Director, Independent Evaluation Office, Nairobi, D1

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and overall management of the Independent Evaluation Office
• Provides strategic direction for the Independent Evaluation Office, aligning priorities with the Evaluation Policy, the Strategic Plan and Executive Board guidance.
• Leads the preparation of the budget and Work Plan of the Independent Evaluation Office
• Monitors the implementation of the work-plan and use of available resources to ensure the timely delivery of high quality outputs
• Ensures that the Office maintains an adequate level of expertise
• Promotes a team-based, harmonious working environment that recognizes initiative, openness and performance
• Manage the performance of the Independent Evaluation Office and ensures an ethics-based approach to management of all human and financial resources
• Develops the biennial budgeted evaluation plan for all evaluations
• Gets input and consults with the Executive Board, UNFPA management and other stakeholders; consult on any other issues pertaining to the mission of the Independent Evaluation Office
• Prepares the evaluation plan in accordance with the Evaluation Policy
• Prepares the document for presentation to and approval of the Executive Board
• In accordance with the approved plan, conducts corporate evaluations (Thematic, Country Programme) in accordance with the Evaluation Plan and approve Terms of Reference and pre-qualify evaluators for programme-level evaluations managed by business units
• Ensures the efficient and effective execution of the biannual corporate evaluation plan
• Leads the operationalization and ensures quality assurance of the evaluation function through the use of internal and external resources
• Presents results of evaluation reports, as needed, for decision to the Executive Committee
• Prepares and presents the Annual Report of the Independent Evaluation Office to the Executive Board; presents, at the discretion of the Executive Board, the results of selected evaluations
• Provides leadership in development and provision of state of the art evaluation methodological guidance, technical assistance and capacity development to enhance the centralized and decentralized evaluation function
• Promotes the use of state of the art evaluation and knowledge sharing methods and approaches in line with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards and international best practices
• Develop evaluation standards, criteria and methodological guidance and maintain evaluation quality assessment mechanisms
• Provide the necessary capacity development on issues related to evaluation
• Incentivize innovation within the evaluation function, including ethical and responsible use of AI and meaningful participation of young people in evaluation
• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to communicate and facilitate use of evaluations
• Ensures that the Independent Evaluation Office’s products are of use in the development of UNFPA’s strategic plans and programming processes and become an integral part of UNFPA’s performance management strategies
• Leads the dissemination and sharing of knowledge generated by evaluation through UNFPA’s knowledge management networks and practices
• Maintains a publicly accessible online repository of evaluation reports and management responses
• Providing advisory services to the Executive Director and senior management
• Regularly alerts senior management to emerging evaluation-related issues of corporate significance
• Advises the Executive Director on how evaluation findings may be of help in positioning UNFPA on relevant substantive and UN systems’ issues
• Regularly reports on evaluation results and strategic developments to management and governing bodies
• Oversees the review and update of the Evaluation Policy as needed
• Represent UNFPA, build Partnership, provide UNFPA leadership in UN Evaluation Group (UNEG), the Interagency Humanitarian Evaluation Group (IAHE) and the System-Wide Evaluation Office as well as other relevant networks
• Represents UNFPA in international and inter-agency meetings on matters related to Evaluations ensuring that UNFPA’s interests are well represented at all times
• Participates in the development of inter-agency frameworks, initiatives and partnerships, including networking with other UN bodies and professional institutions on evaluation matters
• Manages the collaboration with UN evaluation units and other organizations and networks dealing with evaluations
• Actively promotes dialogue with partners and maintain partnerships with other evaluation bodies in the UN System to keep abreast of/share ideas on best practices and lessons learned and to collaborate on the development of evaluation knowledge management products and tools
• Actively participates in and contribute to the UNEG for the development of evaluation policies and best practices
• Provides leadership in UNEG and IAHE in accordance with UNFPA’s mandate to play an innovative and catalytic role in relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health/Population and Development within the overall UN system for development cooperation

Job Requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (equivalent of Masters) in one or more of the following population related fields: Management, Economics, Public Administration, Population/Demography and/or Social Science disciplines

Knowledge And Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in evaluation work at progressively increasing levels, with at least 8 years of related work experience at the international level
• Professional experience in international development and humanitarian settings
• Excellent technical knowledge of evaluation design, data collection, including quantitative statistical methods/methodologies and analysis and reporting and skills needed to provide substantive guidance to staff on evaluation design, methodology and reporting
• Excellent knowledge of emerging global issues and evaluation trends that impact on the work of the Office, including the ethical and responsible use of AI
• Proven excellent ability to lead and manage diverse teams to achieve demonstrable results, with at least 5 years of managing and supervising a team of professional staff
• Excellent software skills e.g. Access, Excel, statistical applications

Language

• Fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of French or another official UN language is highly desirable.

Competencies

Values

• Exemplifying integrity;
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system;
• Embracing cultural diversity;
• Embracing change.

Core Competencies

• Achieving results;
• Being accountable;