Evaluation Specialist

A final evaluation report of the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 in line with international evaluation quality standards and a report on evidence to support the priority setting of the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.

Remote with possibility of travel

6 Months

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Agenda 2063 is a shared strategic vision for inclusive growth and sustainable development for Africa to be realized over a period of fifty years. It continues to advance the African aspiration for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. It builds on and seeks to accelerate the implementation of past and existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development. Agenda 2063 embodies the aspirations of the African people and is anchored on the vision of the African Union - “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”. It is based on seven aspirations derived from continental consultations with the African peoples, namely:

1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
2. An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance.
3. An Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law.
4. A peaceful and secure Africa.
5. An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values, and ethics.
6. An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.
7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient, and influential global player and partner.

To ensure effective and coordinated implementation, the 24th Assembly of the Union requested the African Union Commission (AUC) to develop the first Ten-Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) of Agenda 2063. The FTYIP seeks to accelerate Africa’s political, social, economic, and technological transformation while continuing the Pan African drive for self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity. Covering the period 2014-2023, it is the first of a series of five Ten-Year Implementation Plans to transform the vision of the “Africa We Want By 2063” into concrete actions. The FTYIP incorporates goals, priority areas, targets, indicative implementation strategies as well as flagship projects. It enumerates 20 Agenda 2063 Goals linked to the 7 Aspirations, which identify 28 priority areas for action at all levels towards the achievement of development results expected for the African populations.

OBJECTIVE OF THE SPECIAL PROJECT: As the cycle of the FTYIP comes to an end, the Executive Council under decision EX.CL/Dec.1164(XL) called upon the AUC and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to lead on the evaluation of the FTYIP and the development of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP), an assignment termed, “the Special Project”. The objective of the Special Project is to assess performance and progress of implementation of the FTYIP towards set goals, targets, and indicators, and to formulate the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP), 2024 – 2033 of Agenda 2063. More specifically, the Special Project seeks to:

• Assess the level of achievement/non achievement of the targets set in the FTYIP.
• Assess the performance of AU Organs and Agencies, and RECs on institutional coordination, partnership, and resource mobilization for FTYIP.
• Assess the progress in the implementation of the 15 AU Flagship Projects, and
• Prepare the STYIP based on lessons learned from the implementation of FTYIP.

SCOPE OF THE SPECIAL PROJECT: The execution of the Special Project is expected to culminate into two major products: i.) an evaluation report of the FTYIP, and ii.) an outline of the STYIP that features the key priorities and indicative strategies for implementation. The two components are being undertaken concurrently, with deliberate efforts to leverage gains and lessons from the FTYIP to inform the formulation of the STYIP. Findings and lessons drawn from the evaluation of the FTYIP will provide a strong basis for defining the priorities, targets and related indicators for the next decade of Agenda 2063.

The evaluation of the FTYIP covers all the goals and associated targets with geographical coverage of all AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and AU Organs. The evaluation includes an assessment of the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and impact orientation of the design and implementation of FTYIP. Furthermore, the Special Project considers supportive functions such as coordination arrangements, partnerships and financing architectures, monitoring, and reporting modalities, as well communication and advocacy. The eco-system, including past, on-going, and predicted mega trends and transitions such as conflicts, technological advances, climate change and the COVID-19 outbreak forms integral considerations of the Special Project.

The coordination of the Special Project is assigned to the Technical Working Group (TWG) on monitoring and reporting of Agenda 2063 composed of AU organs and specialized agencies, RECs, UN entities and other continental institutions. The evaluation process is currently at the stage of data analysis and report writing following diverse multi-stakeholder consultations and other data collection exercises. It is expected that the evaluation report of the FTYIP and the plan of the successor ten-year plan will be presented to the AU Assembly in February 2023.

SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY: The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is seeking an evaluation consultant to provide evaluative expertise to the Special Project. Under the direction of the Chief of Evaluation in ECA, the Consultant will provide technical support to the TWG of the Special Project to enhance the quality and timely delivery of the evaluation process and products .

The consultancy will serve three main purposes: (1.) review the evaluation methodology and recommend aspects where improvement could be made at the final stage of the process; (2.) provide an evaluative review of the evaluation report ensuring high-quality standards, strong logical linkages between findings and recommendations, with particular attention to gaps in analysis on the convergence between Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063; and (3.) propose key findings and lessons learned from the evaluation of the FTYIP to be considered as the main evidence for priority setting in the STYIP.

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING: The evaluation consultation will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Evaluation in ECA. He/She will work as part of the TWG of the AU Special Project and report to the Chair of the TWG. The consultant will be expected to work both remotely with travel foreseen based on the needs of the TWG. Prior to submitting to the Chief of Evaluation of ECA, all deliverables of the consultancy will be cleared by the Chair of the TWG.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONSULTANT: The main responsibilities of the consultant will include and not limited to:

• Undertake a desk review of all relevant documentation of the Special Project.
• Consult with members of the TWG on the methodology and analysis applied to the evaluation, findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Undertake analysis of the methodology used in the evaluation and assess its soundness inleading to the evaluation conclusions.
• Contribute to the evaluation report by providing subject matter expertise and knowledge, including an analysis of the convergence and alignment of the FTYIP with major development frameworks on the continent, as well as cross-cutting issues such as governance, gender, disability inclusion, and partnerships,
• Analyze additional data anticipated from Member States following the presentation of the draft report and any inputs for enhancing the evaluation report as may be required by the TWG.
• Ensure that the evaluation meets the required standards of evaluation in line with the ToRs for the Special Project and in conformity with international evaluation quality standards and norms.
• Ensure that the evaluation report is well written, logically structured and the right style for the intended audience, with particular attention to consistent and accurate use of evaluation terminology.
• Provide forward looking recommendations to inform the formulation of the STYIP of Agenda 2063.

1.2 TIME FRAME OF THE CONSULTANCY

The evaluation consultancy is foreseen to be undertaken over a period of six months from June to December 2023.

Advanced University Degree (Master's) in Development studies, Demography, Economics, Public Policy, or other related social sciences fields is required. First level university degree in a combination of two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the masters’ degree.
A minimum of 12 years of experience in international development, including multi-stakeholder engagement, implementation, coordination, evaluations, and reporting is required.
Expertise in evaluation methods (quantitative and qualitative) is required.
Proven experience in designing and conducting evaluations of development programmes, strategic frameworks etc, preferably in Africa using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods will be an asset.
Experience in the provision of policy, analytical, and technical advisory support for international development organizations, governments, or other public sector organizations will be an advantage.
Knowledge of the African Union, Agenda 2063, and Agenda 2030 is desirable.
Experience in social/international development work is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this consultancy fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of an additional official language of the AU will be an added advantage

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.