Evaluation Officer

Job Description

Type of Job


Job Family
Management and Analysis

Job Opening Number
22-Management and Analysis-OIOS-186185-R-Entebbe (X)

Application Deadline: 21 Oct 2022

Description
Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Inspection and Evaluation Division (IED) of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) in Entebbe, Uganda. The Evaluation Officer will report to the Chief of Peacekeeping Section and to the Director of OIOS-IED.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services is the internal oversight body of the United Nations and assists the Secretary-General in fulfilling his oversight responsibilities in respect of the resources and staff of the Organization through the provision of audit, investigation, and inspection and evaluation services. The Office of Internal Oversight Services is an independent office reporting to the Secretary-General and to the General Assembly. The Inspection and Evaluation Division focuses on the conduct of independent inspections and evaluations on behalf of the Secretary-General and the Member States. IED evaluations and inspections are meant to assist intergovernmental bodies and programme managers in assessing the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and impact of Secretariat programmes. In accordance with its mandate, set forth in General Assembly resolution A/RES/48/218 B (and later resolutions A/RES/54/244 and A/RES/59/272), the role of IED is to help assure the accountability of Secretariat programmes for attaining their mandates, while in the process foster institutional learning and improvement through reflection by programmes and Member States on performance and results.

Responsibilities

The Evaluation Officer will be responsible for the following duties within the Section:

• Scope, plan, develop and lead inspection or evaluation assignments of the activities of the funds and programmes of the United Nations system, including programme evaluations (i.e., in-depth evaluations of individual programmes, departments, or other organizational units) and thematic evaluations (i.e., evaluations of topics that cut across multiple programmes, departments, or other organizational units), and carry out all the tasks involved in the assignments, which may include provision of guidance to external consultants and other evaluation staff
  
  
• Review relevant documents and reports
  
  
• Develop data-collection instruments for all relevant data-collection modalities used in the inspection or evaluation process (e.g., surveys, interview and focus group guides, desk review tools, direct observation forms)
  
  
• Articulate a data-analysis plan for the evaluation and for individual data-collection modalities
  
  
• Conduct data collection and analysis
  
  
• Identify problems and issues to be addressed and recommend corrective actions and recommendations
  
  
• Research and analyse information gathered from diverse data sources and formulate convincing and well-substantiated conclusions and recommendations
  
  
• Liaise with relevant parties throughout the inspection or evaluation process
  
  
• Draft various documents, including draft and final reports, as well as background papers, analyses, guidelines, conference room papers, and other documents as needed
  
  
• Exercise overall quality assurance over individual team member’s contributions to the inspection evaluation, e.g., by, overseeing adherence to the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms and standards and the use of the OIOS-IED Inspection and Evaluation Manual and quality assurance forms, and reviewing their work before wider sharing beyond the evaluation team
  
  
• Monitor and report on programme management’s implementation of evaluation recommendations
  
  
• Advise on policy development based on evaluation findings concerning programme relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the activities of the funds and programmes of the United Nations system
  
  
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with clients and partners in the Secretariat, funds and programmes

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of international standards and practices in evaluation and respective evaluation methodologies; ability to propose and formulate a strategic approach to evaluations within the overall framework of the relevant international instruments; knowledge of the United Nations system evaluation standards and practices; knowledge of technical cooperation and development assistance; knowledge of the peacekeeping and peacebuilding arena; proven ability to produce evaluation reports and papers; ability to review and edit the evaluation work of others; demonstrates good judgment and initiative, creativity and resourcefulness, diplomacy and tact; ability to ensure an effective work structure to maximize productivity and achieve the goals of the Section. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in social sciences, business administration, public administration, programme evaluation, or in a related field, preferably with emphasis on international affairs and/or development. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted, in lieu of the advance university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of experience in design, monitoring, and evaluation of projects/programmes is required.

Experience in leading and managing inspection and evaluation teams is desirable.

Experience in preparing, managing, and conducting impact evaluations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.