The Position:

Call for Evaluation Consultancy (International, Team leader): UNFPA Moldova 4th Country Programme Evaluation (2023-2027)

Background:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), UNFPA is working towards three transformative results: (i) zero preventable maternal deaths; (ii) zero unmet need for family planning; and (iii) zero gender-based violence and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage.

The UNFPA Moldova Country Office (CO) is currently implementing the 4th Country Programme (CP) (2023-2027) with the Government of Moldova and other partners. The goal of the CP is to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, and accelerate the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, to improve the lives of women, adolescents and youth. In pursuit of this goal, the UNFPA Moldova CO seeks to achieve results in the following thematic areas of programming under the CP: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR); Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment; Adolescents and Youth; Population Dynamics and Resilience.

Purpose, objectives and scope:

In line with the 2024 UNFPA Evaluation Policy, the UNFPA Moldova CO is planning to conduct an evaluation of its 4th CP (2023-2027). The purpose of the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) is to strengthen accountability to stakeholders, support evidence-based decision-making, and improve learning. The overall objective of the CPE is to provide an independent assessment of the performance of the CP and to broaden the evidence base for the design of the next programme cycle. 

The evaluation will cover all interventions in the 4 thematic areas of the CP, which have been implemented across Moldova during the programme’s period. The thematic areas are described in section 3 of the terms of reference. In addition, the evaluation will also cover cross-cutting issues, such as human rights, gender equality, disability, displacement and migration status, etc., and transversal functions, such as coordination, monitoring and evaluation, innovation, resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, etc.

Evaluation team:

The CPE will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of consultants. They should collectively have the qualifications and experience to design and implement a methodologically robust evaluation and cover all the above-mentioned thematic areas of the CP. The evaluation team will consist of: 

• Team leader: An international consultant with primary responsibility for the design of the evaluation methodology and the coordination of the evaluation team, as described in section 12.1 of the terms of reference. The team leader will also demonstrate the qualifications, experience and skills required to serve as a technical expert for two of the thematic areas.
• Thematic expert: National consultant who should demonstrate the qualifications, experience and skills required to serve as technical expert in at least two of the thematic areas, as described in section 12.1 of the terms of reference.
• Young and emerging evaluator: A national consultant (recent university graduate or young evaluation professional with limited experience) who will provide support to the evaluation team throughout the evaluation process, as described in section 12.1 of the terms of reference. The Young and emerging evaluator has been already recruited. 

The evaluation team will conduct the CPE under the supervision of the CPE manager in the UNFPA Moldova CO from April 2026 to September 2026.

In their application, the candidates must clearly indicate the thematic area(s) for which they demonstrate the requested expertise. Based on their qualifications, experience and skills, the candidates should propose to cover at least two of the thematic areas.

Please see the attached terms of reference for more details on the CPE as well as on the required qualifications and experience of the team leader and team members (section 12.2). Section 10 indicates the evaluation timeline and the expected evaluation deliverables are described in section 8

The candidates must indicate in the cover letter the area(s) of thematic expertise of the CP they can cover (sexual and reproductive health and rights; adolescents and youth; gender equality and women’s empowerment; or population dynamics). 

The application should include:

• The link to a recent evaluation report or other type of writing sample in English (from a similar assignment) drafted by the candidate.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.