UNEP: Evaluation Specialist for Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF GOLD Programme Child projects, “Global knowledge management (GEF 9697)” & “PlanetGold Programe (GEF 9602)” – Nairobi

Result of Service

The Evaluation Consultants will submit a concise evaluation report

Work Location

Home-Based (with field visits)

Expected duration

9 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

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 PROGRAMME Mercury is a toxic substance that may lead to adverse negative impact on human and environmental health. No safe level of exposure to the chemical is currently known. Globally, it is acknowledged that mercury pollution is capable of exposing populations, regardless of proximity to source, to the harmful effects of the chemical. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest global source of anthropogenic mercury releases into the environment. The Programme Objective aimed to reduce the use of mercury in the ASGM sector in the participating countries through facilitating the access to finance artisanal miners and mining communities for the introduction of low and non-mercury technologies and techniques and through the development of sustainable ASGM gold supply chains. THE EVALUATION In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme and Project Management Manual, and the GEF Guidelines for Conducting Program Evaluation, the Terminal Evaluation is undertaken at operational completion of a program or project to assess 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, other GEF implementing Agencies and the executing 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. In addition, In line with the GEF Guidelines for Conducting Programme Evaluation, which recommend embedding systems thinking in GEF programme evaluations, the Terminal Evaluation will apply a Market Systems Development (MSD)/Supply chain development lens in its analysis. While the programme was not originally designed as an MSD intervention and its primary focus lies within the mercury and gold sector, it is important to note that all the child projects, except the Global Coordinating Project (GCP), proposed interventions aimed at shifting the ASGM gold supply chain and the broader gold market system away from mercury dependence toward more sustainable, environmental, formalized, and mercury-free practices. The programme therefore goes beyond addressing “mercury use” per se; facilitating knowledge diffusion, creating incentive structures like market access for responsibly produced mercury-free gold, and stimulating demand for mercury-free technologies and financing mechanisms. Therefore, the evaluation will consider examining systemic changes in mercury and ASGM sectors in finance, technology adoption, regulatory frameworks, supply chain incentives, and knowledge exchange as the core supporting functions and rules that underpin the transformation of the ASGM gold supply chain. However, the most appropriate systems thinking approach will be discussed and agreed upon during the inception phase. THE EVALUATION TEAM For this Evaluation, the Evaluation Team will consist of one Principal Evaluator and one 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 of the programme, and the UNEP Task Manager of the global project, Fund Management Officer, the Sub-programme Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution action. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES – EVALUATION SPECIALIST The evaluation specialist will lead the market and/or supply chain analysis and make substantive and high-quality contributions to the evaluation process and outputs. Both consultants will ensure together that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered. Inception phase of the Evaluation, including: • preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff; • draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project and or systems framework; • prepare the evaluation framework; • develop the desk review and interview protocols; • draft the survey protocols (if relevant); • develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission; • plan the evaluation schedule; • prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager 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; • (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries (2-3 countries), visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews. • regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and; Reporting phase, including: • draft 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 Evaluation Manager on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Evaluation Manager • 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; • (where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons) 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; CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS The Evaluation Consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract. The overall assignment is spread over 9 months to be delivered in two contracts as follows: Contract 1: Inception Report (30%); Draft Evaluation Report including an Annex – Summary Report for GCP project(40%) Total 70% Contract 2: Final Evaluation Report including an Annex – Final Summary Report for GCP project (30%) 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. Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with the consultant separately.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master”s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in environmental sciences, environment engineering, or social sciences is required. A first-level degree (bachelor”s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 7 years of technical experience is required, preferably including evaluations or technical assessments in ASGM-rich regions, using Theory of Change and systems thinking approach; A strong understanding and knowledge of technical experience in ASGM production systems, mercury free technologies/ore processing, gold supply chains/gold value chain development assessment/analysis, environmental governance, and policy frameworks (e.g. Minamata Convention) is required Proven experience working on hazardous chemicals such as mercury, mercury free initiatives, gold value chain development, ASGM market dynamics in the context of natural resources, and international market access is desired. Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English is a requirement and proficiency in French, and Spanish is desirable.

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.