UNICEF recruits 01 Evaluator: “Protecting Children on the Move in the Horn of Africa”

Consultancy – Evaluator: “Protecting Children on the Move in the Horn of Africa” (Somaliland), Somali Nationals Only (Duration 6 months)

Job Number: 531120 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Somalia

Work Type : Consultancy

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, evaluate

The UNICEF Evaluation Office is commissioning a formative evaluation to examine the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and coherence of a programme to better understand and respond to the particular vulnerabilities of children on the move in the Horn of Africa region.

Further information can be found in the Evaluation Concept Note and COTM programme document and results framework.

Objectives and Tasks:

The purpose of the evaluation is twofold: First and foremost, the evaluation will be a global public good informing the child protection sector and contributing to learning and knowledge exchange on what works for strengthening child protection systems for children on the move. Within UNICEF, it will inform strategy development, design and implementation of future UNICEF initiatives in the realm of protecting children on the move from violence, exploitation and abuse. A secondary objective is to contribute to UNICEF’s accountability for its performance and results. Depending on the maturity of programme implementation, this may not be fully feasible in all settings. The evaluation will contextualize why countries have taken different approaches to work towards expected results.

The National Evaluator will be working under the remote supervision of the International Consultant assigned to Somaliland and Puntland. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the data collection mission to Somaliland has been cancelled; i.e. the International Consultant will not travel, and the National Consultant will be asked to work remotely, at least over the months May through August 2020. The Evaluation Office will monitor developments and adapt work protocols should site-visits be possible in September/October. Three international Team Members and a Team Leader work on this programme evaluation. The evaluation is managed from UNICEF’s Evaluation Office by an Evaluation Specialist under the supervision of a Senior Evaluation Specialist.

The National Evaluator will locally support data collection and analysis.  She/he will provide contextual knowledge and expertise to all aspects of the evaluation and have the following key responsibilities:

Data collection and analysis

Collect and analyze data in accordance with the overall evaluation approach, plan and timeline; specifically:

Co-lead on Somali language document review for respective country; summarise (in English) key points in any relevant Somali language document as needed;

Remotely conduct key informant interviews, alone or jointly with the International Consultant, e.g. via Zoom/Skype or over the phone;

Support the administration of an online survey as a common data collection method across countries;

Circumstances permitting, conduct site-visits and focus group discussions in September/October;

Ensure consistent recording of interview/focus group data according to the agreed templates;

Follow up with key informants on documentation they offered to provide and names/contact details of other interviewees they identified;

Manage and keep updated the knowledge sharing platform for the Somaliland case study, uploading all relevant documentation and files into corresponding folders, highlighting/including key points from any relevant Somali language policy document/report;

Assemble folder on background reading on respective country and record or inform/highlight any emerging key observations;

Support on following up on filling data gaps/collecting missing data;

Participate in data analysis efforts; in particular, populate a triangulation matrix for the country case study with a view to generating findings;

Perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

  Managerial: Interview preparation, conduct and follow-up

Liaise with the evaluation team and UNICEF Country Office (CO) Focal Point (FP) to set up interviews and focus group discussions;

Monitor for any issues that may hinder the process of data collection and address them in consultation with the Evaluation Team and the UNICEF CO FP;

Provide any additional support needed to ensure the evaluation team has access to the key informants and information required;

Perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

Deliverables:

The level of effort is estimated at 45 days per National Evaluator. Expected deliverables are as follows:

Document review: 10 days – ongoing

Setting up key informant interviews: 3 days – May 2020

Conducting and recording remote interviews: 15 days – May/June 2020

Supporting data collection through online survey: 3 days – June 2020

Site visits (TBC) and focus group discussions (possibly remote): 8 days – September/October 2020

Contributing to data analysis: 6 days – June, September, November 2020

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

A university degree in the social sciences or related field;

Significant experience in conducting programme evaluations for international development agencies (at least 8 years);

Ability to organise and conduct remote interviews at different administrative levels (Los Anod, Togwajale, Lowyado – Harerat, Berbera, Hargeisa, Loghaya, Duruqsi, Borama and with representatives of the Somalia government or Somaliland government);

Experience in independently and accurately reflecting the view of those interviewed without bias;

Strong documented data collection and analysis skills;

Familiarity with child protection and/or migration-related issues;

Experience in ethically involving children (adolescents) and caregivers/community members in evidence generation activities;

Ability to work remotely and effectively in a team and ability to produce quality work under limited guidance and supervision;

Commitment and willingness to work in a challenging environment/under challenging circumstances;

Good communication and people skills; ability to express ideas and concepts concisely and clearly in written and oral form;

Prior experience with UNICEF or the United Nations is an asset;

Language proficiency: Fluency in English and Somali;

Ability to adapt to a changing work environment.

Former UNICEF staff or consultants who have worked on Child Protection programming in country will be considered for this position only if (1) they meet technical qualifications and if (2) no conflict of interest exists, i.e. they have not been involved in designing or implementing the programme under scrutiny. Any prior involvement with UNICEF must be declared in the application.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

How to Apply:

Applications must be sent by 7 May, 2020 11.59 pm EAT.

Applications must include:

CV, which should include up-to-date contact details of at least three reference persons.

Cover letter with the following information:

Description of the applicant’s interest and relevant qualification/work experience for this assignment;

A financial offer, with a single comprehensive daily rate in USD. Applications submitted without this rate will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Closing Date Thu May 07 2020 22:55:00 GMT+0200 (Paris, Madrid (heure d’été))