Evaluation Specialist P3, Evaluation Office, New York, USA, # 101444

UNICEF Evaluation Office is seeking applications from Evaluation Specialists to provide technical and operational support to the Senior Evaluation Specialist to commission and manage evaluations, promote follow up and use the evaluation findings and recommendations, promote the evaluation function in the organizations, and manage human and financial resources. The Evaluation Specialist will have responsibility for evaluations of UNICEF work in the area of children protection.

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, Evaluate

The Evaluation Specialist reports to the Senior Evaluation Specialist for general guidance and direction. The Evaluation Specialist provides technical and operational support to the Senior Evaluation Specialist to commission and manage evaluations, promote follow up and use the evaluation findings and recommendations, promote the evaluation function in the organizations, and manage human and financial resources. The Evaluation Specialist may also lead evaluation activities in these areas under the general supervision of the Senior Evaluation Specialist. The Evaluation Specialist will have responsibility for evaluations of UNICEF work in the area of children protection. For UNICEF, examples of the programme areas include violence against children, child marriage, social systems strengthening, and children on the move.

How can you make a difference?

The Evaluation Specialist is responsible for conducting these activities in accordance with UNICEF’s mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments and accountability framework as well as UNEG evaluation norms and standards.

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

• Plan evaluations and prepare evaluation resource estimates for individual evaluations;
• Carry out evaluations of projects, programmes and policies;
• Supervise evaluations conducted by staff members and consultants;
• Apply high professional standards in line with evaluation policy and the UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation;
• Apply evaluation quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis tools, techniques and approaches;
• Keep abreast of developments in the area of evaluation, and
• Cooperate with other United Nations evaluation units and professional evaluation bodies.

2.  Promote evaluations that are useful and ensure that evaluation findings and recommendations are followed up.

• Report to management on evaluation findings and recommendations;
• Organize meetings, workshops and other discussion in order to establish a dialogue on evaluation results, recommendations and lessons learned;
• Ensure that evaluation results are taken into account in the continued implementation of projects and programmes and in the design and appraisal of new projects and programmes; and
• Ensure that project and programme managers respond to recommendations and monitor the follow-up on evaluations.

3.  Promote the evaluation function in the organization.

• Provide training on evaluation, self-evaluation, monitoring and results-based management within the evaluation office and in other organizational units;
• Provide advice, information and guidance to management and project or programme managers on evaluation; and
• Contribute to the development and review of evaluation-related policies, guidance, systems, procedures ad tools.

4.  Support innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

• Promote innovative approaches and good practices by integrating evaluations principles and norm through advocacy and operational support/services;
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting-edge practices on evaluation planning and management, institutionalize and disseminate best practices and lesson learned to maximize the use of evaluation results to support improve programming and results delivery;
• Contribute to the development and design of organizational evaluation policies, procedures, tools and systems; and
• Implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of a wide range of internal and external partners/stakeholders to build their evaluation systems/and capacity.

The Evaluation Specialist will perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in economics, psychology, sociology, education or other social science field is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in evaluation of programs and socio economic and other related issues. 
• Relevant experience in evaluations of services to protect the rights of children is required.  These might include, as example, issues such as violence against children, child marriage, social systems strengthening, children on the move. Professional experience in programme country contexts is required
• Relevant experience is programs/project development, monitoring and evaluation in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and core competencies in Builds and maintains partnerships, Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, Drive to achieve results for impact, Innovates and embraces change, Manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others, Nurtures, leads and manages people.

The functional competencies required for this post are:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating Action (II)
• Applying Technical Expertise (III)
• Planning and Organizing (II)
• Persuading and Influencing (II)
• Creating and Innovating (II)

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

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.