National Individual Consultant for Midterm Evaluation of the Eswatini NDP

Agency: UNDP | Reference: UNDP-SWZ-00234 | Type: Call for individual consultants Description of the Assignment:The overall objective of the assignment is to undertake a comprehensive, independent, and evidence-based Midterm Evaluation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2023/24 – 2027/28 in order to assess implementation performance, strategic relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, sustainability, institutional functionality, financing adequacy, and emerging development outcomes during the first half of the Plan period, and to provide actionable recommendations and acceleration measures to strengthen implementation and achievement of national development results during the remaining implementation period.The specific objectives of the assignment are:Assess progress made toward the achievement of the NDP national outcomes, sectoral outcomes, strategic priorities, targets, and key performance indicators during the period under review.Evaluate the continued relevance and responsiveness of the NDP within the evolving national, regional, continental, and global socioeconomic, governance, environmental, fiscal, and development context.Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the institutional coordination, governance, implementation, accountability, and delivery mechanisms established to support implementation of the NDP.Examine the extent to which the NDP implementation framework has contributed toward: economic recovery; structural transformation; employment creation; poverty reduction; improved public service delivery; resilience building; environmental sustainability; and improved livelihoods for emaSwati.Assess the adequacy, alignment, efficiency, and sustainability of financing arrangements, resource mobilization mechanisms, public expenditure allocation, development financing coordination, and investment prioritization supporting implementation of the NDP.Evaluate the extent to which the NDP has integrated and operationalized: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); African Union Agenda 2063; climate change adaptation and mitigation priorities; green growth principles; disaster risk reduction and resilience; gender equality and women’s empowerment; youth empowerment; disability inclusion; and Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principles.Assess the effectiveness, adequacy, and functionality of the monitoring, evaluation, reporting, statistical, and data management systems supporting implementation tracking, accountability, evidence generation, and decision-making under the NDP.Identify implementation bottlenecks, institutional weaknesses, coordination gaps, policy inconsistencies, financing constraints, capacity limitations, and external factors affecting implementation effectiveness and achievement of intended development outcomes.Assess the extent to which the NDP implementation arrangements are adaptive and responsive to emerging socioeconomic, environmental, political, fiscal, and global shocks and challenges.Document lessons learned, innovations, good practices, and successful implementation approaches emerging from implementation of the NDP during the period under review.Provide practical, strategic, evidence-based, and actionable recommendations and acceleration measures to improve implementation effectiveness, institutional coordination, financing, accountability, policy coherence, and achievement of development results during the remainder of the NDP implementation period.Generate strategic insights and lessons to inform future national development planning frameworks, implementation models, development financing strategies, and national policy reform processes in Eswatini.Scope of WorkThe consultant will;Undertake a comprehensive Midterm Evaluation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2023/24 – 2027/28 covering the period from the commencement of implementation in FY2023/24 to the time of the evaluation.The assignment shall involve a thorough assessment of the implementation performance, institutional arrangements, financing systems, coordination mechanisms, policy coherence, monitoring and evaluation systems, and emerging development outcomes associated with implementation of the NDP.The evaluation shall go beyond routine progress reporting and undertake a strategic, analytical, and evidence-based assessment of whether the NDP implementation framework is effectively contributing toward the transformational national development outcomes envisioned under the Plan.The consultant firm shall undertake, but not necessarily be limited to, the following tasks:Review of the National Development Plan using internationally recognized evaluation principles and standards including the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria to cover relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, sustainability, and emerging impact.Assessment of Progress Toward NDP Outcomes and TargetsMacroeconomic, Fiscal and Development Financing AssessmentAssessment of Institutional Arrangements, Coordination and Governance MechanismsAssessment of Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Data SystemsAssessment of Policy Coh CONTACT: • Email: procurement.sz@undp.org