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Evaluation Specialist for Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF project Support to the integrated Program for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Socotra Archipelago” (GEF ID 5347)
ORGANIZATION SETTING
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. This consultancy is located at Headquarters in the Evaluation Office which reports directly to the Executive Director. The consultant reports to the Evaluation Manager and the Director of the Evaluation Office.
THE PROJECT
Socotra Archipelago has been ranked among the richest island systems in the world in terms of biodiversity and it is a Natural World Heritage Site (WHS). The delicate ecological balance between people and nature, underpinning the preservation of the natural and cultural values of the Socotra WHS, and building the basis for the long-term sustainable livelihoods of the local population, is severely threatened and may represent a major loss in terms of globally important biodiversity. The current course is particularly likely to lead to biodiversity loss, land degradation, and the depletion of natural resources, threatening the foundation of nature-based sustainable economic development and endangering the very future of the Archipelago and its people. The main underlying causes, external factors and pressures affecting the Socotra WHS include immigration, uncontrolled infrastructure development, poor governance at local and national level, over-use of the limited available natural resources (both marine and terrestrial) leading to accelerating desertification, soil erosion and land degradation, increased threats to the islands’ ecological balance and food security by invasive alien species, insufficient coordination among government entities and donors operating in the Socotra WHS, and last but not least lack of predictable and long-term financing mechanisms to sustain the management of the WHS. The project aims to prevent the irreversible loss of the unique ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources of the Socotra WHS. The main objective of the project was to Strengthen governmental and non‐governmental capacities sustainably to manage and protect the Socotra Archipelago WHS through biodiversity conservation, invasive alien species (IAS) management and sustainable land management (SLM).
THE EVALUATION
In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme and Project Management Manual, the Terminal Evaluation is undertaken at operational completion of the project to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability. The Evaluation has two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote operational improvement, learning and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP and the main project partners. Therefore, the Evaluation will identify lessons of operational relevance for future project formulation and implementation, especially where a second phase of the project is being considered. Recommendations relevant to the whole house may also be identified during the evaluation process.
THE EVALUATION TEAM
For this Evaluation, the Evaluation Team will consist of a Principal Evaluator and an Evaluation Specialist who will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Office represented by an Evaluation Manager , in consultation with the UNEP Task Manager, Fund Management Officer and the Subprogramme Coordinator.
Specific responsibilities for the Evaluation Specialist:
In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Specialist will be responsible for the overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing. More specifically:
1. Inception phase of the Evaluation, including:
• preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff;
• contribute to drafting the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project, considering the context of the project country;
• contribute to preparing the evaluation framework;
• contribute to developing the desk review and interview protocols;
• contribute to drafting the survey protocols, considering the context of the project country (if relevant);
• participate in developing and presenting criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission;
• plan the field visit schedule, and;
• contribute to the preparation of the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager.
2. Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including:
• conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
• conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected project sites, interview project partners and stakeholders in person, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and the confidentiality of evaluation interviews, and;
• regularly report back to the Principal Evaluator on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered.
3. Reporting phase, including:
• Participate in drafting the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that the evaluation report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Evaluation Manager guidelines both in substance and style;
• liaise with the Principal Evaluator on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Evaluation Manager , and;
• Support the Principal Evaluator to prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted by the Evaluation Consultant and indicating the reason for the rejection.
4. Managing relations, including:
• maintain a positive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence;
• communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Manager and the Principal Evaluator on any issues requiring attention and intervention.
The Evaluation Consultant shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the project and will be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form. The Evaluation Consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract. Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with the consultant separately.
Qualifications/special skills
A first level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. An advanced degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in the same areas is desirable. The years of experience is reduced by 2 for candidates who possess a master's degree in the related field. A minimum of four (4) years of experience of technical / evaluation experience preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes, collecting data (field visits, interviews, focus group discussions, etc. and using a Theory of Change approach is required. A good/broad understanding of conservation of local/traditional ileus, conservation and sustainable development and management, Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) is desirable. Knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is desirable. Previous working experience in Socotra and Yemen is desirable. The consultant must be locally based in Yemen.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English and in Arabic is required. NOTE: ''Fluency'' equals a rating of ''fluent'' in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ''Knowledge of' equals a rating of ''confident'' in two of the four areas.
Apply through the UN Careers website. The application deadline is 14 June 2025.
