Evaluation Specialist for the Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF project "Enabling Transactions - Market Shift to Deforestation Free Beef, Palm Oil and Soy" (GEF Id no. 9696)

Result of Service

The Evaluation Specialist will submit an inception report, a draft evaluation report and a final evaluation report.

Work Location

Home-Based

Expected duration

8 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Org. Setting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The consultant reports to the Senior Evaluation Officer (Janet Wildish) managing the project and the Director (Michael Spilsbury) of the Evaluation Office (EO).

The Project

Terminal Evaluation is undertaken at operational completion of the project to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability. The Evaluation has two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote operational improvement, learning and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP and the World Bank as well as the executing agencies IFC, UNDP, UNEP FI, WWF-US, WWF Indonesia, Conservation International.

The Evaluation Specialist will be responsible, in close consultation with the Evaluation Office of UNEP for overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs. The Evaluation Specialist will make substantive and high- quality contributions to the evaluation process and outputs and ensure that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered.

In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Specialist will be responsible for the overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing. More specifically:
Inception phase of the Evaluation, including:
• 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

Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including:
• Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
• (Where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview 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 and;
• Keep the Project/Task Manager informed of the evaluation progress.

Reporting phase, including:
• Draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that the evaluation report 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; and
• (Where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons)

Managing relations, including:
• 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 its attention and intervention.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. A first level degree with an additional (2) two years qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
A minimum of 7 years of evaluation experience is required, preferably including
evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach.
Experience in GEF evaluation and in sustainable forest commodities value chains, private sector finance and investments is desirable.
A good/broad understanding of environmental financial inclusion and experience in Paraguay and Brazil or the region is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is a requirement. Knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese would be desired. Working knowledge of the UN System and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.

No Fee

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.