Mid-Term Reviewer – Inclusive Sustainable Rice Landscapes (ISRL) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• The Review Consultant will be home-based and will conduct a field assessment mission to Thailand, under the overall guidance of the Task Manager (GEF TM) and will report directly to the GEF TM and Portfolio Manager of the GEF Biodiversity and Land degradation Unit, Ecosystem Division in Nairobi. Inception phase:
• Preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff,
• Prepare the review framework in line with UNEP's evaluation guidelines,
• Identify stakeholders,
• Develop the interview/questions matrix,
• Plan the review schedule,
• Prepare the Inception Report. Data collection and analysis phase of the review, including:
• Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders,
• Conduct a field assessment mission to Thailand– approximately 10 days, including visiting one of the two project sites,
• Regularly report back to the Task Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and Reporting phase, including: Prepare a MTR Inception report with main tasks, timelines, and institutions, staff and project beneficiaries to be involved in the MTR,
• Draft the MTR Review Report, ensuring that the review report is complete, coherent and consistent with the ToR as well as Task Manager guidelines both in substance and style,
• Liaise with the Task Manager on comments received and finalize the MTR Review Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Task Manager,
• Prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted indicating the reason for the rejection; and Managing relations, including: Maintain a positive relationship with stakeholders, ensuring that the review process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence,
• Communicate in a timely manner with the Task Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.
• The consultant will prepare the following documents, in consultation and collaboration with the Project team:  Inception Report: containing an assessment of project, project stakeholder analysis, review framework and a tentative review schedule.
• Preliminary Findings Note: typically, in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, the sharing of preliminary findings is intended to support the participation of the project team, act to ensure all information sources have been accessed and provide an opportunity to verify emerging findings.
• Draft and Final Review Report: containing an executive summary that can act as a stand-alone document; detailed analysis of the review findings organized by review criteria and supported with evidence; lessons learned and recommendations and an annotated ratings table. The consultancy will be home-based with one field visit to Thailand.

Qualifications/special skills

• A minimum Masters/Advanced University degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required.
• A University degree in the same areas is acceptable with two additional years of relevant experience.
• At least 7 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach.
• Experience in GEF Biodiversity projects is desirable.
• Knowledge of the UN system; preferably including the work of UNEP is desirable.
• Professional work experience in Asia, on sustainable agriculture, is desirable.