Job description

Result of Service
Upon completion of this assignment, the consultant will have delivered a comprehensive independent final evaluation of the project, including an inception report, draft and final evaluation reports, and a presentation of key findings. The evaluation will provide UN-Habitat, the Adaptation Fund Board, and national partners in Jordan and Lebanon with evidence-based conclusions, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations to inform future climate resilience and water management programming.
Work Location
Home based
Expected duration
4 months (part time)
Duties and Responsibilities
UN-Habitat is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable communities, towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. It supports Member States in the development of sustainable cities and human settlements through its normative and operational work at global, regional, national and local levels. By working at all levels and with relevant stakeholders and partners, UN-Habitat contributes to linking policy development and capacity-building activities with a view to promoting cohesive and mutually reinforcing social, economic and environmental policies and programs in human settlements in conformity with international practices and covenants. UN-Habitat also leads and coordinates the monitoring of and reporting on global progress on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safer, resilient and sustainable. Other global agreements support UN-Habitat’s work including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established and launched the Adaptation Fund (AF) in 2007. The fund is to finance concrete adoption projects and programmes in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change. The fund’s projects and activities aim at building national and local adaptation capacities while reaching and engaging with the most vulnerable groups. Background: The project “Increasing the Resilience of Displaced Persons and Host Communities to Climate Change-Related Water Challenges in Jordan and Lebanon”, funded by the Adaptation Fund with a budget of USD 13,973,509, is led by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in partnership with ESCWA and UNICEF. As well as national governmental and municipal stakeholders, in addition to several implementing partners in Jordan and Lebanon; United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), Jordan Hashemite Fund for Badia Development (HFDJB) (BADIA), Permaculture Research Institute (PRI), Yarmouk Water Company (YWC), LDK and Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Management of Resources & Environmental Solutions (MORES) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The project addresses the compounded impacts of climate change and the Syrian refugees’ displacement crisis, focusing on water scarcity, urban resilience, and sustainable development. It promotes innovative water harvesting, wastewater reuse, and municipal planning to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable communities. The project was launched in October 2021 and ends in October 2026. 1. Objectives and Expected Accomplishments (outcomes) of the project The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of both displaced persons and host communities in Jordan and Lebanon to climate change-related water challenges, particularly challenges associated with water scarcity, climate-induced pressures, and population growth in vulnerable areas. The project aims to achieve this objective through four expected accomplishments: A. Strengthened municipal and institutional capacities to assess, plan, and manage climate-related water risks through the development of climate-responsive territorial planning documents, including urban master plans and associated action or investment plans, in order to support municipal governments to manage urban risks and vulnerabilities in the context of climate change, especially water scarcity challenges, and urban (population) growth, including pressures associated with displacement. B. Increased community awareness, ownership, and capacities to operate, maintain, and replicate sustainable water harvesting, supply, and reuse systems, aimed at strengthening the resilience of citizens (DPs and host communities) through improved awareness, and practical capacities to respond to climate change impacts on water resources. C. Expanded access to efficient and climate-resilient water supply systems through innovative and replicable non-conventional water harvesting, greywater treatment, and wastewater reuse techniques, aimed at enhancing the adaptive capacity of the water sector by expanding unconventional water harvesting, and climate-resilient water supply and irrigation options appropriate to the local context. D. Enhanced knowledge management, learning, and replication to document and share lessons learned and support the development of regional approaches for managing urban climate and water risks, including the development of regional urban risks and vulnerabilities management model in the context of climate change and urban (population) growth. *Detailed expected outcomes, outputs, indicators, and targets for each component are presented in the project’s Results Framework and will be provided to the evaluation team as part of the evaluation documentation package. 2. Project Scope and Geographic Focus The project is implemented in Jordan and Lebanon, targeting municipalities and communities that are highly vulnerable to climate change-related water challenges. In Jordan, the project focuses on the municipalities of Mafraq and Irbid, where increasing temperatures, recurrent droughts, declining groundwater availability, and rapid population growth, including large numbers of displaced persons are placing severe pressure on water systems and municipal services. In Lebanon, the project targets the Zahle District, including the municipalities of Zahleh–Maalaka and Taanayel Zahleh Municipality, where water scarcity, untreated wastewater, and high concentrations of displaced populations have intensified the vulnerability of communities and water-dependent livelihoods. Across both countries, climate change impacts have contributed to; reduced availability of safe and reliable water resources, increased pressure on municipal water supply and wastewater systems, and heightened vulnerability of water-dependent households and services. The project operates at two interconnected scales: 1. Municipal scale: strengthening planning capacities through climate-responsive territorial planning, vulnerability assessments, and urban master plans that integrate climate change, water scarcity, gender, and population pressures. 2. Community scale: improving access to alternative and climate-resilient water resources through rainwater harvesting, greywater treatment and reuse systems, wastewater treatment improvements, and community-level awareness and capacity building. 3. Project implementation arrangement The project is implemented by UN-Habitat as the Implementing Entity. Execution is carried out through national and international partners in both countries: • Lebanon: UNICEF - Lebanon, MORES • Jordan: UNICEF - Jordan, JOHUD, Badia, YWC, PRI, LDK/RSS • UN-ESCWA – Lebanon, Component 4 across both countries. Implementation is conducted in coordination with key national authorities: Jordan: Ministry of Environment (MOE) (Designated Authority), Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MOWI), Ministry of Local Administration (MOLA), MOA and the municipalities of Irbid and Mafraq. Lebanon: MOEnv (Designated Authority), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Ministry of Energy and Water (MOEW), Bekaa Water Establishment (BWE), and the Zahleh–Maalaka and Taanayel Zahleh Municipality, including municipalities of Zahle. A regional and national Project Steering Committee (RSC) structure provides guidance, oversight, and coordination among government stakeholders, executing partners, and UN agencies. Reporting Line: The consultant will report to the Head of Programme in coordination with Regional Project Coordinator. Duties and responsibilities: The evaluation objective is to assess, as systematically and objectively as possible the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, impact outlook and coherence of the project. Findings from the evaluation will inform UN-Habitat, the Ministries of Environment in Jordan and Lebanon (National Designated Authorities), and the Adaptation Fund Board on what worked well, what did not, and why. 1. The specific objectives of the evaluation are: • To assess the performance of the project in terms of achievement of the results at objective level, expected accomplishment (outcome) and output levels. • Assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, impact outlook, and coherence of the project in addressing climate change-related water challenges and improving the resilience of targeted communities. • Assess project management arrangements, including execution modalities, partnerships, coordination mechanisms, institutional roles, and the adequacy and use of resources, and how these factors influenced project performance. • Ensure alignment with Adaptation Fund Evaluation Policy and Guidance, including assessment of compliance with Adaptation Fund Environmental and Social Policy and Gender Policy. • To identify lessons learned and make strategic, programmatic and management recommendations on what further needs to be done to effectively promote and increase climate resilience of communities in Jordan and Lebanon. 2. Scope of the evaluation The evaluation will cover the entire life cycle of the project, from November 2021 to end of June 2026, including planning, inception, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management processes. In line with the Adaptation Fund Evaluation Policy, the evaluation will assess: • Achievement of outputs and expected accomplishments (outcomes), and progress toward the overall objective • The processes that influenced performance, including readiness, stakeholder engagement, institutional roles, ownership, and operational coordination • Financial management, execution arrangements, and oversight/backstopping by UN-Habitat and partners • The effectiveness of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems • Compliance with and integration of the Adaptation Fund Environmental and Social Policy and Gender Policy, including gender equality, equity, social inclusion, human rights, and protection of vulnerable groups • Key constraints, risks, opportunities, and factors affecting sustainability and future upscaling The evaluation will consider performance at both municipal level (planning, governance, institutional capacity) and community level (non-conventional water systems, awareness and capacity-building), reflecting the project’s dual-scale implementation approach. A comprehensive evaluation report must be developed and submitted. Presentation of the evaluation process and findings must be developed and presented by the evaluation consultant to UN-Habitat and all stakeholders and partners. 3. Evaluation Questions: Apart from evaluating performance of the project focusing on achievements in terms of outputs, outcomes and objective, the evaluation will seek to answer evaluation questions, which are organized around the evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact outlook, sustainability, coherence as well as assess the integration of cross-cutting issues. 1) Relevance: To what extent were the project objectives and design relevant to the needs of beneficiaries, the Adaptation Fund, UN-Habitat, executing entities, and national and local priorities in Jordan and Lebanon? • To what extent was the project relevant to requirements/needs of the beneficiaries? • To what extent was the implementation strategy responsive to donor requirements, national strategies, and UN-Habitat and executing entities’ strategies? • To what extent were the project’s intended outputs and outcome consistent with national and local policies and priorities? • To what extent were key stakeholders and target groups (including gender considerations and vulnerable groups such as displaced persons, women, youth, and low-income households) appropriately identified? • To what extent was the project aligned with Adaptation Fund strategic priorities? 2) Effectiveness: To what extent did the project enhance climate resilience in targeted municipalities and communities in Jordan and Lebanon? • What products, services, and systems were delivered, and to what extent did they strengthen local capacity to plan, manage, and adapt to climate-related water challenges? • To what extent did local ownership influence the effectiveness of the project? • Was the monitoring and evaluation system adequate for tracking progress toward outputs and outcomes, and how was M&E information used to adapt implementation? • To what extent did assumptions and risk assessments hold true, and how effectively did the project respond to changes or external factors? 3) Efficiency: How well were resources used? • To what extent did resources, management arrangements, and execution structures support efficient project implementation? • To what extent did UN-Habitat and executing partners have adequate capacity to implement the project? • To what extent were institutional arrangements adequate and free from administrative, financial, or managerial bottlenecks? • To what extent did the project demonstrate value for money, and how effective were the adaptive management measures taken during implementation? • To what extent did activities and outputs contribute to achieving the expected accomplishments and objective? • To what extent was monitoring and reporting transparent and satisfactory to key stakeholders? 4) Impact: What difference has the project made? • To what extent has the project generated observable changes in the target communities and institutions? • Did the project produce any unintended or unexpected effects (positive or negative), and how might these influence long-term impact? • To what extent did the project contribute to reducing climate vulnerability and enhancing adaptive capacity of displaced persons and host communities? 5) Sustainability and Scalability: To what extent are project benefits likely to continue after Adaptation Fund financing ends? • To what extent was capacity developed in order to ensure sustainability of the efforts and benefits? Is there sufficient awareness in support of the projects’ objectives? • To what extent did the project engage the participation of key stakeholders in design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting to see that it is in their interest that the project benefits continue? • To what extent was the project aligned with national/local development priorities? What is the likelihood of financial and economic resources being available once the Adaptation Fund funding ends? • Are systems for accountability, O&M, and technical know-how in place? • To what extent did the project foster innovative partnerships with local institutions and authorities and other development partners? • Are there any environmental risks that may jeopardize sustainability of project achievements? • To what extent are arrangements in place to ensure continued compliance with environmental and social safeguards and gender commitments? • To what extent can the project’s approach, model, or key interventions be replicated or scaled up in other locations or contexts? • To what extent are the project’s methods, tools, systems, or partnerships institutionalized or documented in a way that supports future scaling? • To what extent are the project results likely to remain environmentally sustainable over time, including under changing climate and resource conditions? • To what extent are the beneficiaries and other similar users willing to pay for treated wastewater reuse in irrigation? • To what extent are the beneficiaries and other similar users willing to pay for the installation, maintenance and use of rooftop rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment systems? 6) Coherence: To what extent did other projects, support or complement the project? • Was the project coherent and implemented in synergy with other Adaptation Fund-supported activities or climate adaptation initiatives? • To what extent was the project coherent or complementary with other UN or donor-funded projects and national programmes? 7) Adaptive Management: To what extent was the project responsive to changing context and implementation conditions, and how effectively were evidence and lessons used to inform decisions during implementation? • To what extent was monitoring and learning evidence used to adapt implementation decisions (e.g., workplans, targeting, technical approaches, partnerships, timelines) and document the results of those adaptations? • To what extent did the project identify, document, and act on lessons learned and innovative practices/tools to improve implementation and outcomes? 8) Equity: To what extent were the benefits of the project shared fairly between groups and geographies, in line with the Adaptation Fund’s Environmental and Social Policy and Gender Policy? • To what extent were vulnerable and marginalized groups (including displaced persons, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and low-income households) meaningfully engaged across project design, implementation, monitoring, and follow-up? The evaluator may refine or expand on the evaluation questions, as necessary, in order to carry out the objectives of the evaluation. 4. Approach and Methodology: 4.1 Approach The evaluation will be conducted in a systematic, impartial, and evidence-based manner in accordance with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards and in line with the Adaptation Fund Evaluation Policy. The evaluator will propose a detailed approach and methodology in the inception report; however, the evaluation is expected to adopt a results-based approach grounded in the project’s Theory of Change (ToC), assessing the extent to which project activities and outputs contributed to the expected accomplishments (outcomes) and overall objective in Jordan and Lebanon. The ToC, building on the project’s logical framework, will serve as the central analytical tool for examining causality and the project’s performance. The evaluation should also apply participatory and utilization-focused approaches to promote meaningful engagement of key stakeholders and facilitate the practical use of the evaluation results. Emphasis will be placed on assessing project delivery, achievement of outputs and outcomes, lessons learned, critical gaps, and actionable recommendations. All findings and conclusions must be supported by verifiable and triangulated evidence. The main emphasis should be placed on project delivery, achievement of results; lessons learned, critical gaps; and recommendations. Findings in the evaluation should be evidence-based. 4.2 Evaluation Methodology A variety of methodologies will be applied to collect data to answer the evaluation questions. By triangulating available data sources, the evaluation will seek to establish strong evidence base and maximize the credibility of its analysis. Where relevant, applicable and feasible, the data will be disaggregated by gender, age, and beneficiary group (e.g, host communities, displaced per