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Strategic Partnership - Final Evaluation Consultant

Kenya - Nairobi, with travel to Somalia

Duration
10 Weeks
Closing Date
21 March 2011

Background

In October 2006, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) together with
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) embarked on a Strategic Partnership Initiative for the Recovery and
Development of Education in Somalia. The aim of the Strategic Partnership initiative is to enable Somalia
to progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (especially MDGs 2 and 3 for Universal
Basic Education and Gender Equality) through a specific focus on supporting access to quality basic
education for all Somalis.

The intended results of the Strategic Partnership initiative are grouped into four key output areas:
i. Enrolment and completion of basic education increased with a particular emphasis on girls;
ii. Basic education systems, including education infrastructure, developed and under the supervision
and management of the Somali authorities;
iii. Capacity of the regional administrations strengthened for service delivery and effective monitoring
and evaluation; and
iv. Capacity of Community Education Committees (CECs) strengthened to manage and deliver
education.
The partnership was designed to begin to shift the sector response away from a short-term, project based
relief perspective towards a longer term development focus through the development of human capacity
and systems to support and expand access to quality basic education. The partnership is funded by the
United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) that committed USD 12 million to the
establishment of a multiyear funding mechanism. Both UNICEF and UNESCO are supporting more than
12 projects under the Strategic Partnership umbrella, through a wide range of implementing partners
including the Ministries of Education in Puntland and Somaliland, education authorities in Central South
Somalia, a large network of Community Education Committees (CECs) in all regions, international NGOs
(AET, BBC WST, FAWE, Horn Relief, NRC, Save the Children); a host of local NGOs as well as Regional
Education Umbrellas in Central and Southern Somalia.
Towards the end of its planned completion date in 2010, the Strategic Partnership was extended for 10
months, until the end of October 2011. The purpose of the extension was to allow time for continued
implementation whilst working towards sustainability of achieved results through mainstreaming of
activities within the Ministries of Education and local authorities’ systems, to document the innovative pilot
projects and lessons learnt through impact evaluations as well as to conduct a conflict sensitivity
appraisal of the Strategic Partnership initiative. In addition, an evaluation of the Strategic Partnership will
be undertaken during the extension period.

Evaluation Objective:

The primary objective of the final evaluation of Strategic Partnership will be to assess the initiative as a
whole rather than as the sum of its parts. That is, the evaluation will focus on the design, implementation
and coordination of the partnership as an umbrella programme, rather than a detailed analysis of the
progress of each of its individual projects. To this end, the evaluation is expected to:
􀂃 Assess progress made towards the achievement of results at the outcome and output levels
􀂃 Determine if the results contributed to the achievement of UNICEF’s overall education goals
􀂃 Determine if the results contributed to and were in direct response to the Government’s priorities
􀂃 Assess the efficiency of programme design and achievements in terms of project costs and
results
􀂃 Assess the results achieved in terms of sustainability, accountability & reporting, programme &
management design, risk management, coherence with other education sector programmes,
funding patterns and commitments, resource mobilization
􀂃 Assess project design and progress in terms of response to evolving national circumstances
􀂃 Provide lessons learnt for future interventions
In addition, an overview of the progress against overall objectives of strategic partnership will be
presented and will be informed by the individual impact evaluations of selected projects as well as
scheduled reviews of other projects by implementation partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Final Evaluation of Strategic Partnership will be based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative
methods best suited to a complex emergency situation. The major tasks will include:
􀂃 Develop the design, methodology and proposed work plan of the evaluation. (to be approved by the
UNICEF Somalia focal person in consultation with other stakeholders) including:
- A set of indicators that will reliably measure performance against all listed objectives of this
evaluation with a view to answer the main evaluation questions.
- Coordination plan developed in collaboration with the consultants conducting project impact
evaluations, cost-benefit analysis and the conflict sensitivity appraisal to identify information
that will be available through those exercises.
􀂃 Desk review of the existing programme documents including strategic partnership’s logical
framework, budget, projects’ design and implementation arrangements, periodic quarterly and annual
reports, other programme and project related documents, the education sector strategy in Somalia,
other on-going education programmes in Somalia including capacity assessments of the ministries,
EC policy and programme documents to better understand the programme of the other key donor in
the area.
􀂃 Consultations with UNICEF Somalia education team, DFID Kenya & Somalia team, UNICEF
education team in zonal offices in Somalia, Key NGOs, partner organizations, Ministry of Education
officials in Somaliland and Puntland as well as other Somali authorities, the Education Sector
Committee (ESC) and the beneficiaries.
􀂃 Analysis of information obtained through the consultations and review of documents
􀂃 Draft of the evaluation report
􀂃 Feedback on the draft from UNICEF, DFID and other parties identified in the work plan developed
initially.
􀂃 Finalization of the evaluation report and presentation to stakeholders
􀂃 Compilation and handover of key research documents and resources to UNICEF Somalia focal
person

Areas to be considered

􀂃 A systematic research and analysis methodology required that takes into account data availability as
well as the security and accessibility situation in different regions of Somalia.
􀂃 It will be extremely important that all stakeholders are included throughout the evaluation process.
􀂃 Travel to Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia will be required as permitted by the security
situation (to be determined by UN DSS, UNOPS and UNICEF Somalia team)

Expected Deliverables

􀂃 Design and methodology of the appraisal along with a work plan.
􀂃 A draft report for discussion and comments
􀂃 Final report including scope and methodology of appraisal, appraisal criteria, lessons learnt and
recommendations for strengthening cost-effectiveness.
􀂃 Power point presentation summarizing the background, methodology and findings of the evaluation

Required Selection Criteria

􀂃 Masters or Advanced degree in education, social sciences, international development, economics,
development economics, public policy or a related field.
􀂃 Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in a related field, with a minimum of 2 years
in cost-benefits analysis/value for money analysis. Experience in complex emergencies strongly
preferred.
􀂃 Experience and/or knowledge of the context of Somalia highly recommended
􀂃 Fluency in written and spoken English
􀂃 Good analytical, writing, communication and presentation skills.
􀂃 Proficiency in the use of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Conditions

The conditions of the contract will be finalized in consultation with the contracting partner,
UNOPS, in accordance with their rules.
The consultant will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with travel to the field in Somaliland, Puntland and
South Central Somalia. The travel costs will be covered by the managing agency and will not include
DSA. The consultant will be paid a lump sum
􀂃 The consultant will be able to work at the UNICEF premises when necessary but will be expected to
have his/her own laptop, writing materials and other equipment.
􀂃 The consultant will be able to print documents at UNICEF premises and will be provided equipment
for the presentation(s) to the stakeholders.
􀂃 The consultant will be responsible for his/her own transport in Nairobi.
􀂃 Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated
accordingly. Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
􀂃 Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract
agreement.
􀂃 For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email.
Signed contract copy or written agreement must be received by the office before Travel Authorization
is issued.
􀂃 No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the
journey to the duty station.
􀂃 UNOPS will buy the tickets for the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be
authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the “most economical and direct
route”.
􀂃 Notes: Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities nor authority on UNICEF budget and
other resources.
􀂃 Consultants will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to
taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, if applicable.
􀂃 The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' has to be completed by the consultant
upon arrival, at the HR Section.

- 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.
- UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
How to apply
Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest and an updated United
Nations Personal History Form (P.11) English Version, via e-mail to vacancieskeoc@unops.org

Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.