Job: Team Member for the Final Evaluation of the Programme

Location: Home based
Closing Date: Wednesday, 27 November 2013

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 -AEMOBased in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Asia, Europe and Middle East Office (AEMO) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region, providing financial oversight of projects, procuring goods and services and managing human resources. AEMO helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region. Project Background

The European Partnership withMunicipalities Programme (EU PROGRES) is a joint action of the European Union(EU), the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Serbia, to enhancestability and socio-economic development in the South and South West Serbia. EUPROGRES endeavours to support economic growth and work to improve the overall socio-economic conditions in theProgramme Area.The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has beengranted a budget of EUR 18.9 million to implement the Programme. The Programmehas started on 1 July 2010 and, after approval of nine-month no cost extension,will end on 31 March 2014.

EU PROGRES activities aredivided into four components, and the Programme is expected to deliver eightresults, as follows:

Component 1: Good Governance (a cross cutting theme underpinning allcomponents)

Result 1: Participatory, accountable and transparentgovernance, respecting human rights

Component 2: Municipal Management and DevelopmentPlanning

Result 2: Municipal organizational effectiveness andefficiency improved and capacities to deliver services to citizens and businessincreased

Result 3: Capacities for planning municipal andregional sustainable development strengthened and relevant developmentdocuments created

Component 3: Physical, Economic and Socialinfrastructure

Result 4: Projects and project documentation preparedfor key economic, environmental and social projects

Result 5: Project financing facilitated throughenabling contacts with ministries, donors and other projects

Result 6: Selected projects financed and implementedthrough the EU PROGRES

Component 4: Public Awareness and Branding of Areas

Result 7: Awareness of the need for, the logic of, andthe effects of changes communicated to a broad public

Result 8: A plan to developthe areas' images and self-images as unique areas of Europe are established andimplementation begun.

Direct beneficiaries of allactivities are 25 municipal administrations taking part in EU PROGRES:

• Ivanjica, Nova Varoš, Novi Pazar,Priboj, Prijepolje, Raška, Sjenica, and Tutin in South West Serbia
• Blace, ŽitoraÄ‘a, Kuršumlija and Prokupljein the TopliÄki District
• Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Leskovac,MedveÄ‘a, Crna Trava, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, VladiÄin Han, Vranje, Preševo,Surdulica and Trgovište in the South Serbia.

Other beneficiaries includemunicipality-founded institutions and public utility companies, civil societyorganisations (CSO) and media in the participating municipalities. The ultimatebeneficiaries are the inhabitants of the South and South West Serbia.

Reports, studies, news andgeneral information about the Programme are available on www.euprogres.org

The Mid Term Evaluation of theEU PROGRES has been organised in the summer 2012 and provided assement ofprogress towards planned results and intended impact. It also identifiedlessons learned and provided recommendations for modification of the Programmeapproaches in order to enhance its performance. This Vacancy Announcement (VA)provides framework for the conduct of the Final Evaluation of EU PROGRES.

Functional Responsibilities

Post Title: Team Member for the Final Evaluation of the Programme Post Level: I-ICA, Level 2 Org Unit: AEMO/SRPC Duty Station: Home based with extensive travel in South and South WestSerbia Duration: Maximum 30 working days from January to end-February 2014

Objectives of the Final Evaluation

The overall objectiveof the Final Evaluation is to provide the analysis of the performance of the Programme, todocument lessons learned and to provide recommendations for possible follow upactions. More specifically, the Final Evaluation will:

• Analyse and document to what extent has the Programme met its objectives, purpose, planned outputs and results
• Assess implementation of the Programme against the five criteria of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability
• Assess work of the Programme on good governance as a cross-cutting theme. The assessment needs to include both overview of achievements and analysis of (initial) effects in the field of good governance
• Include cost benefit analysis of the Programme and, where possible and appropriate, identify positive examples that could possibly be considered for future actions
• Analyse contribution of the Programme to the visibility of the EU, the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Serbia
• Assess whether and how the Programme addressed gender equality, social inclusion, human rights and environmental issues
• Describe whether the Programme followed up recommendations provided within the Mid Term Evaluation report
• Identify lessons learned that could in future facilitate decision making by the Government of Serbia, donors and other Programme stakeholders
• Identify good practices that could be possibly scaled up or replicated in future programmes and projects
• Provide realistic, clear and practicalrecommendations that could facilitate possible future actions

Scope of assignment and methodology

The Final EvaluationTeam, consisted of the Team Leader and a Team Member, will be responsible to carry out the entire process of evaluation. The Team Member will be providing contribution to the process under the guidance of and in close cooperation with the Team Leader who will be responsible to lead the evaluation.

The Final EvaluationTeam will through timely, clear and concise presentation ensure that the Government of Serbia, the donors, and the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) benefit from the findings and recommendations. They will involve relevant stakeholders in the evaluation process and thus make sure that different views are taken into consideration.

The Final EvaluationTeam will be responsible for efficient functioning of the process and for completing the Final Evaluation Report in accordance with the guidelines and format outlined in the Annex II.

EU PROGRES will provide logistics and organisational support that may include: provision of Programme documentation, assistance indevelopment of field work programme, organisation of meetings, provision of translation/interpretation, and provision of office space. Other support may be considered, if justifiable.

The evaluation will atleast include the following phases: preparatory activities, field work,analysis, drafting of the report, provision of feedback and editing, finalisation of the report and presentation of the Final Report.

Within preparatory activities, the Evaluation Team will in particular:

• Meet the team of the European Integration Office of the Government of Serbia (SEIO) and donor representatives: the Delegation of the European Union (DEU) and the Swiss Agency for the Development and Cooperation (SDC) in order to reaffirm the objectives of the evaluation, as well as to consider use of evaluation methods other than those suggested in the ToR
• Meet EU PROGRES in order to define the scope of logistical and organisational support that will be provided to the process and to confirm the evaluation methodology, while considering resources and other limitations
• Desk study and review of the relevant Programme documentation, including the Inception, Quarterly and Annual Reports. Programme documentation will be provided by EU PROGRES, although much is already available on the Programme website www.euprogres.org/biblioteka.php
• Prepare the Inception Report that will detail the evaluation methodology and the work plan. Only upon the approval of the SEIO and the donors, the field work should commence.

The fieldwork should at least include:

• In-depth interviews and group discussions with the key officials in a selection of municipalities in both South and South West Serbia
• Interviews/group discussions with other partners/stakeholders, such as civil society organisations, development agencies or development projects
• Interviews with the Government representatives, in particular the Ministries which are members of the PSC
• Additional meetings with the SEIO and donors, if requested and appropriate
• Interviews/group discussions with the senior EU PROGRES staff, and others, if required

The analysis will include further review of Programme documentation and assessment of consideration of the field work findings. The Evaluation Team will prepare the draft Report thatwill include interim findings and recommendations.

The draft Report will be discussed with the SEIO, the donors and EU PROGRES. It should also be circulated to the PSC members for consideration, who should be given atleast seven working days to provide comments. The Evaluation Team will provide feedback to those who provided comments and will edit the Report, accordingly.

The Final Report, which should be produced in English and have maximum 40 pages, excluding Annexes, should be presented in a workshop that will at least include the SEIO, the donors and EU PROGRES. The opportunity to organise presentation of the Final Report to wider audience will be explored. The Evaluation Team should be flexible in terms of date for the presentation of the Final Report.

Time framework

Inception Report Five - (5) days - by 11 January 2014 Field work (Meetings with the stakeholders completed, including extensive visit to the South and South West Serbia) - Ten (10) days - by 31 January 2014

Analysis/Report writing (Draft Evaluation Report produced, presented and circulated for comments) - Ten (10) days - by 14 February 2014

Feedback/editing/finalisation (Provide feedback to stakeholders who sent comments. Editing completed. The Final Report produced) - Three (3) days - by 28 February 2014

Report presentation (The Final Report produced and presented at the workshop) - Two (2) days - To be confirmed

Those interested candidates who are not available to commence evaluation in early January and complete the process within the time framework presentedin the table above should not apply for the position.

Education University degree in economics, finance, social science, public administration, or other relevant subject. Master degree would be an advantage Experience

• At least seven years of experience in project/programme evaluations. Prior experience in evaluations of EU and other donor funded projects/programmes in Serbia is essential
• Experience in conducting of cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis is highly desirable

Competencies

The focus will be on recruiting professionalswith demonstrable evaluation experience of large and complex Programmes and adeep knowledge of the socio economic conditions in the South and South WestSerbia.

• Knowledge of project management
• Knowledge of EU funded programmes and EU project management guidelines, understanding of financial and administrative procedures
• Understanding of the political, economic and social issues in Serbia and more specifically in the South and South West Serbia (i.e. the Programme area)
• Knowledge of good governance, public administration and local governance. Understanding of developments in these fields in Serbia
• Understanding of cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis
• Experience with local and regional economic development. Understanding of development issues in Serbia
• Understanding of infrastructure projects
• Excellent report writing skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, and nationality sensitivity and adaptability
• Accountability for management of time and respect of professional standards
• Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Focuses on result and responds positively to feedback

LanguagesExcellent written and spoken English required Additional Considerations

• Neither member of the Final Evaluation Team should have participated inthe Programme preparation and/or implementation and should have no conflict ofinterest with any proposed follow-up phases. Both members of the EvaluationTeam will be asked to sign the no conflict of interest statement.
• 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.

Contract type, level and duration

Post Title: Team Member for the Final Evaluation of the Programme Post Level: I-ICA, Level 2 Org Unit: AEMO/SRPC Duty Station: Home based with extensive travel in South and South WestSerbia Duration: Maximum 30 working days from mid-January toend-February 2014

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

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