Senior Evaluation Specialist

Description

Senior Evaluation Specialist Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Evaluation Officer job may exist in Headquarters or in a Regional Bureau. In HQ, the job is in the Evaluation Office (EvO) in UNHCR Headquarters Geneva. Working under the supervision of the Head of Office, the post focuses on normative and operational aspects of evaluation work, norms, standards and guidance. This requires contributing to the technical support for both centralized and decentralized evaluation, and to the design, commissioning, management and follow up of a range of different types of evaluative work undertaken by the Office. It includes UNHCRâs contributions to inter-agency evaluation initiatives and thereby requires interaction with key external actors in the UN agency, donor, NGO and wider evaluation communities.In a Regional Bureau working under the overall leadership of the Senior Evaluation Coordinator, the position will complement existing HQ evaluation capacity to lead on the development of organizational norms for evaluation, guidance and tools, planning and delivery of country strategy and decentralised evaluations with UNHCR regional bureau and country operation colleagues (including the development of evaluation Terms of Reference, procurement and contract management of evaluation services, and providing quality assurance of evaluation deliverables). The incumbent directly participates in decentralised evaluation processes at a Regional Bureau and country operation level as relevant and required. S/he supports the design and delivery of UNHCR evaluation-related capacity building efforts in UNHCR Regional Bureaux and Country Offices. S/he also supports the Regional Bureau, Multi-Country Office and Country Office to identify key evidence gaps and priorities and develop appropriate evaluative strategies and plans to address these.All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRâs core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties In Headquarters Lead the design and timely management of global independent strategic, thematic and/or Level 3 Emergency Response Evaluations. Deploy on mission as needed, notably scoping and draft report/ recommendation co-creation phases to build stakeholder involvement and ensure products are developed to standard. Lead the dissemination and follow-up activities on global and/or L3 Emergency Response Evaluations. Contribute to strengthening the global normative evaluation framework, including the revision of policies, strategies and procedures. Enhance the technical quality of UNHCRâs evaluation approaches, methodologies and tools. Lead, where requested, the updating of technical evaluation guidelines and capacity development products and services. Contribute to the preparation of other technical evaluation products including evaluation syntheses. Lead and participate in the selection and procurement of quality evaluation services (evaluation firms and individual consultants). Provide technical assistance and quality assure decentralized evaluations commissioned by divisions. Respond to requests for details of the evaluation work programme and activities. Participate in conferences, workshops, and seminars relevant to UNHCRâs evaluation work and contribute to UN professional evaluation practice through active participation in UN Evaluation Group working groups and events. Provide technical continuity and advice on specialist evaluation areas to rotational colleagues. In a Regional Bureau Lead the design and management of independent Country Strategy Evaluations (CSEs). Deploy on mission as needed, notably scoping and draft report/ recommendation co-creation phases for CSEs and technical assistance in commissioning and design of decentralized evaluations to build stakeholder involvement and ensure products are developed to standard. Lead the dissemination and follow-up activities of independent CSEs. Contribute to strengthening the global normative evaluation framework, including the revision of policies and procedures with a specific emphasis on those relevant to the decentralized evaluation function. Enhance the technical quality of UNHCRâs evaluation approaches, methodologies and tools. Lead, where requested, the updating of technical evaluation guidelines and capacity development products and services. Contribute to the preparation of other technical evaluation products including evaluation syntheses. Lead the development and strengthening of the evaluation function within the region, including generating awareness and demand among senior management at bureau and operation levels; establishing a regional work programme, building a network of focal points, generating resources, and supporting decentralized evaluation conduct in line policy requirements. Enhance the technical aspects (both quantitative and qualitative) of decentralised evaluations commissioned by UNHCR are improved through expert advice and guidance. Ensure the quality of decentralized evaluations commissioned by regional bureaux and country operations. Contribute to the design of evaluation-related training modules and materials for the decentralized function, and deploy to facilitate evaluation-related awareness raising, training and/or capacity building sessions as required. Respond to requests for details of the evaluation work programme and activities. Participate in conferences, workshops, and seminars relevant to UNHCRâs evaluation work and contribute to UN professional evaluation practice through active participation in UN Evaluation Group working groups and events. Ensure continuity for the evaluation function and perform an advisory role in the regions. Support risk assessment and discussions within the Evaluation Office team and proactively manage risks related to evaluation conduct and use for evaluations for which the S/M is responsible, escalating the risk to the Head of Evaluation Office, as needed. Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level Field(s) of Education Certificates and/or Licenses (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Proven track record as an evaluator of humanitarian or development operations, programmes and projects. Experience with a range of evaluation purposes, objectives and methodologies. Demonstrable expertise of evaluation norms and standards. At least 5 years applied research or M&E related experience. Good knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methods/approaches, statistics, data collection tools and analytical approaches. Experience of leading and managing evaluation processes, including ideally managing multi-disciplinary teams with variable evaluation experience. Experience of working with and influencing senior decision makers, including in delivering challenging, or potentially contested, key messages. Experience in developing and/or delivering M&E or evaluation-related capacity building content. Experience of building effective working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.Formal qualification or certification in evaluation work. Substantial experience in a humanitarian or development context. Knowledge of UNHCR programmes and other humanitarian operations in a variety of geographical locations. Ability to write publications with minimal editorial supervision. Relevant work experience in field contexts, ideally including in refugee and displacement response contexts. Functional Skills (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements
Competency Requirements All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below. Core Competencies Managerial Competencies Cross-Functional Competencies All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

Desired Candidate Profile

⢠Possess leadership, organizational and managerial skills to ensure supervision, oversight and management of complex evaluation projects with consultants, firms and multiple stakeholders;⢠Be capable of establishing an enabling working environment in complex and difficult circumstances; be pro-active in anticipating and managing stakeholders (internal and external);⢠Be able to travel on missions to remote field locations with challenging working conditions and security concerns;⢠Proven track record of managing large and complex humanitarian or development evaluations;⢠Evidential leadership and managerial skills to ensure supervision, management and quality control of complex projects with a range of stakeholders, including teams of consultants;⢠Possess strong networking and relationship building expertise to work effectively with staff in UNHCR operations, persons that we serve, UN and multilateral agencies, Government, NGOs, and academic institutions;⢠Be capable of establishing an enabling working environment in complex and difficult circumstances; be pro-active in anticipating and managing stakeholders (internal and external);⢠Possess strong logical modelling skills, and methodological expertise and experience in quantitative and/or qualitative data collection and analysis approaches;⢠Be able to travel on missions to remote field locations with challenging working conditions and security concerns;⢠Communicate effectively, orally and in writing;⢠Have expertise in coaching, capacity building, mentoring and facilitating;⢠Desirably have experience in Inter-Agency and UN system engagement, and⢠Desirably have Operational experience in the EHAGL region.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

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Desired languages

,, Operational context Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: Nature of Position: The Senior Evaluation Specialist position is located in the Regional Bureau for the East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes in Nairobi, Kenya. The Senior Evaluation Specialist will report to the P5, Senior Evaluation Coordinator in HQ, Geneva, and have a strong link to the Regional Director and the wider Regional Bureau senior management team. The work of the Senior Evaluation Specialist will require building strong relationships with all services within the Regional Bureau, and with Representatives, Deputy Representatives and their teams in all country operations in the Region.

Evaluation is a growing function in the Organization as reflected in the new evaluation policy of 2022. The organization in undergoing major structural and procedural reforms, including regionalization and decentralization (since 2019/20), the introduction of multi-year planning and results-based management through the COMPASS system. Other business process reforms are also underway. Evaluation is part of these reforms, supporting multi-year planning and RBM in particular. The numbers of evaluations being commissioned by Regional Bureau and Country Operations is increasing and the new policy has coverage norms for evaluation over the next five years. Living and Working Conditions: Nairobi is in UN Security Phase 1. However, politically instigated demonstrations and riots can occur at any time. There is general crime similar to that in large cities and a high sense of vigilance and alertness is required. Despite the security concerns mentioned above, Nairobi is a very good duty station for families. It has good medical facilities and recreational facilities. Schools and hotels are of international standards. It has an excellent climate, and comfortable houses are available in the market. Other forms of accommodations are available as well as good banking facilities, unlimited access to all forms of communications such as internet, telephone Sim cards, etc. Additional Qualifications Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Development, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social ScienceResearch and Evaluation Methods - Other Competencies Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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Compendium Add. 1 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 - Part B Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance