International Individual consultancy to coordinate research and evaluation, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 11.5 months

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, result.

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The vision of the Country Programme of Cooperation with the Government of Sierra Leone 2020-2023 is that more children and women in Sierra Leone, particularly the most deprived, will have increased access to inclusive quality health, nutrition, WASH, education and child and social protection services. The Country Programme contributes towards achievement of the goals of the Government of Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan 2020-2023 and the Sustainable Development Goals. It is aligned with outcomes 1-4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2020-2023, the UNICEF Strategic Plan and the Gender Action Plan 2018-2021.

UNICEF Sierra Leone Country Office is consequently seeking to strengthen its capacity to undertake timely programme evaluations in line with the Global Evaluation Policy as well as strategic research and studies. The Country Office is therefore seeking a Research & Evaluation Consultant to manage the implementation of activities under the 2021-2022 evaluation plan in collaboration with the Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist, manage the process to develop a Country Office Costed Evaluation Plan for the 2024-2028 Country Programme and take the lead on strategic evidence generation through research and studies. The consultant will moreover take responsibility for developing and implementing a plan for national evaluation capacity development, and will take the lead in developing partnerships for both research and evaluation.

Scope of Work:

The Research & Evaluation consultant will be responsible for facilitating the overall planning, design, monitoring, updating and implementation of the country office Costed Evaluation Plan (CEP) - and associated annual evaluation plans - and is responsible for managing and monitoring the implementation of CEP efforts within the country office in collaboration with the Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist.

The consultant will manage the development of the Costed Evaluation Plan 2024- 2028 as part of the Country Programme development process. The consultant will in collaboration with the Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist manage thematic evaluations, evaluation of humanitarian action, evaluability assessments, and other evaluative activities for which the Country Office is accountable. She/he will be responsible for engaging competent evaluators who conduct their work in accordance with the norms and standards of the UNICEF evaluation policy.

The Research & Evaluation consultant will take responsibility for strengthening national evaluation capacity with a particular focus on young evaluators, including both government, academia and other stakeholders, and will develop a costed plan for the national evaluation capacity development activities under the Country Programme. The consultant will also take responsibility for implementing the activities under this plan.

Furthermore, the consultant will take on responsibility for strengthening the research function in the Country Office, including developing SOPs for evidence generation, providing technical input and guidance to Country Office researches and studies and undertaking capacity strengthening activities. Particularly, the consultant will take on responsibility for developing strategic research partnerships, both nationally and internationally.

The consultant will take the lead in developing a strategic plan for strengthening knowledge management in the country office.

Please see attached ToR for more information. ToR_ Research Evaluation consultant.pdf

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

• An Advanced University Degree in the social sciences, economics, public policy, statistics, or in research methods is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the implementation of equity-focused evaluations and the management of the evaluation function at national and international level. Experience in development and/ or humanitarian settings is required.
• Experience in supporting national evaluation capacity and working with professional evaluation associations.
• Experience in evaluation design and in conducting evaluations as per UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards for Evaluation in the UN System.
• Familiarity with methods used in conducting both ‘up-stream’ evaluations (e.g. focusing on policies, strategies and systems), as well as ‘down-stream’ evaluations (e.g. focusing on delivery of programmes and projects) is an asset.
• Experience in developing high quality research and study design.
• Experience in managing strategic research projects.
• Professional expertise in research and evaluation process management, dissemination of results, and utilization.
• Technical knowledge of methodologies employed in research and evaluation, including theories of change, stakeholders mapping, standards and models, research designs, quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods of data collection, validity/reliability testing of data, data and qualitative information analysis and interpretation, and statistical inference methods.
• Familiarity with routine monitoring systems; preferably those associated with Health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Social Policy or WASH sectors.
• Familiarity with evidence generation ethics review processes.
• Exposure to mobile technology platforms, ‘big data’ and other innovative techniques.
• Use of data and information quantitative and qualitative software for data analysis is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNICEF & UNEG Evaluation norms & standards.
• Communication skills (oral, written and in developing effective and user-targeted materials).
• Publications which show sound experience with research and evaluation methods are an advantage.
• Experience in writing policy briefs or analytical reports in social sectors.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
• Advanced computer literacy.
• High proficiency in English.
• Previous experience of working with government officials. experience of previous work in Africa an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

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/.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).