Evaluation Specialist for the Evaluation of the UNEP Sub-Programme on Climate Action (2014-2023) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Specific Responsibilities for the Evaluation Specialist:

The Evaluation Specialist will carry out the Systematic Review of existing project evaluations from the sub-programme. The Evaluation Specialist will contribute to the overall preparation of the evaluation report. A more detailed allocation of responsibilities between the Team Leader and the Evaluation Specialist will be specified in the inception report. The Evaluation Team
will ensure together that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered. 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 SP-CA;
• prepare the evaluation framework;
• develop the desk review and interview protocols;
• draft the survey protocols (if relevant);
• develop and present criteria for selection of Climate Action initiatives for in-depth study;
• 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;
• regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and;
• keep the Evaluation Manager informed of the evaluation progress and engage the Sub-Programme Coordinator of Climate Action in discussions on emerging findings throughout the evaluation process.

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(s) and indicating the reason for the rejection.

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.
• The evaluation consultant shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the Sub-Programme during the period being reviewed from 2014 to 2023 and will be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form.
• The evaluation consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual Special Service Agreement (SSA) consultancy contract.
• Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with consultant separately.

Qualifications/special skills

• A first level university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required.
• An advanced degree in the same areas is desirable.
• A minimum of 10 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach;
• Experience from international development cooperation, including developing countries. Working knowledge of development oriented organizations, Intergovernmental processes and United Nations coordination bodies are an added advantage;
• Broad understanding of science related to climate change and advanced knowledge on: climate change mitigation and adaptation and technology support; Multilateral Climate Agreements, regional and national policy processes, desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is a requirement.

Deadline: 29 June 2023