UNICEF Pacific TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANT Mid Term Evaluation

Transcription

1 UNICEF Pacific TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANT Mid Term Evaluation Community resilience and coping with climate change and natural disasters in Vanuatu Requesting Section: Health & Sanitation Date/updated date: 6 January 2014 Programme Area and Specific Project involved: Community resilience and coping with climate change and natural disasters in Vanuatu (UNTFHS / SC110398) ******************************************************************************************************************************* 1. Purpose of Assignment UNICEF is seeking a national consultant to carry out a Mid Term Evaluation of the Community resilience and coping with climate change and natural disasters in Vanuatu Project and provide technical assistance to the Government of Vanuatu and the UN Country Team to improve project implementation. 2. Background The Community resilience and coping with climate change and natural disasters in Vanuatu project contributes to operationalization of the concept of human security into responses to the adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Rising sea levels, severe storms and flooding as well as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions increase vulnerability to loss of lives and livelihoods in PICs. Climate change has increased the risk to natural disasters and disrupted the pattern of hydrological regimes, farming seasons and crop varieties in the Pacific region. As over 80% of populations in PICs live within 1.5 km of the ocean or within river basins, increasing coastal inundation, soil salinity and erosion threaten water and food security. Tsunamis, cyclones, typhoons, storms, floods and droughts, coupled with a limited capacity of small island countries to prepare and respond, has led to significant number of deaths, injuries, destruction and loss of property and infrastructure and pose severe setbacks to sustainable development efforts. Although there is considerable global and regional attention to the impacts of climate change on PICs, albeit attention that has not yet all levels of society. In the Niue Declaration of August 2008, Pacific leaders recognized the serious current impacts of and growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and security of Pacific Island Countries Following the UN Secretary General s message to the Pacific Leaders in Niue, to keep climate change at the top of national agendas the UN system in the Pacific completed a climate change scoping study in July These consultations revealed a strong call for PICs for less consultation and more delivery of concrete adaptation measures at the community level to provide case studies and lessons learned. A call to focus on adaptation measures that provide short-term development outcomes and build long-term resilience The project will initiate and accelerate the fulfillment of this desire and it will be in line with the four outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for the Pacific sub-region, : (a) equitable economic growth and poverty reduction; (b) good governance and human rights; (c) equitable social and protection services; and (d) sustainable environmental management. There is need to demonstrate how communities can be more resilient and better prepared for, respond to, and recover from adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters. Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands with a population of approximately 250,000, has been selected for the project, as it is among the most disaster-prone countries in the Pacific. In the Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Plan of , the Government has recognized that Vanuatu has limited financial and technical capacity to adequately deal with disaster risk management and has acknowledged the importance and relevance of continued assistance by regional organizations as well as by regional and international development partners. Lessons learned from the project will be used to leverage policies and resources from these development partners. This initiative is within the framework of the Vanuatu Government s Priority Action Agenda: improving the lives of the people in the rural areas by improving service delivery, expanding market access to local produce; lowering cost of credit and transportation, and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. It also captures the key issues highlighted in the Rural Economic Development Initiative of the Government of Vanuatu and supported by UNDP. Supporting local governments is a key focus of the United Nations Development Assistance framework for the Pacific. The project is also in line with the outcome of the Country Program Action Plans for Vanuatu of UNICEF and UNDP. PROJECT OUTLINE Purpose: The main purpose of the project is to demonstrate enhanced short- and long-term community resilience and coping capacity to at least six categories of adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters, with special attention to women, children and other vulnerable groups, in Vanuatu and to draw lessons learned in applying the human security concept to the rest of Pacific island countries and territories. In order to achieve this goal, the project addresses the following specific objectives through a multi-sectoral and an integrated approach based on the comparative advantages of each participating agency.

2 Outputs: The specific components and objectives of the project are as follows: (1) Twelve (12) selected communities supported and empowered to identify threats/needs and formulate sustainable interventions within the first six to 12 months of the project, and thereafter implement and monitor the interventions. (Component 1: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) 1.1: Leaders, managers, household heads, men, women, youths, boys and girls in the 12 Area Councils identify human security risks, hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities and develop comprehensive preparedness, response, mitigation and adaptation plans, with special reference to governance and decision-making, water, food and nutrition and knowledge management. 1.2: Household heads, men, women, youths, boys and girls in the 12 Area Councils have knowledge and skills to respond, mitigate and adapt to the identified risks and hazards. 1.3: Champions from the 12 Area Councils advocate and provide support and leadership to communities for preparedness, response, mitigation and adaptation. 1.4: Income generating activities promoted to build physical, institutional, social and economic means. 1.5 Area Councils have access to dedicated premises to conduct council businesses as a demonstration. (2) All six provincial governments and 12 selected communities have capacity to ensure that local development, local level governance, decision making and the public sector performance enhance community resilience and coping mechanisms during and beyond the project period. (Component 2: Governance and Decision-Making) 2.1: Interface between traditional and formal forms of leadership documented and engagement strategies developed to incorporate both forms of governance, including gender balance in community leadership. 2.2: Leaders, managers and members of faith-based and other organizations/groups have knowledge and skills to mainstream building community resilience and coping capacity at all times. 2.3: Provincial Councils, Area Councils, and institutions have plans, procedures and processes that mainstream community resilience and coping capacity at all times. (3) At least 75% of households (6,000) in the selected communities have enhanced food and nutrition security before and after adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters. (Component 3: Food and Nutrition Security) 3.1: Flood and landslide prone farm lands stabilized for food production. 3.2: Increased food production and availability. 3.3: Household heads, caregivers and other adults practice appropriate food processing, storage and preparation methods minimize crop, food and nutrient losses. 3.4: Women empowered and men cooperate for food production, processing, preparation and marketing. 3.5: Local Council prepositions emergency supplies for vulnerable groups, especially women, children, elderly and people living with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. (4) At least 75% of households (6,000) in the selected communities have enhanced capacity to and access safe and secure water sources before and after adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters. (Component 4:Water Security) 4.1: Household and water catchment area safety and security plans developed and implemented. 4.2: WASH O&M systems standardized nationwide. (5) Information system, threat monitoring and communication systems established in the selected communities within the first 12 months of the project and thereafter maintained. (Component 5: Knowledge Management) 5.1: Rural disaster stations established and operational, evacuation centers identified and strengthened and quarterly participatory project monitoring undertaken. 5.2: Participatory project annual reviews undertaken. 5.3: An independent project evaluation undertaken. 5.4: Project outputs documented and disseminated. In line with the arrangements for the implementation of the United Nations Joint Human Security Program (UN-JHSP), Mid Term and End of Program evaluations shall be carried out to review project performance, assess achievement of expected outcomes and impacts in the light of project objectives. These evaluations will highlight the project results, the challenges encountered, key lessons learned as well as recommendations for improving upon project performance. 3. Scope of Work/ Work Assignments: The consultancy is to carry out a mid- term assessment/evaluation of the UN-JHS project in the 12 project sites on the detailed terms of reference below. Evaluation Objectives: i. Determine the extent to which the project s objectives as defined in the Project document and Results and Resources Framework have been met and or on track, and assess the likelihood of achieving them upon completion of the project; ii. Take stock of current project activities, challenges and opportunities and consider whether the project is doing the right things as opposed to whether or not the project is doing things right;

3 iii. Update the mapping of all agencies and projects currently active or planned related to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation presented in Annex 1 of the Project Document iv. Determine the extent to which the Project has reduced duplication among participating UN Agencies, reduced transaction costs and maximized synergies among national partners; v. Verify the continued relevance of the joint human security program as well as the related sustainability and cost effectiveness; vi. Identify the necessary adjustments, if any, in program design, objectives, strategies and implementation arrangements in the light of changes throughout the implementation period; vii. Assess the quality of joint program implementation and monitoring arrangements and how lessons learned from failures and successes of the program can be used to further improve program performance and for planning future joint programs. Make recommendations on how to improve performance of the joint program with respect to program management, planning, coordination, collaboration with government, civil society, monitoring and evaluation. The evaluation will take into consideration the program s continued relevance, efficiency levels and effectiveness. In addition the evaluation will provide recommendations to improve the implementation and the likelihood of achieving its human security objectives. In this context the evaluation will specifically examine the following aspects: Changes in context and review of assumptions (relevance): Is the program design adequate to address the various threats to human security in the selected communities? Is the program s theory of change explicit, appropriate and well understood by all who are involved in implementing the project, in the context of the threats to human security? What internal and external factors have influenced the ability of beneficiary groups, Government, participating UN agencies, and other stakeholders to meet projected targets or otherwise? Does the program remain relevant considering changes in context? Is there a need to reformulate program design given changes in the human security and country operational situation? Does the program alleviate identified human insecurities while at the same time avoiding negative externalities? The evaluation should cover the adequacy and quality of the management and delivery mechanisms of the joint program as well as the establishment of partnerships and collaborative relationships developed by the program with local communities, government, civil society, national and international entities and the effects they have had on project implementation. Results in terms of outputs achieved vis-a vis projected targets (efficiency): Has the program reached the expected number and type of beneficiaries (i.e., individuals/ communities/ institutions/ organizations/ groups etc) within the expected timeframe? Are the program s activities in line with the schedule of activities as defined by the program team and annual work plans? Are the disbursements and program expenditures in line with the expected budgetary plans? The evaluation should examine the general operational relationships between participating UN agencies and Government and how these relationships have contributed to effective implementation and achievement of program objectives. Achievement of projected performance indicators and targets (effectiveness): What has the performance been of each participating implementing UN Agency by objective with respect to their projected performance indicators? Does the current performance indicate probability in achieving the projected purpose (specific objectives and outcomes)? Have there been any unintended outcomes? What are the key lessons learned, and what challenges were encountered? The consultant should provide key recommendations or considerations for improving program performance for the remaining period of program implementation, corrective actions for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program, needed follow up actions to reinforce initial benefits and proposal for future directions underlining each specific objective. In addition to relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, the review should assess whether the project considered any of the cross-cutting issues below: To what extent has the program impacted on Area Council knowledge and understanding of the Human Security Concept, and their capabilities in integrating human security into local level development planning (Medium Term Development Plans & Community Action Planning) and disaster risk management? To what extent has the program impacted on water security and emergency preparedness and response for WASH? To what extent has gender been taken into consideration? To what extent has civil society been engaged in the community mobilization? To what extent have community vulnerability and capacity assessment methodologies been standardized? To what extent has the project been coordinated within the overall Vanuatu CCA/DRR policy and action frameworks? 4. Work Schedule: The duration of the consultancy shall be 25 days. Activity Place Responsibility Number of days (Working days) Desk review and preliminary preparations Port Vila Consultant 1 Desk Review, Preparation of Evaluation design, Port Vila Consultant 2 methodology and detailed work plan and Inception Report Presentation of draft Inception Report and Port Vila Consultant 1 finalisation Partners consultation (DLA, UN team, DGMWR, Port Vila Consultant 3 DoA, NDMO, NAB) Field visits, interviews with partners, and key Imaio, Tanna, Consultant 6 stakeholders (tbc) Presentation of Key Findings and draft recommendations Ipyato, Santo Port Vila Consultant 1/2

4 Activity Place Responsibility Number of days (Working days) Drafting and Submission of draft report Port Vila Consultant 5 Presentation of draft report to UN Country team Port Vila Consultant 1/2 and Project partners Finalization of the report based on inputs received Home base Consultant 2 Submission of the Final Report to UNICEF Home base Consultant 0 Review of project Documentation: The consultant shall review, relevant project documentation, including background material used in project formulation, inception workshop report, approved project proposal, program log frame, Results and Resources Framework, annual budgets and work plans, consolidated progress reports, program Baseline Report, Community profiling reports, Partner Coordination Committee minutes as available and other technical reports and documents as relevant, project monitoring reports, including back to office reports, Training Reports, UNDAF, Joint programming and program Guidelines and policies etc. In County and Field Interviews: The consultant shall carry out interviews as needed. Interview may be requested with members of the program Implementation Team at national, Provincial and area/field levels; key UN Agency staff, the Inter Agency Program Group (IPG) and Human Security Focal Points; representatives of Government at national, regional and local level; and/or Partner NGOs and civil society. The purpose of the interviews would be to obtain first-hand information on the delivery of project interventions, project design and the impact of the interventions on beneficiaries. For each of these interviews, the consultant will first develop and present their ideas for the content and format of the survey /interview forms/ schedule that will be applied to capture the information required, as well as the method to be used in administering them and tabulating the results. Interviews with Beneficiaries: The Consultant shall sample program communities and interview beneficiaries to ascertain the impacts of interventions on the beneficiaries. Data Collection: To ensure comprehensive coverage, the Consultant shall collect additional data information from participating UN agencies, for example independent surveys and baselines carried out by specific UN agencies for specific objectives. The Consultant may propose additional methods for conducting the evaluation amongst others albeit all methods and approaches for data gathering must be conflict sensitive. Key Working Relationships: The Project Director and project Manager at Department of Local Authority, UN Project Coordinator and the UN Country team, and the UN Suva and Apia based teams. 5. Deliverables/End Product(s): The evaluation shall result in the delivery of a completed mid-term evaluation report. The consultant will perform the following tasks: 1. Design the detailed evaluation scope and methodology and approach; 2. Carry out desk review, fieldwork and data collection as per the inception report and Terms of Reference; 3. Lead and manage an evaluation mission in accordance with the proposed objective and scope of the evaluation; 4. Draft and communicate the evaluation report to UNICEF, DLA, and other agencies as appropriate; and 5. Finalize the evaluation report and submit it to UNICEF. 6. Payment Schedule: Payment will be made on as a lump-sum upon acceptance of the final report by UNICEF. 7. Type of Supervision that will be Provided: The Consultant will report directly to the UNICEF WASH Officer Vanuatu Field Office. UNICEF Vanuatu Field Office will provide overall operational, administrative and day to day supervision for this consultancy. Project Partners UNICEF Pacific (Suva), UNDP Pacific (Suva), and FAO (Apia) will provide technical guidance for the evaluation and support the consultant with relevant documentation, contacts and other relevant information. 8. Consultant s work plan and Official Travel Involved: The place of performance shall be Port Vila with travel to up to two project sites and communities if needed (to be confirmed). 9. Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required: - A degree in development planning, development economics, sociology, governance or other relevant fields; - At least 5 years of experience in development work or related fields, including practical experience of conducting and leading evaluations of integrated projects and programs; - Extensive knowledge of result-based management evaluation, UN procedures, as well as participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies and approaches; - Experience in development and evaluating joint projects in the field of human security; - Experience in applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios;

5 - Knowledge of political, economic and social developments trends in Vanuatu, experience in working with the UN, as well as prior experience in developing and evaluating joint projects s in the field of human security will be an asset - Demonstrable analytical skills and strong interviewing and drafting/report writing skills - Excellent coordination and team working skills - Fluency in spoken and written English - Understanding of the Bislama language is an advantage

6 10. General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors 1. Legal Status The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the Contractor ) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Experts on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention. 2. Obligations 3. Title rights 4. Travel The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices. The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact. UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights. If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis: (a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.

7 (b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes. 5. Statement of good health 6. Insurance Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings H and A, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health. The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below. 7. Service incurred death, injury or illness If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate). 8. Arbitration (a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties. (b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute. 9. Penalties for Underperformance

8 Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF s satisfaction, and UNICEF s certification to that effect. 10. Termination of Contract 11. Taxation This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10. UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor. Prepared by Section Chief: Approved by Deputy Representative ** Name/Title: Name: Date: Date ** All Programme TORs to be approved by Deputy Representative and Operations TOR to be approved by Operations Manager.

9 ETHICS FOR SAFEGARDING THE INTERESTS/RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN RESEARCH NON-DISCRIMINATION When consultants conduct interview/focused group research/survey that involves third party, consultants shall ensure that selection of participants and the processes and methods used serve to correct, not reinforce, patterns of exclusion. This requires attention to socio-economic barriers including gender and age discrimination as well as the different ways and capacities in which children and women express themselves. PARTICIPATION Consultants shall ensure that the purposes and processes of the research are fully explained, using alternative forms of communication where necessary and making reference to any implications for participants of time, cost and the possible influence of the outcomes. The way information is conveyed must be appropriate to the context and to the child capabilities when child is involved. INFORMED CONSENT Consultant shall ensure that the participants know their right to refuse or to withdraw from the research at any time and obtaining verbal or written consent without coercion. Parental consent is not an adequate standard in light of the rights of the child and consent should be ongoing negotiation process with child. IDENTIFICATION OF RISKS Consultant should be mindful of the risks involving children and women in the research. Consultant should withhold information where that information may place them at risk and take necessary measures to protect them from placing themselves at risk. CONFIDENTIALITY Consultants shall offer conditional anonymity and confidentiality to all participants and explain to participants the limitation of confidentiality and possible intervention based on what is in their best interests. Consultant is fully responsible for identifying the follow-up action and referrals to be made in case confidentiality is broken. MISUSE OF INFORMATION Consultants are fully responsible for considering the short and long term consequences of the research from the different perspectives of participants, policy-makers, researchers and UNICEF.