Re-advertised: Vacancy Announcement: Evaluation Specialist, P4,FT, Amman - MENARO #117198

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. UNICEF and cooperating partners and stakeholders work to secure the rights of each child and the surrounding families, communities and nations.

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, [Hope]

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. UNICEF and cooperating partners and stakeholders work to secure the rights of each child and the surrounding families, communities and nations.

Working through the country program of cooperation, and likewise through the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF), UNICEF assists countries to realize the rights of all children. This involves strategies and programs ranging from innovative and experimental to those at scale.  The effectiveness and impact of the strategies and programs must be determined.  Evaluation is a critical function for understanding if development objectives have been met in a way that contributes to the progressive realization of children’s rights. To this end, evaluations assist program managers to make necessary adjustments or to confirm that the program can continue to advance to scale. Evaluations have an accountability objective, to assure partners that resources guided through UNICEF are used effectively and efficiently, and that there is a willingness to change when results can be improved.  Furthermore, evaluation, together with other sources of evidence contributes to country, organizational and global learning.  Evaluation also supports civic empowerment and behavioral change goals when it is implemented in a participatory way that allows stakeholders and rights holders to acquire the skills to assess development initiatives and to hold duty bearers to account.

How can you make a difference?

The Multi-Country (MC) Evaluation Specialist post will, on the basis of efficiency and effectiveness considerations, be located in the Regional Office in Amman (MENARO).  The MC Evaluation Specialist reports to the Regional Evaluation Adviser (P-5) for evaluation.  The MC Evaluation specialist will be in close contact with the Representatives of Egypt, Gulf Area Office, Libya and SoP on matters pertaining to work in their countries.  The MC Evaluation Specialist works in close coordination with the Country Office evaluation staff / focal persons in the development and implementation of the Country Office costed evaluation plan and works with the Country-Office to undertake thematic evaluations, evaluation of humanitarian action, evaluability assessments, and other evaluative activities for which Country Offices are accountable. S/he works with the CO in engaging competent evaluators who conduct their work in accordance with the norms and standards of the UNICEF evaluation policy.

The incumbent works in accordance with the norms and standards of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) and the UNICEF evaluation policy. S/he provides guidance to staff involved in managing evaluations in the countries under his/her responsibility and consults the supervisor when major policy decisions and actions must be undertaken.

Through the MC Evaluation specialist MENARO will serve Egypt, Gulf Area Office, Libya and SoP, work on other countries as deemed necessary to ensure evaluations in the region might be required.  Given the volatile situation in the region the countries served as well as the duty station might change to address changing situations.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1.         Evaluation Leadership

Support the Country Offices under his/her responsibility and their national partners to develop and implement a plan of evaluation activities that will provide relevant and strategic information to manage Country Programmes and relevant national policies and programmes toward achieving results for children in both humanitarian and non humanitarian environments.

2.         Evaluation Conduct and Use

Ensure that UNICEF-supported evaluations are designed and implemented to established UN quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion and used by stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.

3.         Evaluation Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Building

Ensure that UNICEF-supported evaluations are designed and implemented to established UN quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion and used by stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.

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

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the implementation of equity-focused evaluations and the management of the evaluation function at national and international level. Experience of evaluation in humanitarian settings is required.
• Experience in supporting national evaluation capacity and working with professional evaluation associations;
• Experience in evaluation design and in conducting evaluations as per UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards for Evaluation in the UN System;
• Familiarity with methods used in conducting both ‘up-stream’ evaluations (e.g. focusing on policies, strategies and systems), as well as ‘down-stream’ evaluations (e.g. focusing on delivery of programmes and projects) is an asset.
• Experience in related evidence functions is an asset, including Social Policy, Public Policy, Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis, Research, Programme Audit, and Programme Planning and Monitoring.  Experience in these areas cannot be substituted for the Evaluation experience but is an advantage.
• Experience in the region where the post is situated is advantageous
• Language: Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of French or Arabic is an asset.
• *Jordanian nationals may be considered for this position as long as they meet the requirements above and have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience outside of Jordan.

Technical Knowledge   

• Professional expertise in evaluation process management, dissemination of results, and utilization.
• Technical knowledge of methodologies employed in Evaluation, including Results-based Management (RBM), theories of change, stakeholders mapping, standards and models, research designs, quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods of data collection, validity/reliability testing of data, data and qualitative information analysis and interpretation, and statistical inference methods.
• Technical knowledge in routine monitoring systems; preferably those associated with Health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Social Policy or WASH sectors
• Technical knowledge on utilization of evaluation and other evidence approaches to realize Gender Equality and Human Rights based development.
• Familiarity with ethics review processes.
• Exposure to mobile technology platforms, ‘big data’ and other innovative techniques
• Use of data and information quantitative and qualitative software for data analysis is an asset
• Knowledge of UNICEF & UNEG Evaluation norms & standards
• Communication skills (oral, written and in developing effective and user-targeted materials).
• Publications which show sound experience with evaluation methods are an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.