Evaluation Specialist

The Evaluator will assess as objectively and systematically as possible the performance of the project vis-à-vis its overall objective as defined in the project document and deliver a carefully edited and formatted evaluation report on the assessment of performance of the project in accordance with the terms of reference and to ECA quality standards and specifications.

Remote

5 months

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is seeking a qualified Evaluation Specialist to conduct the terminal evaluation of the project, “Capacity Building for Gender Statistics and Monitoring Systems.” The consultant should have demonstrable evaluation experience in various development contexts, and exposure to a broad set of practices in the following areas of work, strategic planning approaches, results-based management, gender mainstreaming and statistics. Experience working in African development contexts and evaluating capacity-building initiatives will be an asset. Ideally, and for reasons related to independence, candidates should not have been involved in the formulation, implementation, or backstopping of work related to this project. Candidates are advised to consult the detailed Terms of Reference which will form the basis of the contract by requesting via email eca-evaluation@un.org with the subject: Evaluation of the Gender Statistics Project. Project Background and Technical Focus: African countries are signatories to various global and regional declarations, conventions and protocols that commit them to pursue policies that eliminate discrimination against women, and to take appropriate measures to ensure the full realization of the rights of women and girls. The commitments include the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) and AUC Agenda 2063, both adopted in 2015. These commitments recognize that the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a fundamental human right and an efficient development strategy for addressing fragility, building resilience and sustainable development. Project Background and Technical Focus:The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Africa Centre for Statistics (ACS), implemented a project aimed at strengthening the production, use, and dissemination of gender statistics in selected African transition countries. The project was designed in recognition of the critical role that quality gender data plays in advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and inclusive development, as well as in supporting countries’ commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Agenda 2063, and other regional and international frameworks. The project responded to persistent challenges faced by many African countries, including limited availability of gender-disaggregated data, weak statistical capacity, inadequate integration of gender considerations into national statistical systems, and insufficient use of gender statistics in policymaking and development planning. These constraints have hindered effective monitoring of progress towards gender equality and evidence-based decision-making. The overall objective of the project was to improve the availability and use of gender statistics in transition countries, thereby providing a stronger evidence base for gender-responsive national development planning and programming. To achieve this objective, the project focused on strengthening the capacities of national statistical systems to collect, produce, analyze, disseminate, and utilize quality, comparable, and regularly updated gender statistics. It also sought to enhance the integration of gender indicators into national monitoring and reporting frameworks across sectors. The evaluation will assess the effectiveness, sustainability and impact of the project, including the extent to which it contributed to improving the availability and use of gender statistics and strengthening gender-responsive policymaking in beneficiary countries. The evaluation findings will inform accountability, organizational learning, and the design of future interventions aimed at strengthening gender statistics and evidence-based policymaking in Africa. Objective and Scope of the Evaluation: The objective of this terminal evaluation is to provide an independent, evidence-based assessment of the project’s performance, contribution to intended results, post-project uptake and prospects for sustainability. The evaluation will assess, as objectively and systematically as possible, the project’s effectiveness, early signs of institutionalization of results and sustained use, while generating actionable lessons and recommendations to inform decision-making on potential future areas of intervention as well as to improve project delivery of similar projects. Specifically, the terminal evaluation will: i. Examine the extent to which the project team considered, prioritized and acted upon the Mid-Term Review findings and recommendations, and how these actions informed adjustments in project strategy, implementation arrangements, stakeholder engagement, risk management and results delivery. ii. Assess the project’s effectiveness and contribution to intended results by examining the extent to which there is credible evidence that project results contributed to changes in institutional capacity, policy processes, stakeholder practices or decision-making. iii. Assess post-project uptake, sustainability and early signs of institutionalization by examining whether project results have continued to be used, maintained or built upon following project closure. This will include assessing the extent to which tools, knowledge products, capacities, partnerships, coordination mechanisms or institutional practices supported by the project have been embedded in counterpart institutions and whether there are early signs that benefits are likely to continue over time. iv. Generate forward-looking recommendations, identify lessons, good practices, constraints and design considerations that should inform any future phase of the project. This will include assessing which aspects of the project model are suitable for scaling, replication or adaptation; which assumptions in the theory of change remain valid; and what changes may be needed in design, partnerships, implementation arrangements, resourcing, monitoring or risk management to strengthen the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, sustainability and impact orientation in a new phase. The final evaluation will cover the period of implementation from inception to project closure and the full geographical coverage. It will also cover all outcomes with particular attention to coherence and synergies across components. Gender should be addressed specifically throughout the evaluation process, and all data should be sex disaggregated. Tasks and Responsibilities: The Evaluator will be responsible for the overall evaluation process and deliverables including and not limited to the following responsibilities: i. Designing, planning, and implementing the final evaluation in accordance with the ToR. ii. Leading the data collection, consulting, and liaising as required, with project stakeholders, key informants, and partners to ensure satisfactory delivery of all deliverables. iii. Analyzing of key findings to arrive at an overall assessment of the performance of the project, conclusions, and recommendations, identification of lessons learned and best practices leading to the preparation of the final report. iv. Drafting the evaluation report, using an approach agreed with the Evaluation Manager, and delivered in accordance with ECA’s specifications and timeline. v. Preparing and delivering a presentation on the draft evaluation report. vi) Making themselves available, if required, to take part in briefings and discussions, online or, if judged necessary, at ECA or other venue, on dates to be agreed, in line with the work outlined in these ToRs and to be agreed in the inception phase.

The minimum requirements of the Evaluator are: i. Advanced University Degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Policy, or related social science field is required. A first-level university degree with a combination of 2 years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. ii. At least 10 years of experience evaluating international development interventions is required. iii. Proven experience designing and leading theory-based evaluations of development interventions is required. iv. Proven experience with strategic planning approaches, M&E methods, and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory), information analysis and report writing is required. v. Experience in gender mainstreaming, policies, and practices especially within an African context will be an advantage. vi. Experience conducting evaluations of UN programmes and projects will be an asset. vii. English and French are the official languages of the United Nations. For this assignment, fluency in English is required and working knowledge of French will be a distinct advantage.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this assignment, fluency in English is required and working knowledge of French will be a distinct advantage. Knowledge of one or more local languages spoken in the target countries will be an asset.

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.