Consultant (External Evaluator for JFiT-DHE)

Organizational Context

UNESCO is implementing a project focused on consolidating policy development and capacity building for the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage, supported by the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Memory of the World Programme. The project aims to safeguard global documentary heritage against disasters and enhance universal access. It operates globally with a focus on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, aligning with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct an external evaluation of the "Consolidating the Gains in Policy Development and Capacity Building for the Preservation and Accessibility of Documentary Heritage" project. The evaluation will assess the project's performance against OECD-DAC criteria, including relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. It aims to identify challenges, best practices, and generate evidence-based lessons learned to inform future initiatives. The assessment will produce actionable recommendations for the project management unit and guide the planning of future intersectoral outputs related to disaster risk reduction and resilient societies. The evaluation will cover the entire programmatic scope and focus on the impact in specific regions, soliciting perspectives from various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

The External Evaluator will be responsible for the comprehensive execution of the project evaluation. This includes mapping and engaging evaluation stakeholders, organizing and conducting stakeholder meetings, and performing interviews to gather and analyze data. The evaluator will draft preliminary and final evaluation reports, incorporating stakeholder feedback. Key deliverables include a concise summary of findings with actionable recommendations for different user groups and a communication plan tailored to the audience. The evaluator will also develop a methodology, potentially integrating their own approach, to ensure accurate and substantive results, with all data being triangulated for high-quality analysis. The evaluation will adhere to UNESCO's quality criteria and ethical principles.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods within social sciences research is necessary. Experience in evaluating information or cultural-related sectors is also required. Familiarity with UNESCO's mandate and the Recommendation concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage is desirable.

Skills

The role requires excellent analytical, spoken, and written communication skills, with the ability to produce content for both specialist and generalist audiences. Experience in designing, facilitating, and evaluating online participatory meetings is essential. Proficiency with common data analysis software, such as Microsoft Excel, and survey tools like Microsoft Forms or Google Survey is also necessary.

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