Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the designated entity within the United Nations system for addressing environmental issues at both global and regional levels. Established to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus, UNEP plays a crucial role in keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The organization operates in multiple countries and employs a diverse workforce dedicated to promoting sustainable development through sound environmental practices. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it works with various stakeholders to achieve this goal.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for conducting a Terminal Evaluation of a UNEP project aimed at enhancing informed decision-making and policy formulation regarding key environmental issues. This role involves assessing project performance in terms of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency, as well as determining the outcomes and impacts of the project. The consultant will work closely with the Evaluation Manager and the Director of the Evaluation Office to ensure that the evaluation process is thorough and meets the accountability requirements of UNEP. The consultant will also be tasked with developing an evaluation framework, conducting data collection and analysis, and drafting comprehensive evaluation reports that include case studies and recommendations for future project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Consultant will undertake several key responsibilities throughout the evaluation process. These include:

• Inception Phase: Conducting a preliminary desk review, drafting the Theory of Change, preparing the evaluation framework, developing protocols for data collection, and planning the evaluation schedule.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Conducting in-depth interviews with project stakeholders, performing desk reviews, and possibly conducting field visits to project locations to gather qualitative data.
• Reporting Phase: Drafting the Main Evaluation Report and case studies, ensuring coherence and consistency with UNEP guidelines, and finalizing reports based on feedback from the Evaluation Manager.
• Managing Relations: Maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders, ensuring a participatory evaluation process while preserving independence, and communicating any issues to the Evaluation Manager.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, international development, or a related field. An advanced degree (Master's degree or equivalent) is desirable and can reduce the required years of experience by two years. A minimum of ten years of technical and/or evaluation experience is required, preferably with a focus on large regional or global programs or complex multi-year projects involving multiple stakeholders. Familiarity with evaluation methodologies such as Theory of Change and outcome harvesting is essential, along with a broad understanding of environmental issues and knowledge management.

Educational Background:
The position requires a first-level university degree in relevant fields such as environmental sciences, international development, or social sciences. An advanced degree is preferred, which can reduce the experience requirement. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of environmental assessments and policy-making processes.

Experience:
The consultant must have at least ten years of relevant experience in technical evaluation, particularly in evaluating large-scale programs or projects with multiple components and stakeholders. Experience in applying evaluation methodologies and frameworks is essential, as is familiarity with the UN system and UNEP's work.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this consultancy role, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations. Proficiency in French is also beneficial, as it is the second working language of the UN Secretariat.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based with field visits required, and the expected duration of the assignment is 63 days within a period of 7 months. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring that applicants are not required to provide any financial information or bank account details.