National Consultant - Thematic Expert for Country Programme Evaluation (CPE)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, established to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA operates within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The organization focuses on three transformative results: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA Viet Nam Country Office is currently implementing its 10th Country Programme (2022 - 2026) in collaboration with the Government of Viet Nam and other partners, aiming to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, and to improve the lives of women, adolescents, and youth.

Job Overview:
The position of National Consultant - Thematic Expert for the Country Programme Evaluation (CPE) involves evaluating the thematic areas of the 10th Country Programme (CP) of UNFPA in Vietnam. The CPE aims to strengthen accountability to stakeholders, support evidence-based decision-making, and improve learning. The overall objective is to provide an independent assessment of the CP's performance and broaden the evidence base for the design of the next programme cycle. The evaluation will cover all interventions in the six thematic areas of the CP, including policy and accountability, quality of care and services, gender and social norms, population change and data, humanitarian action, and adolescents and youth. The national experts will be responsible for the design and implementation of their thematic area of the evaluation, participating in all phases from design to data collection and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The national experts will hold overall responsibility for their thematic area of the evaluation, which includes the design and development of evaluation tools, data collection, reporting, and dissemination of results. Specific responsibilities include providing expertise in their respective areas (SRHR, gender, or population dynamics), contributing to the methodological design of the evaluation, participating in meetings with the CPE manager and UNFPA staff, conducting document reviews, and facilitating interviews and group discussions with stakeholders. They will also be involved in producing standard outputs and deliverables such as design reports, evaluation matrices, and final evaluation reports, all of which must be developed in English.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, gender studies, demography, or social sciences. They should have 5-7 years of experience in conducting evaluations, assessments, or research studies in international development. Candidates must demonstrate substantive knowledge in their thematic area, ability to ensure ethics and integrity in the evaluation process, and solid knowledge of evaluation approaches and methodologies. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal, and communication skills are essential, along with familiarity with the national development context of Vietnam and UNFPA's mandates.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree is required for all thematic experts, with specific fields of study varying by area of expertise. For example, the SRHR expert should have a background in public health or health economics, the gender expert in gender studies or human rights law, and the population dynamics expert in demography or population studies.

Experience:
Candidates should have 5-7 years of relevant experience in conducting evaluations, assessments, or research studies in the field of international development or humanitarian assistance. Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and knowledge of the national development context of Vietnam are highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Vietnamese is mandatory for all candidates. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an advantage but is not specified as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will last for 35 workdays from May to November 2025, with most work conducted remotely, although occasional visits to the UNFPA Vietnam CO may be required. All deliverables must be submitted electronically, and the consultant is expected to complete specific online training courses before signing the contract. Compensation will be based on deliverables, and payment will be made in Vietnamese Dong according to the UN exchange rate at the time of contract signing. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.