Team Leader/ International Consultant for UNSDCF evaluation

Organizational Context

The United Nations Secretariat, specifically the Resident Coordinator System in Kyrgyzstan, is seeking an International Consultant to lead the evaluation of the Kyrgyzstan United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027. This role involves strategic oversight and coordination of a joint evaluation process, ensuring alignment with UNEG norms and standards.

Job Purpose

The Team Leader/International Consultant will spearhead the comprehensive evaluation of the Kyrgyzstan UNSDCF 2023–2027 and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Portfolio 2021–2026. This involves designing and implementing rigorous evaluation methodologies, managing a diverse team, and ensuring high-quality deliverables. The purpose is to generate evidence-based findings, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations to support accountability, organizational learning, and inform the strategic positioning of the UN in Kyrgyzstan towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The role requires close collaboration with various stakeholders, including UN agencies, government counterparts, civil society, and development partners, to assess the relevance, effectiveness, and impact of UN interventions.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the comprehensive evaluation of the UNSDCF 2023–2027 and PBF Portfolio 2021–2026. Design and finalize the evaluation methodology, workplan, and inception report adhering to UNEG norms and standards, ensuring a human rights-based, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and conflict-sensitive approach. Supervise and guide national consultants and other team members. Conduct thorough desk reviews of relevant documents. Lead stakeholder consultations, interviews, focus group discussions, and validation workshops. Assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact of interventions. Analyze the UN Country Team's contribution to national development priorities and SDGs. Identify lessons learned, good practices, gaps, risks, and opportunities. Prepare high-quality deliverables including inception, draft, and final reports, executive summaries, and presentation materials. Ensure all deliverables meet UN standards for clarity and inclusivity. Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders and facilitate validation discussions.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic planning, leading the formulation of strategic country documents, and conducting evaluations in the international development or humanitarian sector is required. Proven experience leading United Nations system-wide evaluations, including UNSDCF/UNDAF evaluations, is essential. Experience in complex settings and working in Central Asia or comparable contexts is highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary and multicultural teams is also required.

Skills

Strategic oversight, methodological rigor, team leadership and coordination, stakeholder engagement, evaluation design and implementation, data collection and analysis, report writing, results-based management (RBM), strategic planning, human rights-based approach, gender-responsive approach, disability inclusion, conflict sensitivity, knowledge of SDGs, UN reform, peacebuilding, governance, and sustainable development processes.

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