Consultant for Final Evaluation of Project

Job Posting Organization:
ONU Femmes, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality initiatives by merging resources and mandates from four previously distinct parts of the UN system. ONU Femmes operates globally, focusing on promoting gender equality and empowering women in various contexts, including humanitarian crises. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring a respectful environment for all employees, regardless of their background.

Job Overview:
The position involves conducting a final evaluation of the project titled 'Providing emergency support to women and girls affected by the acute crisis in Haut-Mbomou and ensuring their full participation in the ongoing peace and stabilization process.' This project is set to run from March 2025 to March 2026 and aims to address the acute crisis characterized by insecurity, armed violence, and displacement in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture. The consultant will assess the project's relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, while documenting best practices and lessons learned. The evaluation will also provide operational recommendations for scaling up and sustaining the project in alignment with ONU Femmes' strategic priorities for 2023-2027, focusing on humanitarian needs, resilience, and climate change.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting an independent evaluation of the project, which includes:

• Reporting on the project's performance in terms of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, accountability to affected populations (AAP), and gender mainstreaming.
• Documenting best practices, innovations, and lessons learned, particularly in relation to climate-smart and women-led initiatives.
• Formulating operational recommendations for scaling up and sustaining the project, ensuring alignment with ONU Femmes' strategic note for 2023-202
• Engaging with stakeholders, including beneficiaries, local authorities, and partner organizations, to gather insights and feedback.
• Utilizing mixed methods for data collection, including document reviews, quantitative analyses, qualitative interviews, and direct site observations.
• Ensuring adherence to ethical standards and protocols throughout the evaluation process, including gender-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches.

Required Qualifications:
The consultant must possess the following qualifications:

• A minimum of a Master's degree in evaluation, social sciences, development, economics, public policy, anthropology, or a related field. Alternatively, a bachelor's degree with four additional years of relevant experience may be accepted.
• Certification in project/program management is an asset.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in evaluating humanitarian/resilience programs in high-risk contexts, particularly in Central Africa.
• Proven experience in participatory and inclusive program development and gender equality studies.
• Familiarity with indicator systems, data collection, and statistical data analysis methods.
• Experience in conducting program evaluations and a good understanding of the UN system.
• Proficiency in using ERP systems or Quantum is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural team environment.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree in relevant fields such as evaluation, social sciences, development, economics, public policy, or anthropology. In the absence of a Master's degree, a bachelor's degree combined with four years of relevant experience may be considered acceptable. A certification in project or program management would be an additional advantage.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in evaluating humanitarian and resilience programs, particularly in high-risk contexts. Experience in participatory program development and gender equality initiatives is essential. The candidate should also have a proven track record in developing indicator systems, data collection methodologies, and conducting complex evaluations within the UN system.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken French is mandatory, along with a good command of English. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages is crucial for this position, as it involves engaging with diverse stakeholders and producing comprehensive evaluation reports.

Additional Notes:
The contract will be a fixed-price agreement according to UN policies, with per diem and travel expenses covered as per regulations. Payment will be structured in milestones: 20% upon validation of the inception report, 30% after the preliminary note is validated, 20% after the draft report is reviewed, and 30% upon submission of the final report and supporting materials. The evaluation will be conducted over a period of 20 days, including preparation, fieldwork, analysis, and finalization of the report. The consultant will work under the technical supervision of the M&E/Program Specialist at ONU Femmes RCA and will collaborate with a reference group comprising various stakeholders.