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 numerous countries, focusing on various environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development practices. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it has a significant workforce dedicated to achieving these goals.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive evaluation of a project aimed at enhancing environmental governance in South Sudan. This role involves assessing the project's 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, ensuring that the evaluation process is thorough and adheres to UNEP's Evaluation Policy. The consultant will be expected to manage the evaluation process, including the inception phase, data collection and analysis, and reporting phases, while maintaining independence and confidentiality throughout the evaluation process. The consultant will also be responsible for engaging with various stakeholders to ensure a participatory evaluation process.

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

• Inception Phase: Conducting a preliminary desk review, interviewing project staff, drafting the Theory of Change, preparing the evaluation framework, developing protocols for desk reviews and interviews, and planning the evaluation schedule.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Conducting in-depth interviews with project stakeholders, possibly conducting evaluation missions to project locations, ensuring the independence of the evaluation, and regularly reporting progress to the Evaluation Manager.
• Reporting Phase: Drafting the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring coherence and consistency, finalizing the report based on feedback, and preparing a summary of key findings.
• Managing Relations: Maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders, ensuring a participatory evaluation process, and communicating any issues requiring attention to the Evaluation Manager.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, international development, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. A minimum of seven years of technical evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluations of large, regional, or global programs using a Theory of Change approach. A broad understanding of biodiversity and sustainable resource management is essential, along with knowledge of the UN system and UNEP's work being desirable.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as environmental sciences, international development, or political/social sciences. 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 professional experience.

Experience:
The consultant must have at least seven years of relevant experience in technical evaluation, with a preference for experience evaluating large-scale programs. Familiarity with the Theory of Change approach is crucial, as is a good understanding of biodiversity and sustainable resource management practices. Experience within the UN system, particularly with UNEP, is highly desirable.

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 another working language of the UN, but English proficiency is mandatory for effective communication and reporting.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based with field visits required, and the expected duration of the assignment is 46 days spread over a period of 8 months. The evaluation process will include the submission of an Inception Report, a Draft Report, and a Final Evaluation Report, with specific percentages allocated to each phase of the evaluation. 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.