Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda, merging resources and mandates from four distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men. The organization works in various countries, including Moldova, where it leads efforts to advance gender equality and women's empowerment, aligning its initiatives with national strategies and international commitments.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for conducting a systematic assessment of UN Women’s contributions to gender equality in Moldova, focusing on the Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE) for the period 2023-202

• This role involves evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of UN Women’s strategic interventions, assessing their alignment with international agreements, and providing actionable recommendations for future programming. The consultant will analyze the underlying structural barriers to gender equality and the socio-cultural norms that impede women's rights, ensuring that the evaluation process is gender-responsive and adheres to human rights principles. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society organizations, and community members, to gather insights and validate findings. The evaluation aims to inform strategic learning and decision-making for the next programming cycle, contributing to the development of the next Strategic Note for 2028-2032.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a systematic assessment of UN Women’s contributions to gender equality in Moldova, focusing on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE).
• Analyze the relevance of UN Women’s interventions in relation to national policies and international human rights norms.
• Engage with stakeholders, including target groups, government institutions, and civil society organizations, to gather qualitative and quantitative data.
• Utilize a gender-responsive approach throughout the evaluation process, ensuring inclusivity and participation of marginalized groups.
• Identify and validate lessons learned, good practices, and examples of innovation that support gender equality and human rights.
• Provide actionable recommendations for the development of the next Strategic Note, ensuring alignment with UN Women’s mandates and priorities.
• Prepare and present evaluation reports, including preliminary findings and final recommendations, to relevant stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in social science, sociology, international development, gender/women studies, or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 7 years of practical experience in conducting gender-responsive evaluations of development strategies, policies, and programs.
• Extensive experience in applying qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.
• Proven experience in designing and leading evaluations, with knowledge of UN Women’s programming and coordination roles at the regional and country level considered an asset.
• Country or regional experience in the ECA region, particularly in Moldova, is advantageous.
• Language proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree in social science, sociology, international development, gender/women studies, or a related area. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The consultant must have at least 7 years of practical experience in conducting gender-responsive evaluations of development strategies, policies, and programs. This includes extensive experience in applying qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods, as well as designing and leading evaluations. Knowledge of UN Women’s role and its programming at the regional and country level will be considered an asset, along with country or regional experience in the ECA region, particularly in Moldova.

Languages:
Proficiency in both written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages may be beneficial but is not specified as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
The evaluation is expected to be conducted from September 2026 to March 2027, with a focus on participatory methods to ensure stakeholder engagement. The consultant will be required to travel to Chisinau for data collection, and the payment will include transportation costs. The evaluation will adhere to ethical guidelines and ensure the protection of participants' rights and confidentiality. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and harassment.