Location : Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN
Application Deadline : 12-May-08
Additional Category Democratic Governance
Type of Contract : SSA
Languages Required :
English Russian
Duration of Initial Contract : The evaluation will require three weeks (approximately 7 days of fieldwork)
Expected Duration of Assignment : 3 weeks (approximately 7 days of fieldwork)
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Background

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT # 86/2008

UNDP OFFICE IN UZBEKISTAN seeks multilingual qualified, motivated candidates with appropriate experience for the post of International Consultant/Project Evaluator for the UNDP “Central Asian Gateway(CAG)” Project.

Project Title: CENTRAL ASIAN GATEWAY (CAG)

Project Number:00034492

Type of Assignment: Project Evaluation

Timeframe of the mission: The evaluation will require three weeks (approximately 7 days of fieldwork)

Expected date of entry on duty: As soon as possible

Duty Station: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Type of contract:SSA, part-time

Background

The regional cooperation and integration in Central Asia as a prerequisite for stable economic progression and growth, security and human development is generally viewed via two main aspects: interaction of Governments and interaction of civil society/private sector. While nurturing inter-government dialogue is crucial without a doubt for regional collaboration, the need for regional collaboration in the civil society/private sector should also not be underestimated. This and the fact that information exchange and knowledge transfer being the efficient and influential way of interaction between people, groups, and/or societies led to a clear understanding of the need for a common information space that would facilitate regional articulation of ideas and policy research which leading to meaningful trends in regional cooperation and integration process.

In response to this need in 2003, based on recommendations of the International Conference on "Economic Reforms and Foreign Direct Investment in the transitional Economic Systems: Lessons and Prospects in Central Asia", an Internet portal on development issues was created under the name of Central Asian Gateway (CAG).

The portal (
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) intends for such user groups as: government, civil society and the academic community, private sector, international organizations/donors. The main aim of CAG is to support decision making on regional cooperation through information exchange and facilitation of capacity building and institutional strengthening of think tanks in delivering up-stream policy advice to the governments.

To date, the portal has proven itself a source of comprehensive and reliable information, an online regional info-nucleus containing databases of region related publications, statistics, news and events all grouped and indexed by relevance to a particular segment of the development agenda. The web-site also provides communication tools and mechanisms for exchange of knowledge. Target groups of users actively used the provided resources (nearly 120000 visits to the portal took place in 2007alone).

Currently, the project "Central Asian Gateway" is institutionalized and implemented as a strategic partnership by the following organizations that act as national partners: News Agency AKI-PRESS (Kyrgyzstan), Asia Plus News Agency (Tajikistan), The Center for Economic Research (Uzbekistan). The project is supported by UNDP RBEC Central Asia Cluster and assisted by the local UNDP missions in the respective countries. CAG partnership is open for new members to join with especial emphasis given to institutions in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Taking into account the results achieved in the previous activity phase of the CAG project, the last meeting of the Steering Committee of the CAG partnership decided that, along with strengthening of the existing informational components, the key task for the year 2008 is the enhancement of contribution into the establishment of pre-conditions for analytical support of public decision-making processes in the field of regional development through the introduction of a new research component aimed at development of analysis and recommendations to foster and promote socio-economic reforms in the region.

Along with the above mentioned, CAG resolves that an external evaluation is needed to assess the progress, relevance, and potential of the project for future and elaborate practical recommendations to outline and sculpt the outlook and prospective progression and advance of the project. Besides providing a supplementary vision of CAG prospects, this will become an important document for resource mobilization efforts in the future.

General Objective

To perform an external evaluation of the project and develop an implementation plan for CAG Development Strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities
Outputs

The evaluator is expected to produce:

1. Evaluation report outlining the project’s achievements and new development objectives set forward by CAG partners and stakeholders.

2. Action plan for implementation of CAG Development Strategy with a particular focus on fostering the role of CAG as a regional analytical info-resource and a tool for regional knowledge transfer and collaboration, as well as for fundraising which would also incorporate recommendations for maximizing outcomes and impact of project’s activities aimed at ensuring CAG’s institutional and financial sustainability.

Methodology of the mission

The evaluator should liaise closely with the stakeholders of the project and representatives of the donor community accredited and represented in the country and abroad as well as any other relevant entities identified in the course of evaluation. Consultations should be held with relevant partners as well as project personnel, and when applicable - groups/individuals benefited directly or indirectly from the project. Suggested data collection methods are: individual and group interviews, analysis of project papers and documents, personal observation.

Tentative scheme of mission

The Evaluator is expected to conduct meetings with major stakeholders, local and regional donors and partners of CAG in order to collect inputs and feedback with an aim of elaborating mechanisms of effective interaction with donors and practical implementation of CAG Development Strategy. The suggested timeline assumes the following:

* 4 days – deskwork in the home country of the Evaluator: deskwork - analyzing Project documentation and other relevant materials.
* 3 days – in Tashkent: meetings with major stakeholders and partners. Collecting inputs and

feedback of in-country donors.

* 2 days – meeting in the region in order to collect inputs and feedback from partners (Tajikistan)
* 2 days – meeting in the region in order to collect inputs and feedback from partners (Kyrgyzstan)
* 1 day – phone interviewing of the Regional Donor(s)
* 4 days – deskwork in the home country of the Evaluator: writing up Evaluation report and finalizing documents.


Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications:

The Evaluator should have a strong academic background, particularly in the areas of strategic planning, project evaluation and organizational development. He/she must have solid experience in the program formulation. The candidate must have a strong understanding of Uzbekistan’s specifics and regional environment.

Computer literacy is an asset.

Excellent public speaking and presentation skills are preferred.

Applicant must have excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English. Working knowledge of Russian is preferred.

Detail oriented, able to meet deadlines and able to prioritize multiple tasks.

Application Process: The applicants should submit completed UN Personnel History Forms to the reception of the UNDP Office in Uzbekistan located at 4, T. Shevchenko St., 700029, Tashkent in sealed envelopes with the indication of vacancy ID 86/2008. The electronic version of a UN Personnel History Form can be downloaded from
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(Job Opportunities Section) and submitted via
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, with clear indication of the vacancy ID (86/2008) in the message subject line. The deadline for submission of application is COB, May 12, 2008. Applicants are strongly encouraged to comply with the application instruction indicated above. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The position is open for International candidates.


Sources:

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Thanks,

Jalpa