Result of Service
The Evaluation Team will submit a concise 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. This consultancy is located at Headquarters in the Evaluation Office which reports directly to the Executive Director. The consultant reports to the Evaluation Manager and the Director of the Evaluation Office.
The Evaluation
In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme Manual , the 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 main project partners including the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya, the Environment Protection Agency of Ethiopia, the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, and the City Authorities of Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Cape Town.
Therefore, the Evaluation will identify lessons of operational relevance for future project formulation and implementation, especially where a second phase of the project is being considered. Recommendations relevant to the whole house may also be identified during the evaluation process.
The Project
The Terminal Evaluation will be an in-depth evaluation using a participatory approach whereby key stakeholders are kept informed and consulted throughout the evaluation process. Both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods will be used as appropriate to determine project achievements against the expected outputs, outcomes and impacts.
The Evaluation Team
For this Evaluation, the Evaluation Team will consist of a Principal Evaluator supported by one Support Consultant who will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Office represented by an Evaluation Manager, in consultation with the UNEP Project Manager, Fund Management Officer and the Sub-programme Coordinator of the Science – Policy UNEP Sub-programme
Specific Responsibilities for the Support Consultant:
The Support Consultant will make substantive and high-quality contributions to the evaluation process and outputs. The Support Consultant will provide substantive contributions to the inception phase of the evaluation, substantive contributions to the data collection and analysis, substantive contributions to the main report and ensure good teamwork and external relations.
The two consultants will ensure together that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered.
The Evaluation Team members will undertake the following:
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 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 Consultants 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
A first level university degree or equivalent in Environmental Science/Studies, Business Administration, Planning, Management, Social Sciences, or Political Science, Auditing or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant field is required. An advanced degree in the same fields will be an added advantage.
A minimum of 5 years experience working in activities related to air and/or water quality monitoring are required.
Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.
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.
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.
