Result of Service

Mid-Term Review Report of the Project; “Promoting the safe application of biotechnology through Multi country Cooperation in the implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks in Asia.” The results are expected to guide the execution of the project in its remaining term.

Work Location

Homebased

Expected duration

4 Months Part Time

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment". Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy post is in UNEP / Ecosystems Division / GEF Biodiversity unit and reports to the respective GEF Task Manager. UNEP is implementing a GEF-funded projects: “Promoting the safe application of biotechnology through Multi country Cooperation in the implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks in Asia, (GEFID 10463)” executed by The Korea Institute for Promoting Asia Biosafety Cooperation (KIPABiC) The project is a UNEP/GEF-funded regional initiative in Asia that aims to strengthen the safe use, transfer, handling, and regulation of living modified organisms (LMOs) and biotechnology products by improving National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs) in Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, and the Philippines. The project supports countries in meeting their obligations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) by building institutional, regulatory, technical, and human capacity; enhancing risk assessment, monitoring, and enforcement systems; promoting regional cooperation and knowledge sharing; and improving public awareness and access to biosafety information. Through collaboration among participating countries and partners such as the Korea Institute for Promoting Asia Biosafety Cooperation (KIPABiC), the project seeks to establish effective biosafety governance, strengthen decision-making tools and laboratory capacities, and create sustainable mechanisms for information exchange and cooperation across Asia, ultimately ensuring that modern biotechnology can contribute to development and food security without compromising biodiversity and environmental safety. The Unit would like to recruit a consultant to conduct a Mid-Term Review of this project. The Mid-Term Review will use a participatory approach whereby key stakeholders are kept informed and consulted throughout the review process. Both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods will be used as appropriate to determine project achievements against the expected outputs, outcomes and impacts. It is highly recommended that the consultant maintains close communication with the project team and promotes information exchange throughout the review implementation phase to increase their (and other stakeholder) ownership of the review findings. Specifically, the review consultant will be required to complete the following tasks: Inception phase:

preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff;
prepare the review framework in line with UNEP's evaluation guidelines;
identify stakeholders;
develop the interview/questions matrix;
plan the review schedule;
prepare the Inception Report; Data collection and analysis phase of the Main Review, including:
conduct a further desk review and data analysis;
conduct in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
regularly report back to the Task Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and; Reporting phase, including:
draft the Main Review Report, ensuring that the review report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Task Manager guidelines both in substance and style;
liaise with the Task Manager on comments received (including from the UNEP Evaluation Office) and finalize the Review Report, ensuring that comments are considered until approved by the Task Manager;
prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted and indicating the reason for the rejection; and Managing relations, including:
maintain a positive relationship with stakeholders, ensuring that the review process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence;
communicate in a timely manner with the Task Manager on any issues requiring attention and intervention. The consultant will prepare the following documents, in consultation and collaboration with the Project team and in line with the detailed Terms of Reference for the Review and the guidance package provided by the UNEP Evaluation Office: 1) Inception Report: containing an assessment of the project, project stakeholder analysis, review framework and a tentative review schedule. 2) Preliminary Findings Note: typically, in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, the sharing of preliminary findings is intended to support the participation of the project team, and act to ensure all information sources have been accessed and provide an opportunity to verify emerging findings. 3) Draft and Final Main Review Reports: containing an executive summary that can act as a stand-alone document; detailed analysis of the review findings organized by review criteria and supported with evidence; lessons learned and recommendations and an annotated rating table. The consultancy will be home-based with possible field visits. Reporting lines: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the GEF Task Manager, based in Nairobi, Kenya and the overall guidance of the Head, GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit,based in Nairobi

Qualifications/special skills

An Advanced degree in Natural sciences, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, International Development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. Additional two years of experience with a University Degree is acceptable. A minimum of 7 years of technical/evaluation experience, including project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach is required. Experience in evaluation of GEF projects is highly desirable. Excellent writing skills, team leadership experience and, where possible, knowledge of the UN system, specifically of the work of UNEP and GEF programming is an asset. Experience in managing partnerships, knowledge management and communication is desirable for all evaluation consultants.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

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.

Project Mid-Term Review Expert – Asia National Biosafety Frameworks Project