Local consultant to support the project evaluation on investing in early years

Job no: 581280
Position type: Consultant
Location: Kosovo
Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS
School/Unit: Republic of Serbia
Department/Office: Kosovo (UN SC resolution 1244)
Categories: Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, development. 

 

Purpose of assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy is the evaluation of the project “Investing in the Early Years: Accelerating Development through Integrated Early Childhood Development in Kosovo 2023-2025”, funded by the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by UNICEF (hereinafter referred to as the Evaluation).
The project aims to strengthen integrated, family-centered services in health and education, driving significant improvements in Early Childhood Development (ECD) outcomes for children from conception to five years of age. It prioritizes reaching the most vulnerable children, including those from economically disadvantaged families, as well as
children from Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, and other minority communities, and children with disabilities or developmental delays.

The project is organized around two core pillars: Young Child Health and Well-being (ages 0-3) and Pre-School Education
(ages 0-5). It aims to advance policies and improve service delivery to ensure that every child in Kosovo receives the best
possible start in life. The direct beneficiaries are estimated to include 70,000 children – both girls and boys – aged 0 to
5 years, along with their parents. Indirect beneficiaries include central and local authorities, municipal officials in health,
social welfare, and education sectors, health managers, professionals across all 38 municipalities, and Civil Society
Organizations.
 
The End of Project Evaluation aims to assess the project's achievements and progress towards its goals, while also
evaluating its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. While this Evaluation is conducted in the last year
of the project implementation and its focus will be summative, the Evaluation is designed to focus on the formative
aspect as well to ensure the Evaluation findings will inform future policies and programme interventions.
The project is organized around two core pillars: Young Child Health and Well-being (ages 0-3) and Pre-School Education
(ages 0-5). It aims to advance policies and improve service delivery to ensure that every child in Kosovo receives the best
possible start in life. The direct beneficiaries are estimated to include 70,000 children – both girls and boys – aged 0 to
5 years, along with their parents. Indirect beneficiaries include central and local authorities, municipal officials in health,
social welfare, and education sectors, health managers, professionals across all 38 municipalities, and Civil Society
Organizations.
The End of Project Evaluation aims to assess the project's achievements and progress towards its goals, while also
evaluating its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. While this Evaluation is conducted in the last year
of the project implementation and its focus will be summative, the Evaluation is designed to focus on the formative
aspect as well to ensure the Evaluation findings will inform future policies and programme interventions.
 
Scope of Work:
The Evaluation is commissioned by UNICEF Kosovo Office in line with the UNICEF’s Evaluation Policy and to ensure
independent conduct of the evaluation, the Evaluation will be managed the Child Rights Monitoring Specialist and
implemented by international and local consultants. The End of Project Evaluation aims to assess the project's
achievements and progress towards its goals, while also evaluating its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and
sustainability.
Key objectives include:
  1. Assess the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.
  2. Provide an independent performance assessment of project achievements as seen in relation to expected results as indicated in the project monitoring framework.
  3. Identify lessons and forward-looking recommendations from the assessment of objectives (1) and (2) above that can inform the future policy developments, decision making and future programme implementation (lessons learned and best practices to be reflected in future programming).
The local consultant will work under the guidance of the Team Leader Consultant, who holds overall responsibility for
the Evaluation. The local consultant will contribute to all stages of the evaluation design and implementation, working
closely with the Team Leader. The consultant will also participate in meetings, consultations, and discussions related to
the Evaluation design, methodology, report writing, and the presentation of relevant documents to UNICEF staff, the
Evaluation Reference Group (ERG), and other relevant stakeholders.
The Evaluation will be structured in three main phases defined by accompanying activities as described below:
The Inception Phase:
  • A Desk Review: The evaluation team will commence the Evaluation with a document review for which an electronic library will be established by UNICEF comprising relevant documentation that will be updated on an ongoing basis by both the evaluation team and UNICEF during the evaluation process.
  • Initial Briefings: In addition to the desk review, brief introductory interviews with staff from UNICEF Kosovo Office will inform the prioritization of evaluation questions and the detailed planning of the evaluation methodology.
  • A virtual inception mission (VIM): Once the initial desk review is completed, a 1-day virtual inception mission will be organised for the Evaluation Team.
  • Inception Report (IR): An inception report (20 pages) will be submitted that demonstrates impartiality, and that aligns with UNICEF’s quality standards. The IR will be subject to quality assurance performed by the evaluation manager, a review conducted by internal evaluation stakeholders and the ERG, an ethical review - should proposed data gathering involve vulnerable groups, sensitive subjects and/or use of confidential data - and, finally, an external quality assurance check that requires to the minimum a satisfactory rating for the field mission to proceed. The approval of the IR marks the completion of the Inception Phase.

The Data Collection Phase
Following the inception phase, a data collection process will be organized, during which additional secondary data maybe identified, and primary data will be generated. The primary data will include Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions with stakeholders and beneficiaries from relevant groups.

The Reporting Phase
  • The evaluation team will prepare a draft evaluation report that will be subject to a review undertaken by UNICEF Kosovo Office staff, members of the ERG and the evaluation manager; an external quality assurance that requires at a minimum satisfactory rating and, if required, an ethical review.
  • Either at the final draft stage (to support the reports validation) or once the evaluation report is finalized (to support further internalization and discussion on the recommendations), the Evaluation Team will hold a virtual or in-person meeting with UNICEF Kosovo Office staff, the ERG and, if relevant, other national stakeholders.
  • The report will comply with UNICEF’s reporting standards and be no longer than 40-60 pages excluding executive summary and annexes. Upon completion of the evaluation report, it will be rated in UNICEF’s Global Evaluation and Research Oversight System (GEROS), and it will be published on UNICEF’s global public website.
  • Ethical considerations: the evaluation team should clearly identify any potential ethical issues and approaches, as well as the processes for ethical review and oversight of the evaluation process in their proposal with regards to data collection, review and other relevant processes.

How can you make a difference? 

 Role and Responsibility

The local consultant will contribute to all stages of the evaluation design and implementation, under the overall
supervision of the Evaluation Team Leader. The roles and responsibilities include:
  • Contribute to the development of a comprehensive desk review of existing information on the context, including relevant policies, priorities, programme documents, reports, previous studies, research, and evaluations. 
  • Support the Evaluation Team Leader in developing detailed methodological guidance, including key aspects of data analysis and quality assurance.
  • Review all documentation relevant to the project evaluation.
  • Undertake a virtual inception mission to verify the scope of the evaluation, the project’s Theory of Change (ToC), and stakeholder analysis developed during the desk review; presenting the evaluation to UNICEF Kosovo, the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG), and, if relevant, other stakeholders; and organizing logistics related to data collection planning.
  • Conduct data collection under the guidance of the Evaluation Team Leader.
  • Conduct interviews with a range of key stakeholders and informants as outlined in the inception report.
  • Contribute to the planning and conduct of data analysis and discussions related to the evaluation questions in collaboration with the Team Leader.
  • Contribute to the drafting of the Inception Report, as well as the draft and final Evaluation Reports, developing and delivering a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings and recommendations following final approval of the evaluation report.
  • Maintain consistent communication with the Team Leader, UNICEF Kosovo staff involved in evaluation management, and other relevant stakeholders.

Work Assignments Overview:

  • Conduct desk review and inception report
  • Provide inputs to the inception report (maximum 20 pages excluding annexes)
  • Support the team lead on finalization of the Inception Report
  • Data collection (KII and Focus Group Discussions)
  • Presentation of preliminary observations and findings to Evaluation Reference Group
  • First draft report

Deliverables:

  • Inception mission and desk review completed
  • Inception report drafted and shared for comments
  • Inception completed and review/comments from UNICEF and other stakeholders addressed
  • Data collection
    (KII and Focus Group Discussions) completed
  • Preliminary findings presented to UNICEF and Evaluation Reference Group
  • First draft report developed and shared for review
  • Final report developed with all comments addressed

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

  • Advanced university degree in medical sciences, public
    health, education, social science or another related field.
  • At least 5 years of previous professional experience in the field of evaluation and evidence generation.
  • Demonstrated ability and knowledge to develop rigorous evaluation in line with DAC criteria
  • Knowledge of UN programming and previous working experience with UN and/or in international agencies will
    be an advantage.
  • Process management skills, including facilitation and communication with stakeholders.
  • Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English and one of local languages is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

Deadline for application is 19 May 2025

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

Advertised: Middle East Daylight Time
Application close: Middle East Daylight Time

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