Evaluation Specialist

This opening expired 1 year ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Open positions at UNICEF
Logo of UNICEF

Application deadline 1 year ago: Monday 10 Oct 2022 at 00:00 UTC

Open application form

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. 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. UNICEF and cooperating partners and stakeholders work to secure the rights of each child and the surrounding families, communities and nations.

Working through the country programme of cooperation, and through the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF), UNICEF assists countries to realize the rights of all children. This involves strategies and programmes ranging from innovative pilots to those at scale. Evaluation is a critical function for understanding if development objectives have been met in a way that contributes to the progressive realization of children’s rights. To this end, evaluations assist programme managers to make necessary adjustments or to confirm that the program can continue to advance to scale. Evaluations have an accountability objective, to assure partners that resources guided through UNICEF are used effectively and efficiently, and that there is a willingness to change when results can be improved. Furthermore, evaluation, together with other sources of evidence contributes to country, organizational and global learning. Evaluation also supports civic empowerment and behavioural change goals when it is implemented in a participatory way that allows stakeholders and rights holders to acquire the skills to assess development initiatives and to hold duty bearers to account.

The UN Volunteer will support the work of the evaluation section across a range of SDGs corresponding to UNICEF programmes on education, health, youth and participation, immunization, WASH, communications, and etc. The UNV may be responsible for implementing small-scale innovative evaluation activities at project and activity level and/or provide support to implementing RO-led big-scale evaluations engaging multiple COs. The nature of work is around conceptualization, analysis, interpretation, and problem identification, leading to drawing innovative methodical conclusions and making analytical/operational recommendations. The role will require serving as an active team member or/and act as s substantive contributor. The work requires efforts to build partnerships for engagement with counterparts and immediate partners, i.e. COs and RO colleagues, as well as ability to liaise with knowledge institutions. Performance is measured by the scope of functional/technical areas, professional foundation, the degree and quality of engagement, supportive efforts, exposure to risk, responsiveness, working relations with colleagues and collaborators in the same field of work or clients in the direct contact. The UNV will be responsible for Knowledge Management and contribute to knowledge generation dissemination and use, through varies ways including evaluation synthesis, and identification of results and lessons learned from evaluations.

The impact of the UNV’s work will affect the delivery of products/services, as well as the performance of systems, processes, and quality and utility of the evaluation function, especially related to the incorporation of innovative processes and incorporation of data science in evaluation

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of ECA Regional Evaluation Advisor or her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Evaluation Specialist will deliver the following tasks/duties around four key functions:

  1. Strategic planning and use

Provide technical support to ensure that Country Offices use a strategic and realistic plan of evaluation activities to inform the implementation and design of RO and CO programmes.

• Contribute to and provide technical assistance for the planning and establishing of evaluation activities of country office evaluations.
• Contribute to monitor the effective and timely implementation of planned evaluations and research, Concept Notes submitted to the regional office, and costed evaluation plans. • Track the reporting of evaluations (including management responses) and research • Timely support to the RO evaluation section’s reporting of management response actions. Provide assistance in tracking to ensure that management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded and followed up for implementation.

• Contribute to the effective dissemination and sharing of knowledge of findings, conclusions, recommendations and lessons from evaluation to the regional audience to inform strategic planning and implementation. • Contribute to the elaboration of evaluation syntheses, aggregated lessons learned on key issues related to regional priorities. • Develop and maintain knowledge management products/systems (including visuals) supporting efficient storage, retrieval and sharing of knowledge and information within the section, region and beyond. • In humanitarian response situations, provide support to advice on emergency/ humanitarian action evaluations, working in close collaboration with the humanitarian internal partners. 2. Evaluation quality assurance Provide technical support to ensure that recommendations and suggestions from regional quality assurance system is well integrated in evaluations to increase quality of evaluations.

• Provide support and feedback to ensure that UNICEF quality assurance system is effectively integrated in evaluations conducted by RO and COs, and complies with UNICEF Policies, and Procedures, as well as the UNICEF Evaluation Policy and quality criteria of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), and complied with RO procedures, when necessary seek expertise of knowledge institutions.

• Propose recommendations on the quality assurance system when bottlenecks are in place – and to automatize the processes in the most effective manner.

• Contribute to the effective dissemination and sharing of knowledge regarding the management of evaluations at the country office level, to ensure increased quality of evaluations

  1. Evaluation Capacity Building Provide technical support to ensure that the evaluation capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead evaluation processes.

In close consultation with the RO evaluation section, contribute to formulation of staff capacity development strategy and plans, and exercise effective leadership in implementing them, ensuring that CO staffs have the basic knowledge and skills to fulfil their evaluation responsibilities, and training is planned and carried out to fill identified gaps.

• Provide support to the RO evaluation section for implementation of capacity building and exchange initiatives within country offices, as well as other developmental partners when applicable.

• Help document and share through the global and the regional evaluation network good practices and lessons learned in evaluation from the region.

• Conduct research on effective evaluation use and develop suggestions on how to operationalize innovative evaluation.

• Provide support to ensure that Country Office staff and national partners are aware of and have access to UNICEF evaluation learning resources.

• Contribute to liaise with knowledge institutions to seek partnerships for the identification of capacity gaps and the development of strategies to address them.

  1. Regional, multi-country evaluations

Supports the implementation of regional thematic evaluations in areas of regional priority, ensuring the incorporation of an equity focus

• Support the management of regional multi-country evaluations, including facilitation of the design process, maintenance of quality assurance mechanism, facilitation of data collection and feedback processes across participating countries, and making arrangements for report review and finalization. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

the implementation of government policies, application of data science in research and decision making processes, including planning, implementation, coordination, management of monitoring, evaluation and research • Professional technical knowledge/expertise in Data Collection and Research • Understanding of UN Mission and system; and International Code of Conduct. • Understanding of UNICEF Mission Statement and observance of UNICEF Guiding Principles • 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; • 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; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Experience with SharePoint, ICT hardware, mobile and web-based technologies

Highly Desired: • Formal training in Python, SQL, Bash, Julia, and other language processing

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city straddles the Bosphorus strait, and lies in both Europe and Asia, with a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous city in Europe, and the world's 15th largest city. Over 13.4 million foreign visitors came to Istanbul in 2018, eight years after it was named a European capital of Culture making the city the world's fifth-most popular tourist destination. Istanbul is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and hosts the headquarters of numerous Turkish companies, accounting for more than thirty percent of the country's economy.

The general security situation in Istanbul remains stable. Although Turkish security forces continue conducting pre-emptive operations against the main threat actors in the metropolitan city, the strategy of high tempo preventive counter-terrorism operations has proven effective that there have been no large-scale terror attacks in the main cities in Turkey, including Istanbul, since the beginning of 2017. Living costs is relatively low in Istanbul compared to other European cities. Apartments with two or more rooms are available with good facilities and utilities. Households are affordable in regular neighbourhoods.

There are numerous international schools in Istanbul for expat families with children. Most follow either International Baccalaureate programme or the Council of International Schools system. Languages include English, French, Turkish and Russian.

Work opportunities for spouses/partners are limited. Although Istanbul is the center of international relations and employment in Turkey, the state restricts the hiring of foreigners in various fields. Legal, medicinal, veterinary, pharmaceutical and mining opportunities are not available to international workers.

Turkey is a unique country and Istanbul is a unique city. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org