Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, Kigali, Rwanda, #00010294

UNICEF 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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Results

How can you make a difference?

Are you a dynamic and qualified candidate, please join us on this exciting opportunity in Monitoring and Evaluation, where your analytical skills, attention to detail, and passion for evidence‑based decision‑making can directly contribute to meaningful programme results. 

Purpose:

To ensure that the UNICEF Country Office has useful, valid and reliable information about children’s and women’s rights and the performance of UNICEF-supported programmes including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, and in emergency contexts, their coverage, coordination and coherence.

To work within the UN country team to support UNCT goals for delivering valid and reliable information on the attainment of the MDGs and other goals, and on the performance of UN-supported programmes.

To assist in the establishment of monitoring an evaluation tool which enhance partnership between the UNCT, government and other key players to collectively track progress on MDGs and other international commitment for children.

To assist in the development of national capacities for monitoring, evaluation and research, with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of government, community, and civil society stakeholders.

Key Tasks:

1. Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Plan (IMERP)
Ensure the Country Office and national partners use a prioritised and realistic IMERP to generate strategic information for managing the Country Programme, including assessing UNICEF’s contribution.

2. Situation Monitoring and Assessment
Ensure timely and accurate measurement of changes in country conditions, including socio-economic trends and policy context, to inform planning and assess programme impact.

3. Programme Performance Monitoring
Ensure availability of quality information to assess progress against annual work plan results.

4. Evaluation
Ensure UNICEF-supported evaluations meet UN quality standards and findings are disseminated to improve performance and learning.

5. Monitoring & Evaluation Capacity Building
Strengthen M&E capacities of Country Office staff and national partners to lead M&E processes.

6. Coordination and Networking

Ensure that the UNICEF office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF M&E developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective M&E management.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Monitoring and evaluation specialist NO-C.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in social sciences, statistics, monitoring and evaluation planning development, planning or any other relevant fields.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in programme development and implementation including monitoring and evaluation activities and developing country experience.
• Skills: 
  • Experience in supporting the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks
  • Solid understanding of Theory of Change, results frameworks, and experience in defining (Specific, measurable, Accountable, realistic, timebound (SMART) indicators, including tracking output and outcome-level results is required, as well as strong understanding of methodologies of Evaluation, including theories, standards and quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods approach, and application of validity/reliability testing of data, data analysis and interpretation, and statistical inference techniques.
  • Experience in data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting, including supporting the use of M&E findings to inform programme improvement and decision-making.
  • Professional technical expertise in Evaluation Process Management, including commissioning, quality assurance, follow-up on recommendations, and effective dissemination of monitoring & evaluation results for decision-making.
  • Knowledge of emerging global good practices in Monitoring Evaluation and learning (MEL), including adaptive programming and real-time performance management and strong digital and data analytics capabilities.
  • Expertise in data governance, data quality assurance, and ethical use of data, including data protection principles.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or Kinyirwanda, a local language
• Solid understanding of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms and standards and their practical application in programme monitoring and evaluation is preferred.
• Experience in leveraging technology for Monitoring and Evaluation innovation, including the development and use of interactive  data dashboard (such as – but not limited to -– PowerBi, Tableau or similar) and/or experience with geospatial analysis and mapping tools  e.g (ArcGIS , QGIS or others) and monitoring and survey tools (KoboKollect, etc) ) and/or proficiency in digital data collection platforms (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK, CommCare) and high-frequency monitoring systems will be considered a plus.
• Strong working knowledge of inter-agency and corporate. platforms such as UNINFO or UN Partner Portal (UNPP) platforms, and ability to support results-based reporting across UN frameworks is highly desirable
• Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and present to both present to both large, technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mastery of UNICEF’s M&E policies and procedures and UN-wide systems and platforms, such as UNINFO would be considered a plus.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, we particularly welcome applications from individuals who can bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to our team.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.