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Evaluation Specialist

I.Qualification

The Specialist is an expert in project evaluation with work experience in coastal and ocean or natural resource management. The Specialist should possess the following qualification:

• Track record in evaluation of projects and programs;
• Demonstrated ability to reliably contribute to output and outcome-based evaluations, both assessment and learning aspects.
• Experience in project design, project cycle management, and project monitoring and evaluation, familiarity with Mid-term evaluation process, UN and/or ADB procedures preferred.
• An understanding of GEF principles and expected impacts in terms of global benefits;
• Notable experience with coastal and ocean, transboundary waters management or natural resource management in GEF IW project regions, particularly in East Asia.
• Academic and/or professional background in coastal and ocean or natural resource management, Knowledge management, development studies or related fields, or equivalent demonstrated experience. A minimum of 10 years relevant experience is required;
• Experience in Knowledge Management at multi-institutional scale.
• Excellent ability to work in English, effective oral and written communication skills;
• Experience with researching and writing on international environment and/or international development issues;
• Facility and access to use of Internet email and Microsoft office (word, excel etc)

II. Objectives of the Evaluation

The objective of the mid-term evaluation is to enable the PCU, UNOPS, UNDP and ADB to assess the progress and to take mid-course correction decisions on the future orientation and emphasis of the project during its remaining time.

The evaluation is an activity in the project cycle which attempts to determine, as systematically and objectively as possible, the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the project. The evaluation will assess the achievements of the project against its objectives, including a re-examination of the relevance of the objectives and of the project design. It will also identify factors that have facilitated or impeded the achievement of the objectives. While a thorough review of the past is in itself very important, the in-depth evaluation is expected to lead to detailed recommendations and lessons learned for the future.

The mid- term evaluation will address the following:

• Identify and evaluate the effectiveness, lessons learned and preliminary outcomes of strategies and activities of the project.
• Identify and evaluate the constraints and problems, which have been or are being encountered, the effectiveness of resource utilization and the probability of achieving the project purpose or objectives;
• Review and examine the process employed, preliminary outcome and extent to which project impacts have reached the intended beneficiaries (local government and concerned stakeholders), both within and outside project sites;
• Assess the approach and instruments which have been identified or applied at various sites to ensure long-term sustainability of project-initiated activities;
• Identify the manner and extent to which the project has leveraged co-financing, policy changes and replication/scaling up of activities among the countries in the region; and
• Provide recommendations for improving the design and implementation of the project, if deemed necessary.


III. Duties and Responsibilities

1. Preparation of Inception report included team work plan and schedule. The Specialist will coordinate with the other team member in developing the team’s work plan and schedule for the implementation of the mid-term evaluation. The Specialist is expected to attend meetings and participate in team discussions and provide technical inputs relevant to his field of expertise.

2. Data gathering. The Specialist will gather data through desk-top review of the available and relevant documents, and conduct interviews (via teleconference) or field visits to the following sites and relevant offices:

i. CTI Secretariat;
ii. SOM
iii. Relevant CT countries if deemed necessary

3. Analysis and evaluation. The Specialist will evaluate the effectiveness of the overall project management strategies, approaches and methodology in relation to the project development objectives and the overall global environmental goals. The Specialist will focus on the four main issues;
3.1 Project design
• Relevance of project design within the framework of GEF guidelines and IW focal area concern regarding exchange of experience and lessons learned among the global portfolio with particularly on CT countries
• Appropriateness of the project’s concept and design to the current economic, institutional and environmental situations across the GEF IW portfolio;
• Contribution of the project to the overall development objective as declared in both UNDP and ADB IW:LEARN Project Documents; and
• The likely sustainability of project interventions;

3.2 Project implementation
• General implementation and management of both UNDP/GEF components and ADB component by the PCU in terms of quality of inputs and activities, adherence to workplans and budgets, major factors which have facilitated or impeded the progress of project implementation
• Adequacy of management arrangements as well as monitoring and backstopping support given to the project by all parties concerned;
• Responsiveness of project management to changes in the environment in which the project operates;
• UNOPS and ADB execution, including coordination between them;
3.3 Project progress and impact
• Achievements of the project against the original objectives, outputs and activities as detailed in the project document and the Project Implementation plan;
• Awareness of the participating projects regarding IW:LEARN outputs;
• Likely degree of support from the projects and their partners in increased GEF IW project capacity
• Impacts on GEF IW projects’ policies, strategies and work plans;
• Cooperation among international organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders;
• Catalytic impacts arising from the performance of the project;
• Sustainability of the project’s impact.
3.4 Learning from First Half of Project and Recommendations for its Remainder
• Learn from efforts to date, as basis for exploring ways to adapt or restructure the project design or management arrangements, if needed.
• Challenges or difficulties faced, e.g.,
• Identify implementation challenges and recommendations for improvement.

4. Preparation of Mid-Term Evaluation Report. After the review, the Specialist shall provide the technical inputs and address comments within the limits of his expertise which are necessary to complete and/or refine the Mid-Term Evaluation Report.

Please send your applications to iwvacancies@unops.org