[Hiring] Country Program Evaluation Consultant @UNDP

Role Description

The Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE) will assess the UN Women Kenya Country Office Strategic Note for the period 2022–2027. The evaluation will examine the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and integration of human rights and gender equality principles of the Strategic Note. The consultant will report to the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, who will provide technical support in data analysis and interpretation.

Objectives of the Evaluation

• Assess the relevance of UN Women contribution to the intervention at national levels and alignment with international agreements and conventions on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Assess effectiveness, organizational efficiency and coherence in progressing towards the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment results as defined in the Strategic Note.
• Enable the UN Women Country Office to improve its strategic positioning, including its programmatic design, partnership modalities and financing approach.
• Analyze how human rights approach and gender equality principles are integrated in the design and implementation of the Strategic Note.
• Identify and validate lessons learned, good practices and examples of innovation that can be scaled up and replicated.
• Provide insights into the extent to which UN Women has realized synergies between its three mandates.
• Provide actionable recommendations with respect to the development of the next Strategic Note.

Methodology: Data Collection and Analysis

• Employ a non-experimental, theory-based approach using contribution analysis.
• Apply a mixed-method using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Data sources include documents, field information, institutional information systems, financial records, beneficiaries, staff, funders, experts, government officials, community groups, etc.
• Data collection methods include:
  • Document analyses during the inception phase.
  • Evaluability assessment to identify gaps in secondary data.
  • Contextual analysis of external influencing factors.
  • Portfolio analysis of UN Women Strategic Note & Project Documents.
  • UN Women financial analysis of the budget and expenditures.
  • Interviews and Focus Group Discussions with key informants.
  • Surveys of UN Women personnel and UNCT partners.

Sampling Approach

The evaluation is expected to apply a purposive sampling approach to take into account a diverse range of perspectives.

Description of Responsibilities/Scope of Work

• Review and assess all activities outlined in the Strategic Note.
• Evaluate regional and global programme activities implemented at the country level.
• Analyze joint programmes by assessing UN Women’s specific contributions.
• Pay attention to projects not previously evaluated.
• Define and refine the evaluation scope and sampling approach during the inception phase.

Expected Limitations

• The evaluation budget is lower than the recommended budget, affecting in-person field visits.
• Participation of some county level stakeholders may be limited due to competing priorities.

Deliverables

• Inception Workshop: 1 or 2 days
• Portfolio analysis and draft Inception Report: 3-4 weeks
• Validation of draft Inception Report: 2 weeks
• Final Inception report: 1 week
• Data collection: 3-4 weeks
• Data analysis, preliminary findings and draft report: 3-4 weeks
• Draft report reviews: 3 weeks
• Final Report: 1 week
• Report brief: 2 days
• TOTAL: 26 weeks

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy with field travel to the project implementation locations.

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
• Functional Competencies:
  • Strong knowledge of programme formulation and implementation.
  • Strong knowledge of monitoring and evaluation, evaluation design, data collection and analysis.
  • Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports.
  • Strong analytical and report writing skills.
  • Good knowledge of UN programme management systems.

Required Qualifications

• Education and Certification:
  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in gender/women studies, sociology, international development, or related area.
  • A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
  • A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
• Experience:
  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in designing and conducting gender-responsive evaluations.
  • Experience in applying qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.
  • Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System is desirable.
• Languages:
  • Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.