POSITION DETAILS
Location: Flexible
Reporting to: Amelia Kissick, WWF-US & Benedicte Alsac, AFD Project Manager
Preferred timeframe: May - July 2021
Potential sites to visit: To be determined, but may include: Indonesia, Bhutan, Nicaragua or Peru
Maximum budget: $30,000
PROJECT DATA
Project/Program Title: Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility
GEF Project ID: 9900
Implementing Agency(s): WWF - GEF
Executing Agency: IDH
Executing Partner(s): Mirova, UNCCD, AFD
Countries: Global
Focal Area: Land Degradation
GEF Operational Program: GEF 6
Total GEF Approved Budget: $ 2,000,000.00
Total Co-financing Approved: $ 4,900,000.00
RELEVANT DATES
CEO Endorsement/Approval: 01/11/2019
Agency Approval Date: 01/15/2019
Implementation Start: 01/15/2019
Project Completion Date (proposed or actual): 04/30/2024
Period to Be Evaluated: 01/15/2019 – 06/15/2021
INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW
World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF) policies and procedures for all GEF financed full-sized projects require a midterm evaluation (MTE) and are highly recommended for innovative medium-sized projects. The following terms of reference (TOR) sets out the expectations for the MTE for the project: Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility, hereafter referred to as the “Project.” The technical consultant(s) selected to conduct this evaluation will hereafter be referred to as “evaluator.”
The Project seeks to provide project preparation and technical assistance (TA) services to project developers to build a balanced portfolio of effective projects for the LDN Fund and increase knowledge and awareness of models for LDN investment across the investor and project developer community. Technical assistance for pre-investment projects focuses on enhancing technical, operational and financial design and structures of projects to avoid or reduce new degradation via sustainable land management practices, restoration and rehabilitation in line with the LDN Scientific Framework. Post-investment support focuses on E&S impact maximalization, capacity building (reducing the risk of the investment) and baseline and impact measurement systems, especially on measuring LDN impacts. Currently there are approximately ten pre-investment projects (started and/or finalized) and approximately three post-investment projects in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. The Project was organized into the following components and outcomes:
Component 1: Improving technical, operational and financial processes and the SLM and land restoration impact of (potential) LDN Fund projects
1.1: Project proposals of a higher technical quality are submitted to the LDN Fund.
1.2: Project developers have greater capacity to implement projects to a higher technical standard.
1.3: Project developers have greater ability to monitor their performance against LDN indicators, social and environmental impacts and report this to the LDN Fund which is used by both to practice adaptive management.
Component 2: Effective knowledge management and project monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
2.1: M&E across TAF is carried out effectively and is used for adaptive management.
2.2: Awareness and knowledge of successful models for SLM and land restoration investment and LDN impact are made available across the wider project developer and investor community.
SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE FOR THE EVALUATION
The TAF Donors are seeking an independent consultant to undertake a Midterm Evaluation (MTE) of the Project. The scope of the MTE will cover both the GEF and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) financed aspects of the project. The MTE will analyze the project for its design and implementation to date (added value, effectiveness and impact of the TAF support) based on the following objective.
The objective of this evaluation is to examine the extent, magnitude and sustainability of and potential for project impacts to date; identify any project design problems; assess progress towards project outcomes and outputs; assess implementation/execution, and draw lessons learned that can improve the project effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of project benefits, particularly in regard to how the TAF is part of and enables the blended finance transactions. Based on this assessment, it is expected that the evaluator will provide feasible recommendations that could be applied for the remaining duration of the project.
APPROACH AND METHOD TO EVALUATION
The evaluation will adhere to the relevant guidance, rules and procedures established by WWF and align with guidance from the GEF Terminal Evaluation and Ethical Guidelines. The evaluation must provide evidence‐based information that is independent, participatory, transparent, and ethical. The evaluator must be unbiased and free of any conflicts of interest with the project and will state so in their proposal. The evaluator is expected to reflect all stakeholder views and follow a participatory and consultative approach. There should be close engagement with the LDN Fund, as the counterpart of the LDN TAF, the UNCCD and selected UNCCD in country focal points, project beneficiaries the Executing Agency project management unit (PMU), partners and other key stakeholders. Contact information will be provided.
The Evaluation process will include the following, with deliverables marked by “*”:
- Desk review;
- Inception report that outlines evaluation methodology in English*;
- Field visit of a LDN TAF funded project with field-level activities (Indonesia, Bhutan, Nicaragua, or Peru), as necessary and feasible;
- Virtual interviews, focus groups and consultations at local, national and international levels, including executing partners (LDN TAF project partners and/or consultants), Project Selection Committee (PSC) members and beneficiaries;
- Post-field visit debrief and presentation in English and Spanish* of initial findings to project management team and other partners as feasible;
- Draft report in English* (max. 30 pages not including annexes) shared with GEF AMU and PMU for review and feedback. A sample outline will be provided; and
- Final MTE report* (max. 30 pages) that has incorporated feedback and comments.
The WWF GEF projects emphasize an adaptive management approach, which relies on testing the assumptions of the project theory of change and making necessary changes to improve the project. The evaluator is expected to question project assumptions and provide recommendations to improve the theory of change by framing their analysis on the seven core criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, results/impact, sustainability and adaptive capacity. Definitions of each of these criteria are provided with a sample summary table and report outline
See full Terms of Reference here: https://careers-wwfus.icims.com/jobs/2783/land-degradation-neutrality-fund-technical-assistance-facility/job
How to apply:
Application process
Applicants are requested to apply by e-mailing their application to the e-mail address provided at: https://careers-wwfus.icims.com/jobs/2783/land-degradation-neutrality-fund-technical-assistance-facility/job by April 9th, 2021. Consultants are invited to submit a technical proposal and financial proposal with their curriculum vitae. The financial proposal should include daily fees, and if applicable per diem and travel costs. The selection of candidates and contractual agreements will be in compliance with WWF and AFD procurement policies and subject to GEF requirements.
WWF and AFD apply a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.