Result of Service

Mid-Term Review Reports for the projects: “Facilitating biodiversity conservation by enhancing aquaculture policy, planning, management, and production (GEF 10907)” and “Mainstreaming Marine and Coastal Natural Capital Assessment and Accounting into Viet Nam’s Development Planning for Blue Economic Growth of Key Sectors (GEF 10906).

Work Location

Home-Based

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. UNEP’s GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit, under the Biodiversity and Land Branch, serves as the implementing agency for projects within the Biodiversity and Land Degradation Focal Areas funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The Unit currently manages a portfolio of over 200 projects across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and West Asia, and Asia and the Pacific regions. The “Facilitating biodiversity conservation by enhancing aquaculture policy, planning, management, and production” project is a medium-sized initiative. Its main goal is to strengthen aquaculture policy, planning, management, and production to protect and enhance marine biodiversity in Palau through an ecosystem approach. The objective will be achieved through implementation of three integrated project strategies (components): Component 1 - Enabling a supporting policy environment for development of Sustainable Aquaculture in Palau; Component 2 - Developing national capacity for Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture Management (EAAM); Component 3 - Knowledge management, gender mainstreaming, monitoring and evaluation. The project is also designed to address development of sustainable aquaculture in Palau through the Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture Management (EAAM). Specifically, the project will remove two key barriers for development of sustainable aquaculture in the country, namely: Barrier 1 - Lack of policy, legislation and development plans for integration of the Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture Management (EAAM); and Barrier 2 - Insufficient knowledge and capacity of government agencies and private sector to implement the Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture Management (EAAM). The Government of Palau (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAFE)), Government of Palau, is responsible for executing the project. The “Mainstreaming Marine and Coastal Natural Capital Assessment and Accounting into Viet Nam’s Development Planning for Blue Economic Growth of Key Sectors” project is a Medium-sized initiative. Its main goal is to integrate natural capital values and protection of coastal and marine ecosystems in development planning and improved landscape management as part of the national blue economic growth policy in Viet Nam. To achieve this, the project will partner with national policy- and decision-makers to build institutional capacity and mechanisms for establishing and operationalizing natural capital accounting in Viet Nam and its application to facilitate the shift towards a blue economic growth model. The Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE) - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Government of Viet Nam, is responsible for executing the project. The GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit is seeking to recruit a consultant (Level C) to conduct the Mid-Term Review of the two projects above. The review will assess overall achievements at mid-term, identify challenges faced, and engage with project counterparts to address issues through effective corrective measures in project activities and outputs, monitoring and evaluation, resource allocation, and related GEF and co-financing arrangements. This consultancy position is located within UNEP / Ecosystems Division / GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. The Review Consultant will report directly to the Task Manager (GEF TM) and work under the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager of the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit, Ecosystems Division, in Nairobi, Kenya. Inception Phase

Conduct 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 MTR Inception Report, including main tasks, timelines, and institutions, staff, and project beneficiaries to be involved in the MTR. Data Collection and Analysis Phase
Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners, and stakeholders.
Undertake field assessment missions to Palau and Viet Nam—approximately 7 days each, including visits to project sites.
Regularly report to the Task Manager on progress and inform them of any potential problems or issues encountered. Reporting Phase
Draft the MTR Review Reports, ensuring they are complete, coherent, and consistent with the TOR and Task Manager guidelines in both substance and style.
Liaise with the Task Manager on comments received and finalize the MTR Review Reports, ensuring all comments are addressed until approval is granted.
Prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing any comments not accepted and providing reasons for their rejection. Managing Relations
Maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, ensuring the review process is as participatory as possible while preserving independence.
Communicate promptly with the Task Manager on any issues requiring attention or intervention. Deliverables The consultant will prepare the following documents in consultation and collaboration with the Project Team:
Inception Report: Including an assessment of the project, stakeholder analysis, review framework, and a tentative review schedule.
Preliminary Findings Note: Typically presented as a PowerPoint, sharing preliminary findings to support team participation, verify emerging findings, and ensure all information sources have been accessed.
Draft and Final Review Reports: Including an executive summary (stand-alone), detailed analysis of findings organized by review criteria and supported by evidence, lessons learned, recommendations, and an annotated ratings table. Work Location: Home-based with field visits to Palau and Viet Nam.

Qualifications/special skills

A minimum advanced university degree in environmental sciences, international development, or another relevant political or social sciences area is required. A first-level university degree in the same area is acceptable with two additional years of relevant experience

At least seven (7) years of technical/evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional, or global programs and using a Theory of Change approach.
Experience in GEF Biodiversity projects is desirable.
Knowledge of the UN system, preferably including the work of UNEP, is desirable.
Professional work experience in biodiversity conservation within the Asia-Pacific region is required. Experience in aquaculture and marine and coastal natural capital assessment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English, with strong writing and editing skills, 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.

Mid-Term Reviewer – Palau project (GEFID 10907) and Viet Nam project (GEFID 10906)