Consultancy: Humanitarian Evidence Analyst (Office of Emergency Programmes) (10 months)

Working with stakeholders across selected country offices, regional offices and headquarters, the consultant will develop solutions to improve the easy access and use of evidence to inform strategic oversight of humanitarian action.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background...

In humanitarian situations, UNICEF is accountable for making a difference in the survival, care and protection of children and women, in line with the strategic results in the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.  In these contexts, managing for results requires quick analysis and decision-making, often in politicized contexts and with significantly increased resources and management risks as well as shifting contextual risks.   Country offices (COs) are also required to demonstrate accountability to communities and people affected by humanitarian crises.   To be accountable and manage humanitarian response well, COs need to access and use information on the situation of children and women, the progress and results of programmes, including feedback from affected people, as well as on supporting operations functions.  

As part of UNICEF efforts to improve the availability and use of evidence to inform strategic oversight of humanitarian action, EMOPS is seeking to strengthen processes and tools to produce results analysis feeding into COs and Emergency Management Teams.  This integrated results analysis will bring together data from programme monitoring, funding and other management and operations functions, along with context analysis and reference to existing external evaluations/review.  The work will include two tracks of work on tools and products to (a) support high-frequency reporting and information exchange which is currently captured in a multi-purpose Word-format SitRep process and (b) support less frequent analysis (quarterly, mid-year) that goes deeper and provides better trend analysis.  Both tracks will include using existing or establishing new auto-generated data tables wherever possible, drawing on UNICEF existing data systems (SAP-based VISION); the work will also involve planning for products anticipating forthcoming systems data (e.g. eTools).  The work on designing a future eSitRep will focus on one part (the performance management data) in a broader platform serving other work processes including advocacy and external communications.

Specific Objectives are as follows:

• Design, pilot and refine model results analysis products for selected Level 3 or 2 emergencies to feed periodic strategic review of country-specific humanitarian response;
• Develop the detailed design specifications for the performance management components of an eSitRep platform and contribute to the design specifications for the overall eSitRep web-based platform that will allow high-frequency sharing of data from CO to RO/HQ and externally combining both visualization of key programme and operations management data, as well as windows for narrative reporting and exchange on situation updates/context analysis; advocacy messaging, and allowing easy extraction for a range of routine external communications products;
• Develop learning materials to support CO staff to be equipped to undertake analysis on a routine based using products from 1 and 2 above.

Main tasks and deliverable's:

• Carry out a review of existing reporting and analysis products (EMT, regional, global) and scoping of key stakeholder needs for both Performance management content of eSitRep process, and Periodic more in-depth results analysis
• Scan and provide assessment of existing data systems and analysis sources for results analysis testing with reference to top 10-20 HAC COs, spanning internal programme, funding and other management and operations data, as well as external/internal situation monitoring and risk analysis (internal/external)
• Develop a concept note and template for a model results analysis report (outlining what the product(s) will set out to do, scope, tables, framing of narrative analysis, etc) and refine based on feedback from key stakeholders (HQ-RO-CO)
• Develop a sample in-depth results analysis report for 1 or 2 HAC countries (L3) and refine based on feedback from key stakeholders.
• Develop a specifications document for the eSitRep platform, leading on the performance data functionalities with inputs and feedback from key stakeholders, and supporting the consolidation of business-owner inputs on other functionalities
• Develop a specifications document for any automated data tables required for in-depth results analysis feeding into wider Insight platform development
• Produce periodic reports (2-3 month) for a pilot set of countries, seeking feedback at each stage (number and selection to be defined; expected minimum 2 reports x 5 COs)
• Produce light guidance/training materials to support COs to produce and use the results analysis, and trial with pilot set of countries in collaboration with RO and other HQ colleagues (remote or F2F to be determined)
• Carry out webinars with interested COs (10-15) using same or adapted materials and finalize a menu of on-line materials for self-directed learning and future training's

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

• Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, relevant humanitarian sector, conflict studies, public health or epidemiology
• Experience: 
• Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, relevant humanitarian sector, conflict studies, public health or epidemiology
• Experience: 
• 5 or more years of progressively responsible relevant experience, preferably within the humanitarian and/or development sector.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Experience in monitoring/reporting or evaluation of humanitarian or development programming, including experience carrying out analysis drawing from organizational performance systems
• Experience applying risk and context analysis frameworks in fragile or humanitarian situations, including disaster risk analysis, conflict analysis, fragility analysis. 
• Knowledge of current literature on performance and accountability in the humanitarian sector.
• Exposure to/knowledge of UNICEF work in the humanitarian sector (directly or as a partner)
• Exposure to ensuring that gender is reflected and incorporated into data collection and analysis.
• Strong planning and organizing skills; networking and relating skills; communication skills especially writing and drive for results
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project, Visio, SharePoint), familiarity with ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle EnterpriseOne), proficiency with data visualization software (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, etc) as well as software for displaying geographical data.
• Language: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.