Background
The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) works to enhance the development effectiveness of UNDP. IEOโs work is guided by the UNDP Evaluation Policy and the Norms and Standards of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG). The IEO contributes to UNDPโs organizational accountability and learning by conducting strategic, independent evaluations and setting standards and guidelines on evaluation for the organization.ย
The IEO has three programmatic workstreams: Country Programme Evaluation; Corporate and Thematic Evaluation; and Capacity Development and Decentralized Evaluation.
Position Purpose
The post is located within the Country Programme Evaluation Workstream of the IEO. The Evaluation Specialist is responsible for conducting, managing, and overseeing independent country programme evaluations (ICPEs), which are implemented for UNDP program countries and territories around the globe. The ICPEs support the development of new Country Programme Documents and strategies by programme units, by providing a set of evidence-based findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The Evaluation Specialist reports to the Chief of Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) . The incumbent might be also asked to support IEOโs Directorate while securing the Officeโs delivery of its annual Programme of Work.ย
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Lead or support evaluations that are impartial, independent, and credible.
Lead evaluations of Multi Country Offices of UNDPs in the Caribbean (MCO Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados). Effectively coordinate evaluation input conducted by recruited consultants and other team members. Promote evaluations that meet high professional standards in line with the UNDP Evaluation Policy and UN Evaluation Norms & Standards. Keep abreast of socio-economic developments in the Latin America and Caribbean region under evaluation. Undertake and support evaluations of UNDPโs programmes in other Latin America and Caribbean Countries. Support members of the CPE team in the completion of the CPE workstream.Ensure that evaluations are useful, and support follow-up of evaluation findings and recommendations.
Report on recommendations and lessons learned drawn from evaluations. Organize stakeholder meetings and workshops to establish a dialogue on evaluation results. Advocate for the use of evaluation results in the design and appraisal of strategies, policies and projects/programmes. Work closely with the IEO Engagement and communications team and the Chief of Section in the development of new evaluation reporting formats and products to ensure strong evaluation uptake of findings, conclusions and recommendations and how sections can exchange lessons to improve the use of evidence and shared analytical frameworks.ยPromote the evaluation function in the Organization.
Contribute to the development and review of IEO and UNDP evaluation policies, guidance, systems, procedures and tools. Engage in discussions to brainstorm how to improve the quality of decentralized evaluations.Support the effective deployment of human and financial resources of IEO.
lan evaluations and prepare budgets for individual evaluations. Effectively and efficiently manage the use of resources for evaluations. Select evaluation consultants based on post requirements. Supervise evaluation consultants.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Lead or support evaluation teams, comprising consultants and personnel, in the data collection, analysis, and reporting on UNDP country office results and performance, using established evaluation criteria and methods.ย
Competencies
Core competencies
Achieve Results:
Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.Think Innovatively:
Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.Learn Continuously:
Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.Adapt with Agility:
Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.Act with Determination: ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.Engage and Partner:
Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.People Managementย
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competenciesย
Business Direction and Strategy: System Thinkingย ย
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.Business Development: Knowledge generationย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.ย Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.ย Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.Business Development: Collective intelligence designย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology andpractices.Evaluation: Professional Foundationsย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Possesses a deep understanding and updated knowledge of evaluation ethics and UNEG Norms and Standards, with the ability to uphold ethics under pressure, and maintain independence and impartiality under pressure.ย Ability to critically analyze current issues in evaluation practice and theory; with excellent knowledge of human rights and gender equality, and is able to ensure that evaluation design, questions and analysis incorporate this knowledge in all settings.Evaluation: Technical Evaluation Skillsย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Possess knowledge of various types of theories of change and logic models and is able use a systems approach in order to identify, recreate and facilitate the development of theories of change and logic models for complex programmes, policies and initiatives; in order to facilitate evaluative thinking among stakeholders. Ability to develop high-quality terms of references for complex evaluations, demonstrating a strong ability to prioritize and focus evaluation questions. Demonstrates capabilities in elaborating designs for complex evaluations, drawing on existing best practices as well as developing innovative approaches. Excellent evaluation methods knowledge, including the ability to apply and interpret a range of evaluation methods and approaches, both quantitative and qualitative, ensuring that appropriate evaluation data collection and analysis methods are used. Understands and ensures the appropriate use of multiple and mixed methods. Capable of analyzing data from diverse sources, identifying key trends and gaps in information, being able to ensure that data and information used in evaluations are appropriate, accurate, of high quality and collected and analyzed from an ethical perspective. Possess strong analytical skills, with an ability to elaborate credible findings, with evidence traced through the analysis into findings, which are then placed within their context. Uses analytical skills to synthesize data where relevant and identifies unintended results. Has excellent reporting skills, with highly credible conclusions substantiated by evidence; and generating clear, realistic and feasible recommendations.ยEvaluation: Management Skillsย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Can demonstrate an ability to:
Determine the scope of an evaluation and develop mechanisms to implement the evaluation. Develop a realistic work plan for a complex evaluation, adjust the work plan as needed, and to effectively oversee the budgeting and use of evaluation resources. Coordinate and supervise complex evaluation processes. Identify, manage and solve conflicts, drawing out lessons learned from challenging situations.Evaluation: Promoting a culture of learning from evaluationย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Possesses knowledge of, and the ability to, communicate to stakeholders the value of evaluation to policy and programming in the achievement of the SDGs. Proactively contributes to dissemination in order to ensure the use of findings to inform future programme and policy decisions.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Public Policy, International Relations, Economics, Political Science, or other related fields is required. ORย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.ย Experience:
A minimum of 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of experience in both the conduct and management of evaluation is required. .ย Proven track record of knowledge of current international development issues is required.ย Experience in working with various evaluation methodologies, approaches and designs is desired. Experience in the use of computers and office software packages is desired Experience in handling web-based management systems is an asset,ย Experience in managing multiple consultants and teams is an advantage. Proven track record of knowledge of socio-economic developments in the Latin America and Caribbean region is an advantage. Demonstrated ability to write and communicate clearly is required.Language:
Fluency in English is required. Fluency in other official UN languages (e.g., French and Spanish) is advantageous.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam alert
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