Research & Evaluation Specialist, P3, Maseru,Lesotho (Temporary Appointment, 364 days) at Lesotho
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
Organizational Context and Purpose for the job
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nation.
Job organizational context:
The Research and Evaluation Specialist, based in the Programme Section, will provide cross sectoral support to all the programme components in planning, research, evaluations and monitoring of projects/programmes.
Purpose for the job:
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative and in close collaboration with the Chief Social Policy, Regional Office Evaluation team and in support of the Government of Lesotho UNICEF Country Programme, aligned with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), Sector Programmes, MDGs and Sustainable Development Goals, the incumbent of the post is responsible to:
i) Ensure that the country programme has valid, reliable and quality evidence on the programme interventions including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability, and in emergency contexts, their coverage, coordination and coherence.
ii) The Government partners have improved capacity to monitor and report the situation of children’s and women’s rights impacted by the Country Programme using RBM approach.
iii) About 60% of time is spent to support the Ministry of Development Planning including Bureau of Statistics for strengthening Evaluation and research capacity; and the remaining 40% for UNICEF internal Research and Evaluation interventions.
Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Quality assurance of evaluation and research activities
2. Support to thematic research on generating evidence for SDG monitoring, child poverty, social protection and other social sectors
3. Evaluation and research planning
4. Partnerships and capacity-building of Government and CSO on evaluation and research
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS
1) Quality assurance of evaluation and research activities
Ensure that evaluation and research activities led and supported by the Country Office comply with methodological standards as well as organisational policies and guidelines.
a)Technically support programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference and evaluation designs of high quality in compliance with the organization’s programme evaluation policies and guidelines.
b)Provide oversight and quality assurance of UNICEF- and partner-commissioned research and evaluation activities in compliance with Country Office Standard Operating Procedures for the Planning, Management and Quality Assurance of UNICEF-supported Evaluations, Surveys, Studies, and Research.
c)Manage all country office evaluations ensuring they adhere to UNICEF and UNEG norms and standards for evaluations in the UN system.
d)Support government to disseminate evaluation and research findings and recommendations to the intended audiences in user-friendly methods. In particular, to ensure that effective participatory feedback is provided to community and civil society stakeholders.
e)Monitor and ensure that a management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation. Most specifically, ensure that evaluation recommendations are submitted to the Country Management Team and follow-up actions recorded in CMT minutes. Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation;
f)If outsourcing, support in managing the consultants/team of evaluation researchers, while coordinating with Section Chiefs/programme staff to ensure the objectives of the evaluations are clearly defined and the stakeholders understand their respective roles and responsibilities. Act as a focal person of contact facilitating timely coordination mechanism for productive outcome;
g)Participate/contribute to global and/or regional evaluations and researches studies ensuring that the tasks are well coordinated taking into account all existing data/information available; Monitor implementation of all studies and evaluations keeping them up to date in EISI.
2) Support to thematic research on generating evidence for SDG monitoring, child poverty, social protection and other social sectors
Ensure that UNICEF and Governments generate quality evidence to monitor the SDGs, on trends and patterns in child poverty and to support the implementation of social protection interventions.
a)Provide methodological and technical support to thematic research on priority areas for the Social Sectors, with a particular focus on generating evidence for SDG monitoring, child poverty, child protection and social protection.
b)Support the identification of partners and the establishment of research partnerships around these thematic areas;
c)Support capacity of Partners to conduct quality assurance of data collection, management, analysis and report-writing for thematic research products.
d)In coordination with other stakeholders, support the collection of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and other key social development indicators to improve national planning.
3)Evaluation and research planning
Ensure that the Country Office and national partners use a well-prioritised and realistic plan of research and evaluation activities (Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Planning) that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme, including tracking and assessing UNICEF distinct contribution, Specifically:
a)Lead the planning and establishing of the major assessment, research and evaluation objectives, priorities, and activities in UNICEF’s multi-year and feed into UNICEF’s annual IMEPs. Ensure that the plan is clear, practical and approved by the Country Management Team and is managed properly taking into account any modifications that are necessary due to changes in the programme plans.
b)Participate in and use information from the Situation Analysis, Common Country Assessment, Early Warning Monitoring Systems, and Mid-Term, Mid-Year and End-Year Reviews, collaborate with Section Chiefs and advise on further research/assessment on key areas that further define UNICEF’s comparative advantage in priority areas.
c) In line with the organisation Research Policy ensure that principles and standards that should guide research are upheld; identify emerging and strategic issues for further research; support the development of a well-prioritised research agenda for UNICEF Lesotho.
d)In line with the organisation Research Policy ensure that principles and standards that should guide research are upheld; identify emerging and strategic issues for further research; support the development of a well-prioritised research agenda for UNICEF Lesotho.
4)Partnerships and capacity-building of Government and CSO on evaluation and research
Ensure that the Country Office builds sustainable partnerships for research and evaluation and engages in capacity-building of Government partners on research and evaluation for partners as well as UNICEF staff.
a)Establish and maintain a network of partnerships with research organisations, think tanks and academic institutions to generate quality research that can support policy, programming and advocacy on behalf of children and contribute to further knowledge on children in Lesotho.
b)Collaborate with Regional and HQ Research and Evaluation Advisers for overall coordination of priority quality research, monitoring and evaluation activities.
c)Partner with the Regional Evaluation Adviser to ensure that current and accurate data and results are included in regional reports, multi-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks.
d)Collaborate to implement capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners. Utilize a range of appropriate skills building strategies including self-learning, seminars and workshops and practical experience in order that UNICEF and UN staff have the basic knowledge and skills in understanding and applying evaluation/research standards and policies, tools, methods to fulfil their responsibilities. Similarly, design and implement strategies suited to the skills needs of national partners;
e)Engage in partnerships to build national capacity on evaluation and research standards, M&E policies, strategies, tools and methods and institutional arrangements to facilitate the use of evaluations for enhance institutional accountability and learning.
f)Support the Government to roll out the Result Based Management (RBM) at national and sub-national levels for monitoring the implementation of SDGs.
Competencies and level of proficiency required
Core Values
Commitment
Diversity and inclusion
Integrity
Core competencies
Communication (II)
Working with People (II)
Drive for results (II)
Functional Competencies
Analyzing [II]
Planning and Organizing [III]
Applying Technical Expertise [II]
Formulating Strategies and Concept [II]
Leading and Supervising [II]
Recruitment Qualifications
Education: Advanced university degree in Statistics, Demography, Development Planning, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related technical field
Experience: Five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Practical experience in community-based research.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English and another UN language required.
Working knowledge of local language is an asset.
How to apply
Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=525310 by 15 August 2019.
This notice will appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/Lesotho, and on UN Job List, UN Jobs.
Qualified women and men are encouraged to apply.
This vacancy announcement is opened to qualified Internationals Only.
If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.