EOI: Evaluation Consultants - Country Programme Evaluations, Independent Evaluation Office

Background

As the custodian of the evaluation function, the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of UNDP supports the Administrator in his/her substantive accountability function, and contributes to informed decision-making by the Executive Board, managing for development results by the organization and enhancing the evaluation function across the UN system by engaging with partners in the evaluation and development community.

IEO undertakes independent country programme evaluations (ICPEs), formally Assessments of Development Results (ADRs) – in an annual cycle. The ICPEs cover a UNDP country portfolio over a 5-8 year period and are timed to provide evaluative evidence to feed into the development of new UNDP Country Programme Documents. ICPEs also support UNDP’s accountability to national stakeholders and the Executive Board.

15 ICPEs will be carried out in 2018 (30+ in 2019) across all regions, Africa, Arab States, Europe and CIS, Latin America and the Caribbean.  The IEO is currently seeking an expression of interest from evaluation consultants to support the ICPE lead evaluators as part of a long term agreement or through individual contracts to be part of one or more ICPE team.

This call for expressions of interest (EOI) provides a profile and outline of the expected responsibilities of evaluation consultants for the 2018 & 2019 ICPEs. Following the Expression of Interest candidates will be invited to formally apply for either the LTA or individual country programme evaluation teams. Specific Terms of Reference for each evaluation team member will be provided at a later date to interested candidates who meet the required qualifications set out in this EOI.

The duration of each consultancy will vary depending on the ICPE and specific tasks, and is expected to range between 30 and 80 work days across one or more ICPE.

For more information on IEO activities, visit undp.org/evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluation consultants are sought for inclusion in a long term agreement (LTA) or individual contracts for ICPEs being carried out in 2018 & 2019 across all regions. Consultants who are recruited will be requested to work with lead evaluators on one or more of the following ICPEs for 2018 and 2019.

ICPE countries for 2018 include, for Africa (Angola, Comoros, Madagascar, Mali, Sierra Leone), for Asia Pacific (Afghanistan, Timor Leste), Arab states (Tunisia, Yemen), For Europe and CIS (Bosnia Herzegovina) and for Latin America and the Caribbean (Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Paraguay, Venezuela).

ICPE countries for 2019 tentatively include Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe), for Asia Pacific (Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives), Arab states (Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia), For Europe and CIS (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Serbia, Tajikistan, FYR Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and for Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina, El Salvador, Panama, Uruguay).

The consultants will provide their technical expertise and knowledge in one or more of UNDP’s thematic programme areas: (1) gender; (2) environment and energy; (3) human rights and rule of law; (4) local governance and decentralization; (5) democratic governance and peacebuilding; (6) poverty reduction and inclusive growth, and/or (7) climate and disaster recovery/resilience.

Under the supervision of the respective IEO Lead Evaluators, consultants will perform the following:

• Undertake desk reviews of material and drafting of background papers on specific UNDP thematic/outcome area(s);
• Assist in designing relevant data collection instruments and participate, as appropriate, in field-based data collection in the country;
• Analyze collected data and draft analytical papers based on agreed evaluation criteria;
• Contribute to the finalization of the evaluation report prepared by the IEO Lead Evaluator.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills, including ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information with a discerning sense for quality of data;
• Good mastery of information technology required for organized presentation of information.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Proven organizational skills and ability to handle a large volume of work;
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling UN values and ethical standards, including UNEG norms;
• Acts as a team player and exercises diplomacy, tact and politeness;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in Social Sciences, Public Policy, International Relations, Natural Sciences or other field relevant to UNDP’s work.

Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in design and conduct of development evaluation;
• Preferably substantive work experience in, and knowledge of, the countries under evaluation for 2018 and/ or the Region.
• Background in evaluating one or more of UNDP’s thematic areas: (1) gender; (2) environment and energy; (3) human rights and rule of law; (4) local governance and decentralization; (5) democratic governance and peacebuilding; (6) poverty reduction and inclusive growth, and/or (7) climate and disaster recovery/resilience.
• Familiarity with development programming and evaluative methods focused on poverty eradication and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion, including for gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Strong understanding of UN/UNDP work, including UN Country Team programming and coordination modalities.

Language

• Proficiency and a proven ability to work and write in English is essential for all ICPE countries;
• Fluency in official languages of specific ICPE countries is highly desirable, i.e. French, Spanish  and Arabic.

Application Instructions

The following documents should be uploaded as one document onto UNDP Jobs site:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of at least three (3) professional references;
• A brief cover letter (250-400 words) specifying: (a) the country/countries of interest (b) area of expertise within UNDP’s thematic programme areas (see above); (c) potential conflict of interest in having worked in a programmatic capacity for UNDP over the last 5 years;

When uploading onto the UNDP Jobs site, combine all documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows a maximum upload of one document.