International Consultancy, Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Project
Alert
Vacancy
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) project “Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the Dniester River Basin”
Background information:
The project is being implemented in two countries where the Dniester river basin is located, i.e. the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The project started in August 2017 and will terminate in May 2021. Its implementing agency is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), while the executive agency is the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE); the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is supporting the project implementation with the consultancy on a range of technical issues. The total project budget is 1,950,000 USD, with co-financing from the beneficiaries (ministries of the environment, OSCE, UNDP, UNECE, Swiss Development Cooperation, and Polish water authorities). The project beneficiaries are the ministries of the environment of the two riparian states, its stakeholders include the water authorities, hydropower sector, foreign affairs authorities, authorities of protected areas, fisheries agencies, local communities, scientists, NGOs, general public.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded projects are required to undergo a Terminal Evaluation upon completion of the project implementation. In line with the donor’s requirement, an international consultant will be hired by the OSCE to assess the progress and performance of the GEF project “Enabling transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the Dniester River Basin” since the start of its implementation in August 2017 (officially registered with the OSCE in October 2017).
Please note that this is a consultancy assignment of a temporary nature. The consultant will be required to work from home with the ability to travel if necessary.
Task:
Under the supervision and co-ordination of the OSCE project team, the expert is expected to:
1. Conduct a desk review of the project documents (i.e. the project identification form (PIF), Project Document, annual Project Implementation Reports (PIRs), Project Inception Report, finalized GEF focal area Tracking Tools, Project Steering Committee meetings’ minutes, Mid-Term Review Report, project budget revisions, Financial and Administration guidelines used by the Project Team, project files, and any other materials that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment) provided by the OSCE Project Team and the implementing agency (UNDP). Data analysis should be conducted in a systematic manner to ensure that all the findings, conclusions and recommendations are substantiated by evidence. Appropriate tools should be used to ensure proper analysis (e.g. data analysis matrix).
2. Participate in an TE inception meeting with the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the implementing agency to clarify the objectives, methods, deliverables, a timeline and a draft table of content of the TE. The proposed methodology may employ any relevant and appropriate quantitative, qualitative or combined methods to conduct the TE.
3. Conduct interviews with and possibly site visits (will be clarified during the inception meeting:
• UNDP Senior Management,
• the Dniester River Basin Commission Co-Chairs and heads of its working groups from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine,
• GEF Operational Focal Points in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine,
• deputy heads of the national water authorities of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine,
• Project Manager, GEF Dniester Project regional project coordinator and a national project coordinator (OSCE),
• relevant NGOs active in the Dniester river basin,
• UNECE Regional Adviser on the Environment.
The evaluation questions will be discussed with the evaluator at the start of the assignment.
4. Draft the evaluation report according to the provided outline.
5. Present the draft report to those interviewed, the OSCE and the UNDP, collect the feedback and integrate it to the final report.
6. Finalize the evaluation report and prepare an audit trail with details on comments received and incorporated, according to the outline presented in Annex H.
Necessary Qualifications:
• Master of Science degree and relevant demonstrated regional/international consulting experience in transboundary water ecosystems.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in project management and evaluation.
• Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies.
• Project evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset.
• Competence in adaptive management, as applied to GEF International Waters Focal Area.
• Familiarity with GEF International Waters strategies and its portfolio.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and GEF International Waters Focal Area; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis.
• Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios.
• Professional English writing and communication skills and demonstrated ability to assess complex situations in order to succinctly and clearly distil critical issues and draw well supported conclusions.
• Understanding of governance, political, economic and institutional issues associated with the region.
Remuneration Package:
According to the PCU consultancy fees guidelines.
We strongly encourage applicants to use the online application system at https://jobs.osce.org; the Vacancy Number is VNUKRC00643. The deadline for applications is 23 February 2021. If you have difficulties with the online system, please use the Internet Explorer to find the vacancy. Applications received after the published deadline will not be considered. Due to the high volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Details of the assignment and contract may be further discussed during the interviews.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the organization.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.