Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) Consultant - Population Dynamics Expert

job Description

Purpose of consultancy
UNFPA Zimbabwe will be undertaking a country programme evaluation (CPE) to provide an independent assessment of the performance of its 8th Country Programme (2022- 2026) and offer an analysis of various facilitating and constraining factors influencing programme delivery and the achievement of intended results. The CPE will also draw conclusions and provide a set of actionable recommendations for the next programme cycle.

UNFPA Zimbabwe is seeking to hire a team leader and other consultants to conduct the CPE. Based on their qualifications, experience and skills, candidates can propose to cover more than one thematic area.

How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:
In line with the 2024 UNFPA Evaluation Policy, the UNFPA Zimbabwe CO is planning to conduct an evaluation of its 8th CP (2022 - 2026). The purpose of the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) is to strengthen accountability to stakeholders, support evidence-based decision-making, and improve learning. The overall objective of the CPE is to provide an independent assessment of the performance of the CP and to broaden the evidence base for the design of the next programme cycle.

The evaluation will cover all interventions in the four thematic areas of the CP, which have been implemented across Zimbabwe during the programme’s period. The thematic areas are described in section 3 of the terms of reference. In addition, the evaluation will also cover cross-cutting issues, such as human rights, gender equality, and disability, and transversal functions, such as coordination, monitoring and evaluation, innovation, resource mobilization and strategic partnerships.

The CPE will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of consultants. They should collectively have the qualifications and experience to design and implement a methodologically robust evaluation and cover all the above-mentioned thematic areas of the CP. The evaluation team will consist of:

Team leader: An international consultant with primary responsibility for the design of the evaluation methodology and the coordination of the evaluation team. The team leader will also demonstrate the qualifications, experience and skills required to serve as a technical expert for one of the thematic areas.

Thematic experts: National consultants who should demonstrate the qualifications, experience and skills required to serve as technical expert in at least one of the thematic areas.
The evaluation team will conduct the CPE under the supervision of the CPE manager in the UNFPA Zimbabwe CO.

Duration and working schedule:
The consultancy will be for a duration of 8 months from 1st of March to 31 October, 2025. However, payment will be based on agreed man days during this period.

Place where services are to be delivered"
The consultants are expected to work remotely for some days then spend some days in the UNFPA Zimbabwe country office in Harare during data collection and report writing. Applicants who are not Zimbabwean citizens must have a valid work permit to work in Zimbabwe.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered
The evaluation team is expected to produce the following deliverables on the indicated dates:
Design report. The design report should translate the requirements of the ToR into a practical and feasible evaluation approach, methodology and work plan. In addition to presenting the evaluation matrix, the design report also provides information on the country situation and the UN and UNFPA response. The Handbook section 2.4 provides the required structure of the design report and guidance on how to draft it. (2nd week of April)
PowerPoint presentation of the design report. The PowerPoint presentation will be delivered at an ERG meeting to present the contents of the design report and the agenda for the field phase. Based on the comments and feedback of the ERG, the CPE manager and the regional M&E adviser, the evaluation team will develop the final version of the design report. (2nd week of April)
PowerPoint presentation for debriefing meeting with the CO and the ERG. The presentation provides an overview of key emerging findings of the evaluation at the end of the field phase. It will serve as the basis for the exchange of views between the evaluation team, UNFPA Zimbabwe CO staff (incl. senior management) and the members of the ERG who will thus have the opportunity to provide complementary information and/or rectify the inaccurate interpretation of data and information collected. (2nd week of June)
Version 1 evaluation report. The version 1 evaluation report will present the findings and conclusions, based on the evidence that data collection yielded. It will undergo review by the CPE manager, the CO, the ERG and the regional M&E adviser, and the evaluation team will undertake revisions accordingly. (2nd week of August)
Recommendations worksheet. The process of co-creating the CPE recommendations begins with a set of tentative recommendations proposed by the evaluation team (see Handbook, section 4.3). (3rd week of August)
Final evaluation report. The final evaluation report (maximum 80 pages, excluding opening pages and annexes) will present the findings and conclusions, as well as a set of practical and actionable recommendations to inform the next programme cycle. The Handbook (section 4.5) provides the structure and guidance on developing the report. The set of annexes must be complete and must include the evaluation matrix containing all supporting evidence (data and information and their source). (4th week of August)
PowerPoint presentation of the evaluation results. The presentation will provide a clear overview of the key findings conclusions and recommendations to be used for the dissemination of the final evaluation report. (1st week of September).

Supervisory arrangements:
The consultant will report to the team leader.

Expected travel:
Travel will be determined based on needs identified notably during the fieldwork (data collection) phase.

Qualifications and Experience

Population dynamics expert
The competencies, skills and experience of the population dynamics expert should include:
-Master’s degree in demography or population studies, statistics, social sciences, development studies or a related field.
-5-7 years of experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, assessments, research studies or M&E work in the field of international development and/or humanitarian assistance.
Substantive knowledge on the generation, analysis, dissemination and use of housing census and -population data for development, population dynamics, migration and national statistics systems.
-Good knowledge of humanitarian strategies, policies, frameworks and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, as well as the international humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms is an added advantage.Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm.
Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process.
Solid knowledge of evaluation approaches and methodology and demonstrated ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken).
Work experience in/good knowledge of the national development context of Zimbabwe
Familiarity with UNFPA or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and activities will be an advantage.
Fluent in written and spoken English

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any
The consultant must have their own laptops and office space will be provided.