National Consultant for the BCLME III Project Terminal Evaluation (Namibia)

Contract

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Background

In accordance with UNDP and GEF M&E policies and procedures, all full- and medium-sized UNDPsupported GEF-financed projects are required to undergo a Terminal Evaluation (TE) at the end of the project. This Terms of Reference (ToR) sets out the expectations for the National Consultant for the TE of the full-sized project titled Realizing the inclusive and sustainable development in the BCLME region through the improved ocean governance and the integrated management of ocean use and marine resources – BCLME III Project (PIMS 5313) implemented through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project started in January 2017 and is in its 6th year of implementation. The TE process must follow the guidance outlined in the document ‘Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects’ http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guideline/documents/GEF/TE_GuidanceforUNDP-supportedGEFfinancedProjects.pdf and the UNDP Evaluation guideline (http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guideline/documents/PDF/UNDP_Evaluation_Guidelines.pdf ). The project was designed to contribute to the realization of a coordinated regional approach to the long-term conservation, protection, rehabilitation, enhancement and sustainable use of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) in order to provide economic, environmental and social benefits and well-being to the region. This is to be achieved through the domestication and implementation of the Benguela Current Convention (BCC) and accompanying Strategic Action Programme (SAP). The project puts strong emphasis on supporting the BCC countries (Angola, Namibia and South Africa) in strengthening and integrating policy, institutional, and management structures and protocols in order to realise transboundary benefits. Furthermore, the project aims to mainstream transboundary priorities into national policy framework, while linking them to national development plans and strategies, and to catalyze private sector finance into the BCC implementation and stress reduction activities in the region. The project builds on the earlier GEF support to the BCC which assisted the three countries in delivering a tripartite Commission for integrated ecosystem management, a regional LME Convention and a wealth of foundational science upon which to base long-term monitoring for change. The project aims to consolidate this process to deliver real and sustainable stress reduction activities across all sectors and with a strong emphasis on inter-sectoral cooperation and partnerships. The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects. The TE will assess the achievement of project results against what was expected to be achieved and draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming. The TE report promotes accountability and transparency and assesses the extent of project accomplishments. The TE will also review the project’s strategy and its risks regarding sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities

A team of four independent evaluators will conduct the TE – one international team leader (with experience and exposure to projects of similar nature and evaluations in other regions globally) and three national team experts, from Angola, Namibia and South Africa, respectively (this posting is for the Namibian consultant). The team leader will be responsible for the overall oversight, design and writing of the TE report. The national team experts will be responsible for on-the-ground data collection, assessing emerging trends with respect to regulatory frameworks, budget allocations, working with the Project Team in developing the TE itinerary, etc, under the supervision of the Team Leader. The TE team will review all relevant sources of information including documents prepared during the preparation phase (i.e. PIF, UNDP Initiation Plan, UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure/SESP) the Project Document, project reports including Mid-Term Evaluation report, annual PIRs, project budget revisions, lesson learned reports, national strategic and legal documents, project files, and any other materials that the team considers useful for this evidence-based evaluation. The TE team will review the baseline and midterm GEF focal area Core Indicators/Tracking Tools submitted to the GEF at the CEO endorsement and midterm stages and the terminal Core Indicators/Tracking Tools that must be completed before the TE field mission begins. The TE team is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with the Project Team, government counterparts (the GEF Operational Focal Point), Implementing Partners, the UNDP Country Office(s), the Regional Technical Advisor, direct beneficiaries and other stakeholders. Engagement of stakeholders is vital to a successful TE. Stakeholder involvement should include interviews with stakeholders who have project responsibilities, including but not limited to executing agencies, senior officials and task team/component leaders, key experts and consultants in the subject area, PSC, project beneficiaries, academia, local government and CSOs, etc. The Namibian national consultant is expected to conduct field missions to BCC Secretariat at Swakopmund, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Windhoek, and project demonstration sites in the field (Swakopmund).The specific design and methodology for the TE should emerge from consultations between the TE team and the above-mentioned parties regarding what is appropriate and feasible for meeting the TE purpose and objectives and answering the evaluation questions, given limitations of budget, time and data. The TE team must, however, use gender-responsive methodologies and tools and ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as other cross-cutting issues and SDGs are incorporated into the TE report. The final methodological approach including the interview schedule, field visits and data to be used in the evaluation must be clearly outlined in the TE Inception Report and be fully discussed and agreed between UNDP, stakeholders and the TE team. The final report must describe the full TE approach taken and the rationale for the approach making explicit the underlying assumptions, challenges, strengths and weaknesses about the methods and approach of the evaluation. The TE team should also consider a methodology that takes into account virtual and remote means of data collection, including the use of remote interview methods and extended desk reviews, data analysis, surveys and evaluation questionnaires. This should be detailed in the TE Inception Report and agreed with the Commissioning Unit. The TE will assess project performance against expectations set out in the project’s Logical Framework/Results Framework. The TE will assess results according to the criteria outlined in the Guidance for TEs of UNDP-supported GEF-financed Projects (http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guideline/documents/GEF/TE_GuidanceforUNDP-supportedGEFfinancedProjects.pdf ).

Competencies

The consultant should demonstrate the following:

• Excellent communication skills with stakeholders at all levels
• Demonstrable analytical skills
• Experience working with a team of consultants.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A Master’s degree in marine sciences, water resources management, natural sciences or other closely related field

Experiences:

Past relevant experience:

• Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies and competency in adaptive management, as applied to the GEF International Waters Focal Area;
• Experience applying SMART indicators and (re-)constructing or validating baseline scenarios and Theory of Change;
• Experience in evaluating UNDP-GEF funded projects;
• Experience working with the GEF or GEF-evaluations and/or within United Nations system will be considered an asset;
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and GEF International Waters Focal Area experience in gender responsive evaluation and analysis;
• Relevant expertise and knowledge:
• Experience working in Southern Africa, especially knowledge and understanding of the BCC Parties (Angola, Namibia and South Africa) and the current and emerging marine and coastal industries;
• Experience in transboundary water management, integrated water management, biodiversity and ecosystems, hydrology or related fields
• Demonstrated expertise in the ecosystem-based management, ideally the management of large marine ecosystems, and/or coastal and marine ecosystem management for at least 5 years;
• Demonstrated competency in institutional and governance assessment and analysis in a transboundary (multi-country) setting;

How to apply:

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

Recommended Presentation of Offer;

• Completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
• Personal CV or a P11 Personal History form, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment (max 1 page).
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (based on the number of working days mentioned ToR.

Note:

• Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows uploading maximum one document.
• Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS WILL LEAD TO CANDIDATES BEING DISQUALIFIED.

Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration.

To download the full Terms of Reference (TOR), P11 History Form and The Financial Proposal Template, please access the UNDP Procurement Notice site on the below link: UNDP | Procurement Notices - 94627 - National Consultant for the BCL