International Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is dedicated to promoting socially and environmentally sustainable towns, cities, and human settlements. Established as the United Nations focal entity for sustainable urbanization, UN-Habitat supports Member States, local authorities, communities, and partners through both normative and operational work at various levels, including global, regional, national, and local. In Zimbabwe, UN-Habitat collaborates with the wider United Nations system to support the Government of Zimbabwe through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), working alongside other UN agencies. The organization contributes to sustainable urban development by providing technical cooperation, policy support, capacity development, urban basic services, climate-responsive planning, circular economy approaches, and inclusive local development initiatives. This work aligns with national development priorities and global commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, among others. UN-Habitat's strategic priorities guide its efforts in these areas, ensuring a comprehensive approach to urban sustainability.

Job Overview:
The position of International Evaluation Consultant is focused on conducting a final independent evaluation of the Harare Sustainable City Initiative (HSCI), which aims to promote carbon-neutral urban basic services and an energy-efficient built environment. The consultant will work closely with the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG), which includes representatives from Sida, the UN-Habitat Evaluation Unit, the project team, and other key partners involved in the project implementation. The evaluation will assess the project's overall performance, relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, sustainability, and likelihood of impact. The consultant will also evaluate how cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, disability, youth, and human rights have been integrated into the project's activities. The ultimate goal is to provide actionable recommendations for future interventions and assess the potential for scaling up project outputs to support municipal-level and national processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including: 1) Assessing the overall performance of the project regarding the availability of outputs and achievement of outcomes. 2) Evaluating the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, sustainability, and likelihood of impact of the project in promoting carbon-neutral urban basic services and energy-efficient built environments. 3) Analyzing the planning, adequacy of resources, and working arrangements, and their impact on project effectiveness. 4) Evaluating the effectiveness of working arrangements between UN-Habitat and its partners at various levels. 5) Assessing the integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, disability, youth, and human rights in project activities. 6) Identifying and validating lessons learned and areas for improvement, along with making actionable recommendations for future interventions. 7) Assessing the potential for scaling up project outputs to support municipal-level and national processes for developing bankable projects for fundraising. 8) Evaluating whether an effective project exit strategy has been developed to ensure the sustainability and continued use of project outputs and outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced academic degree in urban planning, economics, project management, international development, program evaluation, statistics, or survey research. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of seven years of professional experience in results-based management, particularly in policy development and analysis or capacity building, is required. The ability to present credible findings derived from evidence, including through charts, infographics, and other graphic design products, is desirable. Additionally, ten years of evaluation experience, including conduct and management, with substantive experience in sustainable development, is preferred. Familiarity with the work of the United Nations and UN-Habitat's mandate is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced academic degree in relevant fields such as urban planning, economics, project management, international development, program evaluation, statistics, or survey research. Candidates with a first-level university degree may be considered if they have two additional years of qualifying experience, demonstrating the importance of both formal education and practical experience in this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of professional practical experience in results-based management, particularly in the fields of policy development and analysis or capacity building. Candidates with ten years of evaluation experience, including both conduct and management, particularly in sustainable development, will be preferred. This level of experience is essential to ensure that the consultant can effectively assess the project's performance and provide valuable insights and recommendations.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is required for this position, as English is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. While French is also a working language, proficiency in English is mandatory for effective communication and reporting in this role.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based and is expected to last for a duration of four 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. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts, ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.