UN Women: National Evaluation Consultant, home-based, Consultant

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan.

UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has four key programme priorities: (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, and (4) Women, Peace and Security.

The National Evaluation Consultant will be reporting to the Regional Evaluation Specialist in the UN Women Asia and the Pacific Regional Office.

Scope

Geographic scope: The geographic scope will include all areas in Afghanistan where UN Women is operating, including the offices in Kabul and the five sub-offices of Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Balkh.

Responsibilities of National Consultant

UN Women Afghanistan Country Office is seeking a consultant (National Evaluation Consultant) to be part of the Evaluation Team and closely support the evaluation process, ensuring cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and quality of evaluation outputs. The consultant may be based outside Afghanistan and is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
1.    Contributions to the Inception Phase: 
o    Review and Adjustment of Data Collection Tools:
•    Review data collection tools and the data collection plan developed by the data collection firm.
•    Ensure the translation of tools are contextually relevant, accurate, and appropriate for the cultural setting and what they are intended to measure.
o    Provide inputs to the inception report: 
•    Ensure the overall evaluation methodology is contextualized and culturally sensitive.

2.    Data Collection Coordination and quality control:
•    Liaise with the data collection firm to:
a.    Facilitate clear communication with the data collection firm and the evaluation team to ensure alignment with methodology and safety protocols and coordination throughout the process. Supporting the training of enumerators or team members.
b.    Assure quality of the translation of interview notes provided by the data collection firm.
c.    Verify the accuracy and cultural appropriateness used in the evaluation tools and protocols, ensuring a do no harm approach.
d.    Ensure progress of the data collection according to plan.
•    Conduct complementary remote data collection with key project stakeholders as necessary.
•    Provide interview notes in the prescribed format and a summary report of key findings from consultations.

3.    Reporting phase:
•    Contribute to the reviewing preliminary findings, the draft report, and the synthesis report.
•    Review evaluation products to ensure cultural sensitivity and alignment with the local context.

4.    Stakeholder Engagement:
•    Engage with the evaluation team and join presentations as requested. 
•    Engage with key project stakeholders to gather relevant data and insights as necessary.

The National Evaluation Consultant will be required to contribute an estimated 30 days for the following deliverables:

# Deliverable Description Number of days 1 Inception phase: Inputs on data collection tools and data collection plan developed by firm.   Inputs to strategic cluster evaluation inception report and presentation 

1. Review data collection tools and plan developed by the data collection firm and suggest amendments ensuring cultural sensitivities and do no harm approach. 
2. Consultant to provide inputs to the inception report, ensurin