Evaluation and Research Specialist

Job organizational context:

The Evaluation and Research Specialist reports to the Chief of Evidence, Policy and Social Protection for general guidance and direction and provides technical and operational support to the Country Management Team (CMT), in consultation with the Regional Office multi-country evaluation specialist and Regional Office staff with responsibilities for strategic evidence generation. The Evaluation & Research Specialist ensures credibility, impartiality, and independence of the evaluation function in the CO.

The incumbent works in accordance with the norms and standards of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) and the UNICEF evaluation policy, as well as the UNICEF Research Policy.

Purpose for the job:

Sierra Leone Country Office is seeking an Evaluation and Research Specialist to i) manage the implementation of activities under the 2020-2024 and 2025-2030 Costed Evaluation Plans and Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Plans (IMERP); ii) develop and implement a plan for national evaluation capacity development and iii) develop strategic partnerships for strengthening research.

The Evaluation and Research Specialist 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. She/he will undertake thematic evaluations, evaluability assessments, and other evaluative activities for which the Country Office is accountable. 2 tendersglobal.net P a g e

• 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 Evaluation and Research Specialist 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 incumbent will also take responsibility for implementing the activities under this plan.
• The incumbent will take on responsibility for strengthening the research function in the Country Office, including providing technical input and guidance to Country Office researches and studies, undertaking capacity strengthening activities and developing strategic partnerships for research.

SUMMARY OF KEY FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Evaluation Leadership
• Evaluation Conduct and Use
• Evaluation Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Building
• Research Management

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education: 

• An advanced university degree in the social sciences, economics, public policy, statistics, or in research methods is required. A degree or certification/accreditation in Evaluation is a significant advantage.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in the implementation of equity-focused evaluations and strategic research.
• Experience in the management of research and evaluation function at national and international level, including developing strategic TORs, recruiting consultant teams and managing the research/evaluation process.
• Experience in evaluation design and in conducting evaluations as per UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards for Evaluation in the UN System.
• Experience in supporting national evaluation capacity and working with professional evaluation associations.
• Experience in developing strategic partnerships for research and evaluations.
• Familiarity with methods used in conducting both ‘up-stream’ research and evaluations (e.g. focusing on policies, strategies and systems), as well as ‘down-stream’ research and evaluations (e.g. focusing on delivery of programmes and projects) is an asset.
• Experience in development and/ or humanitarian settings is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/571102/evaluation-and-research-specialist-p3-freetown-sierra-leone-128243-temporary-appointment