Developmental Evaluation Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to serving children and communities worldwide, and it fosters a culture of inclusivity and growth.

Job Overview:
The Developmental Evaluation (DE) role is designed to accompany and inform UNICEF China's transition process through real-time, utilization-focused learning. This position will document strategic shifts, capture lessons learned, and foster adaptive management and organizational learning during the transition to a high-income country context. The DE aims to support adaptive management and strategic decision-making by systematically identifying, monitoring, and mitigating risks associated with the transition. The evaluator will analyze how leadership, culture, and processes evolve during this transition, offering insights that inform global UNICEF learning. The DE will also assess the effectiveness of the Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP) as a critical enabler for a successful transition, including reflections on staff wellbeing and organizational culture. The timeframe for this role is from January 2026 to December 2027, covering the critical early phase of UNICEF China's transition under the CPD 2026–203

• The DE will employ a mixed-method, participatory, and systems-thinking approach, acting as an embedded learning partner rather than a purely external assessor. The evaluator will work closely with UNICEF teams to capture, analyze, and provide feedback on learning, generating iterative learning briefs and facilitating quarterly sense-making sessions aligned with management decision cycles.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Document and guide the transition process, capturing strategic, programmatic, and organizational shifts.
• Support adaptive management and strategic decision-making through timely feedback and learning.
• Strengthen UNICEF China's learning culture, institutional memory, and evaluative thinking.
• Analyze the evolution of leadership, culture, and processes during the transition.
• Assess the effectiveness of the Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP) in enabling a successful transition.
• Position findings to influence UNICEF's global approach to working in high-income countries.
• Examine alignment with national development priorities and government reform agendas.
• Develop a detailed Learning and Reflection Framework for the Country Office.
• Propose additional learning tools and techniques. 1
• Establish a systematic office-wide learning architecture. 1
• Define protocols for risk identification, monitoring, and mitigation. 1
• Remain flexible to respond to emerging opportunities and risks throughout the transition.

Required Qualifications:
The DE will be conducted by a senior external consultant with extensive experience in evaluation, learning facilitation, and UNICEF's operating environment. The evaluator should possess strategic insight, technical expertise, and exceptional facilitation ability. Familiarity with UNEG Norms and Standards and UNICEF's Evaluation Policy (2023) is essential. Strong analytical, synthesis, and writing skills are required, along with demonstrated facilitation skills to design and lead reflection and sense-making workshops.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Evaluation, Economics, Social Studies, International Relations, or other related fields is required for this position.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of 10–15 years of experience in evaluation, adaptive management, or organizational learning. Proven expertise in Developmental Evaluation and utilization-focused methodologies is essential. Extensive experience with UNICEF, including programming, evaluation, learning, or organizational change roles, is required. Experience supporting organizational transformation within multilateral or UN settings is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the region or UNICEF's work may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The total level of effort for this consultancy is estimated at 90 working days. The consultant will be home-based but is expected to undertake three in-country missions, each lasting approximately 10 days, during critical phases of the evaluation. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.