Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The Evaluation Specialist is responsible for the coordination and provision of technical support and advice for evaluation practices across the region. S/he provides technical guidance and support for the collection of reliable, accurate and coherent information to assess the performance and impact of programmes and projects, and quality assures performance reporting, confirming that results are evidence-based and supported by relevant data.

The Specialist is based in the Regional Hub and reports to the RBM and Evaluation Advisor. S/He works closely with two Monitoring Specialists, UNDP’s Independent Evaluation Office and the UNDP internal network of M&E advisors.

Position Purpose

The Evaluation Specialist promotes integrated monitoring activities through exchanges of experience and good practices between COs, regions, national partners, the UNDG and the international community and advises and trains on monitoring and evaluation functions, including how to quality assure results framework, M&E, IWPs, etc.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

In this section list up to five primary functions/accountabilities of the position (Typically one sentence each) and examples of duties that must be performed to successfully accomplish key responsibilities.

Technical Guidance and Support :

Example of Duties:

  • Supports the CO Support Team in the design of regional and country level evaluations by providing substantive inputs to the formulation of evaluation Terms of Reference, in compliance with the Evaluation Policy, guidelines and methodology and providing guidance to COs throughout the implementation of the evaluation plans.
  • Provides feedback on the use and transparency of evaluation findings to improve programme quality and performance, strategic decision making and learning, and supports offices in conducting strategic discussions with national counterparts on their implications to programme redesign.
  • In line with the Region’s M&E capacity development strategy, participates in the implementation of the Regional Programme by building evaluation capacities of regional and national institutions. Provides guidance throughout the process of evaluation exercises.
  • Advises on selection of consultants to ensure independence, cost-effectiveness, quality and relevance of all evaluations and support development of a regional roster of evaluation experts. Supervises assigned consultants/staff to ensure that evaluations are carried out in a credible and systematic manner, according to schedule and timelines and that evaluation policies, procedures norms and standards are complied with.
  • Supports the RBM and Evaluation Advisor in managing the implementation of the Evaluation Plan for the Regional Programme (2014-2017).
  • Quality assuring data analysis on the Regional Programme and recommendations for the overall program and project quality improvement.

Quality Assurance:

Example of Duties:

  • Reviews and oversees the quality of substantive and process-related aspects of regional and country-level evaluations (design, management, implementation and use of evaluations commissioned at regional and country levels), ensuring that evaluation findings inform UNDP programme planning, design and reporting, including the Annual Report and Country Programme Documents.
  • With the CO Support Team, oversees quality of CPD evaluation plans, costings, compliance and implementation to ensure strategic, robust, timely, and relevant decentralized evaluation for learning and programme effectiveness.
  • Coordinates with and advises the Country Support Team to ensure that responses to evaluation findings and recommendations are complete, recorded in the Evaluation Resource Center (ERC) and duly monitored.
  • Quality assuring the quarterly and annual monitoring reports, including Results Oriented Annual Report, to ensure that claims for results are evidence-based and supported by the relevant data

Integrated Monitoring :

Example of Duties:

  • Builds, nurtures, and promotes linkages between evaluation strategies/frameworks with the UNDAF, CPDs and AWPs evaluation plans.
  • Develops and disseminates briefs and reports on the use of evaluation findings in the region, including lessons learned for improved risk management, operational performance and future programme design, in coordination with the Regional Hub and Country Offices.  
  • Facilitates learning from evaluation results with the Regional Hub and COs and UNDP globally, and among national partners and other key stakeholders.
  • Supports the M&E function in the COs, through targeted training and induction to M&E teams.

Capacity Building :

Example of Duties:

  • In line with the Region’s M&E capacity development strategy, helps strengthen evaluation capacities of Country and regional office staff to engage in and lead evaluation processes with particular focus on the participation of primary stakeholders.
  •  Identify and synthesize lessons learned from evaluations and studies for integration in broader evaluation knowledge management.
  • Provide intellectual and conceptual contribution in the implementation of knowledge management activities and other learning initiatives.
  • Contribute to the development and review of useful and state of the art evaluation policies, guidelines, systems, procedures and tools related to evaluation responsive to the Bureau’s priority areas of intervention.

Partnership Building:

Example of Duties:

  • Builds and manages partnerships to support evaluation practices in the region with relevant institutions.
  • Promotes peer-to-peer networking and information sharing among evaluation practitioners by leading the facilitation of Regional Communities of Practice and other knowledge management mechanisms on evaluation, and by creating  updating and maintaining repositories of evaluation expertise, lessons learned, good practices and practical tools and methodologies for Country Offices and other members of the Community of Practice.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: N/A

Requirements

Education

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent related to Statistics, Evaluation, Social Sciences, Economics or related field.
  • Practical training in programme management and evaluation, survey and research analysis, or applied statistical data.

 Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

  • Minimum seven years of relevant professional work experience, including both international and national work experiences.
  • Experience managing evaluations of various types (project, outcome, thematic, strategic, organizational) and developing outcome-oriented monitoring and evaluation systems
  • At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning, and active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme, an asset
  • Fluency in English and French.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

  • UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

 Partnership Management
  • Relationship Management - Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
  • Strategic Engagement - Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Business Management

  • Results-Based Management - Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
  • Monitoring - Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
  • Evaluation - Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
  • Working with evidence and data - Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

  • Inclusive Growth - Development Planning

Business Development & Strategy

  • Strategic Thinking - Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
 
For external applicants, please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
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.
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