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Maldives: Individual Contract for an International Consultant for the management of Evaluations in UNICEF Maldives country office

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Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Maldives
Closing date: 22 Sep 2019

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Individual Contract for an International Consultant for the management of Evaluations in MCO

TOR Reference Number: TOR/2019/30

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Purpose of assignment: Background

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does - in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life - in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. UNICEF and cooperating partners and stakeholders work to secure the rights of each child and the surrounding families, communities and nations.

The overall goal of the UNICEF and Government of Maldives country programme is to support the Government of Maldives to reduce inequities and disparities and achieve the progressive realization of the rights of all children, especially the most vulnerable. In line with the national development priorities of the country, UNICEF contributes to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016 - 2020, particularly Outcome 1: Children and youth access and use equitable, inclusive and quality social services, and have increased opportunities for skills development. In line with the UNICEF Strategic Plan, the programme aims at leveraging the organization's convening role to build partnerships with key social sectors and partners at all levels. The programme design adopts an evidence-based, policy advocacy and institutional strengthening approach in addressing the barriers that affect the most disadvantaged children living in the Maldives.

Evaluation is a critical function for understanding if objectives and targets have been met in a way that contributes to the progressive realization of children's rights, as well as for informing future policies. To this end, evaluations assist programme managers and policy makers to make necessary adjustments or to confirm that the programme can continue to advance to scale. Evaluations have an accountability objective, to assure partners that resources guided through UNICEF are used effectively and efficiently, and that there is a willingness to change when results can be improved. Furthermore, evaluations, together with other sources of evidence contributes to country, organizational and global learning.

The UNICEF Maldives Country Office (MCO) is currently undertaking a number of studies and evaluations, which will support measuring the overall achievements of the current country programme cycle, as well as contribute to establish important baselines for the new programme cycle starting in 2021.

Justification for the Consultant:

The consultant is responsible for contributing to the design and effective conduct and uptake of evaluations in accordance with the UNICEF evaluation policy. He/she ensures that the UNEG Norms and Standards for evaluation as well as well UNICEF evaluation coverage benchmarks and quality standards are upheld. The purpose of the consultancy is administrative oversight, and quality assurance of evaluations, studies, and research carried out in the Maldives Country Office. The Evaluation consultant will support the development, implementation, and maintenance of the CO evaluations plan, assure the quality assurance process of various ongoing and planned evaluations, as well as build staff and partner capacity specifically on the evaluation process.

Objectives and Scope of Work:

Evaluation Planning and Monitoring

Support the MCO to maintain its monitoring and evaluation plan (IMEP), assess and address bottlenecks, and advise the CO management on remedial actions as required.

Evaluation Quality Assurance and Use

Ensure that UNICEF-supported evaluations are designed and implemented to established UN quality standards, assure quality of ongoing studies and evaluations, and ensure that progress is achieved as planned to ensure relevant and strategic information that will help manage the Country Programmes and relevant national policies and programmes toward achieving results for children in the country.

Evaluation Capacity Strengthening and Partnership building

Ensure that evaluation capacities of Country Office staff and national partners - including government and civil society - are strengthened, enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead evidence generating processes. Ensure that the Country Office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF capacity building developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning.

Duty station: Home based and partly in Male', Maldives

Outputs and Deliverables:

The list below outlines the breakdown of the expected deliverables as per the work schedule below:

Inception Phase (1 week):

  • Updated consolidated evaluation plan (IMEP) within required systems and documentation, including any UNICEF relevant planning platforms, including Identification of gaps in knowledge and work with sector managers to ensure these are addressed.
  • Qualitative analysis of draft studies and evaluations, identifying key gaps and improvements to be completed.
  • Detailed work plan preparation for effective completion of all planned studies and evaluations in the CO, as well as workshop plans for capacity building efforts.
  • Monthly Report (approx. 5-10 pages) highlighting the following:

  • Quality assessment and progress status of ongoing evaluations/studies.
  • Identification of bottlenecks, delays and quality gaps for management response and action.
  • Actions taken to address emerging bottlenecks, and additional recommendations for problem-solving as needed.
  • Quality Assurance of Studies, Research, and Evaluations:

  • Closely monitor the implementation of ongoing evaluations and studies, quality review the deliverables and indicate when the study/evaluation has achieved an acceptable quality standard.
  • Work closely with relevant external evaluation consultants/teams to enable them to deliver results according to the agreed Terms of Reference and assist the UNICEF CO on identifying quality gaps early enough to allow timely remedial action.
  • Support the Programme as well as Evaluation teams in development of multi-method dissemination plan for each study/evaluation, and to inform programme decisions.
  • Support the CO in providing high quality inputs towards the UNCT Common Country Assessment process.
  • Capacity Building for Partners and CO Staff:

  • Conduct one workshop for mid-level technical staff in respective partner Ministries on high quality Evaluation planning and implementation processes to strengthen the government's ability to plan and implement effective evaluations.
  • Conduct training for the UNICEF Maldives Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluations team as well as relevant programme specialists on best practices and efficient ways of planning and implementing high quality evaluations and studies in line with the latest UNICEF guidelines on P, M&E.
  • Final Report (max. 30 Pages, excl. Annexes):

  • Final Report summarizing key findings of the consultancy, including detailed workshop reports and final recommendations for how to improve and strengthen the CO evaluations systems.
  • Proposed Timeline:

    Tasks

    Duration

    Timeline/Deadline

    Schedule of Payment

    InceptionPhase

  • Updated consolidated evaluation plan within required systems and documentation
  • Detailed work plan preparation for effective completion of all planned studies and evaluations, and capacity building workshops
  • 7 days

    29th September 2019

    10 %

    Monthly Reports (3 in total)

  • Implementation and progress status of the evaluations/studies
  • Identification of bottlenecks, delays and quality gaps for management response
  • Recommendations for problem-solving
  • 36 days

    1st report: 15th Oct

    2nd report 15th Nov

    3rd report 15th Dec

    30 %

    Specific Capacity Building Efforts

  • Conduction of one workshop for mid-level technical staff in respective partner Ministries
  • Conduction of one internal UNICEF training to build staff capacity on M&E systems and processes
  • 10 days

    40 %

    Final Report

  • Final Report summarizing key findings of the consultancy, including detailed workshop reports and final recommendations
  • 7 days

    23rd December 2019

    20 %

    All payments are made upon satisfactory completion of deliverables duly authorized by the Supervisor of contract.

    For every Child, you demonstrate…

    UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

    View our competency framework at:

    http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

    UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

    UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

    Estimated duration of contract: 3 months (September - December 2019)

    Supervisor: Deputy Representative, (UNICEF Maldives country office) will be the direct supervisor for the consultant, with strategic guidance from the MCO Representative and Regional Evaluation Advisor.

    Official travel involved: 60 working days, partially home-based and including 40 days in Male, Maldives

    Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required/profile of the evaluation consultant:

  • The consultancy is for an International Consultant at the P4 level.
  • The consultant must have experience in leading evaluations or evaluability assessments and/or evaluations of a Social Sector such as Social Protection Schemes, social sector (health, education, protection, nutrition, WASH) evaluations, Situation Analyses, or country programme evaluations.
  • The consultant must have experience in conducting trainings on monitoring and evaluations to multiple stakeholders, including government counterparts.
  • Minimum qualifications required

  • Education: Masters degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Economics, Social Studies, International Relations or related field;
  • Specialist skills/Training: Experience working with the United Nations, particularly UNICEF and sector specific technical expertise include gender and equity responsive programming. Preference will be given to candidate who have a strong understanding of UNICEF's country programming;
  • Years of experience: At least 8 years of experience conducting or managing evaluations. Preference will be given to candidates with experience conducting evaluations at the strategic and policy levels;
  • Competencies: Proven skills in research analysis, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Excellent report writing skills, analytical skills, and computer skills, ability to adapt to various cultural contexts and working with a multitude of partners.
  • Languages required: Excellent command in written and spoken English language.
  • Deadline for Application: 22nd September 2019, 06:00 pm (Maldives Time)

    Application Link:

    https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=app...

    Remarks:

    Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.


    How to apply:

    UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=526215


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