This role involves serving as the Principal Evaluator responsible for the overall management of the Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF Project. Key responsibilities include ensuring the timely provision of outputs, robust data collection and analysis, and high-quality report writing, in close consultation with the Evaluation Manager.
Specific Responsibilities
The Evaluation Consultant will manage the evaluation through the following phases:
1. Inception Phase of the Evaluation:
- Conduct a 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.
2. Data Collection and Analysis Phase of the Evaluation:
- Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners, and project stakeholders.
- (Where appropriate and agreed) conduct evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visiting project locations, and interviewing 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.
- Keep the Project Manager informed of the evaluation progress.
3. Reporting Phase:
- Draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring it 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.
- (Where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons).
4. Managing Relations:
- 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 attention and intervention.
Contractual Arrangements
This is an individual consultancy contract selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office. The overall assignment is for 50 days spread over 6 months to be delivered in two contracts:
- Contract 1: Inception Report (30%); Draft Evaluation Report (30%) — Total 60%
- Contract 2: Final Evaluation Report (20%); Final Portfolio Review Report (20%) — Total 40%
The Evaluation Consultant must not have had prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the project and must be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form. Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared separately.
Qualifications and Special Skills
- Education: 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.
- Experience: A minimum of 9 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach.
- Knowledge: A good/broad understanding of Invasive Alien Species prevention and management is desired.
- System Knowledge: Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.
