CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Issued on: 01 March 2019
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION:
UN-Habitat
DUTY STATION:
Beirut, Lebanon
FUNCTIONAL TITLE:
Evaluation of the UN-Habitat Country Programme in Lebanon 2014 - 2019
DURATION:
Four (4) Months
SUPERVISORS / REPORTING ARRANGEMENT
UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager Lebanon & Monitoring Evaluation Officer
CLOSING DATE:
15 March 2019
Background and Context
UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat envisions well-planned, well-governed, efficient cities and other human settlements with adequate housing, infrastructure and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy and sanitation. To achieve these goals, derived from the New Urban Agenda endorsed in October 2016, UN-Habitat has set itself a medium-term strategy approach for each successive six-year period. The current Strategic Plan 2014-2019 has a strategic result “environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, gender-sensitive and inclusive urban development policies implemented by national, regional and local authorities have improved the standard of living of the urban poor and enhanced their participation in the socio-economic life of the city. The focus of the Strategic Plan targets support to governments and local authorities with the ultimate result to improve the standard of living for the urban poor. The connection between sustainable cities and other human settlements is also emphasized in the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11.
As articulated in the final draft (October 2014) of UN-Habitat’s Regional strategy “Arab States Regional Strategy for Sustainable Urbanization” developed in response to the challenges to the region and identified in the State of Arab Cities 2012, the following priorities for common action are prioritized for future action:
(1) Improving the Integration of Comprehensive Urban Strategies in their National and Regional Development Plans
(2) Responding to Demands for Inclusive Economic Opportunities, Affordable Housing, and Access to Services for all
(3) Improving Urban Management and Promoting Participatory Governance
(4) Mitigating Climate Change.
UN-Habitat has been in present in Lebanon since 2006. UN-Habitat’s Lebanon Programme focus on interventions that underscores the economic, social and environmental inter-relationship and interdependence that exist between rural and urban areas vital to sustainable development at a national level.
Ultimate Result of Service:
UN-Habitat is undertaking this overall evaluation of the Country Programme in Lebanon 2014-2019, with a review of the UN-Habitat portfolio and in-depth assessment of three projects implemented over the past 5 years that are selected based on the project scale, scope and variety of donors.
The evaluation analysis will be based on the Theory of Change of the country programme and the three projects i.e., outlining the results chain and integrated with projects’ Log Frame.
The evaluation shall be independent, evidence-based and be carried out following the evaluation norms and standards of the United Nations System. A variety of methodologies will be applied to collect information during evaluation. These methodologies include the following elements:
- Review of documents relevant to the Lebanon programme and its projects. Documents to be provided by the Lebanon Programme staff, and documentation available with the partner organizations. Documentation to be reviewed will include:
- Relevant National Plans and Strategies;
- The United Nations Strategic Framework (UNSF);
- Strategic Plan 2014-2018
- New Urban Agenda and relevant SDGs
- Original project documents and implementation plans;
- Annual Work plan;
- Monitoring Reports;
- Reviews;
- Donor reports;
- Media reports.
- Key informant interviews and consultations, including focus group discussions will be conducted with key stakeholders, including each of the implementing partners. The principles for selection of stakeholders to be interviewed as well as evaluation of their performance shall be clarified in the inception report at the beginning of the evaluation. The informant interviews will be conducted to obtain qualitative information on the evaluation issues, allowing the senior evaluator to assess programme relevance, efficiency and effectiveness and impact outlook of the country Programme.
- Field visits to assess activities of the four projects selected for in-depth evaluation.
The Consultant will meet with the Country Programme Manager and the Monitoring & Evaluation/ Reporting Officer at the beginning of the assignment and during data collection, and at the end of the Evaluation in order to review findings with key partners.
The evaluator will describe Theory of Change, interpretation of evaluation questions, expected data analysis and instruments including time schedule in the inception report. Presentation of the evaluation findings should follow the standard format of UN-Habitat Evaluation Reports.
Outputs/Work assignments:
The three primary deliverables for this evaluation are:
- Inception Report with evaluation work plan. Once approved, it will become the key management document for the evaluation, guiding evaluation delivery in accordance with UN-Habitat’s expectations throughout the performance of contract.
- Draft Evaluation Reports. The evaluation team will prepare evaluation report draft(s) to be reviewed by UN-Habitat. The draft should follow UN-Habitat’s standard format for evaluation reports. The Report should include a section on the overall Programme evaluation as well as separate sections on the evaluation of each of the 4 projects.
- Final Evaluation Report (including Executive Summary and Appendices) will be prepared in English and follow the UN-Habitat’s standard format of an evaluation report. The report should not exceed 40 pages (excluding Executive Summary and Appendices).
Expected Duration:
The evaluation will be conducted over the period of four months, including the desk review, to be completed by July 2019. The consultant is expected to prepare an inception report with a work plan that will operationalize the evaluation. In the inception report understanding of the evaluation questions, methods to be used, limitations or constraints to the evaluation as well as schedules and delivery dates to guide the execution of the evaluation should be detailed.
Evaluation Criteria/ Work Experience:
- Extensive evaluation experience. The consultant should have ability to present credible findings derived from evidence and putting conclusions and recommendations supported by the findings. Example of evaluation report produced by the evaluator to be included in expression of interest;
- Country specific knowledge and understanding of UN-Habitat’s mandate and the organizational context of the Lebanon Programme;
- More than 15 years of experience in results-based management, professional project management and monitoring and evaluation;
- Experience in working with projects/programmes in the field of urban development, local governance, housing or infrastructure. Familiarity with post-conflict environment is required;
- It is envisaged that the consultant would have a useful mix of experience and academic training from various similar tasks and jobs;
Competencies:
- Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
- Communication: Excellent and effective written and oral skills. Ability to present information in a concise and accurate manner, proven ability for preparing comprehensive documents and reports.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by valuing others ideas and expertise and is willing to learn from others.
- Planning & Organizing: Proven ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work and that of others. Ability to work under pressure and uses time efficiently. Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.
Qualifications:
Education
Advanced academic degree in political science, international relations or social sciences or field of urban development, housing, infrastructure, local governance or similar relevant fields;
Language
The Consultant should be proficient in English and Arabic.
Remuneration
Payments will be based on deliverables over the consultancy period. There are set remuneration rates for consultancies. The rate is determined by functions performed and experience of the consultant. The fee will be paid as per agreement.
Applications should include:
• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
• CV in the PHP format, accessible through the INSPIRA website (inspira.un.org) Please note, if using INSPIRA for the first time, you need to register in order to activate your account, which will allow you to log in and create a personal History Profile.
• The PHP should be attached to the application as a PDF file.
• Summary CV (maximum 2 pages), indicating the following information:
1. Educational Background (incl. dates)
2. Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
3. Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)
4. Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments
5. Expectations regarding remuneration
• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
Please also be advised that since April 15th 2010, applicants for consultancies must be part of the
UN-HABITAT e-Roster in order for their application to be considered. You can reach the e-Roster
through the following link: http://e-roster.unhabitat.org
Applicants should also ensure they register on the general United Nations consultants roster on inspira.un.org
as follows: Login to Inspira. Go to Main Menu. Join/Update Consultant Roster or look at the box
“Consultant Opportunities” and click on Join/Update Consultant Roster
All applications should be submitted to:
Talar Oskeridjian
Deadline for applications: 15 March 2019
UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org