National Consultant for the UNDP Outcome Evaluation (2 Positions)

UNDP’s corporate policy is to evaluate its development cooperation with the host government on a regular basis in order to assess whether and how UNDP-funded interventions contribute to the achievement of agreed outcomes, i.e. changes in the development situation and ultimately in people?s lives. Under the results-based management (RBM) framework - UNDP's core management philosophy - there has been a shift from traditional project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to results-oriented M&E, in particular outcome monitoring and evaluation that covers a set of related projects, programmes and partnership strategies intended to achieve a higher level outcome. An outcome evaluation assesses how and why an outcome is or is not being achieved in a given country context and the role UNDP has played. It is also intended to clarify underlying factors affecting the development situation, identify unintended consequences (positive and negative), generate lessons learned and recommend actions to improve performance in future programming and partnership development. Outcome to be evaluated: In the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP 2011-2014) of UNDP Iraq there are five development outcomes to which UNDP is expected to contribute. One of these outcomes, reflecting the efforts of restoring the foundations for development in the areas of post-crisis socio-economic infrastructure, employment generation, economy revival, has been selected for evaluation during 2011. It will take stock of UNDP’s efforts in achieving the development outcome so far and propose measures in order to increase the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of UNDP cooperation in the outcome areas. This year marks the beginning of UNDP’s Country Programme Action Plan 2011-2014 (CPAP). All regular cooperation frameworks such as a UNDP Country Programme and a Common Country Assessment (CCA)/United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) now exist in Iraq, hence its recent strategic interventions are fully aligned with the International Compact with Iraq (ICI, 2007) and the National Development Plan (NDP, 2010-2014). According to UNDP Iraq’s Evaluation Plan, associated with the CPAP, three additional outcomes relating to Governance and MDG achievement will be evaluated during the CPAP cycle.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Consultant will work closely with the Team Leader and the Team Specialist in contributing major substance to the outcome evaluation. Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader, specific responsibilities of the National Consultant will include the following: Support the Team Leader in overall leadership and guidance to the evaluation team, including setting parameters and refining and implementing the overall approach to the outcome evaluation; Review all in-country studies and surveys and/or evaluations (including internal reviews) undertaken by UNDP and the other UN agencies, key national and international partners working in Iraq since 2009 and assist the Team Leader and Team Specialist in the identification, analysis and interpretation of key findings; Support the Team Leader and Team Specialist in translating short summaries from Arabic to English and vise versa as appropriate. Where relevant, the National Consultant would provide simultaneous translation services in meetings/consultations with stakeholders that are conducted in Arabic or Kurdish for the benefit of the Team Leader and Team Specialist.; Prepare a comprehensive stakeholder map for UNDP Iraq along with an inventory of UNDP interventions since 2009, showing linkages/connections (or not) between the interventions; Based on an agreed timeframe and set of evaluative tools/overall methodology approved by the Team Leader, take a lead in conducting interviews and consultations with all relevant stakeholders in certain designated areas of Iraq. This would include leading some key dialogues with decision-makers and stakeholders at national and local government levels and key government officials and UNDP as well as project/programme beneficiaries and other partners located in Iraq; Prepare analytical briefs, charts, diagrams and undertake other relevant tasks to present evaluative information gathered from all stakeholder consultations/interviews carried out in Iraq in English. Take a lead in the in-depth evaluation of selected thematic and/or cross-cutting issue(s), including desk review and analyses of relevant documents and data, drawing out and checking findings, making recommendations and writing sections of the draft outcome evaluation report as agreed by the Team Leader; Provide relevant support to the Team Leader and Team Specialist to ensure the integrity of data and minimise distortions or misinformation in the data on which the outcome evaluation will be based; Participate in the Evaluation Team's exit meeting(s) and/or workshop with stakeholders and other debriefings for UNDP and partners; Support the Team Leader to incorporate comments from the national stakeholders during and after the Iraq missions and finalize the evaluation report. Time Frame of the Evaluation Process (not chronological): Activities by Evaluation Team Desk review of existing documents for 5 days. Finalize evaluation design, work-plan and endorsed Inception report for 4 days. Field visits, interviews with partners and other key stakeholders all over Iraq for 25 days. Drafting of relevant sections of the evaluation report for 5 days. Debriefing with UNDP for 1 day. Debriefing with partners for 5 day. Finalization of the evaluation report – incorporating comments received on first draft for 5 days. Total number of days 50 *A total of 50 working days spread over July to December 2011 is required for each of the assigned evaluation team. The finalization of the evaluation design indicated above should be based on an Inception Report to be submitted to UNDP that will include: a) an assessment of the evaluability of results from the identified UNDP Iraq outcome over the last 2-3 years, and b) the proposed approach and methodology and work-plan for the outcome evaluation. The evaluation report should be finalized and submitted to UNDP Iraq by 30 December 2011 for final review and approval by UNDP Iraq. The Team Leader will be paid in installments for their services and the final payment will be made only after the submission and approval of the evaluation report by UNDP Iraq as indicated in the below table: For each payment a certification of payment needs to be signed and approved by the direct supervisor attached to it the provided services and tasks/ deliverable. Final payment will need also a performance evaluation of the consultant. the National consultant will be responsible for ensuirng the quality and timely delivery of outputs as defined by the Team Leader and using inputs from the other members of the team. Expected outputs will include the folloiwing: A work-plan prior to the start of the field work based on the Inception report to include: a) meeting schedule with ALL relevant stakeholders in different areas in Iraq, and b) proposed approach and methodology for the data collection and meetings. The work-plan should be handed over to the Team Leader and the Evaluation Advisory Group; Substantive advice and recommendations provided to the Team Leader and the Evaluation Advisory Group on the political, security, institutional and developmental challenges and context; A field work report to include minutes and transcripts of the meetings/interviews of the stakeholders in Iraq; Debrief the national stakeholders and solicit their comments/feedback on the evaluation report and translate the comments/feedback and handed over to the Team Leader and the Evaluation Advisory Group. Facilities provided by UNDP at the UNDP -Iraq Office in Amman: A workstation will be provided to the consultant. The consultant should use his/her own laptop. A printer will be provided. Stationery such as pens, pencils, papers, notebook, etc. will be provided. Travel will be required to the following destinations: Amman - Jordan 2 Trips - Total working days 24. Basrah – Iraq 2 Trips -Total working days 14. Erbil – Iraq 2 Trips- Total working days 14.

Competencies

Excellent oral/communication skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and accurate manner including the ability to prepare and edit a variety of written documents, reports and briefs; Ability to work under pressure, establish priorities and plans, coordinate own work plan, use time efficiently and apply judgement in the context of competing deadlines; Excellent English writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Minimum of Msc. degree in Economics or Environment. Experience: 5-7 years of relevant experience in development in Economics or Environment or Mine Action; At least 2 years of experience in the evaluation of programmes and policies in national setting; Demonstrated experience in conflict affected countries; Minimum of BA. degree in Economics or Environment. Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking and policy advice; Experience in UNDP or UN is an asset; Excellent writing skills in English. The consultant is to provide the following: 1- A Letter explaining why he/she considers himself/herself the most suitable candidate for the work. 2- Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees. (CV and Letter to be uploaded in one attached document) Selection Criteria: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology: Lowest Priced Technically Accepted Offer: The award of contract will be made to one individual consultant(s) whose offer has been evaluated and determined as being: a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) Technically accepted lowest priced offer. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 75 points will be considered for the Financial Evaluation: Criteria: Technical Points: Relevance and responsiveness of candidate’s qualification and experience based on submitted documents; 5-7 years of relevant experience in development in Economics or Environment or Mine Action: 25 points; At least 2 years of experience in the evaluation of programmes and policies in national setting: 20 points; Demonstrated experience in conflict affected countries: 25 Points; Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking and policy advice: 20 points; Experience in UNDP or UN is an asset: 10 points Only candidates passing the technical evaluation will be asked to forward their financial offers on a later stage.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

National Consultant for the UNDP Outcome Evaluation (2 Positions)