Location: Home based
Deadline: Sunday, 28 July 2013
Description
UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.
Additional Considerations
UNOPS provides services in sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management, with projects ranging from building schools, roads, bridges and hospitals to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.
By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.
We employ more than 6,000 personnel annually and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of regional and country offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.
UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Background Information - IWC
International Waters Cluster
The UNOPS International Waters Cluster specializes in executing projects to prevent and reverse the degradation of transboundary water systems, including multi-country rivers and large marine ecosystems such as oceans, lake basins and shared groundwater resources. The cluster is executing over 30 projects for its partners, helping countries to work together and share knowledge to reduce ecological stress, such as that caused by overfishing and industrial pollution.Background Information - Job-specific
In accordance with UNDP and GEF M&E policies and procedures, all full and medium-sized UNDP support GEF financed projects are required to undergo a terminal evaluation upon completion of implementation. The following text sets out the expectations for a Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Implementation of the Dnipro Basin Strategic Action Program for the reduction of persistent toxics pollution (Dnipro project) (PIMSno. 3246). The project was designed to begin implementation of the ministerially approved SAP via governance reforms and demonstration projects aimed at reducing transboundary persistent toxic substances discharged in the Dnipro basin by small/medium size industries through municipal waste systems.
The project builds on the previous GEF investment in the Dnipro basin which led to the development and country adoption of the Dnipro Strategic Action Programme (SAP).
The overall implementation of the Dnipro project is the result of the joint efforts of Dnipro Basin Countries – the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine. The GEF funded project is implemented by the UNDP through its Bratislava Regional Centre and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) based in Copenhagen
Dnipro is the third largest river on the European Continent by the catchment area (after Danube and Volga) and the forth by its length. The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), developed in the first phase of the project (2000-2004), identified principal causes of transboundary degradation in the Dnipro River. The TDA identified as one of the agreed priorities the management of the transboundary pollution, in this case Persistent Toxic Substances of industrial origin. Accordingly the present project targeted small and medium size industries discharging their waste water in the Dnipro basin through municipal waste water treatment plants. The series of pilot projects demonstrating innovative approaches and introduce cleaner production technologies have been implemented
The project addressed its objective through the implementation of four major components;
i) Conducting a series of Pilot Projects to introduce cleaner production methods to several medium sized industries discharging through municipal wastewater systems, including the development of sustainable financing mechanisms and local regulation and monitoring procedures;
ii) Developing a comprehensive Transboundary Monitoring and Indicators Program which will provide information on the status and progress of the SAP implementation program to Dnipro Basin management bodies;
iii) Facilitating the introduction of harmonized environmental legislation which will improve monitoring procedures, strengthen regulatory and legal frameworks including, inter alia, those governing cleaner technologies;
iv) Establishing key institutional and management structures within the wider SAP management bodies.
The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.
The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results,and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming.
Functional Responsibilities
Evaluation Approach and Method An overall approach and method for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects have developed over time. The evaluator is expected to frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance,effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in theUNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-supported, GEF-financed Projects. A set of questions covering each of these criteria have been drafted and are included with the TOR which will be sent out to the Evaluator. The evaluator is expected to amend, complete and submit a matrix as part of an evaluation inception report, and shall include it as an annex to the report.
The evaluation must provide evidenceâ€based information that is credible,reliable and useful. The evaluator is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with government counterparts, in particular the GEF operational focal point, UNDP Country Office, project team, UNDP GEF Technical Adviser based in the region and key stakeholders. The evaluator is expected to conduct a field mission to Ukraine and Belarus including the following project sites: Meetings and site visits to pilot demonstration project activities (the visits to the Cleaner Production demonstration project in Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk or Kherson) and/or Belarus (Gomel or Mogilev).
Interviews will be held with the following organizations and individuals at a minimum:
- Project Manager and other project staff in the Project Management Unit
- Beneficiaries’ focal points in Ukraine and Belarus;
- Governmental institutions involved in the project implementation, including Institute of Hydrobiology,Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Research Hydrometeorological Institute of the Ministry of Ukraine on Emergencies, the Republic of Belarus as Republican Center of Radiation Control and Environmental Monitoring and Central Research Institute of Complex Use of Water Resources,
- NGOs – MAMA-86,
- Implementing Agency – UNDP,
- Executing Agency – UNOPS,
- Other partners: The Bavarian Ministryfor Environmental Protection
The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, project budget revisions, progress reports, GEF focal area tracking tools, project files, national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment. A list of documents that the project team will provide to the evaluator for review is included in the Terms of Reference.
Evaluation Criteria and Ratings
An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework, which provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification. The evaluation will at a minimum cover the criteria of: relevance, effectiveness,efficiency, sustainability and impact. Ratings must be provided on the following performance criteria. The completed table must be included in the evaluation executive summary. The obligatory rating scales are included in TOR.
The Evaluation will assess the key financial aspectsof the project, including the extent of co-financing planned and realized.Project cost and funding data will be required, including annualexpenditures. Variances between plannedand actual expenditures will need to be assessed and explained. Results from recent financial audits, asavailable, should be taken into consideration. The evaluator(s) will receiveassistance from the Country Office (CO) and Project Team to obtain financialdata in order to complete the co-financing table below, which will be includedin the terminal evaluation report.
Mainstreaming
UNDP supported GEF financed projects are key components in UNDP country programming, as well as regional and global programmes. The evaluation will assess the extent to which the project was successfully mainstreamed with other UNDP priorities, including poverty alleviation, improved governance, the prevention and recovery from natural disasters, and gender.
Impact
The evaluators will assess the extent to which the project is achieving impacts or progressing towards the achievement of impacts. Key findings that should be brought out in the evaluations include whether the project has demonstrated: a) verifiable improvements in ecological status, b) verifiable reductions in stress on ecological systems, and/or c) demonstrated progress towards these impact achievements.
The evaluation report must include a chapter providing a set of conclusions, recommendations and lessons.
Implementation Arrangements
The principal responsibility for managing this evaluation resides with the UNDP CO in Ukraine. UNOPS will contract the Evaluator. UNDP CO will ensure the timely provision of per diems and travel arrangements within the country for the evaluation team. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the Evaluator to set up stakeholder interviews, arrange field visits,coordinate with the Government etc.
Deliverables The Terminal Evaluator is required to submit the following deliverables:
- Inception report
- Presentation
- Draft final Report
- Final report When submitting the final evaluation report, the evaluator is required also to provide an 'audittrail', detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final evaluation report.
Team Composition The evaluation team will be composed of 1 international evaluator. The consultant shall have prior experience in evaluating similar projects. Experience with GEF financed projects is an advantage. The evaluators selected should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have conflict of interest with project related activities.
Evaluator Ethics
Evaluation consultants will be held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct upon acceptance of the assignment. UNDP evaluations are conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the UNEG 'Ethical Guidelines for Evaluations'
Education/Experience/Language requirements- Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience is required
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field. A Bachelor’s degree with 9 years of experience may be accepted as the equivalent.
- Knowledge of UNDP and GEF
- Previous experience with resultsâ€based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
- Technical knowledge in the targeted focal area(s)
- Extensive experience in international waters, coastal ecosystem and marine science etc
- Understanding of the political, economic and institutional issues associated with transboundary water management in Central and Eastern Europe
- Excellent English writing and communication skills is required; demonstrated ability to assess complex situations in order to succinctly and clearly distil critical issues and draw forward-looking conclusions;
- knowledge of Russian would be an asset
- An ability to assess the institutional capacity and incentives required
Additional Considerations
- Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
- Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
- The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
0 comments:
Post a Comment