International Consultant: Mid-Term Review of the 12th Country Programme-Thailand

The Position:

UNFPA Thailand Country office is planning to conduct the independent Mid-Term-Review (MTR) of the 12th Country Programme (2022-2026 of Assistance to the Government of Thailand.

The MTR will serve three main purposes: (i); assess the CP12 status and progress, identify opportunities and challenges for acceleration (ii) support evidence-based decision-making for strategic mid-course adjustments to achieve the remaining targets for planned outputs and outcomes as indicated in the 12th CPD; (iii) contribute important lessons learned and good practices to scale up successful interventions for promoting programme financing, sharing of Thailand’s good practices through South-South and Triangular Cooperation to accelerate the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote innovations and new partnership and for  policy review.

Specific objectives of the MTR include:  1) provide an assessment of UNFPA support, progress, implementation gaps and opportunities towards the expected outcomes and outputs set forth in the Result and Resource Framework of the Country Programme and in the partnership, resource mobilization and SSTC strategies.2) analyze changes in the country context, national priorities, and policies, and identify opportunities and priorities (continued and emerging) for UNFPA’ contribution to the national development in UNFPA’s mandate areas. 3)  provide key inputs to the identification of areas in which UNFPA can add value to the UN system and its coordination mechanisms within the existing United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), 2022-2026      and      to strengthening UNFPA’s coordination with other agencies with the similarity especially in context of implementation the Common Chapter among UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women.4) provide actionable strategic and programmatic recommendations to adapt/strengthen/prioritise strategies and approaches for the acceleration of the programme achievements against the results as planned in the current CP
 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purposed:

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office of UNFPA Thailand Country Office, the independent consultancy is required to conduct the Thailand Country Programme Mid-Term Review.  This consultancy will review the MTR according to UNFPA standard requirements as mentioned in the MTR -Terms of Reference and ensure the coverage of all required information to be reviewed and reported.  

You would be responsible for:

The international consultant will have the overall responsibility for the MTR review processes including the production of the final report and will also be responsible for the quality assurance of all review deliverables. In addition, the consultant will be responsible for the data collection and analysis of data for all programme outcome, outputs, overall programmatic components, South-South and Triangulation, Partnership for Resource Mobilisation, Partnership for UNFPA’s visibility, and Communication part including corporate communication and communication for resource mobilization. She/he will be responsible for the inception report, the draft final and the final MTR reports. The consultant will be responsible for:

Specific scope of work as the general reviewer:

• Overall review of the UNFPA Thailand MTR based on inputs and insights from various sources of information from key informant interviews, focus-group interviews, desk reviews, etc. 
• Revisit the UNFPA evaluation guideline to ensure the whole process, objectives, methodology framework, tools, ethical standards, and key milestones/deliverables.
• Developing the design/inception report including the work plan, the review matrix, and data collection tools.
• Collecting information, conducting desk reviews of relevant documents and interviews and surveys with key stakeholders in the respective area.
• Compiling the first comprehensive draft of the review report, addressing the comments from partners and CO team to produce the 2nd draft and final MTR report in line with UNFPA evaluation quality standards.
• Responsible for drafts and final MTR reports.

As a technical reviewer: The consultant is required to review 3 thematic areas and the South-South and Triangular Cooperation, Partnership and Resource mobilization and Communication.

• The 3 thematic areas include: 1) Output on Adolescent and Youth; 2) output on gender-based violence, and 3) output on Population Change and Data. The review will serve the MTR purpose and all MTR specific objectives. 
• The PRM, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation: assess a specific area on Partnership for Resource Mobilization, Communication for Resource Mobilization, programme Visibility, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation. 

Note: The work of the MTR reviewer will be guided by the Norms and Standards established by the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG). Team members will adhere to the Ethical Guidelines for Evaluators in the UN system and the Code of Conduct, also established by UNEG. The evaluators will be requested to sign the Code of Conduct prior to engaging in the evaluation exercise.

Duration and working schedule: 30 days from June 2024 to September 2024

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered: As per MTR-TOR the following delivery plan is guided

Phases/deliverables, Dates

1.Preparatory phase

• Drafting of the MTR Terms of Reference by CO, 15 March 2024
• Review and Approval of the TOR by CO in consultation with APRO (Desk Officer and RMEA), 20 May 2024
• Selection of a team or individual of reviewer(s), 30 May, 2024
• Contract sign, 20 June, 2024
• Design report submission for review and acceptance, 27 June, 2024

2. Data Collection and Analysis, 30 June to 9 August 2024

3. Synthesis phase

• Debriefing presentation through CO/Partners workshop, 13 August 2024, 2024
• First draft report submission for CO and APRO review, 23 August, 2024
• Upon the reviews, acceptance of the report, 27 August, 2024
•  Final report submission for CO/APRO review, 6 September, 2024
• Acceptance of the MTR report, 10 September, 2024

4. Dissemination and follow-up phase

• Dissemination of the report within the CO and APRO, 13 September, 2024
• CO management response for programme review with APRO technical support, 23 September, 2024
• Stakeholder meeting to share and update the reviewed programme for 2025 and 2026, 30 September, 2024

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

•    Periodically meeting with Head of Office who is supervisor for the MTR if required to update on progress and challenges.
•    Regular meeting with M&E focal point who is the MTR Manager, and UNFPA CO management team if required to update on work progress and share concerns regarding MTR.

Expected travel: Total of 5 travels to 5 provinces in Thailand

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

The MTR reviewer/consultant will be an international expert in monitoring and evaluation of development programmes, preferable vetted consultant in the UNFPA roster with:

• Advanced degree in evaluation, development studies, public health, population and gender studies or any other social science studies 
• At least 7 years’ proven experience in conducting evaluations in the field of development for UN organizations or other international organizations, including evaluations of gender programmes.
• Experience in leading complex programme and/or country level evaluations 
• Experience in the Asia region and preferably in -Thailand
• Strong technical and analytical capacities and demonstrated knowledge of evaluation methods and techniques for data collection and analysis, an understanding of UNFPA mandate or the ICPD agenda. 
• Excellent leadership, communication ability and excellent writing skills in English
• Familiarity with UNFPA or UN
   

Compensation and Benefits:

Payment of fees will be based on the delivery of outputs.
Note: Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be paid per nights spent at the place of the mission following UNFPA DSA standard rates if field visits are required. Travel costs will be settled separately from the consultant fees.
 

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

 

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.