Job: Evaluation Officer

Location: Amman, Jordan 
Deadline: Saturday, 19 October 2013 

Description

Organization: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Country: JordanClosing date: 19 Oct 2013

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST UNRWA

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA's services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:

Evaluation Officer

Vacancy Announcement Number 13-HQ-AM-43

Grade P-3

Deadline for Applications 19 October 2013

Duty Station HQ Amman, Jordan

Under the supervision of the Chief, Evaluation Division the Evaluation Officer will be responsible for managing and conducting independent, credible and useful evaluations and for contributing to a further development of UNRWA's evaluation function. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct and manage impartial, independent and credible evaluation of projects and programmes applying evaluation quantitative, data collection and analysis tools, techniques and approaches, maintaining high professional standards in line with UNRWA's Evaluation Policy and UN Evaluation Norms and Standards, to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
• Report findings to the management and concerned parties, as required; ensure that appropriate actions have been taken and monitor and follow up on the development thereof for the continued implementation and improvement of projects and programmes;
• Contribute to the promotion of the evaluation function and evaluation principles:
• Review evaluation reports for quality control purposes;
• Provide advice and guidance on evaluation to management and staff and contribute to capacity building of UNRWA staff members on the conduct of decentralized evaluations;
• Participate in meetings, workshops and other discussion fora to establish a dialogue on evaluation results;
• Contribute to the review and further development of the architecture, policies, guidelines, systems, procedures and tools related to evaluation;
• Keep abreast of developments in the area of evaluation.
• Contribute to the effective deployment of human and financial resources of the Evaluation Division:
• Plan evaluations and prepare evaluation budget for individual evaluations, managing the use of available resources effectively and efficiently;
• Assist in selection and supervising performance of evaluation consultants based on post requirements.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• A university degree from an accredited educational institution, in economics, development studies, international relations, public/business administration, management or other related field;
• Six years of progressively responsible international experience, outside one's home country, in research and evaluation, programme planning, programme cycle management or related field;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Competencies

• Knowledge of UN context and topics: Has a good knowledge of the role of the UN and of key UN topics like human rights and gender among others;

• Technical and professional skills:
• 1) Evaluation design - Has the required competencies to identify issues that would lead to work planning items (with significant guidance), research relevant issues and subjects of interest for potential work planning items (with moderate guidance), and contribute to the development of well-focused Terms of References that include a background, address salient issues, and identify potential impact (with moderate guidance). Has a good understanding of various evaluation methodologies and is able to contribute to the development of the most efficient and effective methodology for an evaluation design (with moderate guidance);
• 2) Data collection and analysis – Has the required competencies to collect reliable, valid and accurate information in an objective way. Has a basic understanding of questionnaire design and survey methodology and is able to assist in the development of questionnaires and other review instruments that will address issues identified in the design (with moderate guidance). Understands effective interviewing skills and is able to conduct interviews (with minimal guidance). Uses programme data and records (with some guidance). Has a basic understanding of various sampling techniques and is able to contribute to the development of the most accurate sampling technique for the methodology (with moderate guidance).
• Evaluation process management skills: Has been exposed to evaluation management, including developing a plan and schedule, assigning tasks, milestones, project costing. Will be able to manage simple evaluation projects with little guidance and complex evaluation projects with supervision.
• Oral and written communication skills: Has the required competencies to write accurately in a clear and concise UN drafting style, review documents for content and style, assist with formal presentations (with moderate guidance), articulate relevant subject matters in a clear and concise way, pose basic questions and contribute information appropriately in formal settings, and effectively use appropriate support items, including charts, graphs, audio-visual techniques, and hand-outs;
• Ethical competencies: Acts according to the United Nations Evaluation Group's Code of Conduct for Evaluation in the UN System. Acts with integrity and honesty in relationships with all stakeholders;
• Interpersonal skills: Is able to work together in a professional manner with team members exhibiting patience, courtesy, and respect for others and their ideas;
• Computer skills: Good knowledge of MS Office;

Desirable Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in economics, development studies, international relations, public/business administration, management or other related field;
• Experience related to UNRWA's mandate and activities;
• Work experience in the Middle East;
• Knowledge of Arabic.

Additional Information

The incumbent will be required to travel in the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East.

Equivalency When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Director of Human Resources may exceptionally substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and progressive relevant work experience. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $60,091 net tax free with dependants or $56,091 single, plus post adjustment of 47.4% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract is for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the post.

How to Apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.

General Information UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 5 September 2013/CF

More Info and Application