International Evaluation Consultant
Alert
Vacancy
NOTE: This is a consultancy assignment (25 working days).
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to play a vital role in strengthening the country’s ability to foster a sustainable and stable security environment, to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s governance, and to encourage its consolidation as a democratic society. The Mission supports political and education reform and works to promote and protect human rights of all citizens of BiH.
The OSCE Mission to BiH supports the relevant education authorities to reform their curricula in line with the BiH Common Core Curriculum based on Student Learning Outcomes and contemporary trends in curriculum development. With an aim to ensure that these changes reach classrooms and enhance teaching and learning experience of all children, the OSCE Mission to BiH also advocates for the continuous professional development of teachers.
Evaluation Objectives, Purpose and Scope
The Mission is seeking to hire an international evaluation expert to evaluate its work in the field of education reform. After years of Mission engagement in supporting the educational institutions of BiH, the Mission seeks an independent, external, decentralised evaluation to evaluate the education programme in its entirety identifying key impact areas of the Missions work in education sector related to its mandate, Mission relevance, assess the project design’s feasibility for reaching the main objectives/results, with the ultimate aim to inform future steps in assisting BiH schools and education authorities in achieving inclusive education, and offer independent recommendations, how to ensure them, and suggested interventions to this end.
Evaluation Methodology
The international expert will be selected based on a proposed methodology for the evaluation. The methodology will be then finalised in detail at the beginning of the contract based on feedback by the Mission. The draft methodology should include as mandatory chapters: background, strategy and approach, including proposed evaluation questions with a matrix consisting of preliminary indicators and means of verification, demonstrated understanding of the task as per the ToR, key issues and limitations for the evaluation to be conducted, integration of cross-cutting issues in the evaluation, risks, methodological approach for evaluation, timeframe and work plan
Tasks and Responsibilities
Should you be selected for the position, you will perform the following duties:
1. Conducting desk research through the review of existing primary and secondary data related to education in BiH;
2. Designing tools for primary data collection among all relevant stakeholders, beneficiaries and interlocutors, and collect the data;
3. Analysing the collected data and assess the performance of Mission’s initiatives on education as per the questions above;
4. Identifying results, progress, strengths and weaknesses of Education Section programming;
5. Formulating recommendations for future Education Section programming, including potential activities and proposals for changes, if any, to be designed/implemented in the near to mid-term;
6. Leading the evaluation process, including coordination and guidance of a local expert that will form part of the evaluation team;
7. Designing the evaluation methodology in line with OSCE criteria ensuring input is gender and human rights responsive;
8. Preparing a detailed evaluation work plan, in consultation with the Mission;
9. Proposing the structure of the final evaluation report in line with OSCE criteria and quality assessment checklist;
10. Undertaking a desk review of the following data sources: (i) internal Mission’s documents, EDS project documents, and other related material, and (ii) third-party studies and secondary data if available;
11. Preparing the inception report to define and tailor: (i) evaluation research tools that best fit the evaluation objectives; and (ii)evaluation sampling methods in line with the proposed methodology, including solicitation of inputs from both the Mission staff and external stakeholders;
12. Analysing the data and draft a preliminary findings presentation for the Mission;
13. Facilitating a workshop to discuss preliminary results of the evaluation research and solicit comment from the Mission staff;
14. Preparing the first draft of evaluation report along with recommendations for enhancing programme implementation, impact and sustainability, for Mission review and comments;
15. Delivering the Final Evaluation Report addressing Mission comments;
16.Analysing the impact of the Mission’s Education Programme through a rigorous evaluation methodology incorporating analysis of all programme cycle phases: identification, conception, formulation, programme design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation;
17.Identifying the distinct value of Mission’s approach for effective implementation of HDD’s programme in the education sector over the period 2018-2020;
18. Identifying lessons learned and providing recommendations for future education programming; these should offer direction for future Mission planning and programme cycle management, as well as evaluate the Mission’s approach to education reform with the relevant educational authorities.
For more information on the work of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, please see: https://www.osce.org/mission-to-bosnia-and-herzegovina.
Necessary Qualifications
- University degree in a field relevant to the OSCE’s mandate, such as international relations, political science, social sciences, or a related field;
- Minimum of eight (8) years expertise in delivering project/programme evaluation or impact assessments, preferably in a leading role; applicable skills include: programme evaluation research (especially in transitional countries), sampling, data collection and instrument development and qualitative and quantitative data analysis;
- Proven experience in the field of governance, education, and/or public administration;
- Familiarity with gender equality, and gender and youth mainstreaming principles in context of governance and experience in conducting gender and youth analysis in evaluations;
- Sound knowledge of results-based management systems, and monitoring and evaluation methodologies; including experience in applying SMART (S Specific; M Measurable; A Achievable; R Relevant; T Time-bound) indicators;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
- Outstanding writing and reporting skills;
- Ability to work in close collaboration with in-country evaluation counterpart;
- Ability to travel in BiH;
- Familiarity with the region.
The following are considered assets:
- Knowledge and of experience related to post-conflict environments, with experience in community/social cohesion, promotion of tolerance, BiH education sector, combatting discrimination in education or a related area of work being highly desirable;
- Professional level skill in the official languages of BiH;
- Experience in working with international organizations; and/or
- Experience in working with schools and education actors.
Remuneration Package
Remuneration will depend on the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and be in accordance with OSCE established rates.
How To Apply
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.
All candidates must apply online, using the OSCE online application link, found under https://jobs.osce.org. Please note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Online Application Form or in other languages than the English language would not be considered.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or offer the position with modified terms of reference or a different duration.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.