Revision of Cooperation Framework Theory of Change

Result of Service The ultimate result of this service would be a meticulously revised Theory of Change for the Cooperation Framework, reflecting a comprehensive RBM-based approach. The process ensures engagement with key stakeholders, thorough data collection, and alignment with gender considerations, culminating in a document that is well-informed, strategic, and ready for UNCT endorsement.

Work Location UN House

Expected duration 8 weeks

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), hereafter the CF, is the key UN strategic document to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Lebanon for 2023-2025. The CF ensures that the members of the UN Country Team (UNCT) conduct their activities towards a common goal in the most effective, efficient, and prioritized way, aligned with the national development priorities that have been identified jointly with the Government, development partners and the people living in Lebanon. It serves as the core accountability mechanism between the UNCT and the Government of Lebanon, as well as between and among UN entities and partners, to ensure collectively owned development results. The CF is informed by the UN’s Common Country Analysis (CCA), which is the UN development system’s independent, collective, integrated, forward-looking, and evidence-based assessment (including a description of the country situation), and analysis (causes and roots with their implications).

The CF signed by the UN and the Government in April 2022, organizes the UNCT’s priorities in four main categories: People, Prosperity, Peace and Governance, and Planet. As part of the Cooperation Framework development and implementation, a theory of change (TOC) and a resulting joint work plan for 2023 were developed, the latter outlining the outcome results, output results, M&E information (indicators, baseline, targets, means of verification) for outcome and outputs, and UN projects per output.

A theory of change is a method that explains how a given intervention, or set of interventions, are expected to lead to a specific development change, drawing on a causal analysis based on available evidence. A theory of change is also a process of reflection to explore change and how it happens, aiming at telling the story of how a sequence and interaction of events is expected to lead to desired change(s) and the role of different actors in that context. In the context of the Cooperation Framework, a Theory of Change process aims to engage the UNCT and stakeholders in a country-level change dialogue to articulate and communicate how the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda will be achieved. It translates the impact and outcome priorities earlier identified into pathways of change including outputs that inform the Cooperation Framework. The theory of change for Lebanon includes impact, outcome, and output results statements, a narrative on these results, and a list of assumptions per strategic priority.

As part of the UN Development System reform, the CF is expected to be reviewed at least annually, including its theory of change. The UNCT is about to finalize the first year of its implementation and will be conducting an annual review of the CF in 2023. As part of the CF annual review, the UN Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning working group (MEL WG) reviewed the CF’s theory of change, including outputs and outcomes, and provided recommendations to improve its quality, including setting up a new template. The CF review will culminate in a 2024 planning workshop with the Government of Lebanon for technical discussions and a Joint Steering Committee meeting with the Government of Lebanon to endorse the way forward for the CF for 2024.

This consultancy aims to update the CF’s theory of change, including revisiting results, based on the new template and feedback provided in close coordination with the four respective results groups, People, Prosperity, Peace and Governance, and Planet as well as members of the MEL WG and other relevant groups. The revision should ensure the ToC’s applicability to the Lebanese context, feasibility, and whether it conforms with RBM language. The consultant will fill the new template as the revised theory of change for the CF.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the chair of the MEL group, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1- Desk review of JWP, CCA, new TOC template, TOC recommendations provided by MEL, and other relevant documents. 2- Prepare internal workplan. 3- Identify gaps and weaknesses in results chain and information required based on CCA, existing TOC, and new proposed template, preparing a set of questions to help engage with the members of groups for data collection. 4- Meet with MEL WG and Results Group leads for way forward for the revised theory of change, including results (outcomes/outputs) 5- Meet with the 4 Results Groups at least twice to present exercise, validate and extract information, for new TOC and review. 6- Draft the revised outputs and new TOC as per the template, with inputs received throughout the whole process, evidence in CCA, and previous TOC version and by ensuring that it is informed gender analysis, sex- and age disaggregated data. 7- Consult bilaterally with specific UN entities, Gender Working Group, and other inter-agency groups as needed for outputs and TOC. 8- Present revised TOC and outputs to MEL WG/Results Groups/Programme Management Team (PMT) and update TOC based on feedback received for UNCT endorsement.

Qualifications/special skills A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, international studies, economics, programme management, or related area is required.

All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of five years of professional work experience is required. Experience working with and knowledge on developing and/or reviewing of Theories of Change of frameworks is required. Strong knowledge of and work experience in RBM and mastery of facilitation skills is required. Knowledge of the Lebanese context is required. Experience in interagency coordination is desirable. Work experience and knowledge on the Cooperation Framework Theory of Change and Results Framework is desirable. Familiarity with the core values and principles of the UN is an asset especially in relation to the Cooperation Framework is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Additional Information Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.