Consultant for Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP Project “Climate Change and Security at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities
Org. Setting

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. This consultancy is located at Headquarters in the Evaluation Office which reports directly to the Executive Director. The consultant reports to the Evaluation Officer managing the project and the Director of the Evaluation Office (EO).
• The Terminal Evaluation is undertaken at operational completion of the project to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the Project, including their sustainability. The Evaluation has two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote operational improvement, learning and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP, the European Union (EU), Adelphi, among other project partners and Practical Action (Nepal and Sudan). Therefore, the Evaluation will identify lessons of operational relevance for future Project formulation and implementation, especially where a second phase of the Project is being considered. Recommendations relevant to the whole house may also be identified during the evaluation process.

In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the evaluation consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing. More specifically:

• Inception phase of the evaluation, including:
•  preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff;
•  draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project;
•  prepare the evaluation framework;
•  develop the desk review and interview protocols;
•  draft the survey protocols (if relevant);
•  develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission;
•  plan the evaluation schedule;
•  prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager

Data collection and analysis phase of the evaluation, including:

•  conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
•  (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission in the project country, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews.
•  regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and;
•  keep the Project/Task Manager informed of the evaluation progress.

Reporting phase, including:

•  draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that the evaluation report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Evaluation Manager guidelines both in substance and style;
•  liaise with the Evaluation Manager on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Evaluation Manager
•  prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted by the evaluation consultant and indicating the reason for the rejection; and
•  (where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons)

Managing relations, including:

•  maintain a positive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence;
•  communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in environmental or social studies or international development is required. A first level degree with an additional (2) years qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• At least 7 years’ professional experience is required
• Working experience in the areas of environmental resource management, climate change, and natural resource conflict is an added advantage; previous working experience in undertaking evaluation of projects, preferably using a Theory of Change approach, is required.
• Experience in managing partnerships, knowledge management and communication is desirable for all evaluation consultants.

Languages

• Knowledge of English language along with excellent writing skills in English is required.