Evaluation Specialist (International Contractor), Remote Based, Syria

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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.

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, Hope

BACKGROUND:

UNICEF Syria Country Office (SCO) is entrusted with significant resources to provide assistance to vulnerable children and women during a time of protracted crisis. The UNICEF Humanitarian Appeal for Children for Whole of Syria is estimated at over USD 300 million for 2021, of which the appeal from SCO is more than USD 200 million. The SCO must ensure that these resources are spent effectively and efficiently to achieve equitable results for most vulnerable children. Against this backdrop, SCO aims to strengthen its evaluation performance and initiate four evaluations this year. (As of the end of March, one started, one at contracting stage, one is at TOR stage and the last in the pipeline). In addition, SCO is substantively participating in the evaluation of UNICEF Humanitarian Response to Syria Crisis, which is commissioned by the Evaluation Office in New York Headquarters. Furthermore, SCO must implement the management response from the Back to Learning Evaluation which concluded in 2020. While SCO benefits from the technical support, oversight and quality assurance in evaluation provided by Regional Office, SCO and its staff members can greatly benefit from enhanced capacity on evaluation at the country level Therefore, the contract is required to provide additional technical support to SCO in this area.

Find out how UNICEF programmes drive change for children and young people every day, in Syria by visiting this: www.unicef.org/syria

How can you make a difference?

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONTRACT:

The purpose of the contract is to provide quality assurance as well as technical support to Syria Country Office in the area of evaluation:

• Working with the SCO Evaluation Focal Point (M&E Specialist) and contributing to the design and effective conduct and uptake of evaluations in accordance with the UNICEF evaluation policy. This includes providing quality assurance throughout the evaluation process and providing technical guidance.
• Providing substantive technical guidance and support, i.e. on enhancing evaluability, assessing and identifying capacity gaps, providing capacity development support or advising SCO on practical ways to enhance evaluation capacity in view of the context, and providing substantive technical support to and building country-level capacity on specific technical areas as per needs, such as development of theory of change, conducting needs assessment, methodologies, etc.
• Advising the Country Representative and senior leadership team in the area of evaluation, and work with the SCO Evaluation Focal Point in promoting evaluation culture.

LOCATION (GEOGRAPHIC AREA/ DUTY STATION):

On-site working days: 0

Off-site working days:11.5 months, on full time basis

Field Missions/Travel: Travel to Syria may be requested as required.

DURATION:

Estimated Start Date: 30 June 2021

Estimated End Date: 13 June 2022

The selected contractor will work for the period of (11.5 months) June 2021 to June 2022. It is anticipated that the work is done remotely while onsite support may be requested as required. The exact schedule of the activities will be agreed with the contractor based on the contract implementation progress. The deadline for submission of final deliverables to UNICEF is by the end of the contract.

SUPERVISOR: The contractor will be supervised and report to the UNICEF Syria Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, with regular de-briefing with Country Representative, who is accountable for evaluation at the country level. On a day-to-day basis, contractor is expected to work closely and liaise with the Country Office Evaluation Focal Point (Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist) who is responsible for managing evaluation functions on the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS, SMART DELIVERABLES, DEADLINES):

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

As mentioned above in the Description of Assignment. Bi-weekly online debrief on progress, as well as monthly short written report are required.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS :

Should “mission travel” be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization. However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites: Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the contractor.

Travel cost shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at http://icsc.un.org). The contractor must travel on UNICEF approved airlines.

FPROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Monthly lump sum payment will be made on a monthly basis, inclusive of all fees, upon submission of the invoice and monthly progress report against the quarterly work plan. Refer to the deliverable listed the tasks table above.

​Individual Contractors (Full-Time) are entitled to receive Paid Time off and UN official holidays (as defined for their respective duty stations by the UNCT).

The contract is expected to be provided remotely. Mission to Syria and onsite technical support may be requested if required, although not planned at this point. In case a mission is requested and approved, travel in an economy class to Damascus, as well as DSA (per diem) for the stay in Syria will be paid by UNICEF.

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

• Advanced university degree in evaluation, economics, social sciences, or related field.
• Eight years of relevant professional work experience in evaluation activities. Work experience in the field, particularly experience in complex emergencies desirable.
• Experience in managing evaluations, as team leader of evaluations, in humanitarian evaluation.
• Experience in facilitating workshops and training, and experience in theory of change development workshop desirable.
• Technical knowledge/competencies: Knowledge of good and best practices in the evaluation community, knowledge about innovative methodologies and approaches. Ability to work well with people from diverse knowledge and background and at different levels of the organization. Excellent communication and analytical skills.
• Language: Fluency in English. Fluency in the national language of the duty station is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA)

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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 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 only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/