Regional Adviser Evaluation (P-5) – Fixed-Term, MENARO Amman-Jordan #00103072

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.
For every child, QUALITY

The Middle East and North Africa region covers countries and territories from Morocco to the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Djibouti and Sudan in sub-Saharan Africa. The region is home to nearly 418 million people, including 157 million, or 38 per cent, who are under the age of 18. Nearly 10,000 children are born across the region every year. The Middle East and North Africa Regional Office is a hub for information, technical expertise, oversight and coordination for UNICEF Country Offices. It also supports these offices in their efforts to raise much-needed resources. Specialist advisers based in Amman help develop programmes in health and nutrition, child protection, adolescent development, HIV and AIDS, education, water and sanitation, social policy and emergency preparedness.
How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Regional Director, the incumbent will:

1. develops, implements, manages and monitors a strategy for strengthening the evaluation function in MENA region;
2. oversees the implementation of a quality assurance system aimed at improving the quality of evaluations;
3. provides technical support to country offices in the area of evaluation, including capacity-development at various levels;
4. provides and coordinates regional recommendations regarding global policy development, regional support and contributions to global corporate evaluation activities; and
5. ensures coherence with the evaluation function at the global level and with other UN agencies.

The responsibilities also include providing policy support, guidance and advocacy on evaluation in humanitarian preparedness and response, in collaboration with other agencies, as well as ensuring that the equity and the gender equality perspectives are mainstreamed throughout the evaluation function.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Develops and builds consensus around a regional strategy to strengthen the evaluation function, including a quality assurance system, aimed at improving the quality and prioritization of evaluations in the Region. Prepares and disseminates periodic reports on the management of the evaluation function to the Regional Management Team (RMT). Develops an annual work plan for regional evaluation activities, monitors implementation, including the use of budgetary resources.

2. Guides the conceptualization and implementation of regional thematic or multi-country evaluations in areas of regional priority, ensuring the incorporation of an equity focus.

3. Provides direct technical support to country offices for strengthening the evaluation function at the Country Office level. This includes: support the strategic planning of evaluations, quality assurance of evaluations, evaluation use.

4. Establishes a partnership approach including but not limited to centers of excellence in evaluation in the region and beyond, to facilitate the availability of high-quality technical capacity for conducting of evaluations in the region, as and when required.

5. Documents and shares through the global evaluation network good practices and lessons learned in evaluation from the region and strengthens the capacity of UNICEF’s regional M&E network in the area of evaluation.

6. Provides UNICEF’s inputs into and coordinates effectively with regional UN inter-agency evaluation mechanisms and initiatives.

7. Advocates the availability of sufficient staff capacity in the region to manage the evaluation function and maintains a high standard of evaluation, including through regional network meetings and organization of specific technical training as and when required.

8. Keeps abreast of developments in the field of evaluation, pro-equity policies and knowledge management in the region and at headquarters, and provides/coordinates regional contributions and recommendations in connection with the development and implementation of global policies and strategies related to evaluation.

9. Performs other related tasks.

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

• Master’s Degree or higher in a social science or in a relevant natural science. Specialization in research methodology and evaluation, advanced statistical analysis and programme analysis/evaluation is an asset.
• 10 years in progressively responsible professional work related to planning, implementation, coordination, and management of monitoring/evaluation/research, with at least half of that experience obtained in developing nations or in organizations whose work is predominantly in developing nations.

At least 5 years senior level management and technical experience in Evaluation at either a very large country office, or in regional or headquarters locations..

• Fluency in English and one other UN languages required, with Arabic as a particular asset.
• Specific Technical Knowledge Required:
• Extensive practical experience in planning, implementation and use of evaluations
• Proven knowledge and understanding of evaluation policies, procedures and practices.
• Excellent knowledge of research and evaluation methodologies.
• Proven experience in establishing effective partnerships in both development and humanitarian environments.
• Strong conceptual and research analytical skills with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others and (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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. Reference checking will be conducted to those who progress to advanced stages of the process

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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