Independent monitoring and evaluation expert

Terms of Reference for independent monitoring and evaluation
1. QSP trust fund project:
Project name and number: “Strengthening capacities for the development of the national Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) and supporting SAICM implementation in two countries with economy in transition: the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Macedonia.” – QSPTF/13/13/Gov/03
Project implementer: Environmental Pollution Prevention Office Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment of the Republic of Moldova,
Summary description of the project: The overall project objectives of the project are to strengthen capacities of the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Macedonia for implementation of the Kiev Protocol on PRTR in line with SAICM strategy.
The project will assist the countries in promoting of setting up and implementation the National Pollutant Release and Transfer Register System as well as capacity building and sharing of information and experience among CEE countries. For both countries the PRTR represents a useful tool for environmental management. This type of registers shall allow the governments to promote a better observance of their policies, by demonstrating trends for reducing the pollution levels. The implementation of the PRTR, as well, leads to a better monitoring of the compliance with the international standards of the Aarhus Convention and a more specific definition of the national priorities, policies, and programs.

Period of implementation: 06 November 2017 to 31 December 2018
Date of expected submission of the final monitoring and evaluation report: December 10, 2018
2. Objectives and outputs
The objective of the independent monitoring and evaluation of QSP trust fund projects is to provide a neutral third party assessment of project implementation, to identify project achievements and challenges, to measure project performance against objectives and to provide indications of achievement of the project objectives and tasks.
The monitoring and evaluation consultant is expected:
- to follow progress, activities and outcomes of the project based on documentation and information provided by the project implementing organization, stakeholders or other relevant actors involved in chemicals management activities and PRTR elaboration in the Republic of Moldova
- to provide a final report at the end of the project.
Report can only be submitted in English and will be developed using specific templates and forms, that are to be provided by EPPO. The final report(s) shall be submitted to the SAICM secretariat once completed.
3. Specific tasks and responsibilities:
The tasks for the development and submission of the monitoring and evaluation report include:
- Study of project background materials, including the project description, work plan and application to the QSP trust fund, the guidelines and forms for monitoring and evaluation of QSP trust fund projects, SAICM texts and QSP general materials.
- Study of general national chemicals management information, including, when available, a National Chemicals Profile, existing relevant policies and legislation and reports of other relevant international and national projects.
- Monitoring of the project activities and outcomes, through contact with the project management and/or other relevant stakeholders, in order to regularly gather information and documentation on implementation of planned project activities, including meeting documents, reports and participants’ lists, developed public information and training materials, publication and other relevant reports.
- Undertaking interviews of and/or sending questionnaires to stakeholders involved in the project in preparation of the monitoring and evaluation report(s), using the guidelines and suggested format of the SAICM secretariat.
- Drafting of the monitoring and evaluation report using all previously obtained information and documents in relation of the project and by filling the specific templates provided by the SAICM secretariat.
- Timely submission of the finalized final report to the SAICM secretariat on the agreed dates, completion of all project activities.
- Availability to provide additional information or correction on the report after submission.

4. Expected qualifications of the evaluator
 A professional background in relevant sciences;
 At least 5 years of work experience in evaluating technical cooperation projects in the field of environment and preferable chemicals management;
 Strong conceptual and methodological skills;
 Possess the evaluations methods needed for gender specific analysis;
 An extensive experience in interviewing, data processing;
 Familiarity with the OECD/DAC evaluation quality standards;
 Strong communication skills in English and Romanian
5. Workload and submission
The expected workload of consultancy is 10-15 working days. Interested candidates must submit their CV in English and the financial offer before 29 October 2018 to the following address: info@eppo.md.