Job Title: Multi-Country Impact Evaluation Specialist Job UNICEF
Hiring Organization: UNICEF
Location – Locality: Nairobi
Location – Region: Kenya
Industry: NGO
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: KES
Date Posted: 06/13/2024
How can
you make a difference?
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.
