Result of Service

1) Inception Report, containing a preliminary analysis of the CF ToC or, in its absence, reconstruction of the CF ToC; an elaboration of the evaluation approach and methods, including the evaluation design matrix; and a detailed evaluation plan and timeline, including a tentative list of interviews to be arranged or plans for field visits. Preliminary findings report or presentation, in a template to be agreed with the Evaluation Manager. 2) Draft and final CF Evaluation Report, including the annexes.

Work Location

Astana, Kazakhstan

Expected duration

6 month (25 days)

Duties and Responsibilities

Introduction The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Kazakhstan (CF 2021-2025) represents the collective response of the UN development system to support Kazakhstan address national priorities and challenges in achieving the 2030 Agenda. As outlined on the CF 2021-2025, this evaluation, which is the end of the cycle evaluation will be conducted in 2024, the penultimate year of the CF implementation. Evaluation of the CF is a mandatory independent system-wide country evaluation and is separate from an annual review. CF evaluations ensure accountability, support learning and inform decisions regarding the design of subsequent CF cycles. They systematically assess the contributions of the CF by focusing on achieved development results, as well as internal and external gaps and overlaps in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CF evaluations are guided by the UN Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation (2016) . They must be credible and grounded on independence, impartiality and a rigorous methodology. The process should be transparent and inclusive (involving relevant stakeholders) with robust quality assurance. Evaluation results and recommendations are derived from, and informed by the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of the best available, objective, reliable and valid data, as well as the accurate analysis of evidence. CF evaluations require that evaluations are ethically conducted, and managed by independent evaluators who exhibit professional and cultural competencies. Purpose and Objectives The CF evaluation has two primary purposes: I. Promote greater learning and operational improvement. The evaluation will provide important information for strengthening programming and results at the country level, specifically informing the planning and decision-making for the next CF programme cycle and for improving UN coordination at the country level. The UNCT, host government and other CF stakeholders can learn from the process of documenting good practices and lessons learned, which can then be shared with DCO and used for the benefit of other countries. II. Support greater accountability of the UNCT to CF stakeholders. By objectively providing evidence of results achieved within the framework of the CF and assessing the effectiveness of the strategies and interventions used, the evaluation will enable the various stakeholders in the CF process, including national counterparts and donors, to hold the UNCT and other parties accountable for fulfilling their roles and commitments. The objectives of the evaluation are to: 1. Assess the contribution of the CF to national development results through evidence-based judgements using evaluation criteria (accountability). 2. Identify factors that have affected the CF’s contribution; answering the question of why the performance is as it is; and explaining the enabling factors and bottlenecks (learning). 3. Reach conclusions concerning the UN’s contribution across the scope being examined. 4. Provide actionable recommendations for improving the CF’s contribution, especially for incorporation into the new CF programming cycle. These recommendations should be logically linked to the conclusions and findings of the evaluation and should draw upon lessons learned identified through the evaluation. Scope The CF evaluation will cover all UN Country Team programmes, including resident, non-resident and regional entities that implemented the UNSDCF in the country during the 2021-2025 CF cycle until the start of the evaluation within their geographic scope. The evaluation will cover all geographical engagement of UN entities in the country – both in the capital (policy engagement), all relevant regioons, cities and rural areas of Kazakhstan. Agencies without a formal country programme which implemented activities as part of global or regional programmes and projects should be also analysed, as well as activities of non-resident agencies with explicit recognition of regional and cross-border elements within the CF. The CF evaluation in Kazakhstan will not seek to conduct a full evaluation of individual programmes, project or activities of UNCT members, but rather synthesise and build on the programme and project evaluations conducted by each agency. At the Evaluation inception stage, the Evaluation Manager and Evaluation Team, in consultation with the Evaluation Steering Committee, may decide to prioritize specific CF outputs and activities (e.g., limit the evaluation scope to assess the breadth and depth of contributions based on the level and scope of UNCT work). Data availability and the overall development landscape in the country will also play a role to inform the scope of the evaluation. The Evaluation Consultant should use appropriate evaluation methodologies that identify collective contributions at the outcome level and ascertain the plausibility of causal relationships between activities and outcomes. The Evaluation should be based on the Theory of Change of the Cooperation Framework. The Evaluation Expert and Evaluation Manager will assess if it is sufficiently articulated for the purpose of selecting outcomes to be evaluated. Findings from the CF Evaluability Assessment (UNEG, 2020) in this area should be considered by the Evaluation Expert. The evaluation will also take the outcomes of national evaluations or review processes, including the Voluntary National Review (last VNR prepared in Kazakhstan in 2022), as reference points in assessing how the UN System supported the actions of the government and the people and contributed to implementation of national priorities and the SDGs. Human rights and gender equality assessments will be mainstreamed throughout all aspects of the UNSDCF Evaluation. The evaluation will produce a series of recommendations to ensure the UN in the Republic of Kazakhstan remains relevant in the next cycle of cooperation framework development and help realize these intentions through ongoing dialogue with stakeholders as well as through formalization of a management response. The evaluation findings will inform strategic planning, and future programming. Primary users of the evaluation will include stakeholders involved in the implementation of the CF, including UNCT, governmental bodies, civil society organizations, contributing partners, and other relevant stakeholders while secondary users will encompass a broader audience, academic and research community, media and the general public. The evaluation will examine the cross-cutting issues and the global UN programming principles (e.g. leaving no one behind LNOB, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, and environmental sustainability and resilience, and accountability). The evaluation will also take into other issues, such as, the impact COVID-19 pandemic in both the evaluation contents (e.g. the UNCT’s responsiveness, adaptation and reprioritization) and operation (e.g. methods for managing stakeholder participation and inclusiveness). The Evaluation Team The Evaluation Team is made up of an independent, international external evaluator (Team Leader) and the independent and external National Team Member. The Team Leader will possess extensive evaluation expertise and a national evaluator with strong expertise on LNOB and cross-cutting issues. During Evaluation Team Leader selection gender considerations will be duly taken into consideration to ensure equal opportunities for potential women and men candidates. The Evaluation Team Member leads the entire evaluation process, working closely with UNCT Kazakhstan team members. He/she will conduct the evaluation process in a timely manner and communicate with the Evaluation Manager on a regular basis and highlight progress made/challenges encountered. The Evaluation Team Member will be responsible for producing the inception report and the draft and final evaluation reports. The National Team Member contributes to the evaluation process substantively through data collection and analysis. He/she will share responsibilities for conducting desk review and interviews and conduct field visits identified and collect data. He/she will provide substantive inputs to the inception report, the presentation of preliminary findings as well as to the draft and final reports. The RCO and UNCT focal points on evaluation will contribute to the evaluation process through supporting data collection. The evaluation will consist of 5 phases: Phase 1. Inception. The independent Evaluation Team Leader will map and scope activities leading to the refinement of the evaluation design and questions that will be reflected in the Inception Report. The Team Leader with support of the DCO Evaluation Advisor, will brief the RC and the Evaluation Manager; agreeing or developing theories of change; and drafting the Inception Report through a consultative process. Phase 2. Data collection and analysis The data collection and analysis phases include all primary and secondary data collection and analysis. Phase 3. Reporting During the reporting phase the Evaluation Team compiles and synthesizes findings and prepares the Evaluation Report. Phase 4 Review and validation The report will be shared with all UNCT and Evaluation Steering Committee members who will review and validate outcomes of the evaluation exercise (report). Based on the report, the RC in consultation with UNCT will draft a management response to propose timebound actions and interventions to address recommendations and assign responsibilities for follow up. Phase 5. Dissemination Evaluation results will be disseminated through social media, published on required corporate websites. Moreover, a workshop with key stakeholders, including government and civil society will be organized to facilitate discussion on actioning recommendations and integrating findings into the next CF planning cycle. This phase will be caried out by UNCT Kazakhstan during UNSDCF preparation stage (summary of evaluation will be presented at the UNSDCF validation workshop planned in fall 2024).

Qualifications/special skills

• Master degree in the field of political science, governance, public administration, development studies, law, human rights or other relevant field; • Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience is required. Strong data collection and analysis skills; Prior experience in working with multilateral agencies. • In-depth knowledge and strong research record of country socio-economic development and environment context • Technical competence in undertaking complex evaluations which involve use of mixed methods. • Knowledge of UN role, UN reform process and UN programming at the country level, particularly UNSDCF. • Strong experience and knowledge in the UN programming principles including leaving no one behind LNOB, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability and resilience, and accountability.

Languages

Fluency in English is required Knowledge of Russian/Kazakh is an asset

Additional Information

Interested candidates shall submit documentations demonstrating why they are the best-suited to carry out the above task. This should include: • Latest CV and a sample of previous works. • A brief outline of the strengths and expertise highlighting directly relevant experiences to the assignment, including experience and knowledge in the UN programming principles (LNOB, human rights, GEWE, environmental sustainability and resilience, and accountability) • Approach to work/suggested methodology and work-plan • Financial Proposal (inclusive of expenses related to travels and DSA) as required Administrative Issues The international Team Leader and National Team Member will be responsible for own travel arrangements cross-country. No additional costs outside of the scope of this TOR will be covered. The consultants will have to possess their own laptop and other technical equipment to complete the assignment. The documents produced during the period of this consultancy will be treated strictly confidential and the rights of distribution and/or publication shall solely reside with the UN. Reference documents The evaluation manager will collect all relevant documents to share with the Evaluation Team Leader and National Team Member. The key documents will include: • UNSDCF Evaluation Guidelines – Engl – Revised July 2022 • UNEG Norms and Standards (2016) and the UNEG Ethical Guidelines (2020) • UNSDCF Kazakhstan 2021-2025 • Joint Work Plans • Annual Results Reports • UNINFO data • Steering Committee meeting reports • CF Result Matrix Monitoring document • Common Country Analysis (latest update December 2023) • Information Management Survey Reports

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.