UN Women: National Evaluation Consultant, home-based, Consultant

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan.

UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has four key programme priorities: (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, and (4) Women, Peace and Security.

The National Evaluation Consultant will be reporting to the Regional Evaluation Specialist in the UN Women Asia and the Pacific Regional Office.

Scope

Geographic scope: The geographic scope will include all areas in Afghanistan where UN Women is operating, including the offices in Kabul and the five sub-offices of Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Balkh.

Responsibilities of National Consultant

UN Women Afghanistan Country Office is seeking a consultant (National Evaluation Consultant) to be part of the Evaluation Team and closely support the evaluation process, ensuring cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and quality of evaluation outputs. The consultant may be based outside Afghanistan and is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:

1. Contributions to the Inception Phase: 

o Review and Adjustment of Data Collection Tools:

• Review data collection tools and the data collection plan developed by the data collection firm.
• Ensure the translation of tools are contextually relevant, accurate, and appropriate for the cultural setting and what they are intended to measure.

o Provide inputs to the inception report: 

• Ensure the overall evaluation methodology is contextualized and culturally sensitive.

2. Data Collection Coordination and quality control:

• Liaise with the data collection firm to:

a. Facilitate clear communication with the data collection firm and the evaluation team to ensure alignment with methodology and safety protocols and coordination throughout the process. Supporting the training of enumerators or team members.

b. Assure quality of the translation of interview notes provided by the data collection firm.

c. Verify the accuracy and cultural appropriateness used in the evaluation tools and protocols, ensuring a do no harm approach.

d. Ensure progress of the data collection according to plan.

• Conduct complementary remote data collection with key project stakeholders as necessary.
• Provide interview notes in the prescribed format and a summary report of key findings from consultations.

3. Reporting phase:

• Contribute to the reviewing preliminary findings, the draft report, and the synthesis report.
• Review evaluation products to ensure cultural sensitivity and alignment with the local context.

4. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with the evaluation team and join presentations as requested.
• Engage with key project stakeholders to gather relevant data and insights as necessary.

The National Evaluation Consultant will be required to contribute an estimated 30 days for the following deliverables:

1. #DeliverableDescriptionNumber of days1Inception phase: Inputs on data collection tools and data collection plan developed by firm. Inputs to strategic cluster evaluation inception report and presentation Review data collection tools and plan developed by the data collection firm and suggest amendments ensuring cultural sensitivities and do no harm approach.
2. Consultant to provide inputs to the inception report, ensuring that the overall evaluation methodology is contextualized and considers cultural sensitivities.
3. 5 days3.Data collection – Quality controlLiaise through regular check-ins with the data collection firm to ensure procedures and protocols are adhered to.
4. Quality checks (at least 4) of a representative sample of data collected to ensure the quality of data collected and to verify accuracy of translations and cultural appropriateness of data collection procedures.
5. Complementary remote data collection as necessary and in coordination with the evaluation team.

• All interview notes based to be submitted on the template and a summary report of key findings from the consultations.

1. 20 days3Reporting: Provide inputs to the preliminary findings, draft project reports and draft synthesis report and related presentations Consultant to provide inputs to the preliminary findings and draft synthesis report and presentations.
2. Review evaluation products to ensure that they are culturally sensitive.

5 days

• This opportunity is also open to Afghan nationals currently residing outside Afghanistan.
• Payment will be made upon submission of deliverables with an approval of the supervisor.
• All deliverables should be in line with the UN Editorial Style Guide.
• All deliverables should be written and generated in English.
• If requested, all data collected by the evaluation consultant must be submitted to the supervisor in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel format. Proper storage of data is essential for ensuring confidentiality and should be in line with UN Women Policy on data management and security.
• IES will be responsible for formatting in line with UN Women branding guidelines for technical publication (evaluation)

All deliverables submitted by the consultant are subject to quality review in line with the UN Women Evaluation Report Quality Assurance. The report will only be considered final when it meets the UN Women GERAAS quality standards.[1]

[1] https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Evaluation/Evaluation-GERAASMethodologyMatrix-en.xlsx 

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Well-developed communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
• Excellent ability to communicate and write in English.
• Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder discussions.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• An advanced degree in relevant disciplines (e.g., gender, development and social studies, sociology, political science, etc.)
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in evaluations, review or assessment assignments with international organizations.
• Proven working experience in the area of gender equality.
• Work experience in, and good knowledge of, the Afghanistan context.
• Familiarity with UN Women or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and activities will be an advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English, Dari and Pashto.

How to Apply:

• Cover letter
• Two writing samples, preferably of evaluation reports that the applicant was responsible for drafting.

Ethical Code of Conduct

UN Women has developed a UN Women Evaluation Consultants Agreement Form for evaluators that must be signed as part of the contracting process, which is based on the UNEG Ethical Guidelines. These documents will be annexed to contracts. All data collected by the team members must be submitted to the evaluation manager in Word, PowerPoint or Excel formats and is the property of UN Women. Proper storage of data is essential for ensuring confidentiality. The inception report should detail a data protection plan with procedures for storing and destroying all data collected. The UNEG guidelines note the importance of ethical conduct for the following reasons:

1. Responsible use of power: All those engaged in evaluation processes are responsible for upholding the proper conduct of the evaluation.

2. Ensuring credibility: With a fair, impartial and complete assessment, stakeholders are more likely to have faith in the results of an evaluation and to take note of the recommendations. 

3. Responsible use of resources: Ethical conduct in evaluation increases the chances of acceptance by the parties to the evaluation and therefore the likelihood that the investment in the evaluation will result in improved outcomes. 

The evaluation value added is its impartial and systematic assessment of the programme or intervention. As with the other stages of the evaluation, involvement of stakeholders should not interfere with the impartiality of the evaluation. The evaluation team has the final judgment on the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation report, and the team must be protected from pressures to change information in the report. 

The evaluations must ensure that the rights of the individual are protected and participation in the evaluation does not result in further violation of their rights. Informed consent must be obtained from all participants and the nature of informed consent must be included in the inception report. Proper procedures for data collection with participants who may have been affected by violence must be adhered to throughout data collection as outlined in the WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for research on violence against women. This should also be used as a guiding document to ensure safe consultations with survivors. This includes access to updated information to offer referrals to participants for psycho-social support as needed. Proper storage of data is essential for ensuring confidentiality.

Annexes 

• ANNEX 1 UN Women GERAAS evaluation quality assessment checklist
• ANNEX 2 UN Women Evaluation Consultants Agreement Form
• ANNEX 3 UNEG Norms and Standards for evaluation
• ANNEX 4 UN Women Evaluation Handbook: How to manage gender-responsive evaluations
• ANNEX 5 UNEG Guidance on the Integration of Humanitarian Principles in the Evaluation of Humanitarian Action.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application. 

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.

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