Mid-Term Evaluation Specialist

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, helping countries build sustainable solutions to development challenges through expertise, partnerships and innovation. In Lesotho, UNDP supports national efforts to eradicate poverty and advance the Sustainable Development Goals through governance, inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, climate action and resilience programming.

The Mid-Term Evaluation Specialist will support the independent evaluation of the Renewable Lesotho: Access to Affordable and Renewable Energy (RL:AARE) project, a flagship initiative implemented by UNDP with funding from the European Union. The project aims to increase renewable energy generation, improve energy efficiency, expand equitable access to clean energy, and strengthen institutional capacity within Lesotho’s energy sector.

This is a full-time International UN Volunteer Expert assignment, primarily remote, with approved travel to Lesotho for consultations, field visits and validation activities. The assignment will assess project relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability, while examining gender equality, disability inclusion, youth engagement, human rights and support to vulnerable groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review of project documentation, results frameworks, work plans, budgets, reports and technical outputs.
• Develop an inception report outlining the evaluation methodology, evaluation matrix, data collection tools, stakeholder engagement plan and workplan.
• Apply mixed-methods evaluation approaches, including document reviews, interviews, focus groups, surveys, field observations and monitoring data analysis.
• Consult with government institutions, the European Union, UNDP, implementing partners, private-sector actors, civil society, academia and beneficiary communities.
• Conduct field visits to project sites, including selected institutions, service providers and electrified schools.
• Assess project performance against OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, including relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.
• Review progress in establishing the Results-Based Finance mechanism and the Access and Application Windows.
• Analyse integration of gender equality, disability inclusion, youth participation, human rights and support to vulnerable groups.
• Prepare and present preliminary findings, draft evaluation reports, final evaluation reports and recommendations.
• Ensure evaluation independence, confidentiality, ethical standards and evidence-based reporting throughout the assignment.

Requirements

Education

• Master's degree in Engineering, Energy, Economics, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• A PhD is considered an asset.

Experience

Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, with candidates with 10 years of international experience also considered.

Relevant experience includes:

• Programme and project evaluation
• Applied research and complex evaluations
• Renewable energy, energy access, and energy efficiency
• Mixed-methods evaluation, fieldwork, and stakeholder consultations
• Evidence-based reporting and analytical writing
• Gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and human rights-based evaluation approaches

Candidates should also demonstrate knowledge of the Sub-Saharan African context, Lesotho's energy sector, and the ability to operate independently while declaring any potential conflicts of interest.

Languages

• English (Fluent) – Required

Special Notice

UN Volunteers serve full-time in their professional expertise, supported by a benefits package, including a monthly living allowance (MLA) to ensure a secure standard of living at their duty stations. Check out UNV's Entitlement Calculator on UVP, the Unified Volunteering Platform, and learn more about related benefits.