Result of Service

1. Inception Report (May 2024), containing a preliminary analysis of the UNSDCF ToC; an elaboration of the evaluation approach and methods, including the evaluation design matrix; and a detailed evaluation plan and timeline, including a tentative list of interviews to be arranged or plans for field visits. 2. A preliminary findings report or presentation in a template to be agreed upon with the Evaluation Manager (July 2024) 3. Draft CF Evaluation Report (July 2024) 4. Final UNSDCF Evaluation Report (August 2024)

Work Location

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Expected duration

3 May – 30 Sep 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

The evaluation will span the period of UNSDCF implementation, encompassing January 2021 to May 2024. The evaluation will cover the entire geographical area of BiH, with specific locations for data collection to be agreed upon during the inception phase. Primary beneficiaries of this evaluation will include stakeholders actively involved in UNSDCF implementation, such as the UN Country Team (UNCT), government entities, civil society organisations, contributing partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Secondary users will include a broader audience comprising the academic and research community, the private sector, the media, and the general public. The evaluation will comprehensively assess the UNSDCF 2021-2025 as a whole, examining the contributions of all sub-outputs by the UNCT. It will also analyse cross-cutting issues and global UN programming principles, including leaving no one behind (LNOB), human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability and resilience, and accountability. Additionally, the evaluation will consider emerging issues such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and the emergence of new multilateral donors like the Joint SDG Fund. It will focus on the UNCT’s response, adaptation, and reprioritisation in light of these challenges, as well as operational aspects such as stakeholder participation and inclusiveness. The evaluation will use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including document reviews, analysis of quantitative secondary data, individual interviews with key informants and focus groups or other types of discussion to collect data. The Independent External Evaluators shall be guided by the UNSDCF Evaluation Guidelines to develop the evaluation methodology. They shall also develop the necessary tools to collect data and information to answer the overall evaluation questions. The evaluation should follow UNEG norms and standards for evaluations, as well as UNEG ethical guidelines. The Evaluation Team should consist of two key consultants: an independent international evaluator serving as the Team Leader, bringing extensive evaluation expertise, and a national consultant specialising in the local context, with strong expertise in Leave No One Behind (LNOB) and cross-cutting issues. Ensuring a diverse team composition with both international and national perspectives is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation process. Gender-balanced Evaluation Teams are strongly encouraged to apply. The Team Leader will oversee the evaluation process in its entirety, collaborating closely with the national consultant. He/she will be responsible for ensuring timely completion of tasks, maintaining regular communication with the Evaluation Manager to report progress and address challenges, and leading the production of key evaluation reports such as the inception report and the draft and final evaluation reports. The national consultant contributes significantly to the evaluation process through data collection and analysis in the field. The national consultant will provide support in the desk review process, as well as the field data collection visits. He/she will provide substantive inputs to the inception and final report and the presentation of the preliminary findings. The national consultant’s expertise in LNOB and cross-cutting issues adds an in-depth understanding of the local context, ensuring a holistic assessment of the program’s effectiveness.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced University Degree (Masters or PhD) in the field of political science, governance, economics, public administration, development or gender studies, law, human rights or other relevant field is required; Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in supporting or leading evaluations is required; Strong data collection and analysis skills is required; Prior experience in working with multilateral agencies is required; Strong experience and knowledge in the UN strategic planning and programming principles, including leaving no one behind LNOB, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability and resilience, and accountability is required; In-depth knowledge and strong research record of the country’s socio-economic development and environment context is required.

Languages

Fluency in English and BCS languages is required.

Additional Information

After submitting the application in INSPIRA, interested candidates shall send documentation to [email protected] (please use for subject: 232373) demonstrating why they are the best suited to carry out the above task. The required documents are listed in the Term of Reference (ToR). The consultants will be responsible for arranging their own travel. Any additional costs beyond the scope of the ToR will not be covered. Consultants must provide their own laptops and other necessary technical equipment to fulfil the assignment. All documents produced during the consultancy period will be treated as strictly confidential, and the distribution and/or publication rights will solely belong to the UN. For more information, please visit the ToR: https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/Evaluation%20ToR.pdf (please copy and paste to the browser).

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.