Programme Evaluation Specialist - Home based

Result of Service

1. One inception report to prepare the MTRs 2. Four desk reviews, one for each GFCR programme being reviewed 3. Four review missions carried out and reported on, one for each GFCR programme being reviewed 4. Four draft MTRs, reviewed by UNEP and the GFCR UN Global Team 5. Four final MTRs, approved by UNEP and the GFCR UN Global Team 6. Presentation of results, lessons learned and recommendations to UNEP and the GFCR UN Global Team

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. 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. The overall objective of the UNEP's Ecosystems Division is to support countries in conserving, restoring and sustainably managing their terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, the biodiversity they contain and the products and services they provide for human well-being and prosperity. The Division's mandate is to address the environmental causes and effects from an ecosystems approach, including the consequences of disasters and conflicts. Focusing on tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, rampant pollution, across aquatic and associated ecosystems, the Marine and Freshwater Branch helps countries develop policies and programmes to respond to ecosystems challenges, and reduce pollution from land-based activities, increase resilience to climate change and reflect linkages between poverty and the environment in their development planning. As an implementation vehicle for the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, the GFCR Coalition is enhancing the resilience of coastal reef ecosystems, communities and economies hosting coral refugia by unlocking public and private resources that accelerate sustainable businesses and financial solutions. comprised of both a UN Fund and an Equity Fund, the GFCR resilience-focused portfolio includes market-based solutions spanning 21 countries, including waste treatment and recycling, coral reef insurance, sustainable aquaculture and agriculture, ecotourism, blue carbon credits, and mechanisms for sustainable Marine Protected Area (MPAs) finance. This consultancy is home-based and the position is hosted by the UNEP Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Unit in the Marine and Freshwater Branch. The Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Within the Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Unit, the Programme Evaluation Specialist will support the UNEP team to deliver mid-term reviews of selected programmes of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR). Under the supervision of the Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Unit Chief and Programme Management Officer, the consultant will perform the following duties: • Prepare an inception report and methodology for carrying out Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs) of four GFCR Programmes in the Philippines, Indonesia, Bahamas and the Mesoamerican Reef, in collaboration with the UNEP Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Unit and the GFCR UN Global Team:  Prepare objectives and scope of MTRs  Develop survey questionnaire, guiding questions for interviews and focus group discussions, and evaluation criteria for assessing programmes (using UNEP standard evaluation criteria)  Prepare inception report refining the scope of the MTRs, outlining the methodologies, and defining the workplan for the MTRs  Milestone discussion meeting with UN GFCR Global Team to incorporate feedback and inputs • Carry out online surveys/questionnaires and prepare desk reviews for each of the four programmes  Prepare a desk review that includes an overview of the status of the programmes and identifies relevant stakeholders to interview  Prepare reports from online interviews with stakeholders  Milestone discussion with UN GFCR Global Team for reflections on survey and interview data • Carry out evaluation missions to four GFCR programmes, in collaboration with the UNEP Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Unit, Convening Agents and the GFCR UN Global Team:  Prepare four mission plans with Convening Agents  Interview with relevant stakeholders and partners, including Convening Agent, government officials, local communities, and beneficiaries  Prepare reports from all interviews  Carry out field visits to assess programme impacts for four programmes  Prepare four mission reports, one for each programme  Milestone discussion with GFCR UN Global Team on missions findings  • Prepare four draft MTRs:  For each GFCR programme prepare an MTR, based on the methodologies developed and including reviews of project progress and impact, analysis of management and strategy effectiveness, documentation of lessons learned and recommendations for improvements  Follow appropriate review process is followed by working closely UNEP Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Unit and GFCR UN Global Team • Prepare four final MTRs:  Address review comments by UNEP and GFCR UN Global Team  Final MTRs accepted by UNEP and GFCR UN Global Team • Present MTRs to UNEP, GFCR UN Global Team and GFCR Executive Board  Present MTRs, results, lessons learned and recommendations  Incorporate comments and input from presentation to Executive Board and finalize MTRs

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environmental sciences, public policy, sustainability, management, or another related field is required. A first-level university degree with relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. At least 5 years of experience in environment-related project and programme evaluations and reviews is required Experience in monitoring and evaluation is required Experience in working on projects related to coral reefs or coastal ecosystems is required Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams, including local and expatriate technical experts is required Ability to plan, organize, execute, and report on tasks while effectively managing pressure and meeting tight deadlines is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

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.