International Consultancy - Evaluation Consultant with Iraq country office - Remote (with in country travel to Iraq)

Consultant Programme & Policy Monitoring & Evaluation

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 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

Evaluation in UNICEF helps the organization and its partners to achieve the best results possible for children through independent, credible, ethically generated, timely and accessible evaluative evidence. The 2023 revised Evaluation Policy reiterates that evaluation is a shared accountability across the organization and reconfirms the decentralized implementation of the evaluation function. Under the accountability of the Country Representative and oversight by the Regional Office, Country Offices (Cos) manage CO-level evaluations identified in their Costed Evaluation Plans (CEP).

UNICEF Iraq is transitioning from its 2020-2024 country programme to a new 2025-2029 country programme, expected to start in March 2025. Several evaluations of the CEP 2020-2024 will be implemented during this transition period to inform the implementation of the new country programme. Furthermore, some evaluations of the next country programme CEP 2025-2029 need to start or be prepared. To accelerate this country programme evaluation needs, the country office is seeking the services of an experienced evaluation specialist on consultancy contractual modality to manage the design, procurement, and implementation of these evaluations. It is expected that the period September 2024-April 2025 will require fulltime evaluation specialist capacity, managing:

1. the procurement, inception, implementation and finalization of three evaluations for which the Terms of Reference (ToR) have already been developed, approved and published;
2. the scoping and ToR development, procurement, inception and initiation of fieldwork of one to two evaluations, including a complex multi-agency evaluation managed by UNICEF.

Besides managing the individual evaluations mentioned above, the fulltime evaluation consultant contracted under this assignment needs to support and advise the Representative on the implementation and strengthening of the evaluation function in general in the Iraq CO; working together with the R&E Officer and supported by the Regional Evaluation Advisor (REA).

Therefore, the purpose of this consultancy assignment is to provide technical support and quality assurance to the Iraq CO around evaluation, specifically:

• develop, manage, quality assure and support the uptake of evaluations in accordance with the UNICEF evaluation policy and guidance;
• support the operationalization of the evaluation function in the Iraq CO by: advising the Representative and Senior Management in the area of evaluation; supporting office-wide evaluation planning, monitoring and reporting; updating CO evaluation guidance and tools; and, maintaining linkages and leverage synergies with regional and global evaluation networks;
• contribute to a conducive environment for evaluation use in the Iraq CO, supporting evaluation capacity and partnership development.

The assignment will be conducted working together with the R&E Officer under the supervision of the Representative and with support the Regional Evaluation Advisor (REA).

How can you make a difference?

The scope of work has two components, of which the first one will require the highest level of effort.

1. Development, management, quality assurance and uptake of evaluations (90% of effort)

The Consultant will lead on the following evaluations:

1. Evaluation of school-based management: launch and manage on a day-to-day basis the education evaluation of the school-based management approach (ToR will already be published). This is relatively large evaluation of a programme that UNICEF has been supporting since 2016 across Iraq (school-based management has been introduced in approximately 5,000 schools). The consultant will provide technical guidance on the contracting of the evaluation team, manage the inception phase with the Evaluation Steering Committee on the approval of the inception report, supervise the data collection phase, engage the key stakeholders in the evaluation process, and ensure that the evaluation deliverables and process meet the UNICEF quality standards and ethical requirements.
2. Evaluation of the Basra Water project: launch and manage on a day-to-day basis the evaluation of this EU-funded multisectoral project that aims to improve the quality of life in Basra City through strengthening the capacity of the water sector for equitable and sustainable drinking water and engaging people, especially youth, in innovative and environmentally sustainable water supply solutions by supporting green job opportunities. (ToR will already be published). This is a relatively small evaluation concentrated in Basra but covering multiple components and diverse stakeholders. The consultant will provide technical guidance on the contracting of the evaluation team, manage the inception phase with the Evaluation Steering Committee on the approval of the inception report, supervise the data collection phase, engage the key stakeholders in the evaluation process, and ensure that the evaluation deliverables and process meet the UNICEF quality standards and ethical requirements.
3. Evaluation of kangaroo mother care: launch and manage on a day-to-day basis the evaluation of the kangaroo mother care approach with UNICEF support in hospitals that are equipped with delivery rooms in Iraq. This is a relatively small evaluation of an approach currently implemented in 26 hospitals across 14 Iraqi governorates. The consultant will provide technical guidance on the contracting of the evaluation team, manage the inception phase with the Evaluation Steering Committee on the approval of the inception report, supervise the data collection phase, engage the key stakeholders in the evaluation process, and ensure that the evaluation deliverables and process meet the UNICEF quality standards and ethical requirements.
4. Final Evaluation of the Social Protection Programme – Phase 1: conduct scoping, develop the ToR and launch the inception phase of the evaluation. The EU-funded Social Protection Programme (2021-2025) is a complex, multi-agency programme to support social protection system reform in Iraq. UNICEF leads this programme in collaboration with WFP and ILO. The evaluation also needs to be co-managed under UNICEF’s leadership. The consultant will lead the scoping of the evaluation identifying evaluation purpose, objectives, scope, questions and priorities in consultation with the different stakeholders; and lead the ToR development and provide technical guidance on the procurement of the evaluation contractor. He/she will set up efficient and effective evaluation management and governance arrangements. He/she will manage the inception phase with the Evaluation Steering Committee on the approval of the inception report. The data collection phase is expected to take place after the assignment and its supervision is not part of this assignment.
5. Formative evaluation of the reintegration of Iraqis from NES/Al-Hol: conduct scoping and develop the ToR of this evaluation. This evaluation is part of the 2025-2029 CEP planned for 2025.

For all evaluations, the consultant manages the evaluation team, coordinating with UNICEF sector teams and reporting progress to the Representative and Country Management Team. She/he receives support from the R&E Officer in the day-to-day operationalization of the evaluations and liaises with the REA on evaluation technical matters. In case any of the evaluations need to be submitted for external ethical review, (s)he supervises/ensures the submission by the evaluation team with support of the R&E Officer. For all evaluations the evaluation consultant promotes the use of the evaluation throughout the evaluation process.

2. Support to the operationalization of evaluation function and a conducive evaluation environment (10% of effort)

The evaluation consultant will support the following activities:

• a. Evaluation planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting: as part of annual work planning ensure that evaluation activities are incorporated in the 2025 workplan (if needed, support the revision of the Costed Evaluation Plan); follow-up on resource allocation to the CO evaluation output; report on evaluation progress to the Representative and the Country Management Team; report on evaluation achievements and KPIs in CO annual reporting; and, support the R&E officer in updating the EISI system and inputs in evaluation dashboards.
• b. Evaluation use: promote the use of evaluation evidence in CO reporting and in decision making platforms.
• c. Evaluation capacity strengthening: support the updating of the evaluation SharePoint, evaluation guidance/tools and the CO evidence SOP; strengthen the awareness and capacity of CO staff about evaluation; and, support national evaluation capacity development initiatives.
• d. Evaluation partnership: maintain linkages and support synergies with UNICEF regional and global evaluation sections; this includes attending evaluation network meetings and supporting implementation of regional and global evaluations.

Expected travel

The consultancy will be executed through mix of remote home-based work and visits to Iraq. It is expected that the consultant will travel around 3-5 times to Iraq,[1] particularly during moments of evaluation steering committee meetings, coordination/initiation of fieldwork and/or validation/dissemination events of evaluation findings/ recommendations. Furthermore, the scoping and ToR development of the evaluation of the Social Protection Programme will likely require multi-stakeholder coordination and will benefit from a presence in Iraq. This will mainly mean travel to Baghdad, but the consultant needs to be willing to travel outside of Baghdad. Travel will be separately financed by the Iraq CO. Any travel plans need to be approved by the CO. Travel will be in economy class and standard DSA procedures for Iraq will be applied.

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[1] Visits of around one week - to be further specified based on need at time of evaluation implementation.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in evaluation, economics, social sciences, public management or related field.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Eight years of relevant professional work experience in evaluation activities.
• Experience in managing evaluations, as team leader of evaluations or evaluation manager. Experience in managing joint multi-agency evaluations desirable.
• Experience in designing and implementing data collection methods (quantitative and qualitative).
• Experience in quality assurance of evaluation implementation and deliverables.
• Experience in facilitating workshops and training related to evaluation.
• Experience in evaluation or research in education, health, WASH, social protection or child protection desirable.
• Experience in theory of change development desirable.

Language Skills required:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 1 day ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: unicef.org