Overview of the functions of the post

Terms of Reference

EvaluationoftheRegional Humid Tropics Hydrology and Water Resources Centre for South-East Asia and the Pacific (HTC-KL)

Background

The Regional Humid Tropics Hydrology and Water Resources Centre for South-East Asia and the Pacific (HTC-KL) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysiais a member of this UNESCO Water Family. HTC-KL was approved as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO (C2C) by the 26th General Conference of UNESCO in 1991. It was established through an agreement signed on 27 October 1999 and renewed on 6 March 2019. The current agreement for HTC-KL as a C2C will expire on 5 March 2025. On 24 August 2023, the Permanent Delegation of Malaysia to UNESCO expressed to the Division of Water Sciences its interest and commitment regarding the renewal of the agreement with the Centre.

The mission of HTC-KL (Humid Tropics Centre - Kuala Lumpur) is to foster a collaborative environment for the exchange of technology and information in the fields of education and science, with a focus on the hydrological cycle and water resources. Our goal is to enhance scientific and technological knowledge on the hydrological cycle through coordinated research, training, and information dissemination. By fulfilling its mission, HTC-KL aims to contribute significantly to the understanding and management of water resources, promoting sustainable development and scientific advancement in the region. For more information on the Centre, please consult the HTC-KL website: http://htckl.water.gov.my/.

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381664_spa?posInSet=4&queryId=N-6fc229aa-3d27-4b83-a9c9-f5cf801289a4.

The evaluation report will be shared with the Malaysian government and with HTC-KL and be included in the final report to the Executive Board on the execution of the Programme, as specified in the Integrated Comprehensive Strategy. They will also be made available on the website of the Natural Science Sector of UNESCO. The management response and action plan to the evaluation report will be implemented based on the Strategy for Category 2 institutes centres under the auspices of UNESCO (2019), contained in document 40 C/79 and its annexes.

Status of the Centre

HTC-KL is independent of UNESCO. The Centre, in accordance with the laws and regulations of Malaysia, enjoys the functional autonomy necessary for the execution of its activities and the legal capacity to contract, institute legal proceedings, and acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property

Evaluation criteria

To meet the purpose of the evaluation described above, the following possible evaluation criteria shall be considered by the independent evaluation expert/s (consultant/organization) (and all other references to a singular consultant) responsible for conducting the evaluation, in line with Section E.2.i.d of the Strategy:

* Coherence: This will be done at double levels:

- Internally, the evaluator will analyse the synergies and interlinkages between the intervention and other interventions carried out by HTC-KL as well as their consistency with relevant international norms and standards to which HTC-KL adheres.

- Externally, the evaluator will analyse the consistency of HTC-KL ’s interventions with those of other institutions/actors (other centres under the auspices of UNESCO) in the same context. This includes complementarity, harmonisation and co-ordination with others and the extent to which the intervention is adding value while avoiding duplication of effort.

* Efficiency: The extent to which HTC-KL delivers, or is likely to deliver, results in an economic and timely way. This will analyse how well are resources being used within HTC-KL in the most cost-effective way possible to achieve results.

* Effectiveness: The extent to which HTC-KL achieved or is expected to achieve its objectives and its results, including any differential results across groups, taking into account their relative importance. This will involve taking into account the relative importance of the objectives or results.

* Impact: This will contribute to understand the extent to which HTC-KL has or is expected to have positive or negative, intended or unintended, long-term effects. Under these criteria, the evaluator will address the ultimate significance and potentially transformative effects of the intervention of HTC-KL, by identifying social, environmental and economic effects of the intervention of HTC-KL that are longer term or broader in scope than those already captured under the effectiveness criterion. The evaluator here will examine the holistic and enduring changes of HTC-KL in systems or norms, and potential effects on people’s well-being, human rights, gender equality, and the environment.

* Relevance: This will help to understand the extent to which the HTC-KL objectives and design respond to beneficiaries, global, country and partner/institution needs, policies and priorities and continue to do so, if circumstances change.

* Sustainability: The extent to which the net benefits of the HTC-KL as category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO continue or are likely to continue. The evaluator will examine the financial, economic, social, environmental, and institutional capacities of HTC-KL, needed to sustain net benefits over time.

Therefore, the following points will also be assessed:

i. The extent to which the Centre’s objectives, as set out in the agreement signed with UNESCO, were achieved.

ii. The extent to which the activities and outputs by the centre are in conformity with those set out in the Agreement signed with UNESCO and the Government of Malaysia

iii. The extent to which the Centre’s outputs are in line with UNESCO’s strategic programme objectives and expected results, including the two global priorities of the Organization (Global Priority Africa and Global Priority Gender Equality), and related sectoral or programme priorities and themes

iv. What is the contribution of the Centre to sustainable development targets on water and sciences-technology

v. The effectiveness of the Centre’s programmes and activities to achieving its stated objectives;

vi. To what extent is the Centre planning and coordinating the implementation of its programmes with UNESCO Headquarters, UNESCO Field Offices, National Commissions and other thematically related category 1 and 2 institutes or centres.

vii. To what extent the partnerships developed and maintained with government agencies, public or private partners and donors contributed to the results of the Centre

viii. The efficiency of the Centre’s governance, including organizational arrangements, management, human resources and accountability mechanisms

ix. The financial and human resources available for ensuring sustainable institutional capacity and viability

x. The extent to which the Centre enjoys within its territory the autonomy necessary for the execution of its activities and legal capacity to contract, institute legal proceedings, and to acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property

xi. What has been the contribution of the Centre to sustainable development targets on water and sciences-technology and to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)

xii. How effective were the partnerships developed and maintained with government agencies, public or private partners and public and private donors of the centre?

xiii. How effective were the partnerships developed especially on the two global priorities of UNESCO for the cultivation of engineering technicians in African countries and areas and the training of female engineers?

xiv. Did the delivery of projects, outputs and outcomes meet the basic minimum requirements and standards?

Focus Areas for Evaluation

In observing these parameters, the evaluator should pay special attention to

· What has been the contribution of the Centre to sustainable development targets on water and sciences-technology and to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)?

· How effective were the partnerships developed and maintained with government agencies, public or private partners and public and private donors of the centre?

· How effective were the partnerships developed especially on the two global priorities of UNESCO for the cultivation of engineering technicians in African countries and areas and the training of female engineers?

· Did the delivery of projects, outputs and outcomes meet the basic minimum requirements and standards?

· How do HTC-KL activities, actions and projects align with UNESCO’s C5 expected outcomes articulated in Major Programme II and Medium-Term Strategy (MTS)? 

· How the Centre’s contribution was conducted in collaboration with the broad international network of the Malaysian Academy of Sciences, and other basic science related Centres under the auspices of UNESCO, as well as with other relevant partners and institutions?

· How effective were the partnerships developed and maintained with government agencies, public or private partners and public and private donors of the centre?

· Whether the delivery of projects, outputs and outcomes meet the basic minimum requirements and standards?

Evaluation Approach and Methodology

The evaluation will utilize a mixed method approach making use of qualitative and quantitative data. All findings will be triangulated from multiple data sources. Possible data collection methods include:

1. A desk study of relevant documents, provided by the Centre and the UNESCO Beijing Office;

2. Interviews the Centre’s management and staff (telephone, online, via e-mail and physical visit where possible)

3. Interviews (telephone, online and/or via e-mail and physical visit where possible) with the Centre’s stakeholders, including implementing partners, beneficiaries as well as staff at UNESCO Beijing office, Natural Sciences Sector and other relevant offices in Headquarters, relevant regional offices and elsewhere

4. Conduct on-site visits and observation to the Centre.

The selected team of evaluators will prepare a detailed approach (information collection tools, data sources and data collection methods, people to be interviewed, travel itinerary and duration) and present the methodological approach in the draft evaluation inception report.

Planning and Implementation Arrangements

A designated UNESCO staff member will assist in the preparation and implementation of the evaluation exercise. The evaluator(s) will be responsible for being self-sufficient as regards logistics (office space, administrative and secretarial support, telecommunications, etc.). However, suitable working space, when necessary, will be provided

The consultant will be expected to:

- Keep close communication with UNESCO Beijing Office throughout the review process. Discuss key findings and recommendations with UNESCO and partners;

- Keep a clear archive of all records of desk reviews, interviews, photos taken and any other documents for the review by UNESCO Beijing Office;

- Formulate a first progress report that clarifies objectives and methods of the evaluation.

- Make travel arrangements in coordination with the Centre and submit all original documentation of travel to UNESCO for reimbursement. The contractor will be responsible for costs of travel, telecommunications and printing of documentation.

The final evaluation report should make include actionable recommendations on how the Centre can improve and reinforce its contribution to UNESCO’s programme. It shall also assess the extent to which the provisions of the current agreement need to be updated in order to conform to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the provisions of the model agreement in the Strategy for Category 2 Institutes and Centres (2019). UNESCO Natural Science Sector is responsible for the overall preparation of the renewal agreement.

Prepare and submit to UNESCO Beijing office for its comments and approval, by 15 October 2024 at the latest, an inception report explaining the evaluation methodology to be implemented.

Prepare and submit to UNESCO Beijing office for its comments and approval, by 30 November 2024 at the latest, a draft executive summary report:

The draft executive summary of the evaluation is to be submitted in English. The process for preparing the draft executive summary should allow sufficient time for a discussion and validation of the findings and the recommendations with the relevant UNESCO Natural Science programme sector and pertinent stakeholders, including the government(s) that proposed the designation of the Centre and the Centre itself.

In consultation with the Director of UNESCO Beijing and UNESCO Secretariat, prepare and submit to UNESCO for its comments and approval, by 30 December 2024, a final review report in English.

The final evaluation report should be in English language of maximum 20-25 pages, excluding the executive summary and annexes.

Reporting

- Annexes - including list of interviewees (name, title, contacts and institutional affiliation), key research questions asked, tables and figures (if needed) which provide evidence on main findings, key documents consulted, Terms of Reference.

The following documents will be made available to the consultant by UNESCO and the Centre:

Instalments

The financial support is payable in instalments upon certification by the UNESCO Officer responsible for this contract of satisfactory fulfilment by the Contractor of the conditions corresponding to each payment.

Required qualifications

EDUCATION

- Advanced degree in environmental sciences, engineering.

WORK EXPERIENCE

- A minimum of 5 years of relevant job experience.

- Prior experience in evaluating institutions especially in the UN system would be an advantage.

SKILLS / COMPETENCIES

- Excellent technical knowledge and writing skills.

LANGUAGES

- Excellent knowledge of English (oral and written).

How to Apply

- Interested candidates should submit their technical and financial proposal following the template (download here: https://unesco-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/a_sugiura_unesco_org/EXnC4250R_xOiZmcpZTGwAMBfPO75nXfXO9LOd1Opq4TBg?e=gkQqhJ) and CV in English to UNESCO Beijing office jobvacancy@unesco.org.The deadline is 19 September 2024 at midnight (local time).

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UNESCO is committed to promote geographical distribution and gender equality within its Secretariat. Therefore, women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States. Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.