Mid-term evaluation of the ARCS project: Improving Smallholder Resilience Through Customized Climate Services

The Mid-term Evaluation Consultant is responsible for conducting a comprehensive mid-term evaluation of the ARCS project, which aims to enhance the resilience, food security, and well-being of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and Malawi through customized climate services. The consultant will assess the project's operational structure, implementation progress, and early outcomes using OECD DAC evaluation criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. Key responsibilities include reviewing project documentation, conducting field assessments in Ethiopia and Malawi, analyzing data on climate information services (CIS) delivery and uptake, and interviewing stakeholders including smallholder farmers, national meteorological and agricultural institutions, and project consortium members. The consultant will also evaluate the consortium's management and coordination processes and provide forward-looking recommendations for potential upscaling. The role requires travel to project sites in Ethiopia and Malawi, collaboration with NORCAP, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI), and the Development Fund of Norway, and delivery of a detailed evaluation report with actionable recommendations.

Advanced university degree (Master's or PhD) in climate science, agricultural economics, development studies, environmental management, or a related field; minimum 7 years of professional experience in project evaluation, preferably in climate change adaptation, agricultural development, or humanitarian sectors; demonstrated experience in conducting mid-term evaluations for multi-stakeholder projects funded by international donors; strong knowledge of OECD DAC evaluation criteria and evaluation methodologies; experience in designing and implementing mixed-methods research approaches; familiarity with climate information services (CIS) and their application in smallholder agriculture; excellent analytical, report writing, and communication skills in English (additional languages such as Amharic, Chichewa, or French are advantageous); ability to work independently and under tight deadlines; prior experience working in Ethiopia and/or Malawi is highly desirable.