Result of Service

To provide evidenced-based information as a basis for accountability to key stakeholders; contributing to enhanced learning in order to improve future WUF sessions as well as supporting better decision making in planning, budgeting, organizing and delivering of future WUFs.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

UN-Habitat was established in 1978 as the Centre for Human Settlement (UNCHS), subsequent to the UN World Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat 1) that was held in Vancouver, Canada in 1976. Its work was shaped by the Vancouver Declaration focused on addressing land, shelter and infrastructure issues. Two decades later, in 1996, during the Habitat II conference, held in Istanbul Turkey, the mandate of the UNCHS was expanded (in the Habitat Agenda) to include issues of good governance, inclusive participation, women’s empowerment, urban poverty, security of tenure and others. With the widening mandate, the UN General Assembly, through resolution 56/2001 of December 2001, elevated UNHCS from a centre to a fully-fledged programme, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Hibat). The establishment of WUF and its consolidation as the premier UN global conference: Forums have been the main outlet of UN-Habitat’s advocacy and outreach efforts. In 1990s, the UNCHS was organizing two major Forums: (i) The Urban Environment Forum (UEF), established in 1996, and (ii) the International Forum on Urban Poverty (IFUP), established in 1997. The World Urban Forum (WUF) was established pursuant to the Commission resolution 18/5, of 16th February 2001, which requested the Executive Director to promote a merger of the UEF and the IEUP into a new urban forum, with a view to strengthening the coordination of international support to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. Subsequently, through United Nations General Assembly (GA) resolution 56/206, of December 2001, the Forum was defined as a “non-legislative technical forum in which experts can exchange views in the years when the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme does not meet.” The same resolution 56/206 encouraged local authorities and other Habitat Agenda partners to participate, as appropriate, in the World Urban Forum. Since its establishment in 2002, UN-Habitat has convened WUF sessions, every two years, with different themes on urbanization issues. The first session (WUF1) took place in Nairobi 2002, WUF2 in Barcelona 2004, WUF3 in Vancouver 2006, WUF4 in Nanjing 2008, WUF5 in Rio de Janeiro 2010, WUF6 in Naples 2012, WUF7 in Medellin 2014, WUF8 was replaced with Habitat III 2016 in Quito, WUF9 in Kuala Lumpur 2018, WUF10 in Abu Dhabi 2020, WUF11 took place in Katowice 2022 and WUF12 take place in Cairo, Egypt. Host cities/countries contribute financially, in-kind and substantially to WUF sessions. So, far 1 session took place in Africa, 3 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 3 in Asia, 3 in Europe and 1 in Canada. Such geographical diversity matters as it promotes the exchange of experiences and provides cooperation opportunities. WUF has progressively consolidated its global relevance as a key coordinating, advocacy, partnership and knowledge platform on sustainable urbanization. The General Assembly resolution 68/226 of January 2015 recognized WUF as the foremost global arena for interaction among policymakers, local government leaders, non-governmental stakeholders and expert practioners in the field of human settlements. In 2016, the 3rd Conference of Human Settlements (Habitat III) was held in Quito, Ecuador. Its main outcome, the New Urban Agenda (NUA), makes a reference to WUF as a platform conducive to share progress on the implementation of the NUA and gather substantive inputs from governments and stakeholders for the preparation of the UN Secretary-General reports on the implementation of NUA. The NUA aligns with many of the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs and therefore WUF contributes to mobilization and advocacy efforts for effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda its (SDGs). The GA resolution 72/226 of January 2018 reaffirmed the role of the WUF as an advocacy platform for all stakeholders in the fields of human settlements and sustainable urbanization. By involving all concerned partners, WUF has progressively become a major international conference on urbanization issues. Some Regional and National Urban Forums (NUFs) have been established along these same lines and WUF is certainly a success story of UN-Habitat. Purpose of the Evaluation: The main purpose of this evaluation is to provide evidenced-based information as a basis for accountability to key stakeholders; contributing to enhanced learning in order to improve future WUF sessions as well as supporting better decision making in planning, budgeting, organizing and delivering of future WUFs, focusing on assessing WUF12 session have achieved its intended objectives (impact) and expected accomplishments (outcomes). Findings, lessons learned, good practices, innovations and recommendations will help to improve delivery and effectiveness of the WUF13 and WUF14 of WUF Programme 2024-2028. Evaluation criteria of relevance, coherence effectiveness, efficiency and impact will be used to evaluate WUF12 Objectives of the Evaluation: The evaluation has six specific objectives: 1. To assess the extent to which WUF12 contribute to four outcomes, measured by the specified indicators in the WUF programme results framework. The logframme is annexed to the TOR. 2. To assess WUF12’s relevance, coherence, sustainability, impact and coherence with other UN-Habitat’s work (internally) as well as other international forums and conferences (externally); 3. To assess how cross-cutting issues such as human rights, gender, children, youth, older persons and persons disabilities have been integrated and impacted by WUF12; 4. To identify lessons and make recommendations on how WUF planning process, organizing and delivery and related work could be improved to enable the effective monitoring of the substantive outcomes and impact of future sessions of WUFs. Scope of the Evaluation: The evaluation is expected to cover the planning, organizing and the delivery of WUF12 during the 2023-2024, focusing on impact and outcomes achieved by WUF12. • How articulate is the results framework of WUF Programme 2024-2028? • How relevant, is is WUF in supporting UN-Habitat’s performance in its priority areas? • sHow inputs, activities, and outputs delivered at WUF12 influence behaviour changes of participants to influence urban policies , strategies, programmes and actions of Habitat Agenda partners and their institutions. The evaluation analysis will be based on the expected accomplishments identified in the logical framework for WUF programme 2024-2028 as well as other tools for measuring outcomes. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the supervision of the Chief, Independent Evaluation Unit, the consultant will conduct the evaluation in phases as follows: (a) Draft inception phase In this phase the evaluation consultant will review key relevant WUF documents, including WUF programme document 2024-2028,Programme logical framework, WUF 12 concept note, substantive and evaluation reports of previous WUFs, Host country agreement; consult with UN-Habitat Key stakeholders on WUF evaluation including WUF Taskforce and the Evaluation Unit; operationalize key evaluation questions building on those specified in the TOR; and participate in WUF12 session for observation. The consultant will also define WUF outcomes and impact of WUF12 through reconstruction of the theory of change (TOC) for WUF 12, prepare and submit the inception report to be reviewed by the Evaluation Unit and the Evaluation Reference Group members for comments and approval. (b) Data collection phase. In this phase the evaluation consultant will gather evidence from various data sources, including secondary data from various documentation, participant survey, impact survey; map key informants and carry out interviews; analyse activities, partnerships, agreed actions and initiatives resulting from WUF12. (c ) Data analysis phase In this phase the consultant will analyse dimensions of WUF12 evaluation, including relevance, efficiency and effectiveness, outcomes and impacts, coherence and sustainability, complexity of WUF and carry out contribution and attribution analysis of WUF12. (d) Report writing phase The consult will consolidate the findings and write a report focusing on WUF12’s contribution to: collective knowledge; awareness raising on substantiable urbanization; coordination and collaboration; inputs to NUA reporting achievements of urban related SDGs.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced academic degree in evaluation, economics, information technology, sociology, statistics, project management, or other related study areas is required. Minimum of 10 years of proven evaluation experience with expertise in results-based management is required. Knowledge and understanding of UN and UN-Habitat’s role in promoting sustainable urbanization and human settlements issues is desirable.

Languages

Fluency as well as excellent writing skills in English is required; working knowledge of other United Nations official languages is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.