Senior Evaluation Consultant

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST – UNRWA   UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 4.6 millionPalestinerefugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank,Jordan,Lebanon, and theSyrianArabRepublic. The Agency is committed to assistingPalestinerefugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in theMiddle Eastwith over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers. Senior Evaluation Consultant   Location Beirut Type of Appointment Consultant Deadline for Application 15 December 2012 Vacancy Announcement Number 942/2012 Department/Division Field Programme & Support Office   BACKGROUND Introduction to the project: Nahr el-BaredPalestineRefugee Camp (NBC) inNorth Lebanonwas destroyed as a result of the armed conflict between the Lebanese Army Force (LAF) and militant group Fatah Al-Islam in 2007. Since the onset of the crisis, UNRWA has led the relief effort for refugees displaced from NBC in close coordination with the Lebanese government and a wide range of local and international partners. With the generous contribution of EUR 12,000,000 from the European Commission under its Instrument for Stability (IfS), the Agency is providing adequate shelters for families displaced from NBC and impoverishedPalestinerefugees residing in the camps inLebanon. The project is divided in two main components: the provision of Rental Cash Subsidies in order to provide between 2,976 and 3,629 families (13,392 and 16,317 individuals) displaced from NBC with the means to secure temporary accommodation as they await the reconstruction of their homes in the camp; and the shelter rehabilitation component which will benefit at least 736 families through rehabilitating their shelters and improving their living conditions, throughout the other 11 Palestine refugee camps in Lebanon.   The principal objective: Prevent the outbreak of a new conflict inPalestine refugee camps inLebanon, thus defusing tensions and discontent.   The specific objective: Provide adequate shelter for NBC displaced families and impoverishedPalestine refugees residing in camps inLebanon.   The main three results of the project are as follows:   RESULT 1: Displaced families from Nahr el-Bared Camp (NBC) have sufficient resources to secure adequate shelter through renting while the reconstruction of NBC continues   Activities:   Relief social workers visit each beneficiary household to collect socio-economic data and assess eligibility. Relief Beneficiary Review Committee meets to arbitrate over contested cases. Relief social workers cross check beneficiary details with livelihood intervention beneficiaries. Relief social workers make data entry into the UNRWA data system. Relief social workers recommend eligible cases for approval. Relief Services Team approves assessment results and the eligibility of families. Visibility for intervention finalized. Relief social workers inform eligible beneficiaries. Organization of necessary transport arrangements for beneficiaries to point of distribution. Distribution of subsidies, Distribution lists collated and gathered. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of implementation activities.   RESULT 2: Following the conduction of a thorough assessment of shelter conditions in 11Palestine refugee camps inLebanon, an estimated 736 shelters of the most vulnerable families are repaired/reconstructed and are now structurally sound and meet minimum standards   Activities: A.2.1. A thorough assessment of the shelter conditions of the poorest families (according to the poverty composite score system) conducted during the first year of project implementation in 11Palestinerefugee camps inLebanon. A.2.2 An estimated 736 priority shelters of the most vulnerable families in 11Palestinerefugee camps inLebanonare rehabilitated/reconstructed and are now structurally sound and meet minimum standards     EXPECTED RESULTS   Specific Objective: Provide UNRWA Lebanon with an overall, independent and accountable result-oriented mid-term evaluation of the "Prevent the outbreak of a new conflict inPalestinerefugee camps inLebanon" project.   Expected Output The main output of the consultancy is a mid-term evaluation report that provides an independent and accountable result-oriented evaluation for each of the project’s components.   The mid-term evaluation report should include, but not be limited to, the following specific points: To review the project design; To evaluate the relevance of the intervention (extent to which the project is designed in consultation with the affected communities; extent to which the project addresses local needs; cultural sensitivity) To measure their efficiency by assessing the costs and benefits of the project; To measure their effectiveness by assessing how far the intended results and results were achieved; Identify all recorded impacts, including any unintended ones and compare them to intended impacts; To evaluate the sustainability of the achieved results as well as the ownership/appropriation by the intended beneficiaries. To evaluate the management arrangement used to deliver the project; To develop lessons learned and recommendations and how to further improve the delivery of this project and similar interventions in the areas of shelter rehabilitation and humanitarian assistance.   The evaluation report is to be delivered in English. It should contain an Executive Summary, an Introduction, Objectives of the Evaluation, the Methodology, Findings from Reviews & Analysis, Lessons Learned, Recommendations, and Conclusions.     METHODOLOGY   The evaluation process will employ a mixed methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies. A mixed methods approach should enrich the understanding of the local context and complements the overall assessment process.   The evaluation shall include the following activities: -          desk review of relevant documentation -          field travels -          key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions with project staff, relevant UNRWA staff, relevant implementing partners, local community representatives and beneficiaries -          interviews, focus group discussions and quantitative survey (if required) for assessing the program’s overall performance and benefit recipients’ perception.   The evaluator will develop a detail evaluation methodology and share with UNRWA before implementation.   SENIOR EVALUATION CONSULTANT RESPONSIBILITIES In accordance with established Agency policy and procedures:   (A)     The consultant holds the overall management responsibility of the evaluation, including designing and carrying out the evaluation, drafting the final report and debriefing the project team and key stakeholders. (B)     The consultant will liaise with UNRWA Lebanon staff throughout the process, providing regular updates and seeking their input and advice where necessary. (C)     The consultant will develop an inception report, in collaboration with the M&E unit, detailing the methodology-stakeholders to be interviewed, tools to be developed, time frame for the evaluation which will be shared with UNRWA Lebanon. (D)     The consultant will develop checklists and tools for field interviews and data collection. The tools will be discussed with UNRWA before finalization. (E)     The consultant will orient UNRWA on the data collection tools and will agree together on workload and task sharing. (F)      The consultant will present the draft evaluation results to UNRWA staff. (G)     The consultant will integrate UNRWA’s feedback into the final version of the document as appropriate and present the finalized document to UNRWA Lebanon.   UNRWA RESPONSIBILITIES (A)     Provide all required background materials to the consultant in a timely manner. (B)     Arrange for field visits and accompany the consultant to project sights. (C)     Provide translation as required. (D)     Assist the consultant in data collection as required. (E)     Oversee the service provider by managing the consultancy contract; monitor adherence to specified deadlines; facilitating access to required information. (F)     Provide guidance throughout all phases of execution, approving all deliverables, and facilitating access to any documentation (or any person) deemed relevant to the evaluation process. (G)    Share deliverables with stakeholders. (H)     Perform quality control, as required of all deliverables.   PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES The CVs and cover letter provided should demonstrate clearly the knowledge and experience required to meet the requirements of these Terms of Reference. Applications without cover letter will not be accepted.   (A)   Qualification and Skills (i)      Master Degree in Engineering, Social Sciences, International Relations, Business Administration, or related discipline; (ii)    Excellent analytical skills; (iii)   Very strong communication skills; (iv)   Proven ability to work in close cooperation with international and local stake-holders.   (B)   General Professional Experience (i)      At least ten (7) years of experience in project / programme management and or monitoring and evaluation, preferably in the area of shelter rehabilitation or humanitarian assistance. (ii)    At least five (3) years experience in project evaluation and/or monitoring of projects, preferably in the area of shelter rehabilitation or humanitarian assistance. (iii)   Demonstrated ability to conduct quality external evaluations of complex project during a limited amount of time, preferably in the area of shelter rehabilitation or humanitarian assistance.   (C)   Specific Professional Experience (i)      Previous experience in EU project evaluation will be an asset. (ii)    Experience in the region will be an asset. (iii)   Knowledge of the Lebanese context will be an asset.   (D)   Language Skills (i)      Excellent writing and editing skills; (ii)    Excellent command of English (spoken and written) is required; (iii)   Knowledge of Arabic will be an asset.   CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Salary & Contract Duration: each applicant should provide their CV, the proposed fees, the methodology, and the timeframe.   EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.   GENERAL INFORMATION UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women. It is Agency Policy to give full consideration to qualified disabled candidates whose disability does not impact their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post. Priority will be given to fully qualify registered Palestinian refugees. Prior to the commencement of services,the consultant shall confirm and acknowledge in writing,and provide proof of the existence of,self-procured adequate private insurance against medical,disability and accident for the duration of the contract. As a member of the United Nations system, UNRWA maintains a close relatives’ policy.  In this regard, if a candidate has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter) who is already employed by the Agency, he/she can only be employed if the Agency is unable to find another suitable candidate.   UNRWA staff members with fixed term appointments may not be considered for any consultant/contractor position while in service. Candidates who are no longer employed by the Agency must have a minimum of 3 months break in service before they applying to any consultant/contract positions.   UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity,neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights,for diversity,and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staffs are expected to uphold these values at all times,both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNWA is a non-smoking working environment. الأونروا هي منظمة تابعة للأمم المتحدة، وهي منظمة تفترض من موظفيها الالتزام بأعلى معايير الاستقامة والحياد والنزاهة. ويشمل ذلك احترام مبادئ حقوق الإنسان واحترام التنوع وتبني الوسائل غير العنيفة في حل كافة أشكال النزاعات.  المتوقع من موظفي الأونروا أن يقوموا بدعم هذه القيم في كافة الأوقات، سواء في أماكن العمل أم خارجه. إن أولئك الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالالتزام الكامل وغير المشروط بهذه القيم هم فقط الذين ينبغي أن يتقدموا بطلباتهم للعمل لدى الأونروا. الأنروا هي بيئه عمل لا يسمح فيها بالتدخين.   INTERVIEW Applicants are requested to send their applications and their covering letters to: r.almoghrabi@unrwa.org. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited to interview (100%).   HOW TO APPLY If you have got the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestinerefugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through this website will be considered and the system will not allow applications after the deadline. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. For any queries please send an email to: recruitmentquestions@unrwa.org     Date of issue:  05 December 2012