Evaluation Specialist

Result of Service

The Mid-Term Review (MTR) is undertaken approximately half-way through project implementation to analyze whether the project is on-track, what problems or challenges the project is encountering, and what corrective actions are required.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The loss of forest, and the accompanying loss of ecosystems and the services they provide, threatens the security and livelihoods of local communities, reduces access to clean water, decreases soil productivity and accounts for 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the world’s remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture – whether from large-scale operations or smallholder farmers – as well as other non-forest use. Many of the environmental benefits of intact forest are unpriced ‘externalities’, resulting in the market mispricing natural forest assets. By converting forest to land and then producing tradeable commodities that the market can price, land users are able to take advantage of this perceived arbitrage opportunity. Anticipated global economic growth and changing diets will strengthen the demand for agricultural commodities and place additional pressure on forests in the foreseeable future, meaning that the pressure will get even bigger than it is today without a changing paradigm how land is managed and agricultural commodities are produced. The challenge is to advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services. Against that background, UNEP initiated the SCAF-FLR project – under the Climate Finance Unit – to proactively help accelerate private investment in land use activities that contribute to forest restoration and protection. UNEP is seeking an evaluation specialist to conduct the mid-term review of the SCFA-FLR project under the supervision of the Head, Climate Finance Unit. In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme Manual , the Mid-Term Review (MTR) is undertaken approximately half-way through project implementation to analyze whether the project is on-track, what problems or challenges the project is encountering, and what corrective actions are required. The MTR will assess project performance to date (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine the likelihood of the project achieving its intended outcomes and supporting their sustainability. The consultant will report to the Head of the Climate Finance Unit.

Qualifications/special skills

A university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable. 7 years of technical / evaluation experience, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach. A good/broad understanding of sustainable finance and sustainable land-use issues

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consulting position, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.