United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG)
Evaluation of Subprogramme 4: Statistics, the Information Society and Technology (2020-2025)
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Evaluation of Subprogramme 4: Statistics, the Information Society and Technology (2020-2025)
Job Opening ID: 281085
Job Network: -
Job Family: IAE
Category and Level: Affiliate Personnel – Consultants/Individual Contractors, CON
Recruitment Type: Consultant
Duty Station: BEIRUT
Department/Office: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Date Posted: Jul 22, 2026
Deadline: Aug 14, 2026
Result of Service
Ultimate Results of Service and Delivery Dates
- Inception Report: The evaluator will submit a draft Inception Report totaling not more than 10 pages, in addition to associated annexes. The Inception Report will summarize the desk review and propose the evaluation methodology and sampling strategy/ies to be used in the evaluation, along with a detailed workplan, draft evaluation matrix, stakeholder matrix, and quality assurance mechanism. Any revisions to the Inception Report will be implemented no later than one week following receipt of comments. The Inception Report shall, where relevant, address the integration of human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, and environmental issues. The Inception Report should contain ideas for further exploration to support organizational learning, to be done either as part of this evaluation or separately by ESCWA itself.
- Debriefing Meeting: Following the completion of the data collection and field mission phase, and prior to the delivery of the draft evaluation report, the evaluator should hold a debriefing meeting for the presentation of the preliminary findings to the project team.
- Draft Evaluation Report: Following data collection and the analysis of findings, the evaluator will submit a Draft Evaluation Report. The Draft Evaluation Report will be user-friendly, well-structured, and evidence-based, totaling not more than 40 pages, in addition to a 2-page Executive Summary and associated annexes. The Draft Evaluation Report will summarize the agreed-upon methodology listed in the Inception Report, describe the evaluation’s data collection and analytical approach, and present findings. In addition, the evaluator should develop clear action-oriented recommendations, which are forward-looking and will enable ESCWA to leverage and capitalize on innovative practices emerging from the Reform. The Draft Evaluation Report will be reviewed by ESCWA’s SPARK Section, and the programme team, before being discussed with the evaluator.
- Final Evaluation Report: The Final Evaluation Report that should incorporate the comments and feedback from the Evaluation Manager and the programme team, is expected. The Final Evaluation Report shall, where relevant, address the integration of human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, and environmental issues. The Final Evaluation Report shall contain information (data, findings, expert views) that may allow ESCWA to identify lessons for wider organizational learning or for potential changes to relevant organizational policies, irrespective of the extent to which the evaluation recommendations make reference to such information.
Work Location
Remote
Expected duration
5 Months
Duties and Responsibilities
Background
Subprogramme 4 Statistics, the information society and technology (subprogramme 4) aims to strengthen official statistical systems and advance the information society in the Arab region by improving the quality, availability, and use of data, while accelerating the integration of technology and innovation for sustainable development. It focuses on enhancing national statistical capacities to adopt international standards and innovative data sources; supporting evidence-based policymaking through improved production and use of statistics, including gender and disability data; and guiding digital transformation through policy advice on emerging technologies. The subprogramme also promotes regional dialogue and partnerships among governments, experts, civil society, and the private sector to maximize the value of statistics, geospatial data, digitization, and new technologies in support of the 2030 Agenda.
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Purpose of the Evaluation
Evaluations at ESCWA strive to demonstrate the difference that is being made by the work of ESCWA, and its impact on member States and their citizens. This evaluation will aim to determine the extent to which subprogramme 4 is achieving its intended results, the pathway to these results, and the elements that contribute most significantly to the achievement of these results. In addition, it will also consider how the project brings about any unintended results that may have occurred. The evaluation will serve three main purposes:
- It will provide a basis for evidence-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and risk management.
- It is a means to demonstrate accountability to the organization’s Executive Management and member States for performance, relative to ESCWA’s mandate and strategic objectives.
- It will inform and facilitate organizational learning by identifying evidence-based findings, lessons to be learned, and recommendations for action that enhance the next generation of ESCWA’s work.
The evaluation will therefore take both a summative and a formative approach. It will look at results achieved or not achieved so far (summative) with a view to inform ESCWA’s work in the future (formative). The evaluation will be conducted in line with ESCWA’s Evaluation Policy (2025), and the UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation. The evaluation will strive to employ development best practices with regard to promoting gender equality and a human rights-based approach, including the rights of persons with disabilities. The evaluation will be facilitated and coordinated by ESCWA’s Strategic Planning, Accountability, Results and Knowledge team.
Scope of the Evaluation
The evaluation will be forward-looking and will objectively and systematically assess the performance of the subprogramme in terms of its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. Furthermore, the evaluation will assess the extent to which gender, human rights, disability inclusion, environmental concerns, and other cross-cutting issues were incorporated or mainstreamed into the subprogramme. The evaluation will cover the period from January 2020 to December 2025.
Evaluation Criteria
The following key evaluation questions per criteria will guide the evaluation. The evaluator/s is expected to refine evaluation questions where necessary and to include the refinement in the Inception Report.
Relevance
- To what extent are the objectives and expected accomplishments of the subprogramme aligned with:
- ESCWA's strategic framework and programme budget?
- Regional development priorities and challenges?
- The 2030 Agenda and relevant SDGs?
- To what extent do the subprogramme's interventions respond to the evolving needs and priorities of member States?
- How well do the subprogramme's products and services (research, policy advice, capacity-building, convening) address identified gaps and demands?
- To what extent are the needs and priorities of vulnerable or marginalized population groups reflected in the subprogramme's design and implementation?
- How relevant are the subprogramme's thematic areas and approaches in the current regional context?
- To what extent has the subprogramme adapted to emerging regional challenges and opportunities?
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Coherence
- To what extent did the merger of the Statistics and Technology divisions create positive synergies, or did it result in parallel, siloed work streams?
- How well does the subprogramme align its data and technology initiatives with the interventions of UN Country Teams and the League of Arab States to avoid duplication?
- How well does subprogramme 4 align its scope and collaborate with other teams in ESCWA to avoid duplication and improve efficiency? For example, with DSDSD.
- Are there opportunities for greater coordination, collaboration, or integration with other subprogrammes within ESCWA and other institutions?
Effectiveness
- To what extent have the planned outputs and activities been delivered as intended?
- To what extent have the expected accomplishments/outcomes been achieved?
- How effectively has the subprogramme contributed to strengthening the capacities of member States and other stakeholders?
- To what extent have knowledge products and policy recommendations been utilized by target stakeholders?
- What factors facilitated or hindered the achievement of results?
- How effectively has the subprogramme integrated cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, human rights, disability inclusion, youth, and environmental sustainability?
- How could other factors have contributed to the achievement of the identified results?
- How were key partnerships integrated in the delivery of the programme to maximize the achievement of results?
Efficiency
- To what extent were financial, human, and technical resources used efficiently to produce outputs and outcomes?
- To what extent were management arrangements conducive to efficient implementation?
- How cost-effective were the different types of interventions (e.g., research, policy advisory services, capacity-building, regional forums)?
- To what extent did coordination within ESCWA and with external partners reduce duplication and generate synergies?
- Were monitoring, reporting, and learning mechanisms adequate to support adaptive management and efficient implementation?
- Could similar results have been achieved with fewer resources or through alternative approaches?
Impact
- What, if any, high-level effects did the programme cause (such as changes in norms or systems)?
- To what extent has the subprogramme influenced policies, legislation, strategies, institutions, or practices in member States?
- To what extent has the subprogramme contributed to regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and policy dialogue?
- To what extent did the intervention lead to other changes, including “scalable” or “replicable” results?
- While long-term transformative impact may be difficult to measure, what 'early signals' of impact – such as specific policy adoption, changes to statistical regulations, or behavioral shifts – can be directly traced to the subprogramme's interventions?
Sustainability
- Have capacities, systems, and institutional arrangements been strengthened sufficiently to maintain benefits?
- To what extent have knowledge products, tools, methodologies, and networks continued to be used after their initial delivery?
- What risks could affect the sustainability of the results, and how have they been addressed?
- Did the subprogramme
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