Team Leader/International Consultant for UNSDCF Evaluation

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the United Nations, which is an international organization founded in 194

• Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among countries. The UN operates in 193 member states and has a wide range of programs and agencies that address various global issues, including development, humanitarian assistance, and human rights. The organization employs thousands of staff members worldwide, working collaboratively to achieve its goals and support sustainable development initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Team Leader/International Consultant will be responsible for leading the evaluation of the Kyrgyzstan United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period of 2023–202

• This role requires strategic oversight and methodological rigor to ensure that the evaluation process is well-coordinated and that high-quality evaluation products are delivered in accordance with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms and standards. The consultant will manage a small evaluation team, which includes national and thematic consultants, and will work closely with various stakeholders, including the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), government entities, civil society organizations, and development partners. The evaluation will involve designing and implementing the evaluation methodology, developing data collection tools, conducting stakeholder consultations, and preparing evaluation deliverables such as inception reports, draft reports, and final reports. The consultant will also conduct field missions to gather insights from local authorities and communities, ensuring that the evaluation captures results at the decentralized level. The evaluation aims to provide evidence-based findings and actionable recommendations to support accountability and organizational learning, ultimately contributing to the strategic positioning of the United Nations in Kyrgyzstan in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Team Leader/International Consultant will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including: leading and coordinating the overall evaluation process for the UNSDCF 2023–2027 and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Portfolio 2021–2026; designing and finalizing the evaluation methodology and workplan; ensuring the evaluation adopts a human rights-based, gender-responsive, and conflict-sensitive approach; supervising national consultants and other team members; conducting desk reviews of relevant documents; leading stakeholder consultations and validation workshops; assessing the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact of the Cooperation Framework and PBF portfolio interventions; analyzing the contributions of the UN Country Team to national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); identifying lessons learned and good practices; preparing high-quality deliverables including inception reports, data collection tools, and final evaluation reports; ensuring all deliverables meet UN standards; presenting findings to stakeholders; and incorporating feedback from the Evaluation Management Group into final products.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as international development, public policy, political science, economics, evaluation, social sciences, or peace and conflict studies. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic planning, formulation of strategic country documents, and conducting evaluations in the international development or humanitarian sector is required. Experience in complex evaluation settings, particularly within the United Nations system, is essential. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in results-based management (RBM), strategic planning, and evaluation methodologies, as well as strong knowledge of SDGs, UN reform, and sustainable development processes. Experience working in Central Asia or similar contexts is highly desirable, along with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and strong analytical, facilitation, drafting, and presentation skills. Familiarity with UNEG norms and ethical evaluation practices is also required, and experience integrating gender equality and human rights principles into evaluations is an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master’s degree or equivalent, in relevant fields such as international development, public policy, political science, economics, evaluation, social sciences, or peace and conflict studies. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of international development and evaluation processes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic planning, leading the formulation of strategic country documents, and conducting evaluations in the international development or humanitarian sector. Candidates should have proven experience leading evaluations within the United Nations system, particularly UNSDCF/UNDAF evaluations, and should be adept at working in complex settings. Experience in results-based management (RBM) and familiarity with evaluation methodologies are also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Russian and/or Kyrgyz is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the evaluation process.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based with travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as required for stakeholder consultations, data collection, workshops, and presentation of findings. The expected duration of the consultancy is six months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training.