Result of Service

The output of this assignment will consist of a carefully edited and formatted final evaluation report of the IDEP Strategic framework 2019-2023 and an evaluation summary brief. The evaluation summary brief is expected not to exceed two pages. The final evaluation report should be in accordance with the terms of reference and the ECA quality standards and specifications.

Work Location

Addis Ababa

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is seeking an evaluation consultant to undertake a final evaluation of the “IDEP Strategic Framework 2019-2023”. Under the overall direction of the Chief of Evaluation in ECA, and the day-to-day supervision of the Evaluation Manager, the Consultants will conduct the evaluation of the “IDEP Strategic Framework 2019-2023” and provide a quality and timely delivery of the evaluation process and products. This Terms of Reference (ToR) must be read with the main Evaluation ToR of the work that will be provided to the consultants.

Cover all aspects of the work to be carried out

The evaluation will be conducted in line with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation and utilize the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) evaluation criteria such as relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact orientation and sustainability. The evaluation should focus on identifying and analyzing results by addressing key questions related to the evaluation concerns and the achievement of the outcomes of the strategic framework using the logical framework indicators.

The final evaluation of “IDEP Strategic Framework 2019-2023” will serve three main purposes of accountability, learning and providing credible evidence for strategic decision making. The evaluation will be conducted in line with United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), the United Nations Evaluation Guidelines and ECA Evaluation Policy.
• In terms of accountability, the evaluation will be used to provide evidence of whether IDEP is being adequately managed for results and that it is supporting the goal and outcomes of the IDEP Strategic Framework 2019-2023.
• In terms of learning, the evaluation will contribute lessons learned, including on the effective implementation and results of IDEP so far, to the existing knowledge as per the established objectives of the strategic plan.
• The evaluation will aim to provide credible and reliable evidence to ECA, IDEP, IDEP Governing Council, member States and other stakeholders for decision-making to improve outcomes and impact of IDEP’s work.

Reporting lines

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Section (MRES), and the immediate supervision of the Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Officer, the consultant will be required to undertake a final evaluation of the “IDEP Strategic Framework 2019-2023”.

Specifically, the consultant will assume the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Conduct preliminary desk review and consultation with relevant stakeholders to finalize the evaluation design and plan and submit an inception report.
2. Conduct data collection activities, including interviews, focus group discussions, observations with relevant project stakeholders, key informants, and partners
3. Prepare and conduct debriefing on the main findings and preliminary conclusions for validation and also filling any data/information gaps.
4. Analyse key findings, draw conclusions and recommendations, and identify lessons learned and best practices leading to the preparation of the final report.
5. Draft the evaluation report, using an approach agreed upon with the Evaluation Manager, and delivered in accordance with ECA’s specifications and timeline.
6. Prepare and deliver the final stakeholders’ debriefing on the evaluation findings and recommendations, online or, if judged necessary, at ECA or other venues, on dates to be agreed, in line with the work outlined in the ToR and to be agreed in the inception phase.

Moreover, the Team Leader will be responsible for the overall evaluation process and outputs including and not limited to the following specific responsibilities:

i. Lead the evaluation by providing overall technical and methodological leadership.
ii. Lead the analysis of key findings to arrive at an overall assessment of the performance of subprogram, conclusions, and recommendations, identification of lessons learned and best practices leading to the preparation of the final report.
iii. Lead and coordinate the preparation of the evaluation report, using the ECA evaluation report template as provided by ECA, and delivered in accordance with ECA quality standards, specifications, and timeline.
iv. Lead the preparation and presentation of the draft report to be made to subprogram stakeholders.
v. Lead the finalization of the evaluation report, including all annexes.
vi. Supervise the Evaluation Team Member, ensuring high-quality outputs are delivered timely.

The consultant will be expected to work remotely with travel foreseen to undertake field visit as part of the evaluation. Prior to the submission to the Chief of Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation of ECA, all deliverables of the consultancy will be produced in English and cleared by the Evaluation manager.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, evaluation, social sciences, programme management, business/public administration or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in evaluation and/or research on capacity building with research institute, government, or with a multilateral organization is required.
Proven experience designing and leading Theory-based evaluations of development interventions is required.
Experience of training and capacity building in Africa is desirable. Previous work experience with the UN system is an added advantage.
Experience working in one or more of the subregions covered by subprogram will be an asset.
Experience conducting evaluations of UN programmes and strategic framework will be an asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in either is required. Knowledge of the other is an advantage. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

Additional Information

Total lump sum fees of 30,000 USD for the evaluation will be payable against deliverables, through Electronic Financial Transfer (EFT) upon satisfactory acceptance of the deliverables by ECA, according to the following schedule:

i. 20% on approval of deliverable 1, inception report.
ii. 40% on completion of both deliverable 2 (post-data collection de-brief meeting) and deliverable 3 (draft evaluation report).
iii. 40 % on approval of deliverable 4, final report.

ECA reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of the payment if the performance of the Evaluator is unsatisfactory.

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.