Evaluator - Establishing Effective Relationships between Innovation Actors in the Arab Region

Result of ServiceThe evaluator is expected to provide an inception report and eventually the final evaluation report by the end of his/her assignment. Work LocationRemotely Expected duration5 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesGiven the emergence by mid-2020 of a very complex and expanded innovation environment in the Arab region, the project Establishing Effective Relationships between Innovation Actors in the Arab Region to Expand the Science-Policy Nexus in Support of the 2030 Agenda (the project) was developed to explore ways to develop optimal relationships between relevant stakeholders, ensuring they work together towards developing a sustained and purposeful national technology sector. The project will create interlinked national Knowledge and Innovation Centers (KICs) to enhance the regional innovation ecosystem, build the regional capacities through updating related policies, and establish direct working relationships between the ESCWA Technology Center (ETC), National Technology Transfer Offices (NTTOs), United Nations Innovation Labs (UNTIL), Accelerator labs, ITU, WIPO, and other innovation actors in the region. This evaluation will aim to determine how the work undertaken in the project contributed to achieving its intended results, the pathway to these results, and the elements that contributed most significantly to the achievement of these results. In addition, it will also consider how the project brought about any unintended results that may have occurred. Inception Report: The evaluator will submit a draft Inception Report totalling not more than 10 pages, in addition to associated annexes. The Inception Report will summarize the desk review and propose the evaluation methodology and sampling strategy/ies to be used in the evaluation, along with a detailed workplan, draft evaluation matrix, stakeholder matrix, and quality assurance mechanism. Any revisions to the Inception Report will be implemented no later than one week following receipt of comments. The Inception Report shall, where relevant, address the integration of human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, and environmental issues. The Inception Report should contain ideas for further exploration to support organisational learning, to be done either a part of this evaluation or separately by ESCWA itself. Final Evaluation Report: Following the evaluation’s data collection and analysis of findings, the evaluator will submit a draft Final Evaluation Report. The Final Evaluation Report will be user-friendly, well-structured and evidence-based, totalling not more than 25 pages, in addition to a 2-page Executive Summary and associated annexes. The Final Evaluation Report must use the Development Account Project Evaluation Report Template, which will be provided to the evaluator. The Final Evaluation Report will summarize the agreed-upon methodology listed in the Inception Report, describe the evaluation’s data collection and analytical approach, and present findings with clear action-oriented recommendations. The Final Evaluation Report will be reviewed by ESCWA’s SPARK Section, discussed with the evaluator. A revised Final Evaluation Report is expected on 16 August. The Final Evaluation Report shall, where relevant, address the integration of human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, and environmental issues. The Final Evaluation Report shall contain information (data, findings, expert views) that may allow ESCWA to identify lessons for wider organisational learning or for potential changes to relevant organisational policies, irrespective of the extent to which the evaluation recommendations makes reference to such information. Both deliverables should be submitted in English. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced-level degree in management, evaluation, 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 five years’ experience undertaking impact evaluations, including of projects and/or evaluations working with Arab governmental bodies, is required. A good understanding of innovation, technological development and working with small and medium enterprises is required. Experience with process tracing analysis is desirable. A high level of expertise in the distilling, communication and reporting of findings, recommendations, best practices, and lessons learned is desirable. LanguagesEnglish 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 fluency in 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. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.