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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfilling their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office is issuing a call for the expansion of an evaluation roster expertise as part of ongoing efforts to enhance evaluation capacities in the East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region. Consultancies being sought include Team Lead Evaluator, Senior Consultant, Mid-level/National Consultant, Data Analyst/Researcher, and Young Emerging Evaluators. 

Background

Evaluation in UNICEF is a critical function for understanding if development objectives have been met in a way that contributes to the progressive realization of children’s rights. The evaluation function contributes to UNICEF’s organizational accountability and learning by conducting strategic, independent evaluations and setting standards and guidelines on evaluation for the organization. UNICEF evaluation work is guided by the 2023 Revised UNICEF Evaluation Policy and the Norms and Standards of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG). At the decentralized level, the Evaluation function works independently to determine the effectiveness and impact of the strategies and programs of Country Offices (COs) to realize the rights of all children. Based on multi-year costed evaluation plans (CEPs), the EAP region and its COs conduct a series of country programme evaluations, corporate and thematic evaluations, and evaluation syntheses. These evaluations provide independent and objective assessments of programmatic performance at the country level as well as of thematic strategies at the regional level, informing the future work in the COs and the Regional Office.

Purpose

UNICEF EAPRO is issuing a call for the expansion of an evaluation roster expertise as part of ongoing efforts to enhance evaluation capacities in the EAP Region. Consultancies being sought include Team Lead Evaluator, Senior Consultant, Mid-level/National Consultant, Data Analyst/Researcher, and Young Emerging Evaluators.  

This specific announcement aims to attract qualified individual evaluation consultants for the position of Team Lead Evaluator, to be included in the UNICEF's roster of evaluators for the region. Candidates from the EAP region are strongly encouraged to apply. Details regarding the nature of this roster system and qualifications for each role are outlined in this Terms of Reference (TOR). Additionally, a separate TOR will be provided for each evaluation project to which the consultant is assigned, offering more specific details.

The roster system will complement UNICEF’s ongoing effort to strengthen its evaluation capacity. This announcement targets candidates outside of UNICEF (non-staff) with interest in providing evaluation services at the regional and CO level. The roster will contain only pre-screened individuals found suitable to conduct evaluations in EAP region specifically. Candidates will be placed in the roster for a period of 36 months and will be called up depending on suitability of assignment and availability. However, actual contracting will be based on specific TORs. Note that inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relations with UNICEF.

Scope of work

The individual evaluation consultants – selected for the EAP Roster – are external professional evaluators who provide thematic, geographic, and/or policy expertise as a leader of the evaluation team for a given independent evaluation. Once rostered and selected for a particular evaluation, the evaluation consultants will carry out the agreed assignments, as guided by the specific TORs drafted by the Evaluation Manager (Regional Evaluation Adviser – REA) for regional level evaluations or Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist (MCES) for CO evaluations.

Based on the needs, the candidate will be responsible for undertaking specific evaluation work, including the design, inception, data collection, reporting, and dissemination of evaluations, as defined in the respective evaluation TOR. The role will align with assigned programs and areas of expertise within UNICEF programming, including Early Childhood Development (ECD), Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation (WASH), Adolescents and Development and Social Protection as well as cross-sectoral programme areas such as Climate Change, Environment, Energy, Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED), Gender, Mental Health and Emergency Response. Evaluations may cover UNICEF strategic plan change strategies such as Advocacy and communications; Community engagement, social and behaviour change; Data, research, evaluation, and knowledge management; Digital transformation; Gender transformative programming; Innovation; Partnerships and engagement: public and private; Risk-informed humanitarian and development nexus programming; Systems strengthening to leave no one behind. Evaluations may also include assessment of National Evaluation Capacity Development (NECD) activities in EAP region.

Programme Areas and Specific Projects Involved

Evaluations will encompass various types as defined under UNICEF's evaluation coverage norms outlined in the 2023 Revised Evaluation Policy (pages 8–10), with some examples provided below.

Applicants for the Team Lead Evaluator position are expected to have extensive experience in the specific evaluation type, as well as demonstrated experience leading a team of evaluators.

Country Programme Evaluations, conducted at least once every two programme cycles, or earlier if circumstances warrant, are aimed to foster organizational learning and improve UNICEF’s programming in the country, including the contribution of the Programme of Cooperation to national results, advancing SDGs through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and UNICEF’s strategic positioning in relation to child rights mandate. CPEs strengthen UNICEF’s accountability to national stakeholders and the Executive Board. External consultant may work as a member of a broader CPE evaluation team.

Thematic evaluations: Thematic Evaluations assess UNICEF performance in areas that are critical to ensuring sustained contribution to development results in the context of emerging development issues and changing priorities at the global and regional levels. Thematic evaluations may cover UNICEF’s programme areas as defined in the “Scope of work” section, cross cutting areas, business models among others.

Impact evaluations: Impact evaluation is a powerful tool for accountability, learning, and uncovering potential solutions.  By employing robust methodological approaches, it tests whether an intervention—or a combination of interventions—delivers the intended results.  It is particularly valuable when establishing attribution through a credible counterfactual is both desirable and feasible. Impact evaluation is highly recommended for validating pilot programs before scaling up and for conducting comprehensive program evaluations.

EAPR Regional evaluation synthesis: Evaluation synthesis can be broadly defined as the aggregation and analysis of evidence-based knowledge from evidence-based documents such as evaluations. Information is synthesized around a topic to increase the applicability of those findings and develop new knowledge through integration. In the dynamic and rapidly evolving context of the EAP region, synthesis aims to understand what the organization has achieved, how, and why to determine what works and does not work in achieving outcomes for children and adolescents for both development and humanitarian actions.

Other evaluations may include joint UN evaluations, country-led evaluations, evaluability assessments, real-time evaluations, and humanitarian evaluations on various themes as defined in the TOR.

Work assignment and expected deliverables:

The selected individual consultant will be provided with specific TOR for each assigned evaluation. Working under the supervision of the respective evaluation manager or evaluation specialist, the consultant will be responsible for producing standard outputs and deliverables as outlined for each evaluation and activity. The consultant is required to provide regular progress updates throughout the evaluation process and ensure the timely delivery of outputs.

As noted, the specific deliverables for each evaluation and activity will be defined in the respective TOR. Typically, the evaluation process involves the following key tasks: 

1. Inception Report Preparation

Prepare an inception report aligned with UNICEF guidelines and UNEG norms, completing the following key tasks:

• Lead an introductory kick-off meeting/initial meeting with UNICEF and key stakeholders.
• Develop the evaluation methodology, including an evaluation matrix, data collection tools, and possibly a reconstruction or analysis of theories of change or program logic.
• Conduct a desk review and analyse available secondary data – experiences in the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies for reviewing and synthesizing evidence should be reflected in the application.
• Create a data collection plan, stakeholder mapping, and evaluation tools tailored to specific criteria, incorporating innovative approaches (e.g., youth engagement, technology, or GIS integration).
• Present the inception report to the reference group for feedback.
• Submit necessary documentation for Institutional Review Board (IRB)[1] approval through UNICEF.
• Design a dissemination plan for sharing evaluation findings with relevant stakeholders.

Deliverables: Approved inception report, IRB certificate issue, and approved dissemination plan

2. Data collection, analysis and draft report of the evaluation

• Collect primary data through surveys focus group discussions, field visits and observations if applicable, among other agreed data collection methods. 
• Organize, clean, analyse and interpret data collected during the evaluation.
• Prepare an evaluation report draft to be reviewed by the evaluation manager and reviewed by Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) and programme staff. The report will provide the preliminary findings, initial recommendations, and conclusions from which the partners shall provide relevant feedback.
• Facilitate a validation workshop and recommendation co-creation meetings with stakeholders.

Deliverables: Validation report with evaluation recommendations

3. Final report and dissemination

• Submit final report incorporating feedback from ERG, UNICEF, and other stakeholders, including annexes. The report is expected to meet the norms and standards as stipulated in the UNICEF evaluation report format, UNICEF-adapted Evaluation Reports Standards and minimum standards of Global Evaluation Report Oversight System (GEROS).
• Submit dissemination materials, including PowerPoint slides and summary reports, as specified in the TOR.
• Undertake key dissemination activities for different audiences.

Deliverables: Draft report and Final report, and Dissemination products

Specific tasks are not limited to above, and the estimated working days and deadlines for each phase and deliverable will be detailed in the specific TOR for each evaluation and finalized during the inception phase.

Duration of Contract:  The duration of each contract will be specified in the specific TOR, as it varies based on the scope of each evaluation. Successful candidates will be placed in the roster for a maximum period of 36 months and will be called up depending on the suitability of assignments and needs. Consultants are expected to be ready to commence assignments within one month of confirming their availability.
 

Work Modality and Duty Travel:  This position is fully remote/home-based and not office based with possible mission travel, depending on the assignment. The consultant is expected to provide their own computer, communication devices, internet connection, and workspace. 

Duty travel is applicable only if a deliverable cannot demonstrably be produced through remote work. Depending on the nature of the evaluation, fieldwork travel for data collection may be required in certain countries - typically, any travel is reflected in the TOR or determined during the inception phase. The consultant is responsible for arranging their own logistics, including transport, communication, insurance, and security. Travel expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
 

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

The Team Lead Evaluator oversees the entire evaluation process, managing the design, execution, and reporting. It is required that the Team Leader has strong capacities and proven record in team leading on evaluation projects, especially in the topic of UNICEF’s mandate. They also act as the primary contact for UNICEF and stakeholders, ensuring the evaluation meets standards and strategic goals. Responsibilities include leading meetings and field missions, developing methodologies, drafting the final report, and creates and implements the dissemination plan. 

Essential Qualifications for Team Lead Evaluator:

• Advanced university degree in evaluation, social sciences, economics, public policy, law, management, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in designing and applying evaluation methodologies in developing, transitional, or humanitarian contexts.
• Proven record of supervising and effectively leading evaluation teams on at least three evaluations, particularly with UNICEF or other UN agencies. Experiences in the EAP region will be an added advantage. 
• Extensive technical expertise in the types of evaluations they are assigned to, as mentioned in the "Programme Areas and Specific Projects Involved" section (e.g., CPEs, thematic evaluations and impact evaluations).
• Proficiency in evaluation design, data collection, and analysis for both qualitative and quantitative approaches, as well as mixed-method approach.
• Experience integrating innovative methods and ideas into evaluation processes. 
• Expertise in communications, dissemination, and advocacy related to evaluation findings, with a focus on evidence-based approaches to influence stakeholders. 
• Experience working in the EAP context, with an understanding of EAP cultural dynamics.
• Ability to travel to remote areas to oversee and/or conduct fieldwork as required by the evaluation.
• Demonstrated capacity to train and mentor junior evaluators in cross-cultural contexts. 
• Experience with the ethics of evidence generation, including data collection from vulnerable groups and familiarity with ethical safeguards, and awareness of human rights (including child rights), gender equality, and equity in evaluation.  
• Technical knowledge of the thematic areas relevant to assigned evaluations.
• Ability to think strategically and synthesize information from varied sources into actionable conclusions and recommendations.  
• Adherence to UNEG’s and UNICEF’s norms, standards, and ethical guidelines[2]. 
• Adaptability and flexibility, client orientation, initiative, and a proven commitment to ethical practices. 
• Concern for accuracy and quality in work. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. 
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills. 
  
  

Required documents and information 

1. Curriculum Vitae and/or Resume
2. Cover letter (2-page maximum): Please include the following:
   • Provide a summary of your evaluation skills and experience.
   • Indicate your thematic areas of expertise related to UNICEF’s mandate (e.g., gender, WASH, early childhood development, etc.)
3. Contact details for three references from evaluations conducted, preferably with UN agencies, including UNICEF, especially in the EAP region.
4. Indicate your daily rate in United States Dollars (excluding travel costs).
5. Evaluation Work Examples:
   • Provide three recent examples of evaluation projects you have been involved in as a Team Leader – added advantage for evaluations of UNICEF or other UN agencies. 

Interested candidates are requested to submit the above-mentioned documents and information by 24 March 2025. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.