Background
The United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) is looking for a consultant to support a UN General Assembly resolution process and UNEG’s activities and initiatives of the 2015 International Year of Evaluation and beyond.UNEG is a professional network that brings together the offices responsible for evaluation in the UN system, including the specialized agencies, funds, programmes and affiliated organizations. Its mission is to foster the independence, credibility and usefulness of the evaluation function across the UN system, promote the importance of evaluation for learning, decision-making and accountability, and support the evaluation community in the UN system and beyond. UNEG was established in 2003, as the successor to the Inter-Agency Working Group on Evaluation. It currently has 45 such members and 3 observers. Building on previous strength, the UNEG Strategy 2014-2019 set out four strategic objectives and adopted a more results-oriented and outward-looking approach:
- Evaluation functions and products of UN entities meet the UNEG Norms and Standards for evaluation;
- UN entities and partners use evaluation in support of accountability and programme learning;
- Evaluation informs UN system-wide initiatives and emerging demands; and
- UNEG benefits from and contributes to an enhanced global evaluation profession.
In this context, UNEG endorsed the initiative of declaring 2015 as the International Year of Evaluation, which provides a unique opportunity to advocate and promote evaluation and evidence-based policy making at international, regional, national and local levels.
UNEG is working together with member states and international evaluation organizations on activities and initiatives of the 2015 the International Year of Evaluation. A cross-regional group of interested member states is considering the possibility of introducing a General Assembly resolution entitled “Empowering Countries through Evaluation – Evaluation at the service of the new development agenda” in order to:
- Put the issue of national evaluation capacity building on the post-2015 global agenda;
- Show that member states consider evaluation for development an important issue in a changing development landscape;
- Act as a catalyst for evaluation at the national level;
- Recognize the evaluation work being done at the national and international level.
The consultant is expected to provide effective support to UNEG’s work and activities in this context.
Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant will report to the UNEG Chair. Her/his responsibilities include, but not limited to, the following:- Assist the UN resolution on evaluation process, the process to adopt an accountability framework including evaluation in the post-2015 development agenda, and UNEG activities in relation to the 2015 international year of evaluation. Tasks include: scheduling meetings, preparing background information (relevant UN and Member States meetings, events, and reports), taking meeting notes, drafting materials when needed, etc.;
- Work on high-level events in collaboration with other members of the UNEG Secretariat;
- Support UNEG activities and projects in relation to the UN resolution, post-2015 development agenda, and the international year of evaluation;
- Other tasks as required.
Competencies
Core Competencies- Knowledge of the UN context and topics;
- Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN in actions and decisions. Demonstrating an appreciation of differences in values and learning from cultural diversity;
- Reliably delivering on promises and honouring commitments made;
- Working effectively independently as well as with colleagues in ways that allow the achievement of shared objectives.
Organizational skills:
- Highly organized and efficient.
- Writing and speaking clearly and effectively;
- Seeking to understand the ideas of others;
- Facilitating and encouraging open communication.
- Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs;
- Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns;
- Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs;
- Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients.
- Proven ability to perform tasks involving multiple and diverse clients with excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Technical:
- Knowledge of evaluation and current development issues is an advantage;
- Sound understanding of the functioning of UN system and different types of UN agencies; knowledge of the UN General Assembly resolution process will be desired;
- Familiar with and able to use various MS Office software.
Required Skills and Experience
Education- Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related fields.
- 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level
- Working language is English. Fluency and appropriate writing skills in English are required;
- Fluency in Spanish and/or French or other UN official language is advantageous.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting a cover letter (with a short description of relevant experience), including a proposed financial rate per day, and CV (combined in one document for uploading).