Project Evaluation Consultant

The project “Building Capacities for Promoting Women’s Presence and Leadership within Public Institutions at National and Local Levels” aims to enhance the presence and leadership of women in public institutions at national and local levels in selected countries of Africa and Asia regions. The project’s expected outcomes are: 1. Enhanced capacity of governments in Bhutan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mauritius and Senegal (project countries) to develop and implement action plans that prioritize gender parity in public administration at the national and local levels. 2. Enhanced awareness and understanding of government officials in Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Zambia (partnering countries) on the importance of and how to prioritize gender parity in public administration. At its core, the project addresses the critical need for institutional strengthening to advance gender equality, particularly focusing on the intersection of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, emphasizing women’s participation and leadership opportunities, and SDG 16, promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies as well as “responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels”. The evaluation of the project “Building capacities for promoting the presence and leadership of women within public institutions at national and local levels” aims to assess the performance of this initiative across various dimensions, ensuring accountability and learning. For accountability, it will provide independent evidence regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of project activities. For learning, DESA management and DPIDG staff – the primary audience of the evaluation – can gain valuable insights into the project’s successes and shortcomings, ultimately contributing to more informed decision-making and improved future capacity-building efforts. Secondary audiences include staff of other DESA Divisions and other UN entities, and counterparts in national ministries. The objectives of this evaluation, which are in line with key evaluation criteria, are relevance, effectiveness, coherence, impact, sustainability and efficiency. It will also offer recommendations for improving the development of projects in the future, including strategies for enhancing effectiveness, maximizing impact, ensuring sustainability, and addressing identified gaps or limitations in the project’s design and implementation. The consultant will be tasked with the following:

Desk review of key reference documents related to the project

• Identify key reference documents.
• Review the project document.
• Examine the progress reports.
• Examine financial records, budget allocations, expenditure reports, and funding agreements.

Development of full methodology

• Elaborate the proposed mixed-method approach outlined in the terms of reference (ToR).
• Refine the methodology based on the specific timeline and objectives of the evaluation.
• Refine key evaluation questions if needed.

Inception report preparation

• Develop an inception report outlining the methodology, techniques and tools that will be employed, including details on how qualitative and quantitative methods will be utilized to answer evaluation questions and the set of stakeholders that will be consulted.

Stakeholder engagement

• Plan and conduct semi-structured or structured interviews with various stakeholders including staff, internal and external partners, Member State representatives, beneficiaries, and other relevant parties.
• Facilitate focus group discussions with staff and key stakeholders to gather insights and perspectives on the project.
• Design and administer web-based surveys to targeted stakeholders to collect quantitative data on their perceptions and experiences.

Data collection and analysis

• Collect and analyze secondary data including monitoring and program data, financial records, and other available data sources.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of project outputs, documents, agreements, strategies, reports, meeting minutes, and other relevant materials.
• Perform content analysis and review of key activities and outputs to assess their quality and impact.
• Utilize direct observation to gain firsthand insights into relevant events, meetings, and processes by attending the global workshop in Korea. 6. Mission travel
• Attend the global workshop in Korea to gather additional information and insights related to the project and conduct in-person interviews with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Participate in relevant events and meetings during the mission travel to enhance understanding and data collection.

Reporting

• Prepare a comprehensive evaluation report according to the template provided.
• Provide evidence-based conclusions and recommendations to inform decision-making and future planning.

Quality assurance

• Ensure the validity, reliability, and rigor of the evaluation process and findings.
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and project partners to enhance the quality and relevance of the evaluation.

Human rights, disability and gender perspectives

• The consultant should explore human rights, disability, and gender perspectives throughout the evaluation process including the collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated data. Additionally, the evaluation will assess these issues through a specific question to be included in the inception report.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in a relevant field such as Evaluation, Public Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or a related discipline. A Ph.D. in a relevant field is advantageous but not mandatory.

• At least 10 years of proven experience in conducting evaluations of similar projects or programmes, preferably in international development settings or within relevant sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying mixed method approaches to evaluation, including qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods.
• Experience in developing evaluation methodologies, designing data collection tools, and analysing findings to generate evidence-based recommendations.
• Strong understanding of evaluation frameworks, standards, and methodologies, such as those outlined by the OECD/DAC or other relevant bodies.
• Ability to manage complex evaluation processes, including stakeholder engagement, data collection, analysis, and reporting, within agreed-upon timelines and budgets. Subject matter expertise
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of gender equality in public administration or gender studies.
• Familiarity with the thematic areas, goals, and objectives of the project, as well as the broader context in which it operates.
• Prior experience working on gender equality in public administration or women’s political participation would be an asset.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required for this assignment. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/233709?language=en