External Evaluator

Job Posting Organization:
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 with the mission to promote peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, and culture. With a presence in over 190 countries, UNESCO aims to build peace in the minds of men and women through education, science, culture, and communication. The organization operates in various sectors, including education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture, and communication/information, and has a workforce of thousands of employees worldwide. UNESCO's core values include commitment to the organization, integrity, respect for diversity, and professionalism, which guide its operations and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The position of External Evaluator at UNESCO involves conducting an independent mid-term evaluation of a project aimed at addressing students' learning gaps in the Asia-Pacific region. This project, which runs from December 2023 to December 2025, seeks to assess the effectiveness, coherence, relevance, sustainability, and impact of its initiatives. The evaluator will be responsible for providing evidence-based recommendations to improve project implementation and ensure alignment with stakeholder needs. The evaluation will focus on the project's progress in enhancing teacher capacity in Bhutan and Lao PDR, particularly in the areas of assessment for learning and differentiated instruction. The evaluator will work remotely, utilizing various data collection methods, including desk reviews, online interviews, and surveys, to gather insights from key stakeholders involved in the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The External Evaluator will undertake a comprehensive mid-term evaluation of the project, which includes the following duties and responsibilities:

• Draft and finalize an evaluation inception report that outlines the methodology for data collection and analysis, including a timeline with deliverables.
• Conduct a desk review of key project documents and relevant literature to inform the evaluation process.
• Map key stakeholders involved in the project, including implementing partners, donors, and beneficiaries.
• Perform data collection and analysis according to the agreed methodology, which may involve online key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys.
• Compile, clean, and analyze the collected data to identify key achievements, strengths, weaknesses, trends, and areas for improvement.
• Develop and submit a draft mid-term evaluation report and summary presentation of key findings.
• Co-facilitate an online validation meeting to discuss preliminary evaluation findings and gather feedback.
• Finalize and submit the mid-term evaluation report, ensuring it adheres to the specified structure and guidelines.
• Engage with UNESCO project team members throughout the evaluation process to ensure alignment and support.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in education, development studies, or other relevant fields. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of experience in applying results-based management in development cooperation work and qualitative and quantitative methods in social sciences research. Experience in conducting evaluations in the education sector and working with Ministries of Education and Teacher Training Institutions in Asia is desirable. A strong understanding of UNESCO’s mandate in education and its strategy on inclusion in education is also preferred. Candidates should submit at least two references or examples of relevant evaluations previously completed.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in education, development studies, or other relevant fields. This educational background is essential to ensure that the evaluator has the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the complexities involved in educational evaluations and development cooperation.

Experience:
The evaluator is expected to have at least five years of relevant experience in applying results-based management in development cooperation work, particularly in the education sector. This experience should include conducting evaluations and familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods. Additionally, experience working with Ministries of Education and Teacher Training Institutions in Asia is highly desirable, as it will provide valuable insights into the educational context and challenges faced in the region.

Languages:
A high level of proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position to ensure clear communication and the production of high-quality reports and materials. Proficiency in languages spoken in Bhutan and/or Lao PDR is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders during the evaluation process.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy contract is expected to last from January 2026 to April 2026, with a total of 23 anticipated working days. The evaluator will work remotely and must have access to IT resources to support online meetings and data collection. The evaluation process will not require any field missions or physical presence in the project countries. The evaluator will be responsible for their own logistics, including office space and administrative support. Additionally, any necessary translation or interpretation services for data collection will be the evaluator's responsibility and should be included in the proposed methodology and budget.