Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the designated entity within the United Nations system that addresses 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, focusing on various environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it works with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to achieve its goals. The organization is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable resource management.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for conducting a Terminal Evaluation of the project titled 'Large-scale Ecosystem-based Adaptation in The Gambia: developing a climate-resilient, natural resource-based economy.' This project aims to address the vulnerabilities of The Gambia's ecosystems and rural livelihoods to climate variability and long-term climate change. The consultant will work closely with the Evaluation Manager and the Director of the Evaluation Office to assess project performance in terms of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency. The evaluation will also determine the outcomes and impacts of the project, including their sustainability. The consultant will be expected to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements and promote operational improvement, learning, and knowledge sharing among UNEP and project partners. The evaluation process will involve various phases, including inception, data collection and analysis, and reporting, with a focus on maintaining independence and confidentiality throughout.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Consultant will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Inception Phase: Conducting a preliminary desk review, interviewing project staff, drafting the reconstructed Theory of Change, preparing the evaluation framework, developing desk review and interview protocols, drafting survey protocols, planning the evaluation schedule, and preparing the Inception Report.
• Data Collection and Analysis Phase: Conducting further desk reviews and in-depth interviews with project stakeholders, possibly conducting evaluation missions to selected countries, ensuring independence and confidentiality of interviews, and regularly reporting progress to the Evaluation Manager.
• Reporting Phase: Drafting the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring coherence and consistency with guidelines, finalizing the report based on feedback, preparing a Response to Comments annex, and potentially preparing an Evaluation Brief summarizing key findings.
• Managing Relations: Maintaining positive relationships with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring a participatory evaluation process while maintaining independence, and communicating any issues requiring attention to the Evaluation Manager. The consultant must have no prior involvement in the project formulation or implementation and will sign a Code of Conduct Agreement Form.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, international development, or other relevant political or social sciences areas. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the same fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, a minimum of nine years of technical and evaluation experience is required, including experience evaluating climate change adaptation projects and large regional or global programs using a Theory of Change approach. A good understanding of ecosystem-based adaptation is desirable, as is knowledge of the UN system and UNEP's work.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, international development, or other relevant political or social sciences areas. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) may be accepted in combination with additional qualifying experience, demonstrating flexibility in educational requirements based on experience.

Experience:
The consultant must have a minimum of nine years of relevant experience, particularly in technical evaluation roles. This includes specific experience in evaluating climate change adaptation projects and large-scale regional or global programs. Familiarity with the Theory of Change approach is essential, as it will be a key component of the evaluation process. The candidate should also have a broad understanding of ecosystem-based adaptation and its implications for project evaluation.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this consultancy, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is the other working language of the UN. Proficiency in both languages would enhance communication and collaboration within the international context of the role.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based with field visits, and the actual duration of the assignment is 46 days spread over a period of 6 months. The evaluation will include the submission of an Inception Report, Draft Report, and Final Evaluation Report, with specific percentages allocated to each phase of the evaluation process. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and applicants should be cautious of any requests for personal financial information.