Senior Evaluation Specialist

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of UNDP reports to the UNDP Executive Board, which is the custodian of the UNDP Evaluation Policy (DP/2016/23). IEO conducts independent evaluations and other activities according to its programme of work approved by the Executive Board. The work of the IEO includes:

1.         Independent country programme evaluations (ICPEs) to feed into the development of new Country Programme Documents.

2.         Regional and global programme evaluations.

3.         Thematic evaluations, covering strategic and corporate topics.

4.         Quality assessment of decentralized evaluations.

5.         Support to national evaluation capacity. development

6.         Annual Reports on Evaluation.

7.         Development of evaluation standards, procedures, and methodological guidance for UNDP evaluations.

The IEO has three substantive sections: Corporate/ Thematic Evaluation Section, Country Programme Evaluation Section, and Capacity Development/ Decentralized Evaluation Section.

The Senior Evaluation Specialist will work on any assignments as planned by the IEO according to its annual work plan.  The position is currently located in New York HQ. As noted in section 1 above, relocation to one of the UNDP regional duty stations may be required in the future.

The Senior Evaluation Specialist works closely with Evaluation Advisors, Chiefs of Section and Directorate of IEO to support the Office’s efficient and full delivery of the Programme of Work. The Senior Evaluation Specialist also works independently, as needed.

Main duties and responsibilities are:

1. Lead and/or manage evaluations that are impartial, independent, and credible.
2. Ensure that evaluations are useful, and support follow-up of evaluation findings and recommendations.
3. Promote the evaluation function in the Organization.
4. Effectively deploy human and financial resources of IEO.

Conduct and/or manage evaluations that are impartial, independent, credible and meet professional standards.

• Carry out evaluations of complex programmes, policies and cross-cutting themes and lead evaluation teams.
• Supervise effectively evaluations conducted by staff members and consultants.
• Ensure that evaluations meet high professional standards in line with the UNDP Evaluation Policy and UN Evaluation Norms & Standards.

• Keep abreast of developments in the area of evaluation.
• Ensure that up-to-date evaluation techniques and approaches are applied.
• Cooperate with other UN evaluation units and professional evaluation bodies.
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Promote the use of evaluations and support the follow-up of evaluation findings and recommendations.

• Report to management on recommendations and lessons learned drawn from evaluations.
• Organize meetings, workshops and other discussion forum to establish a dialogue on evaluation results.
• Advocate for the use of evaluation results in the design and appraisal of strategies, policies and projects/programmes.

Promote the evaluation function in the Organization.

• Design and implement evaluation capacity development initiatives within the office and in other organizational units.
• Ensure continuous methodological improvement of and support to decentralized evaluations.
• Contribute to the development and review of policies, guidance, systems, procedures and tools related to evaluation.

Effectively deploy human and financial resources of the Independent Evaluation Office.

• Plan evaluations and prepare budgets for individual evaluations.
• Manage effectively and efficiently the use of resources for evaluations.
• Select evaluation consultants based on post requirements.
• Supervise and coach staff and evaluation consultants.

Corporate Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work            Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow         Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement          Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Professional Foundations

Includes:

• Excellent, updated knowledge about evaluation ethics and UNEG Norms and Standards, can uphold ethics under pressure, and is able to maintain independence and impartiality under pressure;
• Ability to critically analyze current issues in evaluation practice and theory; has excellent knowledge of human rights and gender equality and is able to ensure that evaluation design, questions and analysis incorporate this knowledge in all settings

Technical Evaluation Skills

Includes:

• Knowledge of various types of theories of change and logic models and is able use a systems approach in order to identify, recreate and facilitate the development of theories of change and logic models for complex programmes, policies or initiatives and in order to facilitate evaluative thinking among stakeholders
• Excellent ability to develop high-quality terms of references for complex evaluations, demonstrating an ability to prioritize and focus evaluation questions
• Excellent knowledge of elaborating designs for complex evaluations, drawing on existing best practices as well as developing innovative approaches
• Excellent knowledge and the ability to apply and interpret a range of evaluation methods and approaches, both quantitative and qualitative, ensuring that appropriate evaluation data collection and analysis methods are used. Understands and ensures the appropriate use of multiple and mixed methods
• Knowledge and confidence in analyzing data from diverse sources, identifying key trends and gaps in information, being able to ensure that data and information used in evaluations are appropriate, accurate, of high quality and collected and analyzed from an ethical perspective
• Extensive analytical skills to elaborate credible findings where evidence can be traced through the analysis into findings, which are placed within their context. Uses analytical skills to synthesize data where relevant, and identifies unintended results
• Excellent ability in reporting highly credible conclusions substantiated by evidence
• Ability to develop clear, realistic and feasible recommendations, and proactively contributes to dissemination in order to ensure the use of findings to inform future programme and policy decisions

Management Skills

Including a solid ability to:

• Determine the scope of an evaluation and to develop mechanisms to implement the evaluation
• Develop a realistic work plan for a complex evaluation, to adjust the work plan as needed and to effectively oversee the budgeting and the use of evaluation resources
• Coordinate and supervise complex evaluation processes
• Identify, manage and solve conflicts, drawing out lessons learned from challenging situations

Promoting a culture of learning for evaluation

Including:

• Solid knowledge of and ability to communicate to stakeholders the value of evaluation to policy and programming in the achievement of the SDGs

Education: Master's degree in social policy, public policy, political sciences, economics, development studies or a related area.Knowledge of current international development issues.

Required Experience:

• Experience in the use of various research methodologies.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages,
• Experience in handling of web based management systems

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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