Request for Expression of Interest: Senior Short-Term Consultant for the Evaluation of Integrated Interventions in Small Island Developing States

Jobs 202301020 STC
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The Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides support to address global environmental concerns related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Two funds managed by the GEF: Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), provide climate adaptation support. Since its inception in 1991, the GEF has provided developing countries and countries with economies in transition $23 billion in grants. These grants are implemented on ground through a network of 18 accredited agencies (GEF Agencies). The GEF receives its funds through a four-year replenishment cycle.

The GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) has a central role in ensuring the independent evaluation function within the GEF. The GEF IEO is based in Washington DC. It is administered by the World Bank but is independent of its management as well as the management of the GEF. Its director reports directly to the GEF Council, the GEF governing body. All contracts with the IEO are World Bank contracts.

The GEF IEO is conducting an evaluation of integrated interventions in small island developing states (SIDS). Since 2006 the GEF has been moving toward more integrated programming as a strategy to achieve impact at scale and multiple benefits. In the context of SIDS, such integrated programming is particularly important. Climate change, land degradation, and waste management, environmental issues which particularly impact SIDS, are cross-sectoral issues which require cross-sectoral collaboration. Given their small size, geographical isolation, human capacity constraints, and close inter-connections between land, water, and coastal systems, integrated approaches allow for more effective natural resource management than would be possible with traditional single sector support.

Evaluation scope

The evaluation aims to understand the evolution of GEF integrated interventions and programs in SIDS countries and to evaluate the extent to which interventions respond to lessons learned from past projects, and to evaluate the outcomes and factors influencing the performance of GEF integrated interventions and programs in SIDS countries. The evaluation will assess three programs approved in GEF-5 or later and their corresponding child projects. The programs are focusing on climate proofing development, ridge to reef approaches, and non-chemical development.

The key evaluation questions are:

  1. Relevance and design - To what extent do the GEF programs (both ongoing and completed) in SIDS countries respond to policies and priorities?
  2. Coherence - How compatible are the objectives of each of the GEF programs with similar government and/or donor-funded interventions in SIDS countries?
  3. Effectiveness - To what extent have each of the GEF programs in SIDS countries achieved or are likely to achieve their planned outcomes?

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

The senior consultant will perform the following tasks:

  • Provide advice on and assist in the finalization of the evaluation approach paper.
  • Provide advice on and assist in the development of desk review, case study tools, and protocols for the evaluation.
  • Review and summarize good practices and lessons of climate proofing development, ridge to reef and non-chemical development approaches in SIDS.
  • Support portfolio review, assist with data collection and interviews of stakeholders.
  • Provide context of portfolio review results based on the summary of best practices.
  • Assist with analysis of data and information collected through the portfolio review, interviews, case studies, and contribution analysis.
  • Contribute to data and methods triangulation, gap analysis, and report writing.
  • Provide guidance and comments on draft and final reports of the evaluation.

Qualifications

The candidate should have following qualifications:

  • Master’s or advanced degree in social, environmental or development science or related studies.
  • Skilled professional with a minimum of 10 years in the field of environmental evaluation, especially of programs and integrated interventions.
  • Expertise in small island environmental challenges, climate proofing development, ridge to reef, and non-chemical development approaches.
  • Knowledge of and/or direct experience with the GEF and its Agencies.
  • Strong quantitative and qualitative skills.
  • Excellent presentation, communication, and writing skills; spoken and written English.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Other arrangements

The duration of the consultancy will be for a maximum of 30 days from December 2023 to June 2024.

The consultancy will take place at the consultant's own place of work and travel is not anticipated.

Submission requirements

Interested consultants are hereby invited to submit a CV and a cover letter expressing how their work experience fits the qualifications above in English, to gefevaluation@thegef.org with "Climate Change Early Warning Systems-STC" in the subject line. The application deadline is November 6, 2023

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