Independent Baseline Evaluation of the Strengthening capacities in the use of geospatial information for improved resilience in Asia-Pacific and Africa

Evaluation, training, capacity development, sustainable learning, GIS, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience and environmental preservation and food security.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a principal training arm of the United Nations, with the aim to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations in achieving its major objectives through training and research. UNITAR’s mission is to develop the individual, institutional and organizational capacity of countries and other United Nations stakeholders through high-quality learning solutions and related knowledge products and services to enhance decision-making and to support country-level action for overcoming global challenges. 

United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) Programme Unit is a knowledge centre within the UN dedicated to supporting fellow agencies and Member States in their use of Geospatial Information Technologies (GIT) and has recently been recognized by ECOSOC as the United Nations Satellite Centre (resolution E/2021/L.22). The programme has spearheaded the use of these technologies in various fields of application, namely for emergency response, disaster risk reduction, peace and security, but also for the protection of cultural heritage and monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

Since 2011, UNOSAT has been implementing, with the financial support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NORAD, training and capacity development activities  in Asia with support from its centre in Bangkok hosted at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and in East Africa with key contribution from its centre in Nairobi.

The “Strengthening capacities in the use of geospatial information for improved resilience in Asia-Pacific and Africa” project aims to improve resilience in Africa and in the Asia – Pacific region using geo-spatial information technologies. This will be accomplished through capacity development that is comprised of trainings delivered in various modalities, and in developing actual solutions tailored to beneficiaries’ needs and resources. The aim will be accomplished through a user-centered approach focusing on practical technical trainings, technical backstopping and support from peers through a community of practice.

The project builds on past experiences by:

I.  Deepening the impact of past capacity development trainings ;

II. Replicating success in new regions, namely in the Pacific SIDS and in West Africa; and

III. Revealing the inter-connections between various risks in developing applications of geo information technologies to other thematic areas where it brings high benefits, like Climate Resilience, Environmental Preservation and Food Security, and fostering exchanges of knowledge acquired between project stakeholders by inter alia assisting  selected countries to apply GIT to interlinked thematic areas such as climate resilience, environmental preservation, and food security to improve knowledge sharing among project stakeholders.

More precisely, the project design intends to further strengthen capacities from previous project cycles, introduce modern technological advancement including artificial intelligence, and provide integrated solutions for decision making related to the thematic areas. Through awareness raising activities the project will promote project achievements and impacts of innovative technological solutions at the regional/national level. Also, a community of practice will be created, and technical backstopping will be continued for sustaining developed knowledge and capacities. Finally, a training of trainers is planned to ensure capacities will be sustained in the future.

The proposed activities will benefit a wide range of stakeholders in eight countries (seven of which are in special situations) across four regions.

The project document calls for an independent baseline, midline and endline evaluation.

The purpose of the baseline evaluation is to reflect on past initiatives and experiences, and assess the entry level project conditions in order to provide a baseline against which the project’s progress can be measured and evaluated. The specific objectives of the evaluation are to validate and obtain baseline evidence on the project’s log frame indicators, including measures such as:

• Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer, and development actions (impact indicator related to SDG 13.3.2);
• Number of deaths, missing persons and persons affected by disaster per 100,000 people(impact indicator related to SDG 11.5.1); and
• Direct disaster economic loss in relation to global GDP, including disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services(impact indicator related to SDG 11.5.2);.

Moreover, specific baselines shall be established for the current use of geospatial applications for decision-making related to improving resilience. A 2-step needs assessment exercise will be implemented by project management in parallel to the baseline evaluation and it is recommended to closely collaborate.

The purpose of the baseline evaluation is to also validate the project’s theory of change; the adequacy of the log frame, including the adequacy of the indicators, performance measures, means of verification and underlying assumptions; and the project’s implementation strategy.

More information can be found in the terms of references (Annex 1).

The consultant shall undertake a desk review based on the related documents including analytical reports; collect data using appropriate tools, including surveys, interviews and focus groups; analyze data using quantitative and qualitative methods as appropriate to the evaluation questions; and submit deliverables in accordance with the below schedule.

• Initial data collection, including desk review, stakeholder analysis
• Evaluation design/ question matrix
• Data collection and analysis, including survey(s), interviews, focus groups
• Zero draft evaluation
• Draft evaluation
• Final evaluation
• Presentation of findings

1. Deliverable: Evaluation design/question matrix

From: Evaluator

To: Evaluation manager

Deadline*: 22 September 2021

2. Deliverable: Comments on evaluation design/question matrix

From: Evaluation manager

To: Evaluator

Deadline*: 29 September 2021

3. Deliverable: Zero draft report

From: Evaluator

To: Evaluation manager

Deadline*: 29 October 2021

4. Deliverable: Comments on zero draft

From: Evaluation manager

To: Evaluator

Deadline*: 12 November 2021

5. Deliverable: Draft report

From: Evaluator

To: Evaluation manager

Deadline*: 29 November 2021

6. Deliverable: Comments on draft report

From: Project Management

To: Evaluation manager

Deadline*: 05 December 2021

7. Deliverable: Final report

From: Evaluator

To: Evaluation manager

Deadline*: 12 December 2021

8. Deliverable: Presentation of the evaluation findings, recommendations and lessons learned

From: Evaluator/evaluation manager

To: Project Management

Deadline*: 12 December 2021

*To be adjusted depending on the contract signature and to be agreed upon with the Evaluation Manager.

The performance indicators for evaluation of results for this assignment are the following:

• Timely submission of deliverables;
• Satisfactory quality of the evaluation report.

The evaluation will be undertaken by an international consultant under the overall responsibility of the Manager, Planning, Performance Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit (PPME), UNITAR.

General conditions of contracts for the service of consultants apply. Before initiating the assignment, the consultant shall sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct and Agreement Form (part of Annex 1).

Interested applicants who have worked for any of the UNITAR projects or who may have a conflict of interest are not eligible for the assignment.

Annexes:

Annex 1: Complete Terms of Reference

Qualifications:

• MA degree or equivalent in international relations, political science, environmental science, development studies, evaluation or a related discipline. Training and/or experience in the area of GIS, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience and environmental preservation and food security would be a clear advantage.  
• At least 7 years of professional experience conducting evaluation in the field of capacity building, sustainable learning, GIS, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience and environmental preservation and food security.
• Technical knowledge of the focal area.
• Field work experience in developing countries.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, including experience in a variety of evaluation methods and approaches.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Cross-cultural awareness and flexibility.
• Availability to travel.

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English.