The Position:
In accordance with the UNFPA evaluation policy and the technical guidelines of the UNFPA Evaluation Handbook, the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) in 2026 will examine the 9th Country Programme (2023–2027) of UNFPA in Nepal.
The CPE aims to provide UNFPA, national stakeholders, rights-holders, and a wider audience with the following:
1. An independent assessment of the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of UNFPA support.
2. An assessment of the role played by UNFPA Nepal in the UN Country Team (UNCT) coordination mechanisms to enhance the United Nations’ collective contribution to national development results.
3. Key conclusions derived from past and current cooperation, along with actionable recommendations for the next programme cycle.
The CPE, conducted by a group of independent evaluators, also aims to enhance UNFPA Nepal's capacity in result-based management (RBM) and to implement organization-wide strategies that foster a culture of evaluation and improve evaluation practices.
UNFPA Nepal is seeking to hire an international evaluation team leader who will assume overall responsibility for the evaluation process and cover one of the thematic areas.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The evaluation team leader will hold overall responsibility for the design and implementation of the evaluation. S/he will be responsible for producing and submitting all expected deliverables on time, in line with the ToR. S/he will lead and coordinate the evaluation team and ensure the quality of all deliverables at every stage of the process. S/he will lead the drafting and presentation of the design report and the draft and final evaluation reports, and will play a leading role in meetings with the ERG and the CO. The team leader will also be responsible for communication with the CPE manager. In addition to her/his team leadership responsibilities, the evaluation team leader will serve as the technical expert for one of the thematic areas of the country programme.
You would be responsible for:
The evaluation team leader will work under the supervision of the respective evaluation manager, who will provide methodological guidance to the team particularly, but not limited to, defining the evaluation approach, methodology, work plan, and agenda for the field phase. The team leader will be responsible for producing the following standard outputs and deliverables:
Design phase
- Design report (version 1) and PowerPoint presentation.
- Design report (version 2).
- Final design report (see Evaluation Handbook, section 2.4.4), including stakeholder map, site selection, and field work agenda.
Field phase
- Photos (see Evaluation Handbook, section 3.2.5).
- Evaluation matrix.
- PowerPoint presentation for the debriefing meeting with the CO and ERG.
Reporting phase
- Consolidated evaluation matrix.
- Evaluation report (version 1) and PowerPoint presentation.
- Recommendations worksheet.
- Evaluation report (version 2).
- Final CPE report (see Evaluation Handbook, section 4.5), with PowerPoint presentation and audit trail.
All deliverables will be developed in English.
Note: Further details are available in the detailed TOR, accessible here, and in the Country Programme Evaluation TOR, available here.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, demography or population studies, statistics, development studies or a related field.Knowledge and Experience:
10 years of experience in conducting or managing evaluations in the field of international development, including in humanitarian assistance. Extensive experience in leading complex evaluations commissioned by United Nations organizations and/or other international organizations and NGOs. Demonstrated expertise in one of the thematic areas of the country programme covered by the evaluation (see expert profiles below). In-depth knowledge of theory-based evaluation approaches and ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and to uphold high quality standards for evaluation as defined by UNFPA and UNEG. Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm. Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process. Excellent management and leadership skills to coordinate the work of the evaluation team, and strong ability to share technical evaluation skills and knowledge. Ability to supervise a young and emerging evaluator, create an enabling environment for her/his meaningful participation in the work of the evaluation team, and provide guidance and support required to develop her/his capacity. Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts. Excellent ability to analyze and synthesize large volumes of data and information from diverse sources. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken). Work experience in/good knowledge of the region and the national development context of Nepal.Languages:
Fluent in written and spoken English.Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
Core Competencies:
Achieving results,
Being accountable,
Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
Thinking analytically and strategically,
Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.