National Evaluation Expert for Final Project Evaluation

Contract

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Background

1. PROJECT CONTEXT

UNDP Tajikistan is implementing border management projects with a particular focus on the Tajik-Afghan border since early 2000 and cooperated mainly with the EU and JICA to implement projects on both sides of the Tajik-Afghan border.

For a long time, security and stability of the region has been among the top priorities for the Government of Tajikistan and emphasis is therefore paid to sustain effective management at international borders. Special attention and importance is paid to the border with Afghanistan, due to the unstable situation in that country. Violent extremism, emerging as a trend in Central Asia, and studies pointing to an increasing concentration of Foreign Terrorist Fighters close to the Tajik-Afghan border also calls for more effective border management. Across the region, physical geographical obstacles, such as rivers and the accompanying lack of transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges across the frontier make cross-border movement and trade logistically difficult. However, the realization of greater regional trade cooperation and the host of initiatives currently presented, including China’s Silk Road Economic Belt policy, ADB’s Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme and Central Asia Border Security Initiative (CABSI), means that there are opportunities to promote greater transport and energy infrastructure connectivity if the governments of Tajikistan and its neighbours genuinely have the political will to implement them.

In close collaboration with the Governments of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, JICA and EU, UNDP has supported implementation of Integrated Border Management on both sides of the Tajik-Afghan border by providing infrastructure, such as construction and upgrading Border Crossing Points, Cross-Border Markets, specialised border management equipment and training for the officers stationed at these frontiers. On a policy level, UNDP cooperated with the OSCE and IOM to review the National Border Management Strategy of Tajikistan in 2016-2017.

The currently ongoing JICA funded ‘Promoting Cross-border Cooperation through effective management of Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan’, Phase II (BMP II) project aims to enhance security in the border areas of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which in turn will strengthen resilience and stability and reduce the threat of terrorism and extremism, illicit narcotics trade and cross-border crimes, including human trafficking. Equal efforts are also made to enhance cross-border trade and exchange through improvement of the Cross-border Markets (CBMs) and Free Economic Zones (FEZ) on the Tajik-Afghan border to provide trade and economic opportunities to the borderland communities, especially women. The project is expected to achieve two interlinked outputs mentioned below:

1. Improved border Management, including Infrastructure, Communications & Capacity building, in target areas.
2. Cross-border trade through CBM between Tajikistan and Afghanistan is supported and facilitated.

The project’s Theory of Change builds on Outcome 1 of UNDP Country Programme Document (2016-2020): People have their rights protected and benefit from improved access to justice and quality services delivered by accountable, transparent, and gender responsive legislative, executive and judicial institutions at all levels. The theory of change is based on the experience, lessons learned and recommendations of the BMP Phase I and comprises of the following:

“IF border and customs officials are equipped with facilities, information, skills and equipment to coordinate and effectively deliver their services at the local level THEN the livelihoods of borderland communities, including women will be enhanced and they will be less likely to engage in illegal activities and cross-border movement. BECAUSE possibilities for [legal] productive employment/ income generation initiatives and trade facilitation will be enhanced through more effectively operating cross-border markets.”

This is achieved through capacity building efforts to promote integrated border management (IBM), provision and improvement of infrastructure and equipment to the project beneficiaries, the Tajik Border Force (TBF), Tajik Customs Service (TCS) and Drug Control Agency (DCA). The infrastructure component of the Project includes construction of the new bridge at Langar in Ishkashim District and a new Border Crossing Point (BCP) with a Cross-Border Market (CBM) in Kokul, Farkhor District.

II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The overall purpose of the evaluation is to assess the result and approaches of the BMP II project intervention and its impact on border agencies to serve the people, including relevance of the overall project goal, and outputs with national and international strategies on human security and development, assessment of achievements, quality, and effectiveness of inputs provided. Important consideration should be given to what issues the project intervention helped to resolve within its frames, sustainability of the inputs and room for improvement.

While the evaluation is specific to the 2nd phase of the BMP project, it should also touch upon overall contribution of UNDP Border Management projects in ensuring security and stability and improvement of cross-border cooperation and trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, as well as providing expert view and practical recommendations on ways to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of support to improving border management and sustainable economic development in cross-border regions of Tajikistan with Afghanistan in light of the current geopolitical and security situation, and the COVID-19 pandemics in the region. This shall review the logic and relevance of the 2nd phase of BMP II in light of broader involvement of UNDP in the field of border management and cross-border cooperation and make recommendations on further enhancement of effective and efficient management of the borders.

Specific objectives of the Evaluation are:

• To assess the achievements of the project and its relevance with UNDP mandate, SDGs, national priorities, synergies with other UNDP efforts in the related field, such as the Livelihoods Improvement in Tajik-Afghan Cross-Border Areas (LITACA) programme, and the support of other international players in the field of Border Management on the Tajik-Afghan context. (coherence).
• To what extent has progress been made towards the achievement of set outputs? What have been the key results and changes attained for men and women and vulnerable borderland community groups?
• To what extent have the project outputs resulted from economic use of resources? Assess the current office arrangement and collaboration with the Local Innovations and Implementation Centres (LIICs).

Assess sustainability of outputs and to what extent are regulatory frameworks, infrastructure and capacities in place that will support the continuation of benefits for borderland communities, men and women engaged in cross-border trade and legitimate cross-border cooperation in the future?

Duties and Responsibilities

THE SCOPE OF WORK

In close coordination with the UNDP Team Leader Governance and Rule of Law, and under the direct supervision of the BMP Project Manager, the National Project Evaluation Expert will support the International Project Evaluation Expert in conducting evaluation of UNDP Border Management initiatives with the focus on the Tajik-Afghan border, and in particular the current BMP II project. S/he will work closely with the BMP project staff, UNDP Country Office team, project stakeholders and partners to implement deliverables as described in the Terms of References and will report to the BMP Project Manager and Team Leader in Dushanbe.

S/he will contribute to the development of an Evaluation report reflecting the impact of the BMP II support to border agencies in implementing their mandate to serve people in the field of effective and efficient cross-border cooperation and collaboration, prevention of crime and smuggling, etc in accordance with Integrated Border Management (IBM) principles on the Tajik-Afghan borders. The report must include, but not limited to, qualitative and quantitative data on findings, and clearly set recommendations, to indicate further enhancement of border management sector to serve people, in accordance with IBM principles and supporting sustainable development in the project target area, and the wider region.

Main duties of the National Project Evaluation Expert will include:

• Support the International Project Evaluation Expert in accessing and analysing border management related documents (i.e. relevant national strategies, project documents, progress reports, evaluation reports, etc.) to evaluate the UNDP added value in promoting IBM in Tajikistan, and the coherence of the interventions with relevant national strategies and policies, as well as needs on the ground.
• Organise interviews, meetings, workshops, etc with national counterpart, project team, and international organisations dealing with border management, cross-border trade and cooperation and assist the International Project Evaluation Expert in collecting, translating and analysing data to evaluate the extent of BMP II and overall UNDP contribution in improving cross-border cooperation, implementation of IBM principles, as well as needs, gaps and opportunities for further enhancement of border management and linkages with sustainable economic development of regions along the Tajik-Afghan border;
• Collect and provide information for mapping of bi-literal and multilateral cooperation and support provided by international organisations to improve border management and cross-border cooperation on the Tajik Afghan frontiers.
• Organize and take part in field visits to the Tajik-Afghan border to observe border infrastructure provided under BMP II and other UNDP projects and evaluate the quality of provided facilities, equipment and training capacity of border and customs officers, as well as communicate with borderland communities to evaluate how border management is affecting their lives.
• Prepare evaluation questionnaire and support International Evaluation Expert conduct feasibility study along the Tajik-Afghan border to identify Border Agency, as well as border community’ needs, and cross-border trade and cooperation challenges and opportunities and provide recommendations for further Capacity Building and Cross-border cooperation improvement.
• Organise focus groups with participation stakeholders, border authorities, NGO, research experts for further discussing and analysing.
• Provide input for the development of evaluation report covering overall impact of UNDP engagement in border management in Tajikistan with a specific focus on the most recent project (BMP phase II), including project achievements against set targets and objectives, key lessons learned, sustainability of provided inputs, conclusions and related recommendations to improve future activities.
• Liaise with BMP and LITCA staff to identify the linkages between the two projects and recommend joint areas of intervention and synergies for enhanced impact
• Perform any other research tasks as requested by the Project Manager.

Competencies

KEY COMPETENCIES

Functional Competencies:

• Professionalism.
• Communication.
• Teamwork.
• Accountability.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in management, International Development, Public Administration, Security sector reform or other related fields. (Criteria A)

Qualification:

• Excellent understanding of the security context and cross-border cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. (Criteria B)
• Sound knowledge of Tajikistan’s policies and Governmental structures related to Border Management and cross-border trade. (Criteria C)

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in project evaluation, management, administration and implementation with national and/or international partners in the field of governance, security, cross border cooperation and economic development. (Criteria D)
• Proven experience in collaborative relationship management across donor agencies, government, project implementing partners and civil society in Tajikistan. (Criteria E)

Language:

• Fluency in Tajik, Russian and English, with excellent writing and speaking skills is a must. Knowledge of Dari language is an asset. (Criteria F)

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Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and follow the application procedures indicated in the downloaded ICPN:

http://www.undp.tj/va/upload/va/ICPN_Project_Evaluation_expert%20National.pdf

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP.
• Personal CV and/or resume.
• 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 and all other travel related costs (such as flight ticket, per diem, etc.), supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template attached to the Letter of Confirmation of Interest template. If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

All application materials should be submitted by email at the following address ONLY: (ic.tj@undp.org) by (09 June 2022). Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.