Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which was established to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices. UNEP operates globally, with a mission to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP has a diverse workforce and collaborates with various stakeholders, including governments, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society, to address pressing environmental issues. The organization is involved in numerous projects worldwide, focusing on areas such as climate change, sustainable development, and environmental governance.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Consultant will play a crucial role in conducting a comprehensive midterm evaluation of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) project, which is convened by UNEP. This position is designed to assess the effectiveness and impact of the CCAC’s Strategy 2030, focusing on the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane and black carbon. The consultant will be responsible for analyzing the project's progress, identifying challenges, and providing actionable recommendations for future improvements. The evaluation aims to promote reflection and learning among UNEP staff and stakeholders, ensuring that the findings contribute to the ongoing development of the CCAC's initiatives. The consultant will work closely with the Evaluation Manager and a junior consultant to manage the evaluation process, ensuring that all evaluation criteria are met and that the evaluation is conducted independently and transparently.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Consultant will undertake a variety of tasks throughout the evaluation process. This includes conducting a preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with CCAC Secretariat staff, drafting the Theory of Change for the project, and preparing the evaluation framework. The consultant will also be responsible for data collection and analysis, which involves conducting in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, including project partners and local communities. The consultant will draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring it is coherent and meets the guidelines set by the Evaluation Manager. Additionally, the consultant will maintain positive relationships with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring a participatory evaluation process while maintaining independence. The consultant will also prepare an Evaluation Brief summarizing key findings and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in climate change, environment, natural resources management, development, or international relations. Alternatively, a different degree combined with extensive professional experience in climate change or air quality may be accepted. An additional degree in project and program evaluation is advantageous. A minimum of 10 years of technical or evaluation experience in global or regional international cooperation programs is required, with a proven track record of evaluating organizations or programs similar to the CCAC using a Theory of Change approach. Candidates should have a good understanding of short-lived climate pollutants, climate change, and air pollution issues, as well as experience with climate and air quality policies. Familiarity with OECD-DAC criteria and results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies is also essential.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as climate change, environment, natural resources management, development, or international relations. Candidates with a different degree but extensive professional experience in climate change or air quality may also be considered. An additional advanced degree in project and program evaluation is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for this role.

Experience:
The Evaluation Consultant must have a minimum of 10 years of technical or evaluation experience in international cooperation programs, particularly those related to climate change and air quality. This experience should include a proven track record of evaluating similar organizations or programs using a Theory of Change approach. Candidates should also have experience in applying OECD-DAC criteria in evaluations and familiarity with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including SMART criteria and contribution analysis.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is essential for this position. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with a broader range of stakeholders and enhance the evaluation process.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and is expected to last for approximately 2.5 months. The Evaluation Consultant will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Manager and will be supported by a junior consultant. The consultant must ensure independence from the participating institutions and will be required to sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.