Evaluation of Development Account Project – Expanding the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Arab region

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is seeking an individual evaluation consultant to assess the performance and impact of the project focused on expanding the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and dynamic simulator tools in the Arab region. The primary objective of the assignment is to evaluate how the project achieved its intended outcomes, determine causal pathways, identify unintended results, and provide evidence-based insights to inform organizational learning and strategic planning across member States. The scope of the evaluation covers project activities implemented from January 2024 through December 2026. The selected evaluator will employ a forward-looking, mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) to assess project performance based on standard criteria including relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. The consultant will also evaluate the degree to which cross-cutting priorities—such as gender equality, human rights, disability inclusion, and environmental sustainability—were successfully mainstreamed. Working under the coordination of ESCWA's Strategic Planning, Accountability, Results and Knowledge (SPARK) Section, the consultancy will span an expected duration of 6 months on a hybrid/remote work arrangement attached to the Beirut duty station. The resulting evaluation will deliver actionable recommendations to improve future ESCWA initiatives in fiscal policy, debt management, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) financing.