International Consultant for Final Evaluation of the Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia Project

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization grounded in the vision of equality as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. It works towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. Established to support UN Member States in setting global standards for achieving gender equality, UN Women collaborates with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programs, and services necessary for implementing these standards. The organization focuses on five priority areas: increasing women's leadership and participation, ending violence against women, engaging women in peace and security processes, enhancing women's economic empowerment, and integrating gender equality into national development planning and budgeting. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system's work in advancing gender equality. In Georgia, UN Women has been active since 1994, working to accelerate gender equality laws and policies, although significant challenges remain in achieving substantive gender equality. The organization has implemented various projects, including the 'Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia' project, which aims to enhance governance and democratic development while strengthening the private sector's role in women's economic empowerment. The second phase of this project is set to run from 2023 to 2025, building on previous successes and focusing on promoting gender mainstreaming across governance systems and processes.

Job Overview:
The position of International Consultant for Final Evaluation of the Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia Project involves conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the project's outcomes and outputs. The consultant will assess the relevance and coherence of the implementation strategy, effectiveness, and organizational efficiency in achieving the project's results. The evaluation aims to validate project results, analyze how they contribute to commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and document lessons learned and best practices. The consultant will work closely with national consultants and stakeholders to ensure a participatory evaluation process that captures diverse perspectives. The evaluation will cover the project's implementation period from July 2023 to September 2025 and will include both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed inception report, conducting interviews and focus groups, analyzing data, and producing a final evaluation report that includes actionable recommendations for future programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks, including: conducting inception meetings with project staff to refine evaluation objectives and scope; preparing a detailed inception report that outlines the evaluation methodology, data collection plan, and key informants; conducting individual interviews and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders; analyzing data and reconstructing the project's theory of change; preparing a PowerPoint presentation on preliminary findings; and producing draft and final evaluation reports that reflect key findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The consultant will also ensure that the evaluation process adheres to ethical guidelines and engages stakeholders throughout the evaluation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in social sciences, gender studies, political science, social policy, development studies, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with seven years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have at least five years of practical experience in conducting evaluations of strategies, policies, and projects, as well as knowledge of gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and women's empowerment. Experience in the context of Georgia or the region is highly desirable. Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills are essential, along with a proven understanding of human rights issues and the human rights-based approach to programming.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in social sciences, gender studies, political science, social policy, development studies, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of practical experience in conducting evaluations of strategies, policies, and projects. If the candidate holds a first-level university degree, seven years of similar experience is required. Additionally, at least five years of experience and knowledge of gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and women's empowerment is necessary, along with familiarity with gender equality and women's empowerment issues in Georgia or the region.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the region may be considered an asset, but English is mandatory for effective communication and reporting.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with the requirement for travel to Tbilisi and potentially two trips to various regions of Georgia. The total duration of the consultancy is expected to be approximately 40 working days, with specific deliverables due by set deadlines throughout the evaluation process. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with UN Women evaluation guidelines and ethical standards, ensuring stakeholder participation and a focus on human rights and gender equality.