UNESCO is seeking an External Evaluator to undertake an independent mid-term evaluation of its project on addressing students’ learning gaps in Asia-Pacific for the implementation period from 12 December 2023 to 31 December 2025. The mid-term evaluation will assess the project’s progress to help learn and improve on project’s implementation for its remaining period, including applying course correction if required.
Responsibilities :
The evaluator is expected to provide UNESCO with a comprehensive final evaluation report of no more than 30 pages (excluding annexes).
The evaluator will be home based, working remotely and is expected to have IT access, software and devices to support remote meetings, communication and online/digital data collection, as appropriate.
It is expected that the evaluator will be available to meet with the UNESCO team (online) during office hours of Bangkok, Thailand.
No duty travel or physical presence at the UNESCO Bangkok office or project countries is expected. The evaluator will be responsible for arranging their own logistics: office space, administrative and secretarial support, telecommunications, travel arrangements, printing of documentation, etc.
The costs of these logistics should be included in the lump sum payment of the consultancy contract.
Additionally, the evaluator should note that some national stakeholders—particularly in Lao PDR—may require interpretation during interviews, focus group discussions, or meetings.
Any translation or interpretation services required for data collection (including translations of surveys, questionnaires, interview guides, or other evaluation tools) will be the responsibility of the evaluator and should be reflected in the proposed methodology and budget.
The evaluator will be directly supervised by and report to Education Programme Specialist.
In addition to the submission of contract deliverables, the evaluator will routinely engage with UNESCO project team members through emails and virtual meetings.
Upon commencing the consultancy, the evaluator will participate in an initial online meeting with UNESCO Bangkok and New Delhi to reconfirm the parameters of the consultancy and to update, as needed, the consultancy approach to work and timeline, to define required sub-tasks and interim outputs to be carried out as evaluator, and the supportive inputs required from UNESCO and collaborating partners on the respective activities.
The UNESCO project team members will support the evaluation process, by facilitating access to information and documents relevant to the evaluation as well as providing the contact information of key actors and informants, as well as facilitating the initial introduction where required.
Requirements :
An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in education, development studies or other relevant fields.
A minimum of five (5) years experience in applying results-based management in development cooperation work and qualitative and quantitative methods in social sciences research.
Experience in conducting evaluation in the education sector.
Experience working with Ministries of Education and Teacher Training Institutions in Asia. (Desirable)
Strong understanding of UNESCO’s mandate in education and its strategy on inclusion in education (human rights-based approach). (Desirable)
Submission of at least two (2) references/supporting examples of relevant evaluations previously completed.
Excellent analytical, spoken, and written communication skills, including the production of written content for both specialist and generalist audiences.
Experience in online participatory meeting design, facilitation and evaluation.
Familiarity with common data analysis software (e.g., Microsoft Excel and relevant statistical tools) and data collection applications (e.g., Google Survey).
