Job: Terminal Evaluator

Location: Home based, Tbilisi, Georgia 
Deadline: Saturday, 26 October 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.

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

The UNDP/GEF Kura-Aras Project set out to assist the Kura-Aras riparian states to 1)identify the principal threats and root causes of the trans-boundary water resources of the Kura Aras-River Transboundary Basin and 2) develop and implement a sustainable programme of policy, legal and institutional reformsand investments to address these threats. Balancing overuse and conflicting uses of water resources in transboundary surface and groundwater basins is seen as the critical issue in the basin and will be a principal focus of project attention from the very outset of project related activities. The Project will create synergies with and build upon a range of initiatives being undertaken by the countries themselves and those of bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors that have given priority to the Basin.

The long-termdevelopment/environmental goal of the project is sustainable development of theKura-Aras River Basin enhanced through ecosystem-based Integrated WaterResource Management approaches. The project objective is to improve themanagement of the Kura-Aras River Transboundary Basin through theimplementation of a sustainable programme of policy, legal and institutionalreforms and investment options using the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis(TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP) process. In order to achieve thisobjective, the project will update the TDA, formulate the SAP and associatedNational Action Plans (NAPs) and National IWRM plans, undertake a range ofpublic involvement and awareness activities focusing on trans-boundaryactivities, and undertake demonstration projects that implement key aspects ofthe SAP.

During the development of the preliminary TDA, four priority transboundary problems were identified as affecting the Kura-Aras River Basin:

1. variation and reductionof hydrological flow;

2. deterioration of water quality;

3. ecosystem degradation in the river basin; and,

4. increased flooding and bank erosion.

The TDA will be revised taking into account key gap filling activities to be undertaken as part of this project and the planned activities of the EU funded Kura-Aras Regional Project. The final TDA will serve as the scientific basis for development of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) an agreed programme of interventions for the introduction of Integrated Water Resource Management approaches throughout the basin. The TDA will review the potential impacts of climate change on the priority transboundary issues. The SAP will incorporate abasin vision, water resource quality objectives, targets and interventions inthe short and medium term to meet the targets. Key activities which will inform both the TDA and the SAP will be the demonstration projects on the establishment of ecological flows at key locations in the basin and the trialing of water management systems in the Aras basin. The SAP will be underpinned by the development of national IWRM plans in Azerbaijan and Georgia and implementation of the existing IWRM plan in Armenia.

This project has been designed inclose collaboration with the Kura-Aras Basin countries. It has been developedin coordination with the other major donors, inter alia, European Union and USAID, to ensure maximum synergy and minimum overlap between supporting projects

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[1] for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects has 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 the UNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-supported,GEF-financed Projects. The evaluator is expected to amend,complete and submit this matrix as part of an evaluation inception report, and shall include it as an annex to the final 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 the Project Coordinating Unit in Tbilisi Georgia. Interviews will be held in person or by phone/Skype with the following organizations and individuals at a minimum:

• Senior staff of the Project Coordinating Unit
• Senior International Expert
• National Coordinators in each of the participating countries
• National Focal Points of the participating countries
• UNDP RBEC Regional Office in Bratislava
• UNOPS Senior Portfolio Manager in Copenhagen
• Stakeholders to the Project available during mission and upon request of the evaluator

The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, project budget revisions,midterm review, progress reports, GEF focal area tracking tools, project files,national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that theevaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment.

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.

For more information, please refer to the full Terms of Reference via this link:

http://www.kura-aras.org/TE_TOR.html

[1] For additional information on methods, seethe Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for DevelopmentResults , Chapter 7, pg.163

Education/Experience/Language requirements

The evaluator will be an international consultant. The consultant shall have prior experience in evaluating similar projects. Experience with GEF financed projects is an advantage. The evaluator selected should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have conflict of interest with project related activities.

The evaluator must present the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated international consulting experience and professional background in the water resources management sector. A minimum of 10 years relevant experience is required.
• Substantive experience in reviewing and evaluating similar technical assistance projects,preferably those involving UNDP/GEF or other United Nations agencies,development agencies and major donors;
• Previous experience in the South Caucasus region or high conflict transboundary projects required;
• A Master degree in water resources management, environment, international relations, or relevant field required.
• Substantive experience in reviewing and evaluating similar technical assistance projects, preferably those involving UNDP-GEF or other major ICPs required.
• Russian language skills advantageous;
• An ability to assess policy and governance framework and institutional capacity required;
• Understanding of governance, political,economic and institutional issues associated with transboundary water issues in the South Caucasus region required;
• Familiarity with GEF International Waters strategic programs, operations and evaluation guidelines, and portfolio advantageous.
• Previous experience with resultsâ€based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
• Understanding of local actions contributing to global benefits is crucial;
• Highly knowledgeable of participatory monitoring and evaluation processes; and
• Excellent English writing and communication skills; demonstrated ability to assess complex situations in order to succinctly and clearly distil critical issues and draw well supported conclusions, required.

• Familiarity with IWRM approaches in South Caucasus and /or Former Soviet and/or developing countries either through management and/or implementation or through consultancies in evaluation of land related projects.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type:International ICA

Contract level: IICA 4

Contract duration: 2 months, lumpsum modality

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx

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.

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