Consultant -Team Leader - Terminal Evaluation of the Project - Adapting National and Transboundary Water Resources Management to Manage Expected Impacts of Climate Change in Swaziland

In accordance with UNDP and GEF M&E policies and procedures, a full and medium-sized UNDP supported GEF financed projects are required to undergo a terminal evaluation upon completion of implementation. These terms of reference (TOR) sets out the expectations for a Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the UNDP-GEF project titled: Adapting National and Transboundary Water Resources Management in Swaziland to Manage the Expected impacts of Climate Change, (PIMS 3603).

Project Context:

Swaziland’s sustained socio-economic growth is premised on the availability of water for agriculture and energy production. The 2010 to 2012 national consultations resulting in the development of the, Adapting National and Transboundary Water Resources Management to Manage Expected Impacts of Climate Change in Swaziland Project Document, advocated for the national capacities to climate related risks with focus on water resources management.  This was in line with the Swaziland’s First National Communication FNC (2002) which highlights that water resources, particularly those in river basins shared with neighbouring countries are highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.

The government prioritized supporting policy interventions and strategies that address climate change (CC) through an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach. In addition, the review of the outstanding 2003 National Water Policy, need for amendment of the IWRM Master Plan to integrate climate change, and inadequate data to inform a National Climate Change Policy were gaps pointed key to ensure national development. The emerging CC impacts were observed not only challenging national growth but also the riparian states of the Incomati, Maputo and Umbeluzi river basins shared with South Africa and Mozambique. This required national capacity for data collection; dialogues and integration of CC into national and sectoral frameworks; pilots to generate lessons for vulnerable communities to embark on CC-adaptive undertakings, and; a strengthened national team for better articulation of CC-Reform in the negotiations platform with neighbouring countries.

The project contributes to minimising the expected adverse impacts of climate change on the country’s water resources as well as on the livelihoods of local communities. This is implemented through a set of activities that promote the adoption and implementation of climate change adaptation (CCA) policy reforms and practices at national and trans-boundary levels,  summarised into the three outcomes 1: Institutional capacity for climate change adaptation strengthened through the integration of climate change risks into national water resources management policies and establishment of inter-sectoral coordination mechanism based on inclusive and informed national dialogue; 2: Climate Change risk management integrated into national water and agricultural programmes and implemented in pilot projects to promote adaptation on the ground, and; 3: Negotiations on transboundary water management for Incomati, Usuthu/Maputo and Umbeluzi river basins informed by climate change risks analysis.

Project Objectives and Scope

The project was designed to ensure that the management of Swaziland water resources is adapted to take into account the anticipated impacts of climate change. The principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are used in the project and climate change risks incorporated into the water resources management approach. The projects promotes national and regional dialogue and enables piloting of climate change adaptation for lessons to inform policy and legislation operationalisation for effective adaptation planning and climate risk management in the water sector. National transboundary negotiator’s capacity are improved for influencing the integration of climate-related into policies and programmes effective management of the shared resource.

The logical framework of the Project is elaborated in the Project Document with more information on project goal, objectives, expected outcomes and indicators appearing also in the Inception Report, quarterly progress reports and the Annual Work Plans.

Terminal Evaluation Objectives:

• The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming;
• The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects;
• The TE is intending to identify weaknesses and strengths of the project design and implementation strategy and come up with future recommendation to address identified gaps.

Evaluator Ethics

Evaluation consultants will be held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct (Annex E) upon acceptance of the assignment. UNDP evaluations are conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the UNEG 'Ethical Guidelines for Evaluations’.

Two consultants shall be engaged to undertake the evaluation working concurrently according to the planned schedule. The international consultant who will have in depth understanding of UNDP and GEF projects including evaluation experience will be designated as the team leader and will have the overall responsibility of organizing and completing the review and submitting the final report. The International Consultant has the overall responsibility for completing the desk review prior to the country mission to Swaziland and for submitting the final report following the country mission. The consultant will sign an agreement with UNDP Swaziland and will be bound by its terms and conditions set in the agreement.

An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework (see TOR Annex A), which provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification. The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports including the Annual Project Reports/Project Information Reports (APR/PIR), project budget revisions, mid-term review, progress reports, project files, national strategic and legal documents, and any other material that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment. A list of documents that the project team will provide to the evaluator for review is included in TOR Annex B of this Terms of Reference. The evaluation will at a minimum cover the criteria of: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. Ratings must be provided on the following performance criteria. The completed table must be included in the evaluation executive summary.   The obligatory rating scales are included in Annex D.

Project Finance/Co-Finance

The Evaluation will assess the key financial aspects of the project, including the extent of co-financing planned and realized. Project cost and funding data will be required, including annual expenditures. Variances between planned and actual expenditures will need to be assessed and explained. Results from recent financial audits, as available, should be taken into consideration. The evaluator(s) will receive assistance from the Country Office (CO) and Project Team to obtain financial data in order to complete the co-financing table found in the origianal ToR, which will be included in the terminal evaluation report.

Mainstreaming

UNDP supported GEF financed projects are key components in UNDP country programming, as well as regional and global programmes. The evaluation will assess the extent to which the project was successfully mainstreamed with other UNDP priorities, including poverty alleviation, improved governance, the prevention and recovery from natural disasters, and gender.

Impact

The evaluators will assess the extent to which the project is achieving impacts or progressing towards the achievement of impacts. Key findings that should be brought out in the evaluations include whether the project has demonstrated: a) verifiable improvements in ecological status, b) verifiab.

Conclusions, Recommendations & Lessons

The evaluation report must include a chapter providing a set of conclusions, recommendations and lessons.

When submitting the final evaluation report, the evaluator is required also to provide an 'audit trail', detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final evaluation report. See Annex H for an audit trail template.

Recommended Presentation of Proposal:

• Cover letter and Professional Resume CV and P11;
• Technical Proposal, including the proposed evaluation methodology and work plan (1 page max.);
• Financial Proposal, including proposed fee for maximum 30 working days and all other travel related costs.
• Sample of executive summary of a terminal evaluation or any type of evaluation report led by the applicant.

Full details of the TOR which will also include the Evaluation Timeframe and deliverables can be obtained from: registry.sz@undp.org

• Excellent communication skills (writing and reading) with good command in English;
• Demonstrate ability to assess complex situations, succinctly distil critical issues and draw forward looking conclusions and recommendations;
• Ability and experience to lead multi-disciplinary and national teams and deliver quality reports within the given time.
• Familiarity with the challenges of developing countries.

Education:

• An advanced academic degree or the equivalent and professional background infields related to climate change adaptation, Integrated Water Resources Management and Environment or Engineering.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience;
• Proven experience and appreciation on the policy mainstreaming work and related policy processes;
• Substantive experience in reviewing and evaluating similar projects, preferable those involving UNDP-GEF or other United Nations development agencies or major donors;
• Experience in African countries, especially in SADC region, is considered as advantageous.

Language:

• Fluency in English.