Result of Service

DELIVERABLES The assessment will include the following outputs: a) Work Plan and Inception Report. No later than 4 weeks after the signature of the contract, the consultant should deliver the inception report, which should include the background of the project, an analysis of the Project profile and implementation and a full review of all related documentation as well as project implementation reports. It should provide a detailed Work Plan of all the activities to be carried out related to the assessment of project. Additionally, the inception report should include a detailed evaluation methodology including the description of the types of data collection instruments that will be used and a full analysis of the stakeholders and partners that will be contacted to obtain the evaluation information. First drafts of the instruments to be used for the survey, focus groups and interviews should also be included in this first report. b) Field Visit Report and preliminary findings. No later than 10 weeks after the signature of the contract, the consultant should deliver the field visit report which should include the main results of the field visits and the preliminary findings based on data analysis of surveys, interviews and focus groups. c) Draft final evaluation Report. No later than 12 weeks after the signature of the contract, the consultant should deliver the preliminary report for revision and comments by the Programme Planning and Operations Division (PPOD) of ECLAC and the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG), which includes representatives of the implementing substantive Division/Office. The draft final evaluation report should include the main draft results and findings, conclusions of the evaluation, lessons learned and recommendations derived from it, including its sustainability, and potential improvements in project management and coordination of similar projects. d) Final Evaluation Report. No later than 16 weeks after the signature of the contract, the consultant should deliver the final evaluation report which should include the revised version of the preliminary version after ensuring all the comments and observations from PPOD and the ERG have been included. Before submitting the final report, the consultant must have received clearance on this final version from PPOD to assure ECLAC’s satisfaction with the final evaluation report. e) Presentation of the results of the evaluation. A final presentation of the main results of the evaluation to ECLAC staff involved in the project will be delivered at the same time of the delivery of the final evaluation report. PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND CONDITIONS The contract will include the payment for the services of the consultant and all the related expenses of the evaluation. Payments will be made according to the following schedule and conditions: a) 20% of the total value of the contract will be paid against the satisfactory delivery of the inception report which should be delivered as per the above deadlines. b) 25% of the total value of the contract will be paid against the satisfactory delivery of the field visit report and preliminary findings which should be delivered as per the above deadlines. c) 25% of the total value of the contract will be paid against the satisfactory delivery of the draft final evaluation report which should be delivered as per the above deadlines. d) 30% of the total value of the contract will be paid against the satisfactory delivery and presentation of the Final Evaluation Report which should be delivered as per the above deadlines.

Work Location

Santiago, Chile

Expected duration

16 weeks

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND The project under evaluation was funded by 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund and implemented by ECLAC. This project lasted 3 years, starting in February 2022 and ending in January 2025. The project’s objective was to improve the capacities of the countries and municipalities with the highest poverty rates in the selected countries of the Northern subregion of Latin America and the Caribbean in the provision of drinking water, sanitation, and energy services to promote recovery from the pandemic of COVID‐19 that is sustainable, resilient and inclusive. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE EVALUATION This assessment is an end-of-cycle review of the project. The objective of this evaluation is to review the efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and sustainability of the project implementation and more particularly document the results the project attained in relation to its overall objectives and expected results as defined in the project document. The evaluation will place an important emphasis in identifying lessons learned and good practices that derive from the implementation of the project, its sustainability and the potential of replicating them to other countries. The lessons learned and good practices in actual project implementation will in turn be used as tools for the future planning and implementation of projects. GUIDING PRINCIPLES The evaluation will seek to be independent, credible and useful and adhere to the highest possible professional standards. It will be consultative and engage the participation of a broad range of stakeholders. The unit of analysis is the project itself, including its design, implementation and effects. The assessment will be undertaken in accordance with the provisions contained in the Project Document, the ECLAC evaluation policy and guidelines, and with the Terms of Reference of the evaluation developed by ECLAC, to be provided upon selection of the consultant. It is expected that ECLAC’s guiding principles to the evaluation process are applied. In particular, special consideration will be taken to assess the extent to which ECLAC’s activities and outputs respected and promoted human rights. This includes a consideration of whether ECLAC interventions treated beneficiaries as equals, safeguarded and promoted the rights of minorities, and helped to empower civil society. The evaluation will also examine the extent to which gender concerns were incorporated into the project – whether project design and implementation incorporated the needs and priorities of women, whether women were treated as equal players, and whether it served to promote women’s empowerment. Other concerns to be integrated into the evaluations are disability inclusion, and environmental issues. Moreover, the evaluation process itself, including the design, data collection, and dissemination of the assessment report, will be carried out in alignment with these principles. The evaluation will also include an assessment of the project´s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). METHODOLOGY The assessment will use the following data collection methods to assess the impact of the work of the project: a) Desk review and secondary data collection analysis b) Self-administered surveys c) Semi-structured interviews and focus groups d) Field visits: It is expected that the evaluator will visit at least one of the countries which have been involved in the project, to be determined during the inception phase. Methodological triangulation is an underlying principle of the approach chosen. Suitable frameworks for analysis and evaluation are to be elaborated – based on the questions to be answered. The experts will identify and set out the methods and frameworks as part of the inception report. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Intellectual property rights. The consultant is obliged to cede to ECLAC all authors rights, patents and any other intellectual property rights for all the work, reports, final products and materials resulting from the design and implementation of this consultancy, in the cases where these rights are applicable. The consultant will not be allowed to use, nor provide or disseminate part of these products and reports or its total to third parties without previously obtaining a written permission from ECLAC.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) political science, public policy, environmental studies, development studies, economics, business administration, engineering, or a related social or economic science. At least seven years of progressively responsible relevant experience in programme/project evaluation are required. At least two years of experience in areas related to water, sanitation and renewable energies and/or related areas is highly desirable. Experience in at least three evaluations with international (development) organizations is required. Experience in Regional Commissions and United Nations projects is highly desirable. Proven competency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, particularly self-administered surveys, document analysis, and informal and semi-structured interviews are required. Working experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in Central America, is desirable.

Languages

Proficiency in English and Spanish is required.

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.