International Evaluation Team Leader

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a leading UN agency that focuses on reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and population issues. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and territories, working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, particularly in the context of the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. UNFPA's mission is to promote the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity, and it emphasizes the importance of principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards.

Job Overview:
The International Evaluation Team Leader will be responsible for overseeing the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) for UNFPA in Nepal, which will assess the 9th Country Programme (2023–2027). This role involves providing an independent evaluation of UNFPA's support in terms of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The evaluation aims to enhance UNFPA Nepal's capacity in result-based management and to implement strategies that foster a culture of evaluation. The team leader will coordinate the evaluation team, ensuring the quality of deliverables, and will serve as the technical expert for one of the thematic areas of the country programme. This position requires strong leadership, management skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including the evaluation manager and the evaluation reference group (ERG).

Duties and Responsibilities:
The evaluation team leader will be responsible for the following duties:

• Design Phase: Develop and submit the design report (version 1), create a PowerPoint presentation, and finalize the design report (version 2) that includes a stakeholder map, site selection, and fieldwork agenda.
• Field Phase: Produce photos as per the Evaluation Handbook, create an evaluation matrix, and prepare a PowerPoint presentation for the debriefing meeting with the Country Office (CO) and ERG.
• Reporting Phase: Consolidate the evaluation matrix, draft the evaluation report (version 1) and PowerPoint presentation, create a recommendations worksheet, draft the evaluation report (version 2), and finalize the CPE report along with a PowerPoint presentation and audit trail. All deliverables must be developed in English and submitted on time according to the Terms of Reference (ToR).

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, demography, population studies, statistics, development studies, or a related field. They should have at least 10 years of experience in conducting or managing evaluations in international development, including humanitarian assistance. Extensive experience in leading complex evaluations for UN organizations or other international organizations and NGOs is essential. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in one of the thematic areas of the country programme and have in-depth knowledge of theory-based evaluation approaches, qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, and high-quality evaluation standards as defined by UNFPA and UNEG. Strong management and leadership skills are required to coordinate the evaluation team effectively.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in relevant fields such as public health, social sciences, demography, population studies, statistics, or development studies is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of international development and evaluation processes.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in conducting or managing evaluations, particularly in the context of international development and humanitarian assistance. Experience in leading evaluations commissioned by UN organizations or other international entities is highly valued. The ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and to supervise emerging evaluators is also important.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the context of the evaluation or the stakeholders involved.

Additional Notes:
This position is likely to be full-time and may involve international recruitment. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, and encourages applications from women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, and persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities to support their participation in the recruitment process. The organization emphasizes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates.