Duties and Responsibilities
ORGANIZATION SETTING. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a designated entity in the United Nations systems for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international communities for action. This consultancy is located at Headquarters in the Evaluation Office, which reports directly to the Executive Director. The consultant reports to the Evaluation Manager and the Director, Evaluation Office. THE EVALUATION In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme and Project Management Manual, the Terminal Evaluation is undertaken at operational completion of the project to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability. For the purposes of this evaluation, the ’project’ is the operations of the “United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative - Aligning private finance with sustainable development - (SMA ID 102770)” during the four-year period from 2022 to 2025. The evaluation has two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote operational improvement, learning and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP and main project partners. Therefore, the evaluation will identify lessons of operational relevance for future project formulation and implementation. Recommendations relevant to the whole house may also be identified during the evaluation process. THE PROJECT While sustainability has increasingly been drawing attention for the last few decades, finance industries around the world have not sufficiently integrated sustainability considerations into financial practices and therefore have not been ‘fit-for-purpose’ for financing the needs of sustainable development. The industries remain mostly driven by the profitability of short-term shareholders, whereby decision-making criteria are based on financial risks and reward models that insufficiently take account of wider stakeholder benefits, environmental and social externalities, and other sustainability considerations. Given this situation, UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) was launched in 1992, with a mandate to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable development. By leveraging the UN’s normative role to transform investments, UNEP FI has aimed to support the financial sectors and countries in mainstreaming sustainable finance to align financial flows and incentives with positive impacts, serving people and the planet better. Built on Phase I (2012-2016) and Phase II (2017-2021), the UNEP project titled “United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative - Aligning private finance with sustainable development - (SMA ID 102770)”, Phase III (2022-2025) of the UNEP FI, was designed, aiming to contribute to UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy 2022–2025, particularly under the Finance and Economic Transformations Sub-programme. It intended to deepen the application of sustainability principles while expanding thematic priorities, such as net-zero alignment, nature-positive portfolios, and circular economy approaches. This consultancy is for the Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP project, “United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative - Aligning private finance with sustainable development - (SMA ID 102770)”, Phase III (2022-2025) of the UNEP FI. THE EVALUATION TEAM For this evaluation, the Evaluation Consultant will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Office, represented by an Evaluation Manager, in consultation with the UNEP Project Manager and Fund Management Officer. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing. More specifically: Inception phase of the Evaluation, including: • preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project 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; • plan the evaluation schedule; and • prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager. Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including: • conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and 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; • keep the Project Manager informed of the evaluation progress. Reporting phase, including: • draft the Main Evaluation Report, 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 taken into account 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 evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons). Managing relations, including: • maintain a positive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence; and • communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention. CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS The Evaluation Consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract. 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. The overall assignment is for 55 days spread over 7 months to be delivered in two contracts as follows: Contract 1: Inception Report (30%); Draft Main Evaluation Report (40%); Total: 70% Contract 2: Final Main Evaluation Report (30%) Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with the consultant separately.
Qualifications/special skills
A first level university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required, and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable. A minimum of 9 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach. A good/ broad understanding of sustainable finance, including environmental and social standards and climate finance; risk management and financial regulation; and multi-stakeholder initiatives, is desired. Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.
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.
