Role purpose

The Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is located in the UNFPA Nairobi Headquarters and reports functionally to the Executive Board, and administratively to the Executive Director. Leading the Independent Evaluation Office, they provide leadership, management and supervision of the work of the Office.

The Independent Evaluation Office is accountable, with support from the Executive Director of UNFPA, for implementing the evaluation policy approved by the Executive Board of UNFPA. The Independent Evaluation Office operates independently within UNFPA to ensure impartiality and objectivity in its evaluations. The Director will uphold the principles of independence, transparency, and ethical conduct in all evaluation activities. They will safeguard the Independent Evaluation Office’s autonomy and ensure that evaluations are free from undue influence.

UNFPA's Independent Evaluation Office works to enhance UNFPA's development effectiveness through independent thematic and programmatic evaluations and contributes to organizational learning, accountability, and transparency. The Independent Evaluation Office assures the quality and use of UNFPA evaluations by establishing norms, standards, and guidelines and by knowledge sharing and networking with both internal and external partners.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and overall management of the Independent Evaluation Office

• Identifies the Independent Evaluation Office priorities in support of UNFPA’s Strategic Plan and UNFPA priorities.
• 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 approved 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 the 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 and provide UNFPA leadership in the 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 maintains 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 contributes 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.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (the 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 and 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 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 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;
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen;
• Thinking analytically and strategically;
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships;
• Communicating for impact.

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus;
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders;
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance;
• Making decisions and exercising judgment.

Functional Competencies:

• Promoting accountability and results-based management;
• Job knowledge/technical expertise; Business acumen
• Impact and influence;
• Organizational awareness;
• Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing.

Terms of Appointment

• The Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is appointed by the Executive Director for a fixed term of five years, renewable once.
• She/he is barred from working for UNFPA thereafter. Appointment, renewal and dismissal of the Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is made after consultations with the Executive Board.

Role Location

UNFPA Headquarters – Nairobi, Kenya

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted to UNFPA via the Application Form below or email at UNFPA-DIEO@sri-executive.com by 10 April 2025 midnight New York time (GMT -4). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

SRI Executive is exclusively retained by UNFPA to undertake this assignment.