Lead Evaluator for VEP Final Evaluation

Interested, qualified and experienced individual consultants are hereby invited to forward their applications for the assignment as detailed below. Contract Type: Individual Contractor Country: South Africa Description of the assignment: Final independent project evaluation Project name: Support to South Africa’s Victim Empowerment Programme. Period of assignment/services (if applicable): 15th of Feb to the 15th of March 2012. Applications should be submitted at the following address: UNDP South Africa Attention: Nokufa Matitoane 351 Schoeman street 9th Floor Metro Park Building P.O. Box 6541 PRETORIA 0001 or by email to procurement.za@undp.org The deadline for submission of applications is by close of business on Friday 10 February 2012. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address or e-mail indicated above. UNDP will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants who would have acknowledged receipt of this notice and thus confirmed that they shall be submitting their applications. Background: Project duration: Jan 2008 / March 2012 Location: South Africa- Pretoria Executing Agency: UNODC Regional Office of Southern Africa –Pretoria Partner Organization: Department of Social Development (DSD) of South Africa Donors: European Union – European Delegation Office in South Africa The European Union funded project, "Support to the Government of South Africa's Victims Empowerment Programme", implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Department of Social Development (DSD) aims to address the high rates of criminal victimization in South Africa by strengthening the country's Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP). The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the Victim Empowerment programme in South Africa `s project’s relevance, in respect of: project implementation (efficiency), attainment of outputs, outcomes and impacts (effectiveness) its sustainability and project coordination and management. The final evaluation will cover a period of the entire project duration from December 2007 to March 2012. The evaluation seeks to identify lessons learned during the entire period of project implementation in both substantive and technical aspect on Victim Empowerment program. It intends to analyze to what extent best practices have been developed and be used also within the context of Southern Africa UNODC regional strategy to support and to empower the victims of crime, in particular women and children. Not only that, the final evaluation will serve as appraisal platform to the Government of South Africa , in particular to the Department of Social Development, as base line from where to develop and consolidate further policy and strategy on Victim Empowerment Programs at national and provincial levels. The findings and recommendations as outcomes of this evaluation will be useful also to the European Union in its donor capacity, in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the financial support provided trough the project to the South Africa Government.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties of the Lead Evaluator: The Lead Evaluation Consultant will collaborate closely with the UNODC independent Evaluation Unit (IEU), based in Vienna HQ and the Project management Unit (PMU) based in Pretoria at UNODC Regional office for Southern Africa. S/he will be responsible for the overall quality of the final evaluation report vis-à-vis the UNODC Pretoria Office and will: Present an inception report before the evaluation mission takes place. The inception report will follow UNODC Evaluation Policy, Guidelines, and format; Demonstrate Team Management skills and ensure coordination among team members: s/he will, jointly with the UNODC Pretoria Office, propose a Memorandum of Understanding with the other team members in regard of labor division throughout the evaluation process; Ensure the deliverables of the other evaluation team members are of quality and delivered on time; Ensure overall coherence of the final product.

Competencies

Wide experience of evaluating projects/programmes – a minimum of 7 years of experience is required; A strong record in designing and leading program evaluations; Extensive experience and knowledge of applying quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods; Extensive technical competence in the area under evaluation; Wide experience in the following subject matters: capacitating of public institutions, support to good governance development, namely focus on social welfare and protection of vulnerable groups; A project management qualification is an added advantage; Experience on evaluating EU funded programmes is an assets; Ability to work under pressure; Ability to work in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced University Degree.

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.

Lead Evaluator for VEP Final Evaluation