Background |
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Since 2015, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has displayed a leading role in supporting the Government of Iraq (GOI) Security (and Justice) Sector Reform (SJSR) efforts within the framework led by the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA) and relevant ministries and agencies. As a critical element to establishing long-term stability in Iraq, and prevent the resurgence of conflict, the overall project strategy stems from the assumption that security is a pre-condition for sustainable development (SDG Goal 16). Similarly, security sector transformation is an essential prerequisite for Iraq’s transition from a state engaged in protracted conflict to a post-conflict period of recovery and development. UNDP’s strategy supports a national programmatic shift away from immediate humanitarian and stabilization activities to a long-term approach focusing on sustained public security, effective security and justice sector governance, and lasting stability. Taking a common approach, UNDP, with financial contributions from the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States, developed a multi-year Project on Security Sector and Justice Sector Governance (2019-2022). The multi-year project aims to support the Government of Iraq (GoI) in its efforts to advance security and justice sector governance (SJSG) both at national and local levels and to ensure that national security and justice sector institutions are better able to provide a safe and secure environment for the people of Iraq. In this regard, the project focuses on providing strategic and technical advisory support and assistance to advance the GoI SJSG efforts to improve state security and justice provision for better security and stronger public trust in state capacity to maintain security from day-to-day public safety to combating serious crime as well as assist in the coordination and strengthen collaborative engagement of like-minded International Partners active in supporting SJSG in Iraq. In view of the above, the overall project of work seeks to deliver the following three outputs: Output 1: Strategic advisory, coordination and capacity development support provided to strengthen security sector governance; Output 2: Law enforcement and criminal justice capacities of targeted institutions in Iraq strengthened; and Output 3: Community Security Integration Pilot (CSIP) is designed for Iraq.
The project is guided throughout and driven by principles of inclusion and leave no one behind, with a rights-based, conflict – sensitive and do no harm approach to promote gender equality and empowerment. Specific milestones achieved in this regard include the conceptualisation and promotion of co-gendered local police stations for Iraq, conflict assessment for improving local police to strengthen law enforcement, and engagement to support female headed households of former combatants for improving community security integration. Additionally, the project has initiated a Gender Audit among security sector and judicial institutions as a starting point to identify further gender mainstreaming to promote gender equality across the SSR and Rule of Law programming for Iraq. Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic related containment measures for UN personnel in Iraq continue to cause delays to implementing project activities in the field. However, the project in collaboration with its partners stayed on course by adopting remote working modalities to ensure activities are implemented to the extent possible.
Overall, SJSG Programme contributes to:
This is the first evaluation to be conducted for this Project.
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Duties and Responsibilities |
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2.1. Evaluation purpose This evaluation will be undertaken as part of the UNDP Programme Management requirements to: a) assess the extent to which the project has progress towards achieving it planned results/outputs; b) to provide evidence of UNDP’s contribution towards outcome achievements and impact; c) assess UNDP’s coordination, partnership arrangements, beneficiary participation, and sustainability / exist strategy ; d) collate and analyse lessons learned, challenges, and good practices obtained during the implementation period, this information will inform and improve decision-making to ensure quality implementation during the second phase of the project (September 2021 – December 2022). 2.2. Scope of evaluation Results scope: The scope of this evaluation is defined by the Results Framework of the Project, which is planned to be implemented from 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2022. The original results-framework had 4 Outputs but was later revised to focus only on 3 Outputs, and therefore the evaluation will focus on the revised Results Framework presented below.
The evaluation will be carried out using a combined methodology of desk review and direct beneficiary and stakeholder interviews including GoI counterparts, donors, SSR international partners, civil society implementing partners and UNDP Project Staff.
Timeframe: The evaluation will be conducted from 1 September to 30 November 2021, covering the mid-term period (1 January 2019 – 31 August 2021) of the Programme implementation cycle.
Geographical coverage: Given that the project is nationwide with a particular focus on the provinces of Baghdad, Anbar, Ninewa, and Basra, the evaluation will have a national scope.
Evaluation Audience: The evaluation will be relied upon by UNDP and its partners, including the GoI through its MoI and other SJSR institutions, civil society, and donors, with an objective, independent assessment of the project’s performance to provide the basis for learning and accountability.
The specific objective of this project evaluation is to:
The Project evaluation will generate evidence of progress and challenges, helping to ensure accountability for the implementation of the project, as well as identifying and sharing knowledge and good practices through following standard Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) evaluation criteria[1]: Relevance: The extent to which the project strategy, proposed activities and expected outputs and outcome are justified and remain relevant to the Government of Iraq (GoI) in its efforts to advance security and justice sector governance (SJSG). More specifically, the relevance of the programme should be assessed through the following guiding questions:
Coherence:
Efficiency: The extent to which the project resources (funds, expertise/human resources, time, etc.) are optimally used and converted into intended outputs. More specifically, the efficiency of the project should be assessed through the following guiding questions:
Effectiveness: The extent to which the project ’s expected outputs and outcomes are being achieved or are expected to be achieved. Factors contributing to or detracting from the achievement of the project desired results and objectives should also be included in the assessment. More specifically, the effectiveness of the project should be assessed through the following guiding questions:
To what extend did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the Programme implementation and delivery?
Impact: The extent to which the project ’s is expected to contribute to longer term outcomes/results. The impact or effect of the intervention in proportion to the overall situation of the target institutions or direct beneficiaries.
Sustainability: Analysing whether benefits of the project are likely to continue after the project cycle.
Inclusion and Intersectionality: The extent to which the project has endeavored to reflect gender mainstreaming for equality and inclusion of all diverse groups to “leave no one behind” through a human rights-based approach. The extent to which the project was able to apply an intersectional lens. Human Rights:
Gender
Disability
The evaluation will be carried out in accordance with UNDP evaluation guidelines and policies, including Evaluation guidelines during COVID-19, United Nations Group Evaluation Norms and Ethical Standards; OECD/DAC evaluation principles and guidelines and DAC Evaluation Quality Standards. The project evaluation methodology will include the following data collection tools:
If COVID-19 health pandemic related international travel restrictions and related containment measures are relaxed, field visits to selected Project sites and institutions will be carried out. All field-related work and relevant logistical arrangements should be made by the Consultant and are under his/her responsibility. Assistance will be provided by the Project Management Specialist, SSR/RoL, in identifying key stakeholders and in facilitating the schedule of interviews, focus groups and site visits, when and where required. Alternatively, If COVID-19 health pandemic related international travel restrictions and related containment measures are not relaxed, the field mission will only be limited to Baghdad based interviews with rest of the interviews conducted using virtual modalities. Data from the evaluation will be triangulated to appraise and conclude findings. The Consultant will be assisted by the UNDP Project Management Specialist- SSR/RoL as needed and work under the overall guidance and oversight of the UNDP Head of Governance Pillar Manager. All analysis must be based on observed facts, evidence, and data. Findings should be specific and concise and supported by information that is reliable and valid. Cross-cutting issues and the SDGs should be integrated into the final evaluation report. The final methodological approach, including interview schedule, field visits and data to be used in the evaluation should be clearly outlined in the inception report and fully discussed and agreed between UNDP, key stakeholders and the evaluators.
The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs/ deliverables.
It should be noted that the above list of deliverables, together with the implementation time-frame (see section 8) might be subject to review and revision by UNDP in discussion with the Consultant in the event of unexpected changes to the context/ working environment in Iraq during the consultancy period. Standard templates that need to be followed are provided in the Annexes section. It is expected that the Consultant will follow the UNDP evaluation guidelines and UNEG quality checklist and ensure all the quality criteria are met in the evaluation report. In line with the UNDP’s financial regulations, when determined by the Country Office and/or the Consultant that a deliverable or service cannot be satisfactorily completed due to the impact of COVID-19 and limitations to the evaluation, that deliverable or service will not be paid. Additionally, due to the current COVID-19 situation and its implications, a partial payment may be considered if the Consultant invested time towards the deliverable but was unable to complete it, due to circumstances beyond his/her control.
“This evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the UNEG ‘Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation’.[3] The Consultant must safeguard the rights and confidentiality of information providers, interviewees, and stakeholders through measures to ensure compliance with legal and other relevant codes governing the collection of data and reporting on data. The Consultant must also ensure security of collected information before and after the evaluation and protocols to ensure anonymity and confidentiality of sources of information where that is expected. The information knowledge and data gathered in the evaluation process must also be solely used for the evaluation and not for other uses with the express authorisation of UNDP and partners.”
The Project evaluation is commissioned by UNDP Iraq’s Governance Pillar. The main UNDP Focal Point will be the UNDP Head of Governance Pillar supported by Project Management Specialist (PMS), SSR/RoL. Together the Governance Pillar and SSR/RoL Project teams will serve as the focal points for providing both substantive and logistical support to the Consultant. Assistance will be provided by the Head of Governance Pillar and PMS, SSR /RoL to make any refinements to the work plan of the selected Consultant (i.e., key interview partners; organise meetings; and conduct field visits (if necessary and if the security situation permits). This TOR shall be the basis upon which compliance with assignment requirements and overall quality of services provided by the Consultant will be assessed by UNDP. As part of the assignment:
The detailed evaluation workplan will be agreed upon between the UNDP and the selected Consultant. The Programme evaluation will take place over a period 50 working days between 1 September to 30 November 2021, including a combination of home-based work and one (1) in-country visit, which includes travel to Project implementation locations in Baghdad, Anbar, Ninewah, and Basra. The security situation in each location will be reviewed prior to the rollout of the final field visit plan. The assignment and final deliverable are expected to be completed no later than 30 November 2021, with the detail as described in the below table.
Indicative work plan—timeframe for evaluation deliverables
The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs/deliverables. It should be noted that the following list of outputs/ deliverables might be subject to review and revision by UNDP in discussion with the Consultant in the event of unexpected changes to the context/working environment in Baghdad/ Iraq during the consultancy period. Payments will be made upon acceptance and approval by UNDP of the planned deliverables, based on the following tentative payment schedule:
*N.B. Travel and accommodation: All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel within country or outside duty station/ repatriation travel. In general, UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. In cases where UNDP arranges and provides travel and/or accommodation due to security and other reasons, it should be noted that these costs will be deducted from the payments to the Consultant. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon in writing, between UNDP and selected Consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
[1] https://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/daccriteriaforevaluatingdevelopmentassistance.htm [2] The twin-track approach combines mainstream programmes and projects that are inclusive of persons with disabilities as well as programmes and projects that are targeted towards persons with disabilities. It is an essential element of any strategy that seeks to mainstream disability inclusion successfully. Also, see chapter 9 of the Technical Notes. Entity Accountability Framework. UN Disability and Inclusion Strategy: https://www.un.org/en/disabilitystrategy/resources [3] UNEG, ‘Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation, updated June 2020: http://www.unevaluation.org/document/detail/2866 |
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Competencies |
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Corporate Competencies
Functional Competencies
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Required Skills and Experience |
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UNDP seeks to recruit an International Consultant with the following profile. The Consultant must have high levels of relevant technical expertise; rigorous research and drafting skills; and the capacity to conduct an independent and quality evaluation. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Education Minimum of Master’s degree in Law, Governance, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management, Public Administration, or any other relevant university degree. In addition, the Consultant must possess the following competencies listed below. Work Experience
Language:
Application submission process and criteria for selection: Application Process Interested qualified and experienced individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications and interest:
Note: Applicants must not have worked in the design or implementation of this project or in an advisory capacity for any of the interventions, directly as consultants or through service providers. Submitted proposals will be assessed using Cumulative Analysis Method. The proposals will be weighed according to the technical proposal (carrying 70%) and financial proposal (carrying 30%). Technical proposals should obtain a minimum of 70 points to qualify and to be considered. Financial proposals will be opened only for those application that obtained 70 or above in the technical proposal. Below are the criteria and points for technical and financial proposals
TOR Annexes This section presents additional documents to facilitate the proposal preparation by the Consultant. Annex 1: a) Project Document as last revised in March 2021 – contains the Project ’s Results and Resources Framework b) Project Partners & Stakeholders Annex 2: Documents to be consulted
http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guideline/documents/PDF/UNDP_Evaluation_Guidelines.pdf
Annex 3: Evaluation matrix (Sample Evaluation Matrix) – to be included in the inception report.
Annex 4: Code of conduct forms. The Consultant Firm and each member of the Evaluation Team consultant will be requested to read carefully, understand and sign the “UN Code of Conduct.” Annex 5: Suggested minimum content/ guidance on Inception Report Template Annex 6: Guidance on Evaluation Report Template (Refer Annex 4 – PDF pages 118-122): http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guideline/documents/PDF/section-6.pdf Annex 7: Evaluation guidelines during COVID-19
Annex 9: Audit trail Template Annex 10: Quality Assessment Checklists-June 2021 Annex 11: Dispute and wrongdoing resolution process and contact details (will also be provided at the time of signing the contract)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE TO INTERESTED CONSULTANTS:
When submitting your documents, please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application system only allows to upload maximum of one document. **Failure to submit the REQUIRED documents or Incomplete proposals shall result in disqualification The short listed candidates may be contacted and the successful candidate will be notified.
THE ANNEXES ARE AVAILABLE AND CAN BE DOWNLOADED in the following link: UNDP | Procurement Notices – 81280 – 100767 – IC-057-21 – MID-TERM PR ANNEX 1- Terms of Reference (TOR)/Procurement Notice The TOR’s annexes can be downloaded from the link provided in the TOR document ANNEX 2-Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability and Financial Proposal ANNEX 3- Individual Consultant General Terms and Conditions _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Kindly note that the system only allows ONE document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).
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