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Title

International Expert - Final Evaluation of UNDP/GEF project MARAMURES NATURE PARK
Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors Terrestrial / Aquatic Ecology & Conservation
Location Romania - Europe
Type Temporary / Contract / Seasonal
Status Full Time
Level Senior Level
Deadline 18/05/2009
Company Name United Nations Development Program
Contact Name Human Resources
Website Further Details / Applications
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Description
Detailed information and Terms of Reference (including evaluation criteria) are available at http://www.undp.ro/job/
Final Evaluation of the UNDP/GEF Project
“Strengthening Romania’s Protected Area System by Demonstrating Government-NGO Partnership in Romania’s Maramures Nature Park”
UNDP/GEF Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) policy
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 iii) 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 -, or as specific time-bound exercises such as mid-term reviews, audit reports and final evaluations.
In accordance with UNDP/GEF M&E policies and procedures, all regular and medium-sized projects supported by the GEF should undergo a final evaluation upon completion of implementation. A final evaluation of a GEF-funded project (or previous phase) is required before a concept proposal for additional funding (or subsequent phases of the same project) can be considered for inclusion in a GEF work program. However, a final evaluation is not an appraisal of the follow-up phase.
Final evaluations are intended to assess the relevance, performance and success of the project. It looks at early signs of potential impact and sustainability of results, including the contribution to capacity development and the achievement of global environmental goals. It will also identify/document lessons learned and make recommendations that might improve design and implementation of other UNDP/GEF projects.
Project objectives 
The project seeks to strengthen Romania’s national system of protected areas by demonstrating effective biodiversity conservation in Maramures Mountains Natural Park in Romania’s northern Carpathian Mountains. The area of the project encompasses approximately 150,000 ha, of which 66% is naturally regenerated forests, 30% meadows and alpine pastures and 4% agricultural lands. With respect to the forestland itself, the Government owns 76,500 ha, private individuals own 3,500 ha and local municipalities own 22,800 ha. It has emerged from and is built upon a notable local stakeholder-driven process that has created an innovative Government-NGO partnership in Maramures to pursue the conservation and sustainable development of an area comprised of national forestland, protected areas, private forestlands, agricultural land and small urban areas. The project will contribute to the expansion and consolidation of the national system of protected areas by demonstrating effective park management and Government-NGO partnership.
The goal of the project is to strengthen Romania’s national system of protected areas by disseminating lessons and good practices extracted from the Maramures demonstration of an effective protected area model.
The objective of the project is to effectively conserve the biodiversity of Maramures Mountains Natural Park in Romania's Northern Carpathian Mountains by adopting an effective protected area management model.
Project location: Maramures Mountains Natural Park
The main expected outcomes of the project are:
  • Stakeholders make Maramures Mountains Natural Park (MMNP) fully operational;
  • Stakeholders strengthen environmental governance across Maramures;
  • Stakeholders recognize and begin to realize real value in natural capital, strengthening the link between sustainable use and conservation within MMNP.
The UNDP/GEF project “Strengthening Romania’s Protected Area System by Demonstrating Government-NGO Partnership in Romania’s Maramures Nature Park” is a joint initiative of the UNDP and the Government of Romania. It is funded by the GEF and the National Forest Administration was designated as the Implementing Agency for this project.
The Project started in June 2005 and was planned for three years. However, it was extended for one year in September 2006; it will now end in June 2009. It has a budget of USD2.306M of which USD1M is funded by GEF.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

This Final Evaluation is initiated by the UNDP Romania as the Implementation Agency for this project and it aims to provide managers (at the Project Implementation Unit, UNDP Romania Country Office and UNDP/GEF levels) with a comprehensive overall assessment of the project and an opportunity to critically assess administrative and technical strategies, issues and constrains associated with large international and multi-partner initiatives. 
The purpose of the Evaluation is:
  • To assess overall performance against the Project objectives as set out in Project Document and other related documents To assess the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the Project
  • To critically analyze the implementation, management and evaluation arrangements of the Project
  • To assess the sustainability of the Project’s outcomes
  • To assess the catalytic or replication effect of the project
  • To assess the processes that affected the attainment of the project results
  • To present lessons and recommendations on all relevant aspects of the project
Project performance will be measured based on Project’s Logical Framework, which provides clear performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification.
The Report of the Final Evaluation will be stand-alone document that substantiates its recommendations and conclusions.
Expected deliverables
  1. Short strategy and approach of the assignment (max 5 pages), upon the desk review of relevant project documents, to be delivered prior to the in-country mission
  2. Draft evaluation report, after the in-country mission
  3. Final evaluation report, after the incorporation of stakeholders comments
The Final Evaluation Report should be structured along the following lines:
1. Executive summary
2. Introduction
3. The project(s) and its development context
4. Findings and Conclusions
  • Project formulation
  • Implementation
  • Project Finances
  • Results
5, Recommendations
6. Lessons learned
7. Annexes
The length of report normally should not exceed 50 pages in total. The draft report will be submitted to UNDP/GEF no later than July 20th, 2009. Based on the feedback received from stakeholders a final report will be prepared by August 15th, 2008.
The report will be submitted both electronically and in printed version, in English.
The report will be supplemented by Rating Tables (see Annex III).
Tentative timeframe 
(Estimated consultancy time = 25 work-days)
Briefing of the evaluator and desk review, followed by submission of the short strategy and approach of the assignment (home-based work) = 25 May – 14 June

5 days mission to Romania, with a trip to the project site, interviews with stakeholders, questionnaires; 15-20 June
Preparation of the draft evaluation report = 21 June – 15 July

Validation of preliminary findings with stakeholders through circulation of the draft evaluation report for comments, (home-based work) = 15 July – 20 July

Preparation of final report (home-based-work) = 20 July– 15 August

Special requirements

The evaluation will be undertaken in-line with GEF principles:
  • Independence
  • Impartiality
  • Transparency
  • Disclosure
  • Ethical
  • Partnership
  • Competencies and Capacities
  • Credibility
  • Utility
The evaluator must be independent from both the policy-making process and the delivery and management of assistance. Therefore applications will not be considered from evaluators who have had any direct involvement with the design or implementation of the project. This may apply equally to evaluators who are associated with organizations, universities or entities that are, or have been, involved in the MMNP policy-making process and/or delivery of the project. Any previous association with the project, the MMNP Administration, the National Forestry Administration, or other partners/stakeholders must be disclosed in the application. 
If selected, failure to make the above disclosures will be considered just grounds for immediate contract termination, without recompense. In such circumstances, all notes, reports and other documentation produced by the evaluator will be retained by UNDP.

 

Competencies

The evaluation will be carried out by an International Consultant. The consultant must have not only relevant qualifications but especially prior experience in evaluating similar projects. Former cooperation with GEF/UNDP is an advantage.
  • The Consultant must have recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies
  • The Consultant must have experience in applying participatory monitoring approaches;
  • The Consultant must have experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios;
  • The Consultant must have recent knowledge of the GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy;
  • The Consultant must have recent knowledge of UNDP’s results-based evaluation policies and procedures
  • The Consultant must have competence in Adaptive Management, as applied to conservation or natural resource management projects;
  • The Consultant must have expertise in the management and sustainable use of protected areas, desirable in the Central and Eastern Europe and CIS region;
  • It is desirable that the Consultant be familiar with protected area policies and management structures in Romania;
  • It is desirable that the Consultant have demonstrable analytical skills;
  • It is desirable that the Consultant have experience with multilateral or bilateral supported conservation projects;
  • It is desirable that the Consultant have knowledge/understanding of Romanian/EU conservation policies and legislation, forestry management policies and institutional system, protected areas system, additional knowledge on NGO/local community would be an asset.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced degree in environmental/natural sciences or related fields
Work Experience
  • At least 10 years of work experience in relevant areas.
Languages
  • The Consultant must have excellent English oral and written communication skills.
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