Evaluation Consultant for Debt Swap Project

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was established in 1973 with the mission to support the countries of the Arab region in achieving sustainable development through economic and social development initiatives. ESCWA operates in 17 member states and focuses on various issues including economic development, social justice, and environmental sustainability. The organization employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to enhancing the lives of citizens in the region through effective policy-making and implementation.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Consultant will play a crucial role in assessing the impact of the ESCWA's Climate/SDGs Debt Swap – Donor Nexus Initiative. This evaluation aims to determine how the debt swap project has contributed to achieving its intended results, the pathways to these results, and the significant elements that facilitated their achievement. The consultant will also evaluate any unintended results that emerged during the implementation of the project. The evaluation will serve three main purposes: to provide evidence-based decision-making for strategic planning and risk management, to demonstrate accountability to ESCWA’s Executive and member States, and to facilitate organizational learning by identifying lessons learned and actionable recommendations for future projects. The consultant will be expected to conduct a thorough assessment of the project's performance in terms of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, while also considering cross-cutting issues such as gender, human rights, and environmental concerns.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the debt swap project, which includes:

• Assessing the relevance of the project by determining how the strategic needs and priorities of member States were identified and aligned with the project design.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the project by analyzing evidence supporting the achievement of results and identifying which activities contributed directly to these results.
• Analyzing the efficiency of the project by examining whether planned activities were delivered with the end results in mind and what adjustments were made to optimize outcomes.
• Assessing the impact of the project by identifying any high-level effects it caused, including changes in norms or systems.
• Evaluating the sustainability of the project results and determining whether they can be maintained by stakeholders in similar contexts.
• Ensuring that gender, human rights, disability inclusion, and environmental issues were incorporated into the project’s design and implementation.
• Developing a Theory of Change for the project results and employing a mixed-method approach to arrive at credible findings.
• Providing quality assurance throughout the evaluation process and ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in management, evaluation, or a related field. A minimum of five years of experience in conducting impact evaluations, particularly with Arab governmental bodies, is required. Experience in debt policy and finance issues is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to both governmental and UN audiences. Proven competency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, including self-administered surveys, document analysis, and informal and semi-structured interviews, is essential.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, management, international relations, economics, or any other related field is required for this position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in conducting impact evaluations, particularly in projects related to governmental bodies in the Arab region. Experience in debt policy and finance issues is considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in Arabic is desirable, as it is a working language of ESCWA. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Knowledge of French is also beneficial but not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The evaluation is expected to be conducted remotely over a duration of four months. The position does not specify a deadline for applications, and it is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.