Duty station: Baku, Azerbaijan
Project title: “Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for low-carbon end-use sectors in Azerbaijan”.Position: Terminal Evaluator (local)
Contract duration: May – August 2020
Expected Starting Date: The IC is expected to start the work upon instruction from the Project Manager.
Considering COVID-19 Pandemic teleworking option might be considered as well.
Post Level: Local Consultant
Contract type: Individual Contract (IC)
Location: Baku with travels to Sumgayit city and other sites in close proximity to Baku as necessary
Proposal should be submitted no later than 12th May 2020, 24:00 Baku time, to the following email address:
Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the e-mail indicated above. UNDP in Azerbaijan will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all shortlisted consultants.
The full-sized project titled “Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for low-carbon end-use sectors in Azerbaijan” (PIMS # 5138) – started on the 05.03.2015 — is now in the final stages of implementation through the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). This is the Terms of Reference (ToR) and Procurement Notice for the UNDP-GEF Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the project, which is to be undertaken from May to August 2020. The conduct of the TE will be through the joint efforts of a short-term international consultant and a short-term local consultant who will work closely together in meeting all the requirements of the task. The procurement arrangements for the engagement of international consultant, who will lead the entire TE effort has been already initiated[1]. This procurement aims at hiring
[1] The TOR of the international consultant for conducting the TE, which has been annexed to this procurement notice, is an integral part of the scope-of-work of the local consultant. The local consultant will work closely with the international consultant in carrying out all aspects of the tasks that have been highlighted in the attachment.
the services of an individual Local Consultant who will work as part of a team led by the international consultant in carrying out the various tasks up to the successful completion of the TE.
Objective and scope
The project was designed to support SOCAR in the implementation of its Climate Change Mitigation Strategy by promoting and upscaling GHG mitigation measures through a programmatic NAMA approach in the low-carbon end-use sectors, where pilot investments will be directed into low energy and low carbon technologies that are so far missing on a large scale on the Azeri market. The concept of NAMAs represents a valuable opportunity for a huge enterprise, such as SOCAR, to developing and implementing a large scale GHG mitigation program that is in line with the company’s long-term sustainable development strategy and simultaneously will target the country’s institutional & policy framework, address appropriate mechanisms and result in activities to realize significant GHG emission reduction achievements in the long term.
The proposed project is set within the country’s ambitions to reduce GHG emissions and energy intensity of major energy end-use sectors in Azerbaijan and simultaneously introduce innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in main energy end-use sectors such as buildings and transportation systems.
The project has been organized around four outcomes, to be implemented over a period of five years.
- Outcome 1: Assessment of GHG emission mitigation potentials and voluntary target setting;
- Outcome 2: Design & establishment of NAMAs in oil & gas end-use sectors;
- Outcome 3: Implementation of a set of (up to 3) project NAMAs in the oil & gas end-use sector;
- Outcome 4: Monitoring, Reporting & Verification system and national registry for mitigation actions in the energy generation and end-use sectors to be set up.
The TE will be conducted according to the UNDP guidance on final evaluations, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects. The TE will take place over a period of four months and will require 25 days’ level-of-effort of the local consultant. The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons learned that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of future UNDP programming.
Evaluation Approach and Methodology
An overall approach and method[1] for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects has developed over time. The evaluation effort will be based on the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in the UNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-supported, GEF-financed Projects.
The evaluation must provide evidence‐based information that is credible, reliable and useful. The evaluator is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with government counterparts, in particular the GEF operational focal point, UNDP Country Office, project team, UNDP GEF Technical Adviser based in the region and key stakeholders. Beside holding of appropriate meetings, the local consultant shall undertake field missions to the various project sites and facilities which are mostly located within Baku’s vicinity. Interviews will be held with the key officials in the following organizations at a minimum:
- State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and its various departments;
- Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR);
[1] For additional information on methods, see the Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results, Chapter 7, pg. 163
- National Climate Change Center (NCCC);
- Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, project budget revisions, midterm review, progress reports, GEF focal area tracking tools, project files, national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment. A list of documents that the project team will provide to the evaluator for review is included in Annex B of this Terms of Reference.
- REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The evaluation team will be composed of 1 international consultant (Team Leader) and 1 national consultant. The consultants shall have prior experience in evaluating GEF projects. The evaluators selected should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have conflict of interest with project related activities.
The local consultant shall have the following qualifications and competencies:
- Previous experience with results‐based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
- Experience of working with renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change related project evaluations;
- Work experience in relevant technical areas for at least 5 years;
- Fluency in English; knowledge of Russian and Azeri languages is required;
- Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies;
- Experience applying SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios;
- Competence in adaptive management, as applied to climate change and energy efficiency;
- Excellent analytical and communication skills;
- Project evaluation/review experience within United Nations system, if any;
- A Master’s degree in climate change, energy efficiency, environmental management, energy economics, engineering, or other closely related field.
For contacts: For more information, email: procurement.aze@undp.org
