Program Evaluator

Introduction

Established in 2007, AAN Associates is a ‘Social Enterprise’ established to enable development partners in finding simple, innovative, cost-efficient, and sustainable solutions to developmental challenges. AAN Associates brings extensive research and evaluation experience in varied contexts i.e., development to humanitarian (including complex emergencies) crises. AAN has undertaken more than 110 consulting projects in over 26 countries (East Asia and Pacific, South & West Asia, Middle East, East and South Africa, and West Africa), with bi / multilateral funding agencies, United Nations, public sector, and nonprofit entities.

AAN is a growing organization with a distinctive track of producing award-winning research and evaluations. These awards and distinctions have come to complement AAN’s recognition as practice lead in ‘Social Research’ and ‘Evaluations’. AAN is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy underpinned by excellence in service, improvising innovation, and technology, strengthening partnerships and resources, forging institutional systems and diversity.

Responsibilities

AAN Associates is actively seeking a ‘program evaluator‘ with a strong background in Country Program Evaluations. The ideal candidate should possess a minimum of 15 years of individual experience in development program evaluations, with a particular emphasis on having worked extensively in China. This includes leading at least two Country Programme evaluations. We highly encourage candidates with experience in evaluating programs for UN Agencies, bi/multilateral donors, and INGOs, such as UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, IFAD, BMGF, among others, to apply. The professional will:

• Lead the development of a comprehensive methodology that integrates mixed methods and incorporates gender, equity, and human rights considerations throughout the evaluation process.
• Oversee the desk review of documentation, including CPDs, evaluation reports, government documents, and statistical data.
• Conduct semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including UNICEF focal points, government officials, implementing partners, academia, and other organizations, to gather qualitative insights.
• Lead the implementation of a broad-based partner perception survey to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and sustainability of partnerships in the country program.
• Plan and lead field visits, including focus group discussions and key informant interviews, to evaluate priority strategic areas identified in the evaluation.
• Ensure the active involvement of youth, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in the data collection process to ensure diverse perspectives are captured.
• Provide leadership on quality assurance, ensuring the quality and independence of the evaluation, and coordinate with the ERG and other stakeholders throughout the evaluation process.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in International Development, Public Administration, Development Programme & Evaluation, or any related social science discipline,
• A minimum of 15 years of expertise in development program evaluation, including leading at least two UNICEF Country Programme evaluations,
• Evaluation experience in at least two of the four programmatic areas, i.e., Health and Nutrition, Education, Social Policy and Child Protection, or two of the three strategic areas of pilot, advocacy and partnerships, esp. in SSC,
• Substantial experience in implementing a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques and methods in programme evaluations, including survey implementation and field studies, and
• Experience in evaluating programmes in China would be strongly preferred.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills,
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders;
• Commitment to delivering timely and high-quality results, i.e., credible evaluations in the past that are used for improving strategic decisions;
• Commitment and willingness to work independently, with limited regular supervision; and
• The ability to concisely and clearly express ideas and concepts in written and oral forms as well as the ability to communicate with various stakeholders in English.