<< Back

This job listing is no longer active.
Please use our Environment Jobs Search to find current vacancies.

Title

Consultant (international): MTE Evaluator
Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors
Location Kazakhstan - Asia & M East
Town/City Astana
Salary Range Dependent on Experience
Type Temporary / Contract / Seasonal
Status Full Time
Level Board & Executives
Deadline 27/03/2009
Company Name United Nations Development Program
Contact Name Human Resources
Website Further Details / Applications
United Nations Development Program logo
Directory Entry : UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. For environmental jobs with UNDP visit their website. Or for more environmental jobs search environmentjobs.com
Also Listing:
Description
Standad UNDP/GEF Monitoring and Evaluation requirements.  This Mid Term Evaluation is initiated by the UNDP Kazakhstan as the Implementation Agency for this project and it aims to provide managers (at the Project Implementation Unit, UNDP Kazakhstan Country Office and UNDP/GEF levels) with strategy and policy options for more effectively and efficiently achieving the project’s expected results and for replicating the results. It also provides the basis for learning and accountability for managers and stakeholders.
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) policy at the project level in UNDP/GEF has four objectives: i) to monitor and evaluate results and impacts; ii) to provide a basis for decision making on necessary amendments and improvements; iii) to promote accountability for resource use; and iv) to document, provide feedback on, and disseminate lessons learned. A mix of tools is used to ensure effective project M&E. These might be applied continuously throughout the lifetime of the project e.g. periodic monitoring of indicators, PIRs – or as specific time-bound exercise such as mid-term reviews, audit reports and final evaluations.
The evaluation is to be undertaken in accordance with the “GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy”(see http://thegef.org/MonitoringandEvaluation/MEPoliciesProcedures/mepoliciesprocedures.html) and the UNDP/GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy: (http://www.undp.org/gef/05/monitoring/policies.html).
The mid-term evaluation enables to assess the primary signs of the project success or failure and identify the necessary changes to be made. The mid-term evaluation shall be performed by an independent expert unrelated to the project development or implementation.
The evaluation will play a critical role in the future implementation of the project by providing advice on: (i) how to strengthen the adaptive management and monitoring function of the project; (ii) how to ensure accountability for the achievement of the GEF objective; (iii) how to enhance organizational and development learning; and (iv) how to enable informed decision – making.
Evaluations in the GEF explore five major criteria:
  • Relevance – the extent to which the activity is suited to local and national development priorities and organizational policies, including changes over time.
  • Effectiveness – the extent to which an objective has been achieved or how likely it is to be achieved.
  • Efficiency – the extent to which results have been delivered with the least costly resources possible.
  • Results – the positive and negative, and foreseen and unforeseen, changes to and effects produced by a development intervention. In GEF terms, results include direct project outputs, short-to medium term outcomes, and longer-term impact including global environmental benefits, replication effects and other, local effects.
  • Sustainability – the likely ability of an intervention to continue to deliver benefits for an extended period of time after completion. Projects need to be environmentally as well as financially and socially sustainable.
Project Goal, Objective and Outcomes
Project goal is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the municipal heat and hot water supply systems in Kazakhstan.
Project Objectives:
The objective of the project is to remove barriers to energy efficiency in municipal heat and hot water supply systems in Kazakhstan and to lay the foundation for the sustainable development of these services taking into account local as well as global environmental considerations. Within this framework, the project will (i) assist the Government of Kazakhstan in reviewing and improving the legal and regulatory framework dealing with the heat and hot water supply sector, with a specific emphasis on the tariff issues and consumption based billing to motivate energy efficiency; (ii) build the capacity of the local heat supply companies to develop and manage their services on a commercial basis and to attract financing for the investments needed; (iii) build the capacity of the local tenants and home owner associations to manage the heat and hot water supply services and to implement cost-efficient energy saving measures at the building level; (iv) introduce and gain experience on new institutional and financing arrangements such as Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and reduce the risks and uncertainties of energy efficiency investments in the heating sector otherwise by facilitating the implementation of selected pilot activities, and v) monitor, evaluate and disseminate the project results and lessons learnt thereby facilitating their effective replication.
According to the project objectives there are three primary outcomes: a) A supportive legal and regulatory framework in place to promote and provide incentives for the improvement of the energy efficiency of the heat and hot water supply services in Kazakhstan; b). New institutional and   financing models introduced for leveraging financing for EE investments and enhanced capacity of the local stakeholders to support their further implementation and replication; c) Compilation, analysis and dissemination of the project experiences and lessons learnt and initiation of their effective replication in Kazakhstan and other CIS countries/municipalities with comparable situation.;
The project document was signed in December 2006. Implementation of the project started in April 2007. The total project budget is US$ 10,470,000 with GEF financing of US$ 3, 290,000. The executing agency for the project is the Agency of RK on Regulation of Natural Monopolies (AREM).

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Mid-term Evaluation serves as an agent of change and plays a critical role in supporting accountability. Its main objectives are:
  • To strengthen the adaptive management and monitoring functions of the project;
  • To ensure accountability for the achievement of the GEF objective;
  • To enhance organizational and development learning;
  • To enable informed decision-making
Tasks:
  • To evaluate the overall project activities in relation to the objectives and expected outcomes as stated in the project document and the other related documents
  • To evaluate the project effectiveness and cost-efficiency
  • To analyze the arrangements of project management and implementation
  • To evaluate the progress attained so far in relation to the project outcomes
  • To investigate the strategies and plans intended for the timely achievement of the overall project goal
  • To list and document the first lessons learned in respect of the project design, its implementation and management
  • To assess the sustainability of project interventions;
  • To assess the relevance in relation to the national priorities
  • To provide the recommendations for the future project activities and, where necessary, for the project implementation and management arrangements.
In particular, the mid-term evaluation exercise will assess the progress of creating the basic information, alleviation of barriers and identification of any constraints to the project implementation and their causes. It intends also to provide the recommendations for corrective measures to be undertaken. An effective measure to correct the problem areas identified, constraining the project implementation, will be required before the decision to be made in relation to the project continuation.
The mid-term evaluation report shall be a separate document which will contain the recommendations and conclusions.
The report will be intended to meet the needs of all the related parties (GEF, UNDP, Agency of Natural Monopolies(AREM), Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning (MEBP), Administrations of Almaty and Astana cities the project’s National Steering Committee, local communities and other related parties in Kazakhstan).

 

Competencies

  • in Adaptive Management, as applied to climate change and energy resource management projects, with recent knowledge of the GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy;
  • UNDP’s results-based evaluation policies and procedures, with work experience in relevant areas for at least 10 years.

 

Required Skills and Experience

  • expert with experience of team leader on areas of international projects’ monitoring and evaluation with the focus on climate change, energy sector, particularly on energy efficiency,
  • work experience in relevant areas for at least 10 years;
Applications and brief conceptual summaries (the volume shall not exceed 5 pagesand shall contain the brief description of approach and methodology to be used). The above documents shall be sent to the attention of Ms. Akku Sansyzbayeva to vacancies.projects.kz@undp.org with copy to nurgul.ularkhanova@undp.org, or mailing address: 26, Bukeikhana Str., UN office, Astana, 010000, KAzakhstan.
The submission deadline is 27th March 2009.
For detailed TOR, please adress to: lyubov.inyutina@undp.org or ainur.amirkhanova@undp.org
Add to My Account
<< Back