National Consultancy - Final evaluation of ‘Promoting Reconciliation in Sri Lanka’

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, in Sri Lanka, a childhood, a future and a fair chance.

How can you make a difference?

Objectives and Purpose

The primary objectives of the evaluation are to:

• Assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of interventions implemented and results achieved in line with Theory of Change (ToC) and results framework.
• Document the best peacebuilding practices and lessons learnt
• Assess to what extent the PBF project has made a concrete contribution to reducing conflict factors in Sri Lanka as identified in the conflict analysis.
• Assess whether the project has been implemented through a conflict-sensitive approach.
• Evaluate the project's implementation strategy, institutional arrangements as well as its management and operational systems and value for money.
• Given that the PPP is coming to an end, recommendations should be forward-looking considering the COVID-19 and the new political context.

The primary intended users for this evaluation will be the following stakeholders, but not limited to:

• Govt. counterparts (Ministries & Departments): Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education, Departments of Education in the provinces and zones, University Gants Commission, Ministry of Health and Indigenous medicine, Ministry of Woman and Child Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice
• UNDP, UNICEF and WHO and CSO partners implementing the project.
• Development actors working in the area of Peacebuilding and reconciliation, including PBSO/PBF.

Method/Process

• The evaluation will be carried out in four phases: 1) Inception 2) Data collection 3) Analysis and Reporting and 4) Validation
• The detailed methodology should be discussed and agreed during the inception. The methodological design should include: an analytical evaluation framework; a strategy for collecting and analyzing data; a series of specifically designed tools; sampling plan; and a detailed work plan. Given the particular challenges presented by the current global pandemic, the Inception Report should make clear how it will approach data collection whether remotely or in person while maximizing stakeholder participation and safety, and ensuring quality delivery of the evaluation.
• The evaluation should utilize mixed methods and draw on quantitative and qualitative data. After the desk review, virtual primary data collection should be carried out to gather firsthand information for analysis. Then all information should be analyzed, and necessary triangulations done to prepare the final report.
• Data should be disaggregated by relevant criteria (wherever possible): age, gender, marginalized and vulnerable groups, etc. All findings to the largest possible extent be triangulated (use of three or more sources of information to verify and substantiate an assessment) and validated.
• Before finalizing the report, a virtual participatory validation workshop should be organized, during which main findings, conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation will be discussed, validated and finalized.

Phase 1: Inception Phase

During the inception phase a detail evaluation methodology should be designed to include the analytical framework; a strategy for collecting and analyzing data; a series of specifically designed tools; and a detailed work plan. More specifically, the inception phase will involve:

• A comprehensive desk review of external and internal documents such as the approved project documents, log frame, needs/conflict/baseline/end-line assessment, monitoring and progress reports, relevant policies. On the request of the consultant, these documents will have to be handed over by the agencies involved to the consultant.
• A Sampling plan enabling the selection of locations and interventions for evaluation.
• A List of key stakeholders and beneficiary groups to be interviewed.
• Finalization of the Evaluation design – further refinement of the evaluation objectives, scope and the list of evaluability questions. This needs to include primary data collection from beneficiaries to answer the evaluation questions.
• The finalization of the tools which details out the specific evaluation question against the evaluation criteria.
• A concrete work plan for the entire evaluation.
• The Inception Report should capture in detail the methodology which will include the sampling protocol, detailed methodology, analysis plan, a proposed work plan with detailed timeline, clearly defined roles and responsibilities of the evaluation team members, and a general outline of the final evaluation report etc. (content page).

Phase 2: Data Collection Phase/Assessments and Analysis

This phase will involve:

• An extensive round of Key Informants Interview (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with key stakeholders (local government, NGOs, UN agencies, beneficiaries) conducted virtually, where appropriate. Â First-hand information of the implementation of projects and programmes to be gathered via virtual means in the selected provinces/districts. The questionnaires finalized should guide the interviews and discussions.
• Triangulation of various data collection methods will help to inform the full picture as per the evaluation objectives and criteria. As much as possible the groups/areas selected should differ from one another in terms of context (i.e. type of stakeholders, remoteness, composition of ethnic groups etc.), the type of interventions & the challenges faced, i.e. a cross-section of all types of possible localities should be covered.

Phase 3: Validation and Reporting

• In this phase, the draft report should be prepared, and a validation meeting held to validate major findings of the draft evaluability assessment report. The purpose is to discuss and comment on the evaluation findings, checking for factual errors or errors of interpretation.
• In preparing the evaluation report, the findings should be evidence based and should have clear references to the source. The conclusions and recommendations should be firmly based on evidence and analysis, be relevant and realistic and presented in a comprehensive manner that makes the information easy-to-understand by the intended audience. The final report in hard and electronic copies should be in standard format for printing.
• A PowerPoint presentation highlighting the key components of the final report.

The structure of the evaluation report (approx. 50 pages) should be as follows:

• Title page, Foreword, Table of contents, Acknowledgements, limitations
• Executive Summary (2-3 pages)
• Introduction (1 pages)
• Background/context (2-3 pages)
• Purpose of the evaluation, key questions and scope of the evaluation with information on limitations (3-5 pages)
• Detailed description of methodology (2-3 pages).
• Analysis of the findings against each of the evaluation criteria (20-25 pages).
• Conclusions, recommendations and lessons learned (5-10 pages).
• Report annexes.

Phase 4: Validation

The evaluators are required to produce a summary presentation of key peacebuilding achievements, lessons learnt and best practices for validation. The contracting agency will support the evaluator in organizing a virtual discussion/meeting with stakeholders to seek responses for the findings.

Key Deliverables

Phase -1 Inception report - On the submission of the inception report to the evaluation manager by the consultant, comments should be submitted by the agencies involved within 3 working days.

Phase 2- Data Collection and Analysis Phase- The consultant will start field data collection taking into account the comments from the agencies on the inception report.

• Presentation of the preliminary findings and recommendations (approx. 10 slides)

Phase 3 & 4 Draft report, Validation, final report- the first draft will be submitted for comments to UNICEF, UNDP, WHO and PBSO/PBF. These comments will be incorporated to the final report by the evaluator together with the feedback from the validation meeting. Agencies are required to provide their comments to the first draft report within 3 working days.

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

• At least ten years experience in leading peacebuilding/human rights evaluations.
• Additionally, work experience in conducting research on reconciliation processes and evaluation initiatives.

• An advanced degree and minimum 15 years of extensive experience in programme/project management and sectoral expertise in areas such as peacebuilding, social sciences, development studies, education etc.

• Good understanding and experience with evaluating human rights-based approach to programming and results-based management.

• Knowledge of UNEG evaluation standards and norms and proven familiarity with the OECD/DAC criteria (for team leader or at least for one other team member)

• Good communication, presentation and report writing skills including the ability to express ideas and concepts concisely and clearly in written and oral form are required.

• Fluency in English.

The complete ToR can be found here.

Estimated Duration of Contract:

15 September 2020 to 31 December 2020

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.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Your online application should contain:

1. E-Recruitment Form
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Cover Letter
4. A financial proposal indicating deliverable-based professional fee
5. A technical proposal
6. References
7. A minimum of two similar Work Samples produced - soft copies please.

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.