Terminal Review Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority established to set the global environmental agenda and promote the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system. UNEP serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment and operates in multiple countries around the world, working with various partners including governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders. The organization is committed to addressing environmental challenges and fostering sustainable practices globally.

Job Overview:
The Terminal Review Consultant will play a crucial role in evaluating two specific projects: 'Building and strengthening Burundi’s national capacity to implement the transparency elements of the Paris Agreement' and 'Capacity-building for transparency in NDC implementation in Cameroon'. This consultancy is part of UNEP’s Climate Change Division, specifically within the Mitigation Branch and the Global Funds Mitigation and Transparency Section. The consultant will be responsible for conducting Terminal Reviews of these projects, which involves overseeing the review process, ensuring adherence to GEF guidelines, and delivering high-quality reports. The position is home-based, allowing for flexibility while requiring a commitment to timely and thorough evaluations. The consultant will lead the design, data collection, analysis, and report-writing phases of the reviews, ensuring that all outputs meet UNEP's standards and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key responsibilities, including:

• Conducting an inception phase for the reviews, which involves a comprehensive desk review of project documentation, drafting a reconstructed Theory of Change, preparing the Terminal Review framework, and developing protocols for data collection.
• Coordinating the data collection and analysis phase, which includes conducting interviews with project stakeholders, collecting information through surveys, and analyzing data to inform the review process.
• Managing the reporting phase by preparing presentations on preliminary findings, drafting the main Terminal Review reports, and ensuring that all feedback from the Global Funds Mitigation and Transparency Section is incorporated into the final reports.
• Maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders to ensure a participatory review process while upholding the independence of the evaluation.
• Communicating effectively with the Global Funds Mitigation and Transparency Section regarding any issues that arise during the review process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree or higher) in relevant fields such as management, business administration, economics, environment, engineering, or energy. Alternatively, a first-level degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted. A minimum of two years of experience in the evaluation and monitoring of development projects in developing countries is required, along with experience working with national governments in Africa. Familiarity with the technical aspects of development projects in the environmental or climate change sector is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in a relevant field. Candidates with a first-level degree may be considered if they have additional qualifying experience. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of project evaluation and the environmental issues at hand.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in the evaluation and monitoring of development projects, particularly in developing countries. Experience working with national governments in Africa is essential, as is familiarity with the environmental and climate change sectors. This level of experience ensures that the consultant can effectively navigate the challenges and nuances of the projects being reviewed.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and French is mandatory for this consultancy, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The consultant must be able to communicate effectively in both languages, both orally and in writing, to engage with diverse stakeholders and produce high-quality reports.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for nine months and will be part-time. The consultant will be recruited under an individual Special Service Agreement (SSA) consultancy contract. It is important to note that 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 or pay any fees.