Consultancy: Team Leader for Evaluation of the “Global Programme to End Child Marriage”, Phase II, 2020-2023, 100 days, 16 February 2023 to 30 September 2023, Evaluation Office, NYHQ Home-Based

UNICEF and UNFPA are looking for individuals with deep commitment and strong background in multi-country, complex evaluations, and experts in child rights/protection/gender/reproductive health, to undertake the Evaluation of the “Global Programme to End Child Marriage”, Phase II, 2020-2023.

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 UNICEF Evaluation Office and the UNFPA Evaluation Office are jointly commissioning an independent evaluation of the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage (GPECM). The evaluation is expected to provide an independent assessment of the progress made against planned results with a view of identifying key lessons learned and good practices over the 2020-2023 implementation period to guide the strategic direction of the next phase of the global programme (2024-2030).

The global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals by the international community, implies a commitment to end the practice of child marriage by 2030. While there are globally more than half a billion girls and women alive today who were married in childhood, the prevalence of the practice of child marriage is overall in decline.  The UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage promotes the rights of adolescent girls to avert marriage and pregnancy and enables them to achieve their aspirations through education and alternative pathways.  The GPECM was designed as a 15-year programme (2016–2030).  Phase I (2016–2019) aimed to strengthen critical institutions and systems in selected locations of the twelve countries where the GP is implemented, to deliver quality services and opportunities to adolescent girls, and set the foundations of attitudes, behaviors and norms against child marriage in families and communities. The Phase II (2020–2023) was designed to accelerate actions to end child marriage by enhancing investments in and support for both unmarried and married adolescent girls; by engaging key actors and increasing political support, resources, gender-responsive policies and frameworks; and by improving data and evidence on what works. Phase III (2024–2030) will have a longer-term gender transformative goal for significantly larger proportions of adolescent girls to fully enjoy a childhood free from the risk of marriage

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of the evaluation is to support identifying and integrating learning among stakeholders at all levels, and to support the programme accountability for the results achieved. The evaluation will serve programming and management purposes as the second phase of the programme, 2020-2023, is nearing its conclusion. In this view, the evaluation is expected to take stock and capture the changes the programme has gone through in this phase, to assess progress made in different country contexts, to assess the integration of gender-transformative approaches in this phase. This is intended to support learning among key stakeholders to inform the design of the next phase of the programme.

In line with its purpose, the primary objectives of this evaluation are to independently assess progress towards and achievement of results and the management of the GPECM and recommend changes if appropriate. The evaluation will also help to improve programme implementation and management by identifying good practices and lessons learned from the first phase of its implementation. The specific objectives are:

1. Assessing the results achieved against objectives.
2. Assessing the sustainability of the results achieved.
3. Assessing the extent to which issues of human rights, cultural sensitivity, disability, equity and gender equality have been taken into consideration in programme implementation. Particular consideration will be given to the adoption and use of gender-transformative approaches.
4. Assessing the efficiency of implementation by both agencies.
5. Assessing the effectiveness of the joint management modalities at global, regional and national levels.
6. Assessing the extent of coordination with partners at the various levels of the programme (global, regional and Headquarters).
7. Produce clear conclusions and recommendations, identify lessons learned and good practices that support and inform decision-making for the programme

The primary intended audiences and users for this evaluation are the UNFPA and UNICEF GPECM management, the broader child protection programme divisions at headquarters, and GPECM regional office and particularly country office levels with responsibilities with the GPECM; the donors; the programme governments and implementing partners.

A total of nine months  from inception to finalization is envisaged for the whole evaluation process. Insights, preliminary results or learnings identified will be shared with the GPECM team through the process to support programme adjustments.

The expected deliverables are the following:

1. An inception report (maximum 25 pages, excluding annexes): following the initial desk review, which outlines the scope, methods and chapter plan for the final evaluation including data collection instruments and protocols, work plan and a completed evaluation matrix;
2. Preliminary findings report (maximum 30 pages, excluding annexes) and PowerPoint presentation
3. Zero draft evaluation report (maximum 60 pages excluding annexes);
4. Revised evaluation report (maximum 60 pages, including conclusions and recommendations and excluding annexes)
5. Deep dive country reports
6. Draft learning briefs (2-3 briefs; 5 pages maximum each)
7. Final evaluation report based on comments received on the draft report/s and an executive summary (maximum 60 pages, excluding annexes)
8. Final learning briefs (2-3 briefs, 5 pages maximum each)
9. Preliminary findings PowerPoint presentation and Master PowerPoint (with final report) presentation including an overview of the evaluation, summary of key findings, conclusions and recommendations.

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

Senior Evaluation Expert (Team Leader)

Duration of contract: 100 days, starting 16 February 2023, ending 30 September 2023:  Home based, with travel

Expected responsibilities:

• Lead and direct all parts of the evaluation, including work planning.
• Coordinate and supervise the evaluation team’s work in their contributing roles.
• Act as the leading contact person for the Management Group and work closely with it throughout the process, ensuring regular updates and consultation.
• Manage and ensure the quality of the evaluation process; methodological approach and the production of evaluative knowledge
• Ensure the comprehensiveness and quality of all data collected and analyzed, and of key deliverables before submission to the Management Group, by reviewing and harmonizing their format and content in line with the requirements specified in the TOR
• Take direct responsibility for all deliverables being delivered timely and of satisfactory quality.
• Participate, design and facilitate the validation workshop in coordination with the Management Group.

Key qualifications:

• At least eight years of professional experience in leading evaluations, research, or other formative and summative exercises in international cooperation, humanitarian and development assistance, social sciences, social and behavioural change, community engagement, and organizational/institutional effectiveness.  
• Master’s level degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field across the social sciences, with an advantage for degrees or primary emphasis in evaluation, or areas directly related to the evaluation.  
• Extensive experience working with multilateral or intergovernmental organizations. 
• Experience with multi-country, complex evaluations 
• Demonstrated ability to supervise an evaluation team at the talent and experience level required. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. 
• It is a strong asset to have experience in conducting evaluations or research in areas of child rights/protection/gender/reproductive health 
• It is a strong asset to have experience in collecting data from children, or using child focused data collection methods

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

TOR attached:   GPECM Evaluation Phase II - ToR - for pub 31J.docx