Consultancy – Evaluation Consultant (Bangkok-based) – Support to the evaluation portfolio of EAPRO, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand

Contract

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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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the fulfilment of rights of every child living in this region, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Evaluation Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking a qualified Bangkok based consultant for providing support to the evaluation portfolio as it relates to EAPRO’s regional evaluation strategy and its associated Annual Workplans.

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.

In East Asia and the Pacific Region (EAPR), UNICEF works across 27 countries and territories in the region through 14 Country Offices, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

Background:

These Terms of Reference (TOR) are for the contracting of a Bangkok-based consultant to provide overall support to the evaluation function in the region. The EAPRO evaluation section is responsible for development of the regional evaluation strategy, action plans, priorities, and undertake quality assurance for a wide range of evaluations and evaluative activity taking place each year. The head of the section is the Regional Advisor - Evaluation (RA-Ev). The section focuses on the promotion of an enabling environment to conduct high quality evaluations and providing timely access to evaluation information for decision making. EAPRO and the associated 14 UNICEF CO commission independent evaluations, usually conducted in collaboration with external consultants, and undertakes evaluation capacity development within the region. The UNICEF evaluation function will help guide the work of UNICEF as its new strategic plan is rolled out in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), overcome the COVID pandemic bottlenecks created, suggest course corrections – and to inform Government policies and strategies designed to reach the SDGs and reduce equity gaps for children.

The Purpose of the Consultancy:

The overall purpose of the assignment is to support the EAPRO’s evaluation function to achieve objectives and targets established in the global Evaluation Policy, the Regional Evaluation Strategy, and associated evaluation related workplans in the Regional Office and the Country Offices. Specifically, the consultant will provide technical assistance to support the planning, management, implementation and dissemination of the evaluations commissioned within the region. One of the major tasks of the consultant will be to undertake evaluability exercises for selected projects / programmes being implemented in the region.

Work Assignment:

Under overall guidance form Regional Adviser – Evaluation, the consultant will undertake following tasks:

a) Support the Regional Adviser - Evaluation and MCES on major evaluations and related evaluative work

• Provide quality professional support to ongoing EAPRO Evaluation section activities
• Research and gather key background documents and support the scoping and execution of evaluations
• Participate in analysing strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation team, which includes reviewing of proposals submitted by preparing tabulation of applicant’s background, skills and experience that will feed into the selection process
• Support the process for the development of evaluation terms of reference, which includes managing and/or guide consultants in delineating the scope of the evaluation during inception phase, ensuring that evaluation stakeholders are adequately consulted.
• Collect and present relevant information for all phases of the evaluation in a concise and digestible format for use by evaluation teams[1]
• Examine, review and comment upon interim products and drafts report; consolidate comments by all reviewers for transmission to the evaluation teams (ET)
• Support the commissioning of evaluation report editing and formatting for publication.

[1] Simple evaluation teams may be composed of one person only; -- more complex evaluation teams may be several team members with a variety of expertise.

b) Provide support in the management of ad-hoc evaluative work as stipulated in the Regional work plan:

• To provide quality support to drafting concept notes and Terms of Reference, including scanning of recent articles and publications to keep abreast of new approaches in evaluation and contributing to improved partnership and capacity building for evaluation
• Gathering research evidence, and other inputs to support evaluations, including design and support to colleagues in online polling, surveying, and rapid data collection
• Support methodology related work in the evaluation section of EAPRO
• Support the evaluation function’s annual reporting requirements, and providing comments and analysis on country annual reports
• Organize evaluation workshops as required
• Promote the evaluation function in the region.

c) Undertake detailed evaluability exercises as per UNICEF global guidance on evaluability. Presently it is forecasted that three evaluability exercise will be undertaken during the ten month period of this contract.

• In consultation with Social Policy section, undertake an evaluability of the Public Finance for Children work being supported by European Union. The geographic focus of this evaluability is global.
• In consultation with the “Private Sector Fundraising Regional Support Center” undertake an evaluability of the section’s work, including their work on “Business Results for Children”.
• Organize workshops related to the evaluability tasks as required.

d) Other assignments as may be assigned to her/him

Work Schedule:

The assignment will cover the period of 15 December 2021 – 15 October 2022 (10 months).

End Product(s):

• Three high quality evaluability reports that will inform the decision making of EAPRO’s relevant section managers
• Terms of Reference (ToR) for evaluations produced in a consultative manner; including three ToR for the evaluability exercises.
• High quality inception reports are produced.
• Draft reports produced by the evaluation teams reviewed and commented upon.
• Findings, conclusions and recommendations from evaluations undertaken in the region disseminated to internal UNICEF staff and external partners.

Duration of Contract: 15 December 2021- 15 October 2022.

Working Location and Official Travel:

EAPRO with some travel within the region, COVID situation permitting. The consultant will not travel if any quarantine period in Government approved facilities is required.

The consultant will be based in EAPRO’s Bangkok office and will work in close collaboration with UNICEF EAPRO and COs in focus countries. The consultant will use his/her own equipment. UNICEF email address will be provided. A limited desk space and access to internets and some level of access to UNICEF intranet will be provided.

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

Education and experience:

• Master’s degree in Statistics; Monitoring and Evaluation; or Social Sciences or related field
• Relevant 7 years of experience in research and evaluation in an international development context
• At least 10 years of working experience

Skills and capabilities:

• At least seven years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level with experience of the UN or other international development organizations.
• Experience in fields such as monitoring, evaluation, evaluability, systems development or performance assessment.
• Excellent English oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, other UN organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of humanitarian and development evaluations, evaluability and evaluative initiatives.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; office technology equipment; experience (or an aptitude to learn) in IT applications for surveying is desirable; familiarity with database management is also desirable.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Sound security awareness.
• Have affinity with or interest in UNICEF’s commitments for a better future for children, and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

For every Child, you demonstrate

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust and Accountability

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 12 November 2021****.

FORM P11.doc

The Full Terms of Reference for the work is attached below.

TOR EAPRO Evaluation BKK-based Consultant Public v.pdf

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.