Consultant for Final Evaluation of the Resilient Livelihoods Development for Women and Youth Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maguindanao

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a leading organization in the field of reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and population dynamics. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and territories, working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization focuses on empowering women and girls, addressing issues of gender-based violence, and improving access to reproductive health services. UNFPA collaborates with various partners, including governments, NGOs, and community organizations, to implement programs that promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations. In the Philippines, UNFPA is actively involved in addressing the challenges faced by marginalized groups, particularly in conflict-affected areas such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Job Overview:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a final evaluation of the Resilient Livelihoods Development (RLD) program, which aims to address critical socioeconomic challenges faced by women and youth IDPs in Maguindanao. The evaluation will assess the program's relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability, providing an independent assessment to inform future programming. The consultant will work closely with UNFPA and FAO teams, engaging with stakeholders to gather data and insights on the program's impact. The evaluation will also focus on identifying best practices, challenges, and lessons learned, ensuring that the findings contribute to evidence-based decision-making and organizational learning. The consultant will be expected to produce a series of deliverables, including design reports, evaluation reports, and presentations, to communicate the evaluation results effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a comprehensive evaluation approach and methodology for the RLD program, ensuring alignment with UNFPA and FAO standards.
• Collaborate with the Agriculture and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security Evaluation Expert to develop data collection tools and analysis plans.
• Conduct field visits to the target municipalities in Maguindanao to gather qualitative and quantitative data from stakeholders, including beneficiaries, local government units, and implementing partners.
• Analyze data and synthesize findings to assess the program's impact on food security, gender-based violence prevention, and livelihood opportunities for women and youth IDPs.
• Document best practices and significant stories of change among IDP women and youth, highlighting the contributions of institutional partners.
• Prepare and present interim findings to UNFPA and FAO teams, incorporating feedback into the final evaluation report.
• Produce a final evaluation report with actionable recommendations for future programming, ensuring clarity and accessibility for diverse audiences.
• Facilitate debriefing sessions with stakeholders to share evaluation results and foster discussions on lessons learned and future directions.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, demography, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in conducting or managing evaluations in international development contexts.
• Proven expertise in leading complex evaluations for UN organizations or international NGOs, particularly in humanitarian and conflict-affected settings.
• Strong knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality issues.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize large volumes of data from diverse sources.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and spoken, with fluency in English.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and engaging with marginalized communities.
• Familiarity with the regional development context of the Philippines, particularly BARMM, is an advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as public health, social sciences, demography, or population studies. Additional qualifications in gender studies, human rights law, or related disciplines are also valuable, particularly for specialized roles within the evaluation team.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in conducting evaluations, with a strong emphasis on international development, humanitarian response, and gender equality. Experience in BARMM or similar contexts is highly desirable, as it will enhance the consultant's understanding of the local challenges and dynamics.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the target areas may be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 2.5 months, with a total of 50 person-days allocated for the evaluation. The consultant will primarily work remotely but will be required to conduct field visits to specific municipalities in Maguindanao. UNFPA will cover travel costs where applicable, and the evaluation team will be supervised by the Evaluation Manager and the RLD Programme Team. The consultant is encouraged to engage with local stakeholders and partners throughout the evaluation process to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the program's impact.