Evaluation Team Leader

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Evaluation Team Leader
Location: Tirana
Country: Albania
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the United Nations Country Team in Albania, which operates under the broader mission of the United Nations to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and development globally. The UN has a long-standing presence in Albania, focusing on various issues including human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development. The organization aims to support the Albanian government and civil society in achieving national development goals aligned with international standards. The UN Country Team in Albania consists of various agencies, each contributing to the mission with specialized expertise and resources. The organization is committed to ensuring that its evaluations are conducted in accordance with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) standards, ensuring that the perspectives of different stakeholders are captured and recommendations are validated through nationally owned priorities. The UN has been operational in Albania for several decades and employs a diverse workforce of international and national staff, working collaboratively across multiple sectors to address the challenges faced by the country.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Team Leader will play a crucial role in leading the evaluation process of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period 2022-2026 in Albania. This position requires a highly skilled individual with extensive experience in evaluation methodologies and a deep understanding of the socio-political context of Albania and the Western Balkans. The primary function of the Evaluation Team Leader is to ensure that the evaluation is conducted in a timely manner, adhering to the terms of reference (TOR) and evaluation criteria. The leader will be responsible for developing an inception report that outlines the evaluation design, methodology, and work plan, as well as coordinating the efforts of the evaluation team, which includes both international and national consultants. The Evaluation Team Leader will also be tasked with producing the draft and final evaluation reports, which will include key findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on the evaluation criteria and stakeholder inputs. The role requires strong communication skills to engage with various stakeholders, including the Evaluation Manager, UN Country Team, and other relevant parties, to ensure that the evaluation process is transparent and inclusive. The consultant will need to possess their own technical equipment to facilitate the evaluation process effectively, and all documents produced during the consultancy will be treated as confidential, with distribution rights residing solely with the UN Country Team in Albania.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Team Leader will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including but not limited to: developing an inception report that details the evaluation design and methodology; conducting thorough research and analysis of relevant documentation; coordinating the division of labor within the evaluation team; overseeing the quality assurance of the evaluation report; managing the administration and analysis of data collection results; drafting the inception and evaluation reports while coordinating inputs from team members; preparing for and facilitating meetings with stakeholders to review findings; regularly updating the Evaluation Manager and other stakeholders on the evaluation progress; and delivering and presenting the final evaluation report. The Evaluation Team Leader will also be responsible for ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into all aspects of the evaluation and that the evaluation adheres to the highest ethical standards.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in a relevant field such as international development, economics, political science, governance, social sciences, or a related discipline. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of working experience in the evaluation of strategic documents for UN or other international organizations is required, with a focus on gender-responsive evaluations and gender analysis. Candidates should have a strong understanding of human rights issues, including forced displacement, and the ability to assess these issues in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality, and socio-economic dimensions. The ability to facilitate and integrate information from diverse sources, as well as to produce well-written reports demonstrating analytical and communication skills, is essential. Experience with participatory approaches, organizational assessments, partnership strategies, and capacity development is also required, along with proven experience as an evaluation team leader.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a master's degree in a relevant field such as international development, economics, political science, governance, social sciences, or a related area. This advanced degree is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to conduct high-quality evaluations that meet the standards set by the United Nations.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least 10 years of relevant experience in the evaluation of strategic documents for UN or other international organizations. This experience should include a strong focus on gender-responsive evaluations and gender analysis, as well as familiarity with UN agency country programs. The candidate should also have regional expertise in the Western Balkans, with specific experience in Albania's development context being highly desirable. Proven experience as an evaluation team leader is crucial, as the role requires the ability to lead and collaborate effectively with other evaluation experts.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is the second working language. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages will enhance collaboration with diverse stakeholders and ensure that evaluation findings are accessible to a wider audience.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last up to 6 months, and candidates must possess their own laptop and other technical equipment necessary for the assignment. The documents produced during the consultancy will be treated as strictly confidential, and the rights of distribution and/or publication will solely reside with the United Nations Country Team in Albania. Interested candidates are required to submit their applications through INSPIRA and send additional documentation to the specified email address, including their latest CV, samples of previous work, a brief outline of their strengths and expertise, a suggested methodology and work plan, and a financial proposal that includes travel and daily subsistence allowances (DSA). It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.