National Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is a global organization that promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns, cities, and human settlements. Established as the United Nations focal entity for sustainable urbanization, UN-Habitat supports Member States, local authorities, communities, and partners through normative and operational work at various levels. The organization operates in numerous countries, working collaboratively with local governments and communities to address urban challenges and promote sustainable development. UN-Habitat's mission is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable urban development and to improve the living conditions of people in urban areas, particularly the most vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The National Evaluation Consultant will play a crucial role in conducting the final independent evaluation of the Harare Sustainable City Initiative (HSCI). This project aims to promote carbon-neutral urban basic services and energy-efficient built environments in Harare, Zimbabwe. The consultant will work closely with the Evaluation Reference Group, which includes representatives from Sida, the UN-Habitat Evaluation Unit, the project team, and other key partners. The evaluation will assess the project's performance, relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, sustainability, and impact. The consultant will also be responsible for identifying lessons learned and making actionable recommendations for future interventions. This position requires a strong understanding of urban planning, project management, and evaluation methodologies, as well as the ability to engage with various stakeholders and present findings effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a range of tasks, including: 1) Assessing the overall performance of the project in terms of outputs and outcomes. 2) Evaluating the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, sustainability, and likelihood of impact of the project. 3) Analyzing the planning and adequacy of resources and their impact on project effectiveness. 4) Evaluating the effectiveness of working arrangements between UN-Habitat and its partners at various levels. 5) Assessing the integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, disability, youth, and human rights in project activities. 6) Identifying and validating lessons learned and areas for improvement, along with making actionable recommendations. 7) Evaluating the potential for scaling up project outputs to support municipal-level and national processes. 8) Assessing the development of an effective project exit strategy to ensure sustainability and continued use of project outputs and outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced academic degree in urban planning, economics, project management, international development, program evaluation, statistics, or survey research. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. A minimum of five years of professional experience in evaluation and results-based management is required, along with experience working with local governments, particularly in conducting evaluations. The ability to present credible findings supported by evidence, including through visual aids such as charts and infographics, is desirable. Familiarity with the work of the United Nations and UN-Habitat's mandate is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
An advanced academic degree in relevant fields such as urban planning, economics, project management, international development, program evaluation, statistics, or survey research is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree if accompanied by sufficient relevant experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in evaluation and results-based management. Candidates should have practical experience working with local governments and conducting evaluations, demonstrating a strong understanding of urban development and project management principles.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is required, along with proficiency in Shona. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based and expected to last for four months. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization is committed to ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.