Evaluation Consultant for Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF Project “Capacity Building for Information Coordination and Monitoring Systems/SLM in Areas with WRM Problems on SLM at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the world’s environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the environment.

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 Officer managing the evaluation 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, GEF and the main project partners. 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.

Countries targeted in the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Portfolio include Serbia, Albania, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Kenya and Cuba. This consultancy will evaluate SLM project in Cuba.

The Project – GEF 8003

The project’s objective was intended to achieve ‘Strengthened coordination of information and monitoring systems for management of water resources based on an SLM approach. The project was delivered on four components namely: Component 1 – Individuals and institutions have the human and material capacities to undertake SLM emphasizing in water management; Component 2 – Strengthened biophysical and information management system adjusted to user interests for better land use decision making; Component 3 – Comprehensive management model for monitoring integrated water resources management / SLM increases agricultural production in four intervention areas, with replication potential to other areas and Component 4: Project monitoring and evaluation, adaptive management and lessons learned.

The Evaluation Team

For this Evaluation, the Evaluation Team will consist of an Evaluation Consultant who will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Office represented by an Evaluation Manager, in consultation with UNEP/GEF Task Manager, Fund Management Officer and Coordinator of Health and Productive Ecosystems Sub-programme.

Specific Responsibilities

In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the evaluation and timely delivery of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing. More specifically the following process will be applied: Inception phase of the evaluation, including:

• conduct a 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 site selection for the evaluation mission;


• plan the evaluation schedule;


• prepare the inception report, incorporating comments received from the Evaluation Office.

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, 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.


• keep the Task Manager/Project Manager informed of the evaluation progress and engage the Task Manager/Project Manager in discussions on evaluation findings throughout the evaluation process; and


• regularly report back to the Evaluation Office on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered.

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 Office on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.

The evaluation consultant shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the project and will be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form.

The evaluation consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract.

Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with consultant separately.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic Qualifications: A university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. An advanced degree is desirable.


• Experience: A minimum of 8 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global research programmes and using a Theory of Change approach; and a good/broad understanding of Sustainable Land Management is desired.


• Working knowledge of development oriented organizations is an added advantage.


• Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is a requirement.

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