JOB DESCRIPTION

Result of Service The ultimate result of the service is the comprehensive midterm evaluation of the UNEP-convened CCAC project.

Work Location Remote

Expected duration 4 months

Duties and Responsibilities The UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, and representatives of the private sector, the environmental community, and other members of civil society. The CCAC is the only international initiative working on integrated climate and clean air solutions to reduce the rate of near-term warming. It focuses on fast action to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) including methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone. More information about the CCAC is here: www.ccacoalition.org. As of October 2023, the same team is providing secretariat services to the Global Methane Pledge. More information about the Global Methane Pledge is here: www.globalmethanepledge.org The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) hosts the Secretariat at the Industry & Economy Division in Paris. In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme Manual, the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) is undertaken approximately half-way through project implementation to analyze whether the project is on-track, what problems or challenges the project is encountering, and what corrective actions are required. A key aim of the Mid-Term Evaluation is to encourage reflection and learning by UNEP staff, its Board, the implementing partners and key project stakeholders. The Evaluation Consultant should therefore, consider how reflection and learning can be promoted, both through the evaluation process and in the communication of evaluation findings and key lessons. Activities / Output: The junior Evaluation Consultant, will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Manager and in close collaboration with a senior evaluation consultant. The junior consultant will support the senior consultant with tasks such as data collection, analysis, organizational matters, report writing etc. Information and liaison support will be provided by the UNEP Task Manager and Fund Management Officer. The Evaluation Consultant will be responsible, in close consultation with the Evaluation Manager and the senior consultant, for supporting the overall management of the Evaluation and timely delivery of its outputs, data collection and analysis, and report writing. The Evaluation Consultant will ensure that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered. More specifically, the Evaluation Consultant will support the senior consultant in undertaking the following: (a) Inception phase of the Evaluation, including:

• preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with CCAC Secretariat staff;
• draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project;
• prepare the evaluation framework;
• develop the desk review and interview protocols;
• draft the survey protocols (if relevant);
• develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission(s);
• plan the evaluation schedule;
• prepare the Inception Report (max. 10 pages plus annexes), circulate draft Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager (b) Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including:
• conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with CCAC Secretariat staff, Board members, project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and other project stakeholders;
• (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews.
• regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered; and (c) Reporting phase, including:
• draft the Main Evaluation Report (max. 30 pages plus annexes), ensuring that the evaluation report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Evaluation Manager guidelines both in substance and style;
• liaise with the Evaluation Manager on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are considered until approved by the Evaluation Manager
• prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted by the Evaluation Consultant and indicating the reason for the rejection; and
• (where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluation and the key findings and recommendations) and/or presentation to the Board (d) Managing relations, including:
• maintain a positive and productive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, notably the CCAC Board, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence;
• communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Team on any issues requiring its attention and intervention. The Evaluation Consultant shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the project and will be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree is required in the field of climate change, environment, natural resources management, development, economics or international relations.
  • Another degree combined with extensive professional experience in climate change/air quality may be accepted.
  • An additional degree of advanced studies in project and program evaluation is an advantage
  • A minimum of 2 years of technical/evaluation experience in the monitoring and evaluation of global or regional international cooperation programmes is required.
  • A good understanding of short-lived climate pollutants, climate change and air pollution issues is essential
  • Experience with climate and/or air quality policies; SLCPs and emission measurements is an advantage.
  • Experience in evaluations applying OECD-DAC criteria in strategy or programme evaluations
  • Experience with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies including SMART (specific, measurable. achievable, relevant and time-bound) criteria as well as in applying a contribution analysis to examine and test the Theory of Change (ToC) of the CCAC

Languages Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential.  Knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be an asset.

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.