Antecedentes

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of UNDP undertakes two key types of independent evaluations:

• Country level evaluation – known as Assessment of Development Results (ADRs) – in annual cycle timed to provide evaluative evidence to feed into the development of new Country Programme Documents. The ADRs also support UNDP’s accountability to national stakeholders.
• Thematic evaluations covering strategic and corporate topics in support of the Administrator’s accountability versus the Executive Board discussions.

Both ADRs and Thematic Evaluations are managed and led by IEO staff, further to a body of methodological guidance, norms and standards that have been developed in support of IEO’s unique independent oversight role. With the recently established structure of Programme Management committees (and sub-committees) IEO has established a set of mechanisms for internal deliberation and decision-making to enable further advancing transparency, accountability and learning aspects of the IEO’s work practices.

In further developing its methods and practices, the IEO seek to add both oversight efficiency and substantive salience to its evaluation work. As the IEO comes into a cycle of planning a series of particularly sensitive evaluations, e.g. on global and regional programmes, the office-wide coordination of substantive analytical and methodological practices has become imperative to maximizing the cost-effectiveness and impact of the office.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Support the ADR and Thematic coordinators in their role:

• Identify the eligible countries for ADRs;
• Identify the eligible countries for Country cases in Thematic evaluations;
• Monitor implementation of ADRs and Thematic Evaluations;
• Monitor the effectiveness of processes related to evaluations;
• Monitor use of ADRs and Thematic Evaluations;
• Check compliance of ADRs with guidance; and
• Support the preparation of the Annual Report on Evaluation (ARE).

Key Result: Better utilisation of evaluations through a more timely implementation

Participate in one or more ADR/Thematic teams:

• Undertake research work on one or more ADRs, as well as Thematic evaluations;
• Prepare background papers (for example on national context) as requested;
• Prepare draft outcome papers as requested;
• Participate in field work where required;
• Support the Evaluation Manager in preparing the TOR for the different roles in the Evaluation Teams;
• In coordination with Procurement officer, support the Evaluation Managers in sourcing candidates for the hiring of International and National Consultants in ADRs and Thematic Evaluations; and
• Participate in procurement processes (by reviewing CVs, technical tests or by being part of Interview Panels) when required by Evaluation Managers.

Key Result: One or more evaluations conducted with quality research and data collection.

Supports and coordinates the work of Research Associates (RAs) working on ADRs and Thematic Evaluations:

• Provide support to RAs in terms of the research element of the ADR and country cases in thematic evaluations;
• Provide Technical support to RAs in the use of the Business Intelligence modules, covering both Finances as well as Human Capital Module;
• Provide orientation of new RAs using the ADR guidance prepared by the IEO;
• Coordinate their activities ensuring equitable allocation of work; and
• Provide feedback to the Senior Management regarding the performance of RAs during the performance assessment.

Key Result: All ADRs receiving quality research and background papers.

Maintains and updates the ADR guidance and methodological guides for Thematic

• In coordination with the Operations Team., will be able to ensure that the guidance is up to date in relation to IEO and UNDP corporate policies and procedures;
• Take ownership of, and pro-actively support the strengthening of, the ADR Research Manual and other methodological guidance for Thematic as appropriate; and
• Communicates changes to IEO staff, including presentations in the ADR and Thematic committee, and personal support to the Evaluation Managers.

Key Result: ADRs implemented efficiently as the result of clear processes and methodology

Impact of Results

Better credibility, independence and utility of ADRs will lead to better accountability of UNDP to national stakeholders and stronger UNDP country programmes based on evaluative evidence of what works and what doesn’t.

Having a high quality professional leading by example the Research Associates, and supporting the Evaluation Team will certainly improve the quality of the initial researching and related deliverables. Since it will also lead to a more effective dissemination of learnt lessons, IEO will be able contribute to KM, and to conduct potentially more evaluations. The office will also have the chance to document learnt lessons and best practices in our internal systems, which could be shared with the rest of the organization if needed.

Competencias

Functional Competencies:             

Knowledge of UNDP context and topics:

• Needs a good knowledge of the role and mandate of UNDP and its relationship with the UN;
• Needs a good understanding of UNDP’s funds and programmes and the distinctions between them;
• Needs a good knowledge of key UNDP priorities such as poverty reduction, governance, gender, crisis situations and environment, among others.

Technical and professional skills:

Evaluation design – has the required competencies to:

• Identify issues that would lead to work planning items, with significant guidance;
• Research relevant issues and subjects of interest for potential work planning items, with moderate guidance;
• Contribute in the development of a well-focused Terms of Reference that includes a background, addresses salient issues, and identifies potential impact, with moderate guidance;
• Has a good understanding of various methodologies in evaluation and is able to contribute to the development of the most efficient and effective methodology for the design, with moderate guidance; and
• Has a good understanding of UNDP’s operational policies and procedures to be able to support the Evaluation Managers in their effort to build an evaluation Team.

Data collection and management – has the required competencies to:

• Collect reliable, valid and accurate information in an objective way;
• Manage the information to enhance utility by evaluation team members;
• Use information technology effectively;
• Conduct interviews, with minimal guidance; and
• Use programme data and records, with some guidance.

Oral and written communication skills:

Has the required competencies to:

• Write accurately in a clear and concise UN drafting style;
• Review documents for content and style;
• Effectively use appropriate support items, including tables, charts, graphs, audio-visual techniques, and  hand-outs;
• Assist with formal presentations, with moderate guidance;
• Articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way; and
• Pose basic questions and contributes information appropriately in formal settings.

Evaluation process management:

• Has evaluation management skills, including developing a plan and schedule, ensuring milestones are met on a timely basis, ensuring project costs are within and approved budget and ensuring evaluation objectives are adequately addressed;
• With supervision, is able to assume responsibility for managing complex evaluation projects;
• Has competencies in working together in a professional manner with team members exhibiting patience, courtesy, and respect for others and their ideas.

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.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member; and
• Informed and transparent decision-making.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience;
• Knowledge of UNDP especially at the county level;
• Basic knowledge of evaluation.

Language:

• Fluency in English essential;
• Fluency in French and/or Spanish highly desirable.

Application Instructions:

The following documents should be supplied and uploaded as one document:

• A cover letter with a short description of relevant experience;
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows a maximum upload of one document.