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For every child, a champion
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. 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. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — will not only give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
How can you make a difference?
Reporting to the Regional Adviser, the Evaluation Officer is responsible for buttressing the evaluation function across the region, including ROSA and country offices with a particular focus on strengthening centralized quality support and oversight functions.
One of the key accountabilities for UNICEF’s Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) is to provide support and oversight for evaluations. The Evaluation Officer will facilitate the evaluation function’s smooth functioning in South Asia by taking the lead in the performance monitoring and knowledge management aspects. He/She will also provide support in systemic strengthening as well as evaluation planning and management.
Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:
1. Performance Monitoring
Monitor and regularly report on the evaluation function’s performance in the region per set standards and norms outlined in the revised Evaluation Policy, Regional Evaluation Strategy, and other guidance available. Ensure evaluation-related information specific to South Asia on UNICEF’s Evidence Information System Initiative (EISI) is accurate and updated quarterly. Liaise with offices in the region as well as the Evaluation Office (EO) to address issues that arise. Track performance of the evaluation function in the region vis-à-vis the global Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) maintained in the Global Evaluation Dashboard and Performance Scorecards, both of which are on InSight. Ensure accurate information relating to the evaluation function in South Asia is reported on both platforms. Identify and regularly gather data on a set of additional regional KPIs. These would include indicators that are not already part of the global KPIs but are critical to the smooth function of the evaluation function in South Asia considering the specific corporate requirements laid out in the revised Evaluation Policy as well as the commitments made in the Regional Evaluation Workplan. For example, the regional KPIs could cover the fulfillment of Costed Evaluation Plans (CEPs) commitments and Country Programme Evaluations (CPEs).2. Knowledge Management
Produce and regularly share analytical insights related to the state and performance of the evaluation function in the region, including successes, challenges, and potential solutions. Facilitate the exchange of evaluation-related knowledge between evaluation and programme colleagues in the region as well as beyond to promote synergistic collaboration. Prepare regional profiles of the evaluation function pulling information from EISI, InSight, the regional KPIs, and other sources highlighting key things to look out for on the horizon – on a biannual basis as well as before key moments of strategic reflection such as Regional Management Team (RMT) meetings. Prepare briefs, including a bi-monthly newsletter, for different audiences on topics relating to the evaluation function in South Asia as well as lessons, conclusions, and recommendations from country-specific, multi-country, and regional evaluations, for dissemination and use. Develop and maintain an evaluation-related SharePoint site to share relevant evaluation-related information – including regional plans, milestones, and events – across internal stakeholders. Organise quarterly Skype-based regional evaluation network calls, develop participatory agendas and minuting discussions, and keep the evaluation network abreast of important regional and global developments.3. Systemic Strengthening
Help strengthen the region’s evaluation function systemically by supporting the Regional Adviser Evaluation to make appropriate structural improvements that will enable Country Offices (COs) to meet or exceed their evaluation-related accountabilities. Support the processes of bidding and managing UNICEF’s LTAs for the conduct, quality assurance, and ethical review of evaluations. Update regularly the compendium of Long Term Agreements (LTAs) that support evaluation work done by UNICEF. Support the development of, and maintain region-specific guidance on, a range of topics critical to the fulfillment of the evaluation function’s accountabilities in the region: Country Program Evaluations (CPEs), Costed Evaluation Plans (CEPs), Evaluability Assessments, the one percent requirement, model standard operating procedures (SOPs) for country offices on evaluation planning, management, and use. Support evaluation capacity development activities at the country and regional levels, including the design and delivery of training curricula. Organise periodic peer learning events for the country and regional office participants on evaluation-related lessons, including approaches, methods, and good practices. Maintain a help desk function – map and guide colleagues to evaluation-related information on policies, strategies, standards, norms, processes, systems, governance mechanisms, systems, and tools.4. Evaluation planning and management
Support COs in developing their annual Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Plans (IMEPs) – especially by ensuring accurate categorisation, realistic completion dates, and inclusion of commitments outlined in the revised Evaluation Policy. Compile and upload in EISI ROSA’s annual IMEP in coordination with programmes. Manage ROSA’s evaluation quality assurance for South Asia, ensuring overall coordination, maintaining records of performance acting as a bridge between the consultants and COs in South Asia monitoring the quality of the reviews, and taking the initiative in further strengthening the review templates. Under the guidance of the Regional Evaluation Advisor provide technical support to the UNICEF countries in South Asia on the conceptualisation and conduct of high-quality evaluations during key strategic moments of the evidence-generation process, i.e. drafting of the terms of references, inception reports/research protocols, and draft final reports.To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
A university degree in Economics, Statistics, or any other relevant field. Two years of relevant work experience at national or international levels in evaluation along with programme performance monitoring and knowledge management. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.
UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions in the national officer and general service category.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.