Result of Service
The consultant will deliver the following in a timely manner: • Detailed Outline of the proposed M&E Strategy. • First Draft of the M&E Strategy, detailing the database requirements, data collection, reporting and verification framework, and monitoring process and key institutional setup for successful implementation of the strategy. • Final M&E Strategy Document (8,000 words) following one round of integrated comments.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background: The Climate/SDGs Debt Swap – Donor Nexus Initiative was launched by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in 2020, aimed at enabling Arab member countries to unlock critical resources for investment in projects aligned with national priorities and long-term development plans. The initiative helps Governments to design climate/SDGs debt swap programmes, which ensure addressing national priorities while contributing to achieving global climate objectives. The initiative provides a “win-win” opportunity to foster development cooperation between debtor, creditor and donor toward achieving progress on climate action and the SDGs. Debtor countries benefit from the liquidity from external debt repayment channeled towards investments into climate resilient projects; and creditor countries can advance towards meeting their commitments under the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Jordan, Tunisia and Mauritania are pilot countries of this initiative. In operationalizing the initiative at the country level, the climate/SDGs debt swap programme aims to align with national priorities on climate action and SDGs, linking national development plans and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while contributing to global climate objectives. The programme establishes a robust Key Performance Indicators (KPI) framework for monitoring and evaluation to assess impacts at the project and programme level, with transformational impact on climate and the SDGs. The implementation of the climate/SDGs debt swap programme at the national level requires a results-based framework for monitoring and evaluation, measuring country progress towards the pre-defined program- and project-level KPIs. This consultancy aims to develop a comprehensive monitoring, reporting and evaluation strategy for the climate/SDGs debt swap programmes, applicable to participating member states, which ensures effective tracking of progress towards Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and alignment with national development plans. The strategy should define the scope, objectives, and methodology for monitoring the progress of the Climate/SDGs Debt Swap programme. The consultant will work in close cooperation with the Project Manager and project team at ESCWA. The main duty of the consultant is to develop a Monitoring & Evaluation Strategy for the climate/SDGs debt swap programmes including the following components: 1. Database Requirements for M&E: o Identify the level of databases required to measure the baseline for the KPIs: information on the current situation before the implementation of the programme. This will be compared with information collected at later stages of the programme and provide evidence on the progress realized. o Define data collection standards, sources, tools, and processes to ensure accurate and timely data. o Identify key entities involved in data collection and monitoring, including data focal points and any third-party verification for certain KPIs if needed. o Propose a data management system that ensures efficient tracking, reporting, and analysis of the indicators. o Discuss the draft strategy with government counterparts, such as the Taskforce on Debt Swap in project participating country, and the CSOs as relevant, and solicit their feedback. 2. Data Collection, Reporting and Verification Framework: o Define the methodology for periodic collection of data flow on achievements of KPIs (e.g., national statistics, satellite images, data science techniques to gather data, tailored questionnaires for survey or interviews, etc.). o Develop reporting formats for the KPIs, ensuring quality reporting standards and transparency of sources for verification. o Develop a dashboard approach and establish procedures for updating the KPIs, as needed, during programme implementation. 3. Monitoring Process & Key Institutions Involved: o Outline the process for monitoring project progress, including timelines. o Define institutional roles and responsibilities for M&E, identifying the key stakeholders such as project implementation entity, government ministries and agencies, ESCWA, third party verification for KPIs as relevant, and other relevant organizations. o Provide a mechanism for coordination and data-sharing between institutions involved in the M&E process. o Outline processes to ensure the sustainability of the M&E system beyond the programme implementation phase.
Qualifications/special skills
An advanced university degree in sustainable development, economics, public policy, public administration, natural resources management, engineering, social sciences) or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in designing and implementing M&E strategies for project implementation of national or international development projects is required. Familiarity with the political, economic, and social context of the Arab region and the challenges surrounding climate finance and SDG integration is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.