Project Evaluator (multiple positions), Multiple positions

The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund established in 2010 to address food insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar. LIFT has received funding from 14 donors – the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Switzerland, Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Luxembourg, Italy, New Zealand, Ireland and Mitsubishi Corporation. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the Fund Manager to administer the funds and provide monitoring and oversight.

The overall goal of LIFT is to sustainably reduce the number of people living in poverty and hunger in Myanmar. LIFT’s purpose is to strengthen the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of poor people in Myanmar. LIFT’s purpose-level outcomes are increased income, decreased vulnerability, improved nutrition, and pro-poor policy developments.

LIFT works with implementing partners that include international and national non-government organisations, United Nations agencies, the Government of Myanmar, private sector organisations, and academic and research institutions.

LIFT is active in the four main agro-ecological zones of Myanmar: the Ayeyarwady Delta, the coastal region of Rakhine State, the central dry zone (including Mandalay, Magway and the southern Sagaing region), and the upland areas of Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin and Shan States and Tanintharyi Region.

So far, LIFT has reached more than 7.2 million people, or roughly 20 per cent of rural Myanmar’s population; and is active in almost half the country’s townships. LIFT is funding projects through to June 2019. For more details, visit www.lift-fund.org.

LIFT supports projects that are carried out by implementing partners (IPs) according to the grant agreement. LIFT supported projects are subject to a midterm review and a final evaluation managed by the LIFT Fund Management Office.

Midterm reviews (MTR) are managed in collaboration with implementing partners and should assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the project, as well as particular technical issues specific to the project, and include recommendations for improving the project in its remaining tenure.

The assignment concerns the mid-term review of four projects that are focusing on livelihoods and food security in Rakhine, please refer to Annex 1 for an overview of the projects.

Note: Depending on the nature of the projects, an applicant may not want to be considered for all four projects. In this case, the applicants shall indicate in their submission for which project evaluation they apply for. Preference will be given to applicants who can cover all or several project evaluations as the four projects are thematically related and relevant comparisons can be drawn for a mid-term evaluation and recommendation for the remaining project periods. 

Under the direct supervision of the Livelihoods and Food Security Specialist, and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Consultant shall conduct the Midterm Review (MTR) of the four projects referred in Annex 1.

The purpose of the MTR for each of the projects is to:

1. Demonstrate accountability to major stakeholders, including donors and beneficiaries,
2. Foster learning for improving project design and/or implementation, and
3. Generate evidence for policy development.

The MTR should help the project team of the implementing partner identify key project learnings and adjust the project implementation through a participatory approach.

The specific objectives of the review of each project include:

1.      Address the LIFT-level evaluation questions concerning the following criteria, in relation to the projects’ overall approach and their individual components where appropriate:

a.    Relevance: The extent to which the project and its components are suited to: (1) the priorities and needs of the target beneficiaries; (2) LIFT’s policies and objectives; and (3) the Myanmar policy and development context.

b.    Effectiveness: A measure of the extent to which the project is attaining its expected results and targets, based on the project’s theory of change, measurement framework and/or logical framework.

c.    Efficiency: A measure of the extent to which the project has delivered value for money, in terms of costs and major benefits.

d.    Sustainability: An assessment of the economic and, where appropriate, social and environmental sustainability, of a project, considering here the nature of the project oriented towards policy change.

e.      Gender equality: The extent to which project design and implementation has considered gender-related differences in the roles, responsibilities and needs of the target beneficiaries and stakeholders, and enabled greater gender equality and women’s empowerment.

For an overview of the detailed midterm review questions please refer to Annex 2.

2.      Address specific technical questions which will be detailed in the first days of the consultancy working closely with LIFT. LIFT will provide detailed task notes for this purpose.  Based on these discussions, the consultant(s) will then develop the appropriate data collection instruments.

3.      Distill lessons and good practices, as well as identify barriers to effective implementation, in order to provide meaningful and feasible recommendations for improving the projects in their remaining time, as well as in a possible extension period.

Although to be determined by the Consultant, the mid-term reviews will be based on qualitative methods, mainly key informant interviews and focus group discussions.

Suggested data sources and collection methods include:

-        Review of existing LIFT and project documentation (project proposal, the annual and semi-annual reports, research reports and studies, and FMO’s field visit reports and other relevant project documents), the LIFT Strategy (2014-2018),

-        Conduct consultations with relevant project stakeholders and partners, including key stakeholders in the government

In addition, the Consultant will facilitate a workshop with the respective project teams to analyse current results, challenges, identify learnings and consider approaches for improving project design and approaches.

The following documents / events will be required for each project:  

1. Design meetings with LIFT FMO and IPs to clarify MTR objectives and logistics

2. Debriefing meetings with LIFT FMO and IPs to discuss the findings, lessons, and proposed recommendations (two days after completing the field trip)

3. Draft Final Report, one for each evaluated project, as per an agreed table of contents referring to the three purposes of this MTR as addressed in section III (due up to twenty days after the debriefing presentation, maximum length 20 pages)

4. Final Report, one for each project (due up to seven days after receiving final written feedback from LIFT, maximum length 20 pages excluding annexes).

Estimated timeframe for all four mid-term evaluation is 52 days, of which about 25 days are estimated for field work in Yangon and Rakhine State, Myanmar.

Below an overview of the estimated timeframe per project MTR. Field work is scheduled for October 2017. For more details see Annex 3.

a)      Tat Lan Programme Phase II -  implemented by IRC:  14.5 working days (of which 8.5 days are in Yangon and Rakhine)

b)      Tat Lan Programme Phase II – implemented by Save the Children: 14.5 working days (of which 8.5 days are in Yangon and Rakhine)

c)       Tat Lan Programme Phase II – M&E and Learning – implemented by CARE: 8.5 working days

d)      Supporting the Food Security, Resilience and Social Cohesion of Households and Communities in Rathedaung Township – implemented by CARE: 14.5 working days (of which 8.5 days are in Yangon and Rakhine)

As mentioned in Section II, LIFT also accepts applications for single project MTRs, but preference is given to applicants who can cover more than one MTR as the four projects are thematically related.

LIFT will provide facilitators to support the Consultant in the logistics and arrangements for research and consultations, and for the interpretation and translation of interviewees’ responses.

LIFT will cover the costs of meeting and workshop venue, support workshop organization and will provide all logistical and travel arrangements in-country. 

Education

• A Master’s Degree in a subject relevant to the TOR (Social Science, Agriculture, Development or related) is required.
• Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered as equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum seven years of experience in project implementation, evaluation and/or research on livelihoods and food security subjects relevant to the ToR is required;
• Technical knowledge and experience in rural livelihoods and food security is preferred;
• Proven understanding of the socio-economic and political situation in Myanmar is desirable;
• A sound understanding of livelihoods and food security in South-East Asia and/or Myanmar is an advantage;

Language Requirement

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential;

• Professionalism – Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, analyze options and recommend solutions. Ability to work systematically, accurately and under pressure.
• Client orientation - Ability to identify clients' needs and appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients and related parties.
• Analytical skills – Strong skills in methodology and analysis.
• Technological awareness - Excellent computer skills and ability to use software tools to present data clearly and concisely. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Other considerations:

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.