influenced by the level of preparedness planning of responding agencies, as well as the capacities and resources available at all levels. Focusing on disaster response and recovery phases and not paying enough care and attention to preparedness phase can cause diverse issues. Therefore, it is vitally essential for current project to readdress the disaster preparedness problems in terms of developing a better disaster management mechanism in a manner that would provide highest effectiveness and efficiency.

The projects were aimed to build the institutional capacity of the country in the area of disaster and emergency relief. To achieve a sustainable reduction of risks and vulnerabilities, the project strengthened capacities through i) The Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (CoESCD) and the community of Tajikistan have improved capacity to prepare for, prevent and respond to natural disasters.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) assisted Tajikistan in fulfilling the obligation under the Ministerial Council Decision on Enhancing Disaster Risk Reduction (MC Decision No. 6/14), the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction for 2019-2030, and the Sendai Framework for DRR, 2015-2030, in order to reduce disaster risks by 2030.

The Office intends to conduct an external review of the DRR project in 2022 in order to examine the project's primary outcomes and results, as well as have the lessons learnt. In 2019, the DRR initiative began assisting Tajikistan's host country and community, and has since provided institutional capacity building and community disaster preparedness education. Therefore, the evaluation will include a review of the project's outcomes and impact over the last three years. The Office expects to learn about the project's impact and make recommendations for future projects.

Objective of Assignment:

The overall objective is to learn about the project's impact and make recommendations for future actions on providing institutional capacity building and community disaster preparedness education. More specifically, is enhancing the capacity of specialised CoESCD units to effectively respond to any emergency and increased community and women group’s knowledge to prevent disasters in the Regions of Republican Subordination (RRS) in Tajikistan.

Duration of Assignment:

15 working days in the period from 1 to 15 June, 2022.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The evaluator will maintain regular contact with POiD focal points (Senior Executive officer or his delegates and the Project Manager; further: evaluation manager(s)), keeping them abreast of developments, on a regular basis, whilst conducting the following tasks:

1. Undertaking a review of the provided documentation;
2. Leading the evaluation process in close co-operation with POiD while keeping informed POiD Senior Management, Senior Executive Officer and PCU;
3. Providing advice on methodology and sound evaluation design and standards;
4. Consulting with key stakeholders identified by POiD;
5. Analysing and synthesizing evidence, findings, drafting the evaluation report and executive summary;
6. Assessing the value of the project’s activities, its possible impact and sustainability;
7. Analysing the degree of implementation of the key tasks of the project as described in the Description of the Action and any other relevant documentation;
8. Identifying lessons learned and providing concrete conclusions/recommendations, which will allow for taking corrective actions, should a similar project (thematically and size-wise) be implemented by POiD in the future;
9. Utilizing a mix of quantitative (budget information) and qualitative information (documentation and interviews of key staff).

Deliverables:

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, please see: https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-dushanbe

Please note that the full Terms of Reference (ToR) can be provided upon request, interested candidates should submit a request for more details about the current ToR to [email protected] with the indication of the post title in the subject line.

Necessary Qualifications:

In order to avoid any bias and conflict of interest, the selected evaluator needs to be independent: he/she should not have been involved in any way in the design or implementation of the project to be evaluated, nor should any close relationship with the evaluation manager or other stakeholders in this evaluation (OSCE management, counterparts, beneficiaries). The required skills, experience, educational qualifications and other competencies of the evaluator:

• Master’s degree complimented by work experience or degree in monitoring and evaluation field;
• Equivalent work experience not less than 15 years may be considered in the absence of a university degree;
• A minimum of 10 years of documented experience in evaluation of projects on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management (DRM);
• Experience with evaluation of technical assistance/development programs delivered by international NGOs or international organizations to government structures or agencies;
• Relevant work experience and sound knowledge in the field of issues related to assessment and evaluation of projects;
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrated analytical skills as well as maturity of judgment;
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English;
• Good knowledge of the OSCE and its area of operation;
• Previous work-experience within OSCE, UN or EU would be an asset;
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to cooperate with POiD focal points in terms of consideration and accepting of their opinions and comments when preparing the evaluation report;
• Resourcefulness and initiative;
• Previous work experience in Central Asia or South Asia and good understanding of the local context will be a distinctive advantage (international evaluator);
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as a member of a team and with colleagues throughout the OSCE with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural and professional backgrounds as well as different gender, diverse political views and approaches to problems, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

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 Programme Office in Dushanbe
• Requisition ID: DIS000006
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Dushanbe
• Posting Date: Apr 22, 2022
• Closing Date: May 13, 2022
• Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Economic & Environmental Affairs
• Target Start Date: June 1, 2022