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.

For every child, an advocate

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Regional Director, the incumbent a) develops, implements, manages and monitors a strategy for strengthening the evaluation function in WCAR region; b) oversees the implementation of a quality assurance system aimed at improving the credibility of evaluations in the region; c) oversees the work of Multi Country Evaluation Specialists in the region; d) provides technical support to country offices in the area of evaluation, including capacity development at various levels; e) provides and coordinates regional recommendations to global policy development and contributions to global corporate evaluation activities; and f) ensures coherence with the evaluation function at the global level and with other UN agencies at the regional level. The responsibilities also include providing technical support, guidance and advocacy on evaluation in humanitarian contexts, in collaboration with other agencies, as well as ensuring that equity and the gender equality perspectives are mainstreamed in evaluation design, analysis and related processes.

The incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results:

• Develops and leads in the implementation of a regional strategy and annual work plans for thematic and multi-country evaluations in the region.
• Provides technical support and quality assurance to the country offices for the planning, management and conduct of evaluations towards the improved timeliness and credibility of evaluation products
• Prepares and disseminates reports on the management of the evaluation function to the Regional Evaluation Committee, the Regional Management Team and the Evaluation Office.
• Contributes to efforts by the Evaluation Office to strengthen technical oversight for evaluation management processes across the organization towards greater responsiveness, improved timeliness and quality and the better utilization of evaluation products in the region;
• Contributes to reinforcing the strategic involvement of UNICEF in national evaluation capacity development as well as joint evaluations with Governments and other development actors.
• Provides UNICEF inputs into and coordinates effectively with regional inter-agency evaluation mechanisms, intergovernmental forums and other regional partnerships and organizations relevant to the evaluation function.
• Contributes to efforts by the Evaluation Office to develop and facilitate the utilization of innovative products and processes in evaluation methodology, evaluation management and the use of evaluations.
• Contributes to efforts by the Evaluation Office to implement initiatives towards the professionalization of the evaluation function.
• Manages country programme evaluations and multi-country thematic evaluations.
• Keeps abreast of developments in the field of evaluation and knowledge management and provides/coordinates regional contributions and recommendations in connection with the development and implementation of the evaluation policy, global evaluation plan and related strategies and guidance.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Master’s Degree or higher in a social science or in a relevant natural science. Specialization in evaluation and research methodology, advanced statistical analysis and programme analysis/evaluation is an asset.
• 10 years in progressively responsible professional work related to planning implementation, coordination, and management of Monitoring/Evaluation research, with at least half of that experience obtained in developing nations or in organizations whose work is predominantly in developing nations.
• At least 5 years’ senior level management and technical experience in Evaluation at either a very large country office or in regional or headquarters locations.
• Prior experience working in a UN system will be considered an asset
• Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable females are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF and other UN Agencies will be moving to the new United Nations House, presently under construction in Diamniadio, 30 kilometers from downtown Dakar.