Team Leader –Mid-Term Evaluation of the IDLO Mexico Project "Supporting Rule of Law: Strengthening Security Sector Capacity to Consolidate Criminal Justice System Reform”

THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the IDLO’s Criminal Justice project in Mexico against its stated outcomes as of March 2020. Within this framework, the evaluation will: 

• Provide an independent assessment of the project to measure the extent to which the expected results have been achieved so far in quantity and quality as well as usefulness and timeliness. The evaluation will be conducted at both activity and output levels providing insights towards outcomes and impact prospects, where possible; and
• Make recommendations, if relevant, to adjust / improve project, implementation in itinere towards the achievement of expected results and the contribution to project outcomes, potential impact and sustainability.

The incumbent will report to the Evaluation Unit and Director of Policy, Research and Learning under a day-to-day supervision of the Evaluation Specialist and will be expected to carry out the following key duties in line with the detailed evaluation Terms of Reference ((Link)): 

• Conduct an in-depth desk review of relevant strategies, and project documents and reports;
• Reconstruct the Theory of Change (if relevant) and develop the EQs and Indicators;
• Identify methodological approaches and tools to capture data, in line with the expected evaluation results;
• Organize and manage data collection with the (Junior) Evaluation consultant, administering it with program stakeholders and beneficiaries including project trainers, trainees, and other stakeholders relevant for the evaluation’s scope; and
• In coordination with the (Mid-level) Evaluation Expert, set up and conduct key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with other relevant project stakeholders.

The incumbent will undertake the in-depth analytical work to produce Inception Note and Evaluation Report in all draft and final versions. In particular, the incumbent will prepare the following deliverables: 

• An Inception Note (presenting the situational background, the evaluation design and the list of key informants in the field)
• A draft Evaluation Report (presenting the evaluation findings, conclusions/lessons learned and recommendations where the “causal link” is strictly observed)
• Finalized Evaluation Report, incorporating feedback from all relevant program stakeholders.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education

• Advanced university degree in Evaluation, Health, Social Sciences, International Development, Law or related field. 

Work experience

• Over 10 years of relevant professional experience in conducting results-oriented evaluations of international development projects and programs and/or in complex/strategic assessments, focused on capacity-building in the fields of good governance and rule of law, preferably in context of Mexico;
• A strong track record in Team Leadership for development assistance evaluations
• Professional experience with project cycle management, OECD DAC evaluation framework, logical framework approaches and with quality assurance within international development evaluations; 
• Experience with working in fragile/transition countries and knowledge/experience of capacity building and institutional development programs will be considered an asset.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is required.

Technical competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge of evaluation methodology for development assistance projects and programs with specific experience in evaluation methods and tools (including theory-of-change based evaluations); 
• Sound knowledge of the OECD DAC evaluation standards and criteria;
• Sound knowledge of developing qualitative and quantitative (proxy) indicators; 
• Relevant experience with survey techniques, focus groups and other participatory methods; 
• Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods; 
• Strong analytical, writing and editing skills.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The consultancy is expected to start in February 2020. The inception note is expected by early March 2020, and the draft evaluation report is expected tentatively by mid-April 2020. This is a results-based assignment where payments are made upon satisfactory production of evaluation deliverables. The estimated number of workdays for the assignment is 50 workdays for the Evaluation Team Leader. This includes 15 working days for the data collection field mission in Mexico.

HOW TO APPLY

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply and submit their Resume and Cover Letter ONLY. 

DISCLAIMER AND CLOSING DATE 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Contractor assigned to this work. This may not be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. 

The Director-General of IDLO reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities or even to cancel the recruitment to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Application deadline is 13th February 2020 (23.59 Hrs. Rome time)