UNICEF Consultant for Midterm Evaluation of Safeguarding Children's Rights Program

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global organization that works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. Established in 1946, UNICEF has grown to become a leading advocate for children's rights, providing essential services and support to children and families in need. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, ensuring that they have access to education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation. With a diverse workforce and a strong focus on professional development, UNICEF aims to create a positive impact on the lives of children and communities worldwide.

Job Overview:
The position involves conducting a mid-term evaluation of the Safeguarding Children's Rights program in East Jerusalem. The consultant will be responsible for providing evidence and recommendations regarding the outcomes or results of the protection project on the lives of beneficiaries, specifically focusing on the impact of UNICEF interventions. This role requires a deep understanding of child protection issues, evaluation methodologies, and the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights. The consultant will work remotely and must be able to collaborate effectively with a diverse team of stakeholders, including UNICEF staff and local partners, to ensure that the evaluation is comprehensive and reflective of the needs of the community.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with the following duties and responsibilities:

• Design and implement a robust evaluation framework that aligns with UNICEF's objectives for the Safeguarding Children's Rights program.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection through interviews, surveys, and focus groups with beneficiaries, stakeholders, and partners.
• Analyze data to assess the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for improvement.
• Prepare detailed evaluation reports that summarize findings, conclusions, and recommendations for future programming.
• Present evaluation results to UNICEF and relevant stakeholders, ensuring that insights are communicated clearly and effectively.
• Collaborate with a gender-balanced team of technical experts to ensure diverse perspectives are included in the evaluation process.
• Maintain ethical standards throughout the evaluation, ensuring confidentiality and respect for the rights of participants.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's Degree in Evaluation, Child Protection, Social Research, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Human Rights, Humanitarian Studies, or related fields. Additionally, candidates should have significant experience in research and evaluation, particularly in development programs/projects, with a minimum of 10 years of documented experience or at least 8 years in Child Protection programs/projects. Expertise in gender programming is also preferred. The consultant should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, leadership abilities, and a proven track record in writing evaluation reports.

Educational Background:
A Master's Degree in a relevant field is required for this position. The educational background should reflect a strong foundation in evaluation methodologies, child protection, social research, or related disciplines. Candidates with additional certifications or training in evaluation or child protection will be viewed favorably.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 10 years of experience in research and evaluation of development programs/projects, with a focus on Child Protection. Experience working in developing or least developed countries is essential, as is familiarity with gender-responsive evaluation approaches and child-centered methodologies. Previous experience conducting evaluations for UNICEF, UN agencies, or international humanitarian organizations is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position, as the consultant will need to conduct interviews, transcription, and translation. Candidates who are not fluent in Arabic must include costs for translation support in their proposals. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is 4 months, and the working arrangement is home-based or remote. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and all applicants must adhere to UNICEF's standards and principles.