Regional Adviser Evaluation, Fixed-Term, P-5, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), Kathmandu, Nepal #72258 (Not for Nepalese nationality)

Under the management oversight and guidance of the Regional Director, and the technical guidance of the Director of Evaluation, the position heads the Evaluation Unit of the regional office and also oversees the work of the Multi Country Evaluation Specialists in the region. The reach of the function covers 8 countries across the region. The position supports the regional key results for children and the UNICEF Strategic Plan. The Regional Office seeks to strengthen its role in the generation and use of evidence through evaluations, to boost continuous improvements in programme design and implementation, accountability and learning, and to support dialogue with partners towards achievement of results for children.

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.

For every child, a better future..

Purpose for the job:

Under the general guidance of the Regional Director, the incumbent a) develops, implements, manages and monitors a strategy for strengthening the evaluation function in South Asia region; b) oversees the implementation of a quality assurance system aimed at improving the credibility of evaluations in the region; c) oversees the work of Multi Country Evaluation Specialists in the region; d) provides technical support to country offices in the area of evaluation, including capacity development at various levels; e) provides and coordinates regional recommendations to global policy development and contributions to global corporate evaluation activities; and f) ensures coherence with the evaluation function at the global level and with other UN agencies at the regional level. The responsibilities also include providing technical support, guidance and advocacy on evaluation in humanitarian contexts, in collaboration with other agencies, as well as ensuring that equity and the gender equality perspectives are mainstreamed in evaluation design, analysis and related processes.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Develops and leads in the implementation of a regional strategy and annual work plans for thematic and multi-country evaluations in the region;
2. Provides technical support and quality assurance to the country offices for the planning, management and conduct of evaluations towards the improved timeliness and credibility of evaluation products;
3. Prepares and disseminates reports on the management of the evaluation function to the Regional Evaluation Committee, the Regional Management Team and the Evaluation Office;
4. Contributes to efforts by the Evaluation Office to strengthen technical oversight for evaluation management processes across the organization towards greater responsiveness, improved timeliness and quality and the better utilization of evaluation products in the region;
5. Contributes to reinforcing the strategic involvement of UNICEF in national evaluation capacity development and UNDAF evaluation as well as joint evaluations with Governments and other development actors;
6. Provides UNICEF inputs into and coordinates effectively with regional inter-agency evaluation mechanisms, intergovernmental forums and other regional partnerships and organizations relevant to the evaluation function;
7. Contributes to efforts by the Evaluation Office to develop and facilitate the utilization of innovative products and processes in the area of evaluation methodology, evaluation management and the use of evaluations;
8. Contributes to efforts by the Evaluation Office to implement initiatives towards the professionalization of the evaluation function;
9. Manages country programme evaluations and multi-country thematic evaluations;
10. Keeps abreast of developments in the field of evaluation and knowledge management and provides/coordinates regional contributions and recommendations in connection with the development and implementation of the evaluation policy, global evaluation plan and related strategies and guidance. 

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

Education:

• Master's Degree or higher in a social science or in a relevant natural science. Specialization in evaluation and research methodology, advanced statistical analysis and programme analysis/evaluation is an asset.

Work Experience:

• 10 years in progressively responsible professional work related to planning, implementation, coordination and management of monitoring/evaluation/research, with at least half of that experience obtained in developing nations or in organizations whose work is predominantly in developing nations. 

• At least 5 years' senior level management and technical experience in Evaluation at either a very large country office or in regional or headquarters locations.

• Fluency in English is required, both written and spoken. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

1. Specific Technical Knowledge Required 

•  Extensive practical experience in planning, design, implementation and use of evaluations.
• Proven knowledge and understanding of evaluation policies, procedures and practices.
• Excellent knowledge of evaluation and research methodologies.
• Proven experience in establishing effective partnerships in both development and humanitarian environments.
• Strong conceptual and data/research analytical skills with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are...

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication (III)
• Working with People (III)
• Drive for Results (III)

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising (III)
• Relating and Networking (III)
• Applying Technical Expertise (III)
• Analyzing (III)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (III)

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

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.