Biodiversity and ecosystem services contribute to socio-economic development and human well-being in numerous ways. In Montenegro, they are important factors for the preservation of water abundance and quality, protection from natural hazards such as flooding and erosion, and climate regulation. At the same time, they contribute to food production (fishing, collection of edible wild species, soil fertility, agro-biodiversity) and play an important role in providing recreational services and maintaining the country’s attractiveness, both of which are significant for tourism development.

However, there are many examples of threatened and declining biodiversity in Montenegro reported in academic literature and official documents. The flora and fauna of the coastal zone are considered the most threatened. The long-term solution sought by the Promoting Protected Areas Management through Integrated Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Protection in Coastal Area of Montenegro Project was to improve conservation mechanisms and enhance the sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity through more effective management of the C/MPAs sub-system by addressing the existing barriers to C/MPAs management.

For this evaluation, the Evaluation Consultant will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Office, represented by an Evaluation Manager, in consultation with the UNEP Task Manager, Project Manager, Fund Management Officer, and the Sub-programme Coordinator for Nature Action.

Specific Responsibilities

In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the Evaluation, timely provision of its outputs, data collection, analysis, and report-writing.

More specifically:

Inception phase of the Evaluation, including:

• Preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff.
• Draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project.
• Prepare the evaluation framework.
• Develop the desk review and interview protocols.
• Draft the survey protocols (if relevant).
• Develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission.
• Plan the evaluation schedule.
• Prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager.

Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including:

• Conduct further desk reviews and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners, and stakeholders.
• (Where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including good representation of local communities. Ensure the independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews.
• Regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered.
• Keep the Project/Task Manager informed of evaluation progress.

Reporting phase, including:

• Draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that the evaluation report is complete, coherent, and consistent with the Evaluation Manager guidelines in both substance and style.
• Liaise with the Evaluation Manager on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Evaluation Manager.
• Prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted by the Evaluation Consultant and indicating the reason for rejection.
• (Where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons).

Managing Relations

• Maintain a positive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible while maintaining its independence.
• Communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.

The Evaluation Consultant shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the project and will be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form. The Evaluation Consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract. Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with the consultant separately.

Qualifications/Special Skills

• A first-level university degree in environmental sciences, international development, or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. An advanced degree in the same areas is desirable.
• A minimum of 9 years of technical/evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional, or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach.
• A good/broad understanding of protected areas management, coastal and marine ecosystems management is desired.
• Working knowledge of the UN system, specifically the work of UNEP, is an added advantage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required, and proficiency in or knowledge of Montenegrin is desirable.