Empleos en el PNUD - 57250- Evaluation Advisor, Independent Evaluation Office

Evaluation Advisor, Independent Evaluation Office

Localidad :

New York, Estados Unidos de América

Tipo de contrato :

FTA International

Fecha de comienzo del contrato :

01-Oct-2015

Fecha límite de postulación :

21-Jul-15 (Medianoche Nueva York, Estados Unidos)

Nivel de puesto :

P-5

Duración del contrato inicial :

One year, with possible extension

Idiomas requeridos :

Inglés

Duración esperada del puesto :

El PNUD está comprometido con lograr la diversidad de su personal en términos de género, nacionalidad y cultura. Se alienta por igual a las personas que pertenecen a grupos minoritarios, a pueblos indígenas o que tienen alguna discapacidad a presentar su candidatura. Todas las solicitudes se tratarán con la mayor confidencialidad. UNDP no tolera la explotación y el abuso sexual, ningún tipo de acoso, incluido el acoso sexual, ni la discriminación. Por lo tanto, todos los candidatos seleccionados serán sometidos a una rigurosa verificación de referencias y antecedentes.

Antecedentes

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) works to enhance the development effectiveness of UNDP to help men and women build a better life. IEO strengthens accountability and learning through evaluation and partnership. The mandated responsibility of IEO is to support the Administrator in his substantive accountability function and to contribute to organizational learning.

IEO is also a member of the UN Evaluation Group (UNEG), which is the professional network that brings together the units responsible for evaluation in the UN system. Accordingly, IEO must use the UNEG approved competencies while hiring Evaluators for any available post.

IEO provides systematic and independent assessment of results, effectiveness and impact of the substantive activities of the programme, including the special purpose funds under the Administrator’s responsibilities. The Independent Evaluation Office conducts strategic, thematic, programmatic and country level evaluations. It assures the quality and use of UNDP evaluations by establishing norms, standards and guidelines and by knowledge sharing and networking. The Office advances innovation in development evaluation through a global partnership.

The Evaluation Advisor is a member of the IEO team with managerial, supervisory and task management responsibilities.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Summary of Key Functions:

Conduct and/or manage evaluations that are impartial, independent, credible and meet professional standards;
Ensure that evaluations are useful and that evaluation findings and recommendations are followed up;
Promote the evaluation function in the Organization;
Effectively deploy human and financial resources of the Independent Evaluation Office.

Core responsibilities:

Conduct and/or manage evaluations that are impartial, independent, credible and meet professional standards:

Carry out evaluations of complex programmes, policies and cross-cutting themes and lead evaluation teams;
Supervise effectively evaluations conducted by staff members and consultants;
Ensure that evaluations meet high professional standards in line with Evaluation Policy and UN Evaluation Norms & Standards;
Keep abreast of developments in the area of evaluation;
Ensure that up-to-date evaluation techniques and approaches are applied;
Cooperate with other UN evaluation units and professional evaluation bodies.

Ensure that evaluations are useful and that evaluation findings and recommendations are followed up.

Report to Independent Evaluation Office on recommendations and lessons learned of strategic importance;
Organize meetings, workshops and other discussion forum to establish a dialogue on evaluation results (recommendations/ lessons learned);
Ensure that evaluation results taken into account for the design and appraisal of strategies, policies and new projects/programmes.

Promote the evaluation function in the Organization:

Provide training on evaluation with in the Independent Evaluation Office and in other organizational units, as determined by Independent Evaluation Office management;
Contribute to the development and review of policies, guidance, systems, procedures and tools related to evaluation.

Effectively deploy human and financial resources of the Independent Evaluation Office:

Contribute to developing the work programme of the Independent Evaluation Office;
Contribute to planning the human and financial resources needed for a fully operational evaluation function;
Supervise and coach staff and assist in management of Independent Evaluation Office.

The Evaluation Officer will perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UNDP’s interventions and activities in achieving UNDP mandate at the country levels; Effective implementation of evaluation policies and strategies, as well as efficient management of the evaluation process; Enhance the organization’s capacity and credibility to provide leadership and high-quality technical advice on the formulation of innovative programme strategies and projects which address specific needs of the country in the UNDP Practice Areas.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

Knowledge of UN context and topics:
Has a detailed knowledge of the role of the UN and its components and the Agency’s relationship with the UN;
Has a good knowledge of key UN topics;
Has competencies to provide supervision to evaluation staff in the evaluation of topic-related activities, projects and programmes;
Has a comprehensive knowledge of the Agency’s budget, familiarity with major program budgets, and good knowledge of inspection topic budgets.

Ethics:

Acts according to the standards of ethical conduct for evaluators, including policies on receiving and giving gifts, conflicting financial interests, outside employment and activities, misuse of position, impartiality in performing official duties and related statutory authorities;
Acts with integrity and honesty in relationships with all stakeholders. Provides role modelling and advice to evaluation staff.

Functional Competencies:

Technical and professional skills:

Evaluation design:

Has the required competencies to develop a well-focused Terms of Reference that includes a complete background, addresses salient issues, and identifies potential impact;
Has a good understanding of various methodologies in evaluation, such as surveys, record reviews, focus groups and case studies and is able to contribute to the development of the most efficient and effective methodology for the design;
Has a good understanding of various sampling techniques and their applications and is able to develop the most accurate sampling technique for the methodology.

Data collection and analysis:

Has the required competencies to collect reliable, valid and accurate information in an objective way;
Has a good understanding of questionnaire design;
Develops questionnaires and other review instruments that will address issues identified in the design, independently;
Has a comprehensive understanding of the uses and limits of various methods available for quantitative analysis, including frequencies, cross tabulations, and statistical testing;
Masters effective interviewing skills;
Has the skills to use programme data and documents and to design and conduct case studies independently;
Is able to guide and direct junior staff in data collection and to ensure the data analysis addresses evaluation issues;
Can use innovative and creative analysis techniques and exercise sound professional judgment on complex issues and evaluation matters.

Oral and written communication skills:

Has the required competencies to articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way;
Pose basic questions and contribute information appropriately in formal settings; conceptualize ideas and issues during the evaluation reporting process, with independence;
Uses critical thinking to formulate findings and recommendations based on the results of both qualitative and quantitative data, and the broader context of evaluation issues. Is able to develop clear, concise and compelling evaluation reports for maximum impact. Is able to independently develop evaluation reports that meet UNEG reporting standards;
Is able to guides and direct evaluation staff in reporting.

Evaluation process and project management:

Masters the skills of evaluation management, including developing a plan and schedule, assigning tasks, ensuring milestones are met on a timely basis, ensuring project costs are within and approved budget and ensuring evaluation objectives are adequately addressed;
Is able to independently assume responsibility for managing complex evaluation projects and to supervise evaluation team members;
Is able to oversee and lead overall evaluation follow-up and take the lead on disseminating best practices and lessons learned from evaluations;
Has the skills to manage multiple, concurrent evaluation projects and to negotiate in complex situations outside the agency on issues related to evaluations and conflict resolution skills;
Is able to take a leadership role in the evaluation office and maintains accountability for office work.

Management:

Has competencies in coaching and training staff on technical, interpersonal and management skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Sociology, International Relations, Political Science, or any other related social sciences;
Knowledge of current development issues, evaluation discipline is a must.

Experience:

At least ten years of international development experience;
At least 7 of those years in development evaluation/research experience;
Knowledge of specialized software applied to evaluation, including IT knowledge to establish and maintain databases and tracking systems;
Training in evaluation planning, design and methodologies;
Experience in both managing and carrying out evaluations;
Experience with designing and conducting complex evaluations of development results at outcome or aggregate national level in or for UN organizations, other multi-lateral and bilateral development organizations.

Language:

Working language is English;
Fluency in Spanish and/or French or other UN official language is advantageous.

Application Instructions:

Applicants must complete the UNDP Personal History Form (P-11) and upload it with the online application. CVs may also be attached however must be combined in one document for upload as the system only accepts one attachment.