ICCWC Strategic Programme Evaluation Consultant (1 Post)

Result of ServiceThe main objective of the consultancy is to deliver an evaluation of the ICCWC Strategic Programme 2016-2020 focused on impact. The evaluation will be formative in nature and seek to derive conclusions, recommendations, best practices and lessons, identify areas of improvement, obtain feedback from those affected, and record achievements. Work LocationRemote. Regular communication and reporting will take place via appropriate communication channels with the ICCWC Coordinator at the CITES Secretariat. Expected duration15 May – 15 October 2025 (5 months). Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between States. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival (www.cites.org). The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP and is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) is a collaborative effort of five organizations: the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank Group (WBG) and the World Customs Organization (WCO). Its aim is to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support at national, regional and international level to combat wildlife crime. The five partner organizations operate collectively to provide a comprehensive range of tools and services and extensive expertise to countries, working directly with authorities across the criminal justice chain and supporting them in preventing, detecting, investigating, prosecuting, disrupting and addressing wildlife crime effectively (www.iccwc-wildlifecrime.org). ICCWC is chaired by the CITES Secretariat. The Letter of Understanding Establishing the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime, signed by the five ICCWC partner organizations in 2010, has provided a guiding framework for the implementation and delivery of ICCWC activities since the Consortium’s inauguration. It was on the basis of this Letter that the ICCWC Strategic Mission 2014-2016 was developed, establishing five focus areas where ICCWC is uniquely-placed to effectively contribute to combating wildlife trafficking through the diverse technical expertise, regional networks and on-the-ground experience of its partners. Guided by the strategic plans and work programmes of the five organizations and building on the general ‘strategies’ identified in the Consortium’s Strategic Mission, ICCWC developed a Strategic Programme for 2016-2020, which outlined a set of concrete priorities and the types of activities to be pursued by the Consortium until 2020, to substantially reduce wildlife poaching and trafficking. The ICCWC Strategic Programme 2016-2020 was based on a review of activities and priorities, as well as on recommendations and requests by i) the ICCWC partners, represented by the ICCWC Senior Experts Group (SEG), following a detailed analysis of the work that had been conducted by partners up to 2016, and ii) by countries. The Programme’s implementation benefitted from a total funding of approximately USD 22,5m jointly provided by the European Union, France, Germany, Monaco, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. Activities under the Programme were implemented by the five ICCWC partners. A consultant is sought to undertake an impact evaluation of the implementation of the ICCWC Strategic Programme 2016-2020 (implementation was extended until June 2024), with the aim to record and appraise its efficiency (how economically resources/inputs [funds, expertise, time, etc.] were converted into results), effectiveness (the extent to which objectives were achieved, taking account of their relative importance) and relevance (the extent to which objectives were consistent with beneficiaries’ requirements, country needs, global priorities, and partner and donor policies). The evaluation will be formative in nature and seek to derive conclusions, recommendations, best practices and lessons, identify areas of improvement, obtain feedback from those affected, and record achievements. To achieve the above, the evaluation will include information on the numbers and types of activities conducted, their success (what worked or not and why, e.g., barriers and enablers), countries and regions involved, levels of participation and engagement, species targeted, and other programme figures. Information on the changes brought about by the Programme will be provided, including through case studies, success stories, identified intervention gaps and the assessed overall sustainability of the changes. The evaluation will also consider aspects pertaining to: the creation, functioning and value of the partnerships and cooperation established; the accounting for human rights and gender aspects; the contribution to poverty alleviation; the use of adaptive management; and the harnessing of lessons learnt. The main users of the evaluation of the Strategic Programme 2016-2020 will comprise senior and pro-gramme managers of ICCWC partners and donors to the ICCWC Strategic Programme. A questionnaire in the form of a CITES Notification to the Parties will be issued to consult broadly with beneficiary countries, and targeted consultations will be conducted thereafter with selected respondents. Given the broad range of countries covered by the Strategic Programme, a tactical approach will be re-quired to select the countries and activities to be subjected to evaluation. Under the overall supervision of the ICCWC Coordinator at the CITES Secretariat, the consultant will: 1. Guide and deliver an evaluation of the following in relation to the implementation of the ICCWC Strategic Programme 2016-2020: 1.1. Efficiency (how economically resources/inputs [funds, expertise, time, etc.] were converted into results); 1.2. Effectiveness (the extent to which objectives were achieved, taking account of their relative importance); and 1.3. Relevance (the extent to which objectives were consistent with beneficiaries’ requirements, country needs, global priorities, and partner and donor policies). To achieve the above, the evaluation will assess the efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of the Programme resorting to substantiating evidence. This will include information on the numbers and types of activities conducted, their success (what worked or not and why, e.g., barriers and enablers), countries and regions involved, levels of participation and engagement, species targeted, and other programme figures. Information on the changes brought about by the Programme will be provided, including through case studies, success stories, identified intervention gaps and the assessed overall sustainability of the changes. The evaluation will inclusively consider aspects pertaining to: the creation, functioning and value of established partnerships and cooperation; the accounting for human rights and gender; the contribution to poverty alleviation; the use of adaptive management; and the harnessing of lessons learnt. 2. Develop a questionnaire directed at ICCWC Strategic Programme beneficiary countries to collect information required for delivering point 1. The questionnaire will be circulated by the CITES Secretariat in the form of a CITES Notification to the Parties. 3. Interview and consult a strategic selection of stakeholders to deliver point 1, including: 3.1. Programme beneficiaries at country-level, including government representatives and other personnel (e.g., ministries, police, customs, prosecution, judiciary); 3.2. ICCWC partner organizations, through the ICCWC SEG and Technical Experts Group (TEG); and 3.3. Strategic Programme donors (representatives from the European Union, France, Germany, Monaco, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America). 4. Review relevant documentation and literature to substantiate the evaluation. 5. Prepare and deliver a report that records the methods and results of the above work and a supporting PowerPoint slide deck. 6. Prepare and deliver an inception report for the planned work. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political sciences, international relations, law, criminal justice, business administration, economics or public administration or related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. · At least 7 years of relevant work experience at the international level, related to international programme/project evaluation, including working with international organizations is required. · Within the 7 years of experience, at least 5 years of specific work experience related to wildlife crime/wildlife crime enforcement is required. · Within the 7 years of experience, at least 5 years of experience in stakeholder consultation, including government representatives, enforcement authorities, and civil society actors is required. · In addition to the above experience, specific experience working with ICCWC partners, government, private sector or nongovernmental organizations in the context of wildlife crime would be an advantage. LanguagesFluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in spoken and written French and/or Spanish is an advantage. Additional InformationReporting lines: The consultant will report to and be evaluated by the ICCWC Coordinator at the Enforcement Unit of the CITES Secretariat in Geneva. Payment Terms: Payment will be made upon successful completion, review and quality assurance of the deliverables specified under Outputs/Work assignment above. The deliverables must be submitted to the direct supervisor and certified as being of adequate quality and meeting the terms of delivery before payment is made. Required field of work and where applicable, area of specialty: · Excellent knowledge of international programme/project evaluation is required. · Good knowledge and understanding of wildlife crime and its enforcement are required. · Specific experience evaluating programmes/projects related to responses to address wildlife and forest crime, anti-corruption, legislative assistance, or other forms of capacity building for strengthening criminal justice is desirable. · Specific knowledge of ICCWC’s processes and work is desirable. · Excellent interpersonal skills, cultural and social sensitivity, and ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners and authorities at different governance levels are required. · Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment, and to work effectively in culturally diverse environments are required. · Excellent overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, MS Teams, MS Outlook, etc.) is required. · Ability to work with minimum supervision to comply with tight deadlines is required. e) Competencies: Professionalism: Demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to CITES and ICCWC’s work; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to CITES Secretariat procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. Teamwork and respect for diversity: Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues. Planning and organizing: Effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. Communication: Proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military and enforcement personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups. 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.