Consultant Roster of Young and Emerging Evaluator, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office

UNICEF EAPRO is issuing a call for the expansion of an evaluation roster expertise as part of ongoing efforts to enhance evaluation capacities in the EAP Region. Consultancies being sought include Team Lead Evaluator, Senior Consultant, Mid-level/National Consultant, Data Analyst/Researcher, and Young Emerging Evaluators.  

This specific announcement aims to attract qualified individual evaluation consultants for the position of Young and Emerging Evaluator, to be included in the UNICEF’s roster of evaluators for the region.

The goal of this assignment is to support EAPRO’s evaluation function in achieving objectives set by the global Evaluation Policy, with a particular focus on nurturing young and emerging evaluators. Involving young professionals in the evaluation process brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a deeper understanding of youth-related issues. It also promotes inclusivity and empowerment, improving the quality and impact of evaluations. This approach aligns with UNICEF’s commitment to building evaluation capacity among young professionals and leveraging their insights to strengthen evaluation processes.

While the consultancy is open to applicants from all nationalities, priority will be given to candidates from the EAP region. This is to ensure that the evaluation reflects the unique perspectives and local knowledge that are crucial for understanding and addressing the region’s specific challenges. In addition, the overall goal of this particular call for applications is to foster the development of young and emerging evaluators in the EAP region. Applicants from the EAP region are therefore strongly encouraged to apply.

Details regarding the nature of this roster system and qualifications for each role are outlined in this Terms of Reference (TOR). Additionally, a separate TOR will be provided for each evaluation project to which the consultant is assigned, offering more specific details.

The roster system will complement UNICEF’s ongoing effort to strengthen its evaluation capacity. This announcement targets candidates outside of UNICEF (non-staff) with interest in providing evaluation services at the regional and CO level. The roster will contain only pre-screened individuals found suitable to conduct evaluations in EAP region specifically. Candidates will be placed in the roster for a period of 36 months and will be called up depending on suitability of assignment and availability. However, actual contracting will be based on specific TORs. Note that inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relations with UNICEF. 

Scope of work

The Young and Emerging Evaluators– selected for the EAP Roster – are early-career professionals who support the evaluation team in various tasks, including data collection, analysis, and report preparation, as part of a given independent evaluation. Once rostered and selected for a particular evaluation, the consultants will carry out the agreed assignments, as guided by the specific TORs drafted by the Evaluation Manager (Regional Evaluation Adviser – REA) for regional level evaluations or Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist (MCES) for CO evaluations.

Based on the needs, the Young and Emerging Evaluator will support team members throughout the evaluation project under the guidance of the Team Leader. Responsibilities include gathering and researching key background documents, supporting the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the evaluation process, ensuring the quality of products presented by team members, and organizing and managing documents in a cloud folder, as outlined in the TOR. 

The role will align with assigned programs and areas of expertise within UNICEF programming, including Early Childhood Development (ECD), Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation (WASH), Adolescents and Development, and Social Protection. Additionally, the candidate will contribute to cross-sectoral program areas such as Climate Change, Environment, Energy, Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED), Gender, Mental Health, and Emergency Response. Evaluations may cover UNICEF strategic plan change strategies such as Advocacy and communications; Community engagement, social and behaviour change; Data, research, evaluation, and knowledge management; Digital transformation; Gender transformative programming; Innovation; Partnerships and engagement: public and private; Risk-informed humanitarian and development nexus programming; Systems strengthening to leave no one behind. Evaluations may also include assessment of National Evaluation Capacity Development (NECD) activities in EAP region.

Work assignment and expected deliverables:

The selected individual consultant will be provided with specific TOR for each assigned evaluation. Working under the supervision of the respective evaluation manager or evaluation specialist and Team Lead Evaluator, the consultant will be responsible for producing standard outputs and deliverables as outlined for each evaluation and activity. The consultant is required to provide regular progress updates throughout the evaluation process and ensure the timely delivery of outputs.

As noted, specific deliverables for each evaluation and activity will be defined in the respective TOR. Typically, the evaluation process involves the following key tasks: 

Inception Report Preparation

• Assist with logistical arrangements for the introductory kick-off meeting with UNICEF and key stakeholders, including recording the meeting.
• Support the Data Analyst/Researcher in collecting relevant documentation on programme interventions, literature, policy documents, and guidelines, ensuring proper referencing for the final report.
• Organize and manage collected materials and data to ensure easy access for team members.
• Review programme interventions, literature, policy documents, and guidelines, summarizing key points as needed.
• Participate in meetings with team members, UNICEF, and key stakeholders; take notes, record discussions, and share key takeaways and summaries with the team.
• Assist in preparing and submitting documentation for Institutional Review Board (IRB)[1] approval through UNICEF.
• Deliverables: Summaries of meetings and action points, an organized reference list of key documents, an accessible document repository for the team, and a summary of reviewed programme materials.

Data collection, analysis and draft report of the evaluation:

• Support the Data Analyst/Researcher in collecting secondary data for an in-depth desk-based analysis, sharing findings with teammates, and assisting in analysis.
• Facilitate coordination of evaluation activities and ensure smooth communication among team members and stakeholders.
• Assist with data collection and schedule interviews with identified participants by coordinating with team members, country offices (COs), and other stakeholders.
• Manage travel arrangements for the evaluation team as needed.
• Support team members in drafting the evaluation report, ensuring adherence to UNEG norms and standards for evaluation reports and GEROS.
• Organize and document evaluation meetings, including the validation workshop.
• Provide comprehensive administrative and logistical support to facilitate the evaluation process.
• Deliverables: Collected and analysed secondary data, coordinated evaluation activities and communication, scheduled interviews and managed participant coordination, arranged travel logistics, organized and documented evaluation meetings, and provided administrative and logistical support.

Final report and dissemination

• Participate in the meeting with the ERG when the final report is presented and support the Data Analyst/Researcher in recording the meeting.
• Assist team members in ensuring that all comments are addressed.
• Support the Data Analyst/Researcher in summarizing key findings.
• Participate in key dissemination activities for different audiences and assist the Data Analyst/Researcher in recording meetings.
• Deliverables: Drafted meeting notes, a summary report with infographics (developed with support from the Data Analyst/Researcher), and recorded dissemination meeting notes with action points.
• Specific tasks are not limited to above, and the estimated working days and deadlines for each phase and deliverable will be detailed in the specific TOR for each evaluation and finalized during the inception phase.
• Duration of Contract:  The duration of each contract will be specified in the specific TOR, as it varies based on the scope of each evaluation. Successful candidates will be placed in the roster for a maximum period of 36 months and will be called up depending on the suitability of assignments and needs. Consultants are expected to be ready to commence assignments within one month of confirming their availability.
• Work Modality and Duty Travel:  This position is fully remote/home-based and not office based with possible mission travel, depending on the assignment. The consultant is expected to provide their own computer, communication devices, internet connection, and workspace.
• Duty travel is applicable only if a deliverable cannot demonstrably be produced through remote work. Depending on the nature of the evaluation, fieldwork travel for data collection may be required in certain countries, – typically, any travel is reflected in the TOR, or determined during the inception phase. The consultant is responsible for arranging their own logistics, including transport, communication, insurance, and security.  Travel expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

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

The Young and Emerging Evaluator provides coordination and administrative support to the evaluation process under the supervision of the Team Lead Evaluator and other team members. Key responsibilities include data and document collection, analysis, and creating communication products. Additionally, they provide back-office support for logistics and other administrative tasks, such as organizing and recording meetings, managing travel arrangements, scheduling interviews, and documenting evaluation activities. They also explore the use of AI to enhance data analysis, streamline processes, and improve evaluation efficiency.

Essential Qualifications for the Young and Emerging Evaluator:

• Under 30 years of age with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences. A certificate in evaluation or equivalent qualification is an advantage.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in research or evaluations.
• Prior involvement in at least one research or evaluation is required. Experience with UN/UNICEF evaluations is a plus.
• Work experience in EAP region is preferred.
• Prior experience, including an internship within the UN system, is considered an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to use various evaluation tools and methodologies to interpret complex data, identify trends, and draw logical conclusions.
• Familiarity with UNEG’s and UNICEF’s norms, standards, and ethical guidelines[2], and UNICEF Evaluation Policy.
• Commitment to working in complex environments, with the ability to deliver quality results under limited guidance and supervision.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders and express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally in English.
• Concern for accuracy and quality in work. 
• Adaptability and flexibility, client orientation, initiative, and a proven commitment to ethical practices. 

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/580231