Job Overview
Under the direction of the director of evaluation and
the supervision of the senior evaluation specialist (impact and methods), the
multi-country impact evaluation specialist will identify opportunities to
increase coverage of impact evaluations and provide technical leadership in
implementing the Impact Catalyst Fund’s multi-country thematic window/windows.
Working collaboratively with the evaluation team in UNICEF Regional office in
East and South Africa (ESAR), UNICEF country offices, and other UN partners
based in Nairobi, the incumbent will support planned and ongoing impact
evaluations, contribute to strengthening institutional and national capacities
in impact evaluations, and lead on scale-up of innovative approaches in
rigorous impact evaluations in fragile and humanitarian settings.
In accordance with the UNICEF mission, guiding
principles, standards, commitments and accountability framework, and under the
revised United Nations Evaluation Group norms and standards, the Multi-Country
Impact Evaluation Specialist will ensure that all evaluations conducted under
her/his leadership are of the highest technical quality, relevance, timeliness,
credibility and utility possible, and that the evaluations support the
organizational learning and accountability needs of UNICEF and its stakeholders
in achieving results for children.
The incumbent will also contribute to cross-cutting
initiatives within the Evaluation Office and the wider evaluation function
within UNICEF, including learning activities, strategic communication, and
advocacy efforts.
Summary Of Key Functions/accountabilities
Technical leadership:
Support the Evaluation Office and, in turn, the
global evaluation function to develop, design, manage and implement
multi-country portfolios of impact evaluations in the programme areas of
strategic importance. Currently, UNICEF Evaluation office implements two ICF
thematic windows: in adaptive social protection (UNICEF Goal Area 5) and child
protection (UNICEF Goal Area 3). Other thematic areas are being currently
considered for the third call of ICF.
Serve as Principal Investigator and co-Principal
Investigator on selected IEs. This includes the design and technical
specifications of all impact evaluations and preparation of all activities,
including the projects’ timelines, human resource and partnership requirements,
the analysis of data collected (qualitative and quantitative) and the
preparation of evaluation reports and other materials for dissemination.
Manage staff and consultants and collaborate closely
with regional and country office evaluation specialists and programme
practitioners.
Leverage the capacity and expertise of national
partners working in the thematic area and ensure visibility of UNICEF and donor
efforts.
Provide technical assistance to UNICEF regional and
COs in developing Terms of Referencing and proposals for rigorous mixed-methods
evaluations.
Standardization:
Lead the development and application of the
standardized methodological approaches, tools, analytical packages and
management approaches in the chosen thematic areas and to ensure
cost-effectiveness, replication and harmonization of outcome and impact measurements
in a credible manner.
Contribute to the development of harmonization of
questionnaires, outcome indicators, training packages and technical modules
across multiple countries in the relevant thematic areas
Methodological innovation:
Contribute to and promote the diversification and
innovation of methodological and data approaches to measure outcome- and
impact-level change in areas with a particularly sparse impact evidence base
particularly in fragile and humanitarian settings.
Collaborate with global and regional evaluation teams
to develop, initiate, test and scale up innovative methods to measure outcome-
and impact-level change in fragile and humanitarian contexts and other areas
with recognized challenges to construct a counterfactual or reach vulnerable
populations.
Lead the development of technical guidance papers and
methodological packages.
Learning and capacity development:
Support the development and rollout of learning and
capacity-building activities that raise awareness and promote the initiation,
implementation and better use of impact evaluations by UNICEF and its national
partners, including academic and research institutions of the global South.
Partnerships:
Initiate and develop internal and external
partnerships, including with other UNICEF evidence divisions, multilateral and
bilateral organizations, other United Nations agencies and academic
institutions to increase the coverage of impact evaluations at UNICEF.
Fulfil other evaluation functions that strengthen
quality, credibility, relevance, and visibility of impact evaluations at UNICEF
and United Nations Community.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will
have…
Education
An advanced university degree (Master or PhD) in
social sciences (e.g., economics, public policy or a related field).
Experience
A minimum of eight years of technical leadership
experience in rigorous impact evaluation (e.g. RCT) within an international
organization, development agency, academia, government or the private or
non-profit sectors.
Thematic expertise in areas relevant to the UNICEF
core areas – education, child protection, social protection, WASH, health and
nutrition with a particular focus on child outcomes.
Solid track record of leading and managing mixed
methods impact evaluations that rely on both qualitative and quantitative
approaches and a variety of data collection modalities (mobile surveys,
interviews, focus groups, direct and indirect observations, desk reviews).
Willingness/ability to keep up to date with the
latest skills and organizational guidance in the field of evaluation and to
explore innovative and creative ways to apply a combination of novel data and
methodological approaches.
Demonstrated track record of working collaboratively
in a multicultural team environment to contribute positively to shared results.
Fluency in English; knowledge of another United
Nations language (French in particular) is an asset.
Desirables
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity
with emergency.
How To Apply
