Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: India
Closing date:
09 Nov 2017UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. And we never give up!
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For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:
In an effort to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver better results for children, there is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
How can you make a difference?
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference. The Research & Evaluation Specialist reports to Chief Social Policy, Monitoring & Evaluation (P-5) for general guidance and direction. The Specialist provides technical and operational support to the Chief Social Policy, Monitoring & Evaluation) and the Country Management Team (CMT) to facilitate the overall planning, design, and implementation of the country office Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation & Research Plan (PRIME) and is responsible for managing and monitoring the implementation of PRIME efforts within the country office, and where appropriate across offices, between agencies and with national and international stakeholders and collaborators.
The Specialist is responsible for contributing to the design and effective conduct and uptake of evaluations, social data monitoring, and research in accordance with UNICEF mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments, regulatory framework (including policies, procedures and guidance), as well as professional norms and standards.
Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
Plan for Research and Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME)
Ensure that the Country Office and national partners use a well-prioritized and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme toward achieving expected results and towards coping with potential and actual emergencies.
Prepare PRIME and regularly track progress and report to senior management. Enhance the culture of evidence generation and use, and make professional contributions to and provide technical assistance for the planning and establishing of major research, monitoring and evaluation objectives, priorities, and activities in UNICEF’s multi-year and annual PRIME exercises.Support the development of UNDAF M&E&R Plans.Identify the M&E&R objectives, priorities, and activities required for effective CO and partner Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans. In humanitarian response situations, adjust the prevailing PRIME plan in accordance with M&E&R guidance for emergency situations. Likewise, adjust the PRIME in accordance with the transition through the stages of transition and recovery.Identify gaps in knowledge and work with sector specialists to ensure these are addressed in planned evidence activities. Facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration in research and data collection activities.Provide technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary in the context of the multi-year and annual PRIMEs and associated office-wide management plans and work plans.Consolidate E&R plans within required systems and documentation, including the PRIME planning software and in the costed evaluation plan that accompanies the country programme documentation for consideration by the Executive Board. Monitor progress and support CMT, AR, MTR and other review moments that lead to plan revisions. Provide input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports.2. Evaluation
Ensure that UNICEF-supported evaluations are designed and implemented to established UN quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning:
Guide the office and partners to identify priority evaluation topics in accordance with the coverage guidelines of the UNICEF Evaluation Policy, and in accordance with the commitments contained in UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and in the agreed country programme.Support development of national policy or policies (e.g. by sector) on evaluation by public, civil, and private partners. Support country-led evaluations of policies and programmes and the consideration of the results by partners. These country-led exercises may examine aspects of the UNICEF-government programme of cooperation, or may look at entirely national efforts.For UNICEF-supported evaluations, guide UNICEF programme specialists and programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference and evaluation designs of high quality. Manage the recruitment of appropriate and highly qualified consultants. Work closely with external evaluation consultants/teams to enable them to deliver results according to the agreed Terms of Reference. Take timely action and/or alert stakeholders to quality concerns, and suggest actions to remedy any problems.Review draft and final evaluation reports, and gather inputs from stakeholders in order to deliver feedback to the evaluators. Develop and implement a multi-method communication plan to disseminate the evaluation report to intended audiences via user-friendly methods. Support stakeholders to prepare a formal management response that reflects their reaction/views on the evaluation recommendations.Upload completed evaluations into the global Evaluation and Research Database to allow sharing and final quality review. Monitor and report on the implementation of agreed management response actions, including entering information in the designated corporate data base(s).3. Research Management:
Ensure that UNICEF-supported research is designed and implemented according to established UNICEF policies and procedures, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.
Establish and facilitate research quality assure processes at the CO level in accordance with the UNICEF Policy on Research. Ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures outline the quality assurance process for research and that checklists, guidance and other tools are available to research project managers from all sectors.Convene the CO internal Research Steering Committee.Technically support UNICEF programme specialists and programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference for high quality research projects.Review the Terms of Reference for upcoming research projects and drafts of research reports.Assist with the peer review process of major research projects and coordinate feedback to Supervisor/CMT/stakeholders to ensure quality and compliance with the UNICEF Policy on Research and country office research priorities.Assist with the recruitment and selection of appropriately qualified research consultants, ensuring that the selection process is in compliance with UNICEF standards for performance, accountability, transparency and ethics.Assist research project managers from all sectors with the development of a multi-method communication plan to disseminate research findings to intended audiences via user-friendly methods.As part of Country Office Reporting, upload completed research reports to the global Evaluation and Research Database to allow global sharing and final quality review.Ensure all research follows the ethical principles and standards outlined in the UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis.4. Monitoring & Evaluation & Research capacity strengthening and partnership building:
Ensure that the evaluation and research capacities of Country Office staff and national partners – including government and civil society – are strengthened, enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead evidence generating processes. Ensure that the UNICEF office is effectively linked to wider UNICEFE&R developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective E&R management:
Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local/national governments, UN system agency partners, donors, NGOs, funding organization, research institutes, including universities, and the private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue initiatives.Ensure that sufficient systems and procedures are in place at the Country Office to enable an appropriate ethics review of all UNICEF-supported evidence activities (evaluation, research, studies) as per the UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis.Implement capacity building initiatives, to enhance the competencies of a wide range of internal and external partners/stakeholders organizations to build their E&R policies, procedures, tools and systems. Encourage staff and partners to complete available e-modules on evidence activities and participate in workshops of research management, impact evaluation, uptake, ethics, etc.Participate in strategic discussions, meetings and other international/national meetings and workshops. Exchange information and ideas to facilitate policy formulation, discussion and agenda setting on E&R related issues.Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices on E&R planning and management. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and lessons learned to maximize the use of E&R results to support improve programming and results delivery. Promote innovative approaches and good practices through advocacy and operational support/services.Support the development of evaluation and research associations that foster access by individual professional evaluators/researchers to knowledge, skills development, and networking opportunities.Impact of Results:
The effective technical and operational support provided by the Specialist to the CMT and a wide range of stakeholders contributes to the successful planning and execution of E&R efforts that in turn result in improved Country Office and national stakeholders’ planning, performance and achievement of concrete and sustainable results.Effective implementation of E&R activities enhances UNICEF’s capacity and credibility in delivering highly effective programs and concrete and sustainable results that directly improve services to mothers and children in the country.The development of national capacities—including those of government, private, academic, community, and civil society stakeholders--for monitoring, evaluation and research fosters the ability and the desire for country-led action, and supports the growth of an evidence-based culture in programming and policy making at all levels.To qualify as a championfor every child you will have…
Requirements of the position (QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES):-
Education:
An Advanced University Degree in the social sciences, economics, statistics, or in research methods is required.
Experience:
A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the E&R of programmes and socio economic and other related issues at the international level some of which preferably were served in a developing country is required.Relevant experience in programme/project development E&R in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience with leading data collection, evaluation or research efforts as a team leader or principal investigator is desirable.Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.For every Child, you demonstrate…
Core Values Commitment Diversity and inclusionIntegrity
Core competenciesCommunication (II)Working with people (II)Drive for results (II)
Functional Competencies:Leading and supervising (I)Formulating strategies and concepts (II)Analyzing (III)Relating and networking (II)Deciding and Initiating action (II)Applying technical expertise (III)
To view our competency framework, please click here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all national, religious, gender and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
Remarks:
Selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance.Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a nonsmoking working environment.For more information about UNICEF India, please refer to the link below: -http://unicef.in/Wherewework
How to apply:UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=508359