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 Education

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the Evaluability Assessment

The purpose of the evaluability assessment is to assess the extent to which the UNICEF Sierra Leone Country Programme is evaluable, both in principle (programme design and theory of change) and in practice (availability and quality of data, indicators, and monitoring systems), and to provide actionable recommendations to strengthen programme logic, measurability, and evaluation readiness.

The assessment is intended to support evidence-informed course correction, strengthen results-based management, and enhance the utility and credibility of future evaluations.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the evaluability assessment are to:

1. Assess the clarity, coherence, and plausibility of the Country Programme theory of change and results framework.
2. Examine the alignment of the Country Programme with national priorities, the UNSDCF, and UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, with particular attention to equity, gender, humanitarian action, and cross-cutting priorities.
3. Assess the adequacy and validity of indicators, baselines, targets, and means of verification across programme components.
4. Review the availability, quality, and use of monitoring data and systems to track progress and demonstrate results.
5. Assess whether institutional, human, and financial capacities are sufficient to support monitoring and future evaluation.
6. Determine the readiness of the Country Programme for a credible and useful Country Programme Evaluation.
7. Provide practical recommendations to strengthen evaluability and inform future evaluation design and timing.

Scope of Work:

The evaluability assessment will cover the full UNICEF Sierra Leone Country Programme, including all programme components and cross-cutting strategies. The scope will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

• Review of the overall Country Programme theory of change, results framework, and assumptions.
• Assessment of coherence and logical linkages between outputs, outcomes, and intended impacts.
• Review of integration of equity, gender, inclusion, humanitarian action, innovation, and systems strengthening.
• Assessment of indicators (definition, relevance, measurability, disaggregation), baselines, targets, and data sources.
• Review of monitoring systems, data quality assurance mechanisms, and reporting practices.
• Assessment of roles, responsibilities, and capacities for monitoring and evaluation within UNICEF and among partners.
• Review of resource alignment (financial and human) in relation to expected results.
• Identification of strengths, gaps, risks, and opportunities affecting future evaluation.

Work assignments and deliverables

1. Inception note (brief), outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, analytical framework, tools, and detailed workplan, to be presented and discussed with the Country Management Team (CMT).
2. Data collection and draft evaluability assessment report, presenting findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations, to be shared with the CMT.
3. Final evaluability assessment report, incorporating consolidated feedback from CMT.

Management, Organization and Timeframe:

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of an Evaluation Specialist, UNICEF Sierra Leone/West and Central Africa Regional Office. UNICEF will facilitate access to relevant documentation and stakeholders.

This is an individual consultancy is expected to last for 40 working days. The Consultant will work remotely without any travel to Sierra Leone. 

Consultant is expected to use their own work tools including laptop and other communication tools required. For this assessment, AI will be used in a limited, quality-assurance role to support structured document review, results framework and ToC analysis, indicator and data quality scanning. It will also help with the analysis of gaps in indicators, baselines, as well as the assessment of data readiness. All analytical judgements will remain fully human-led.

Candidates may propose AI-supported approaches, as many data analysis tools now incorporate AI functionalities. Candidiates’ experience with AI-enabled analytical tools will also be assessed during the interviews.

 

Mode of Submission of Applications

Candidates will be required to submit a technical proposal and a financial proposal. The financial proposal should quote a lump-sum inclusive of fees, travel and visa costs as well as communication costs. Financial proposals may be negotiated.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  VA TOR - International Consultancy_CPD Evaluation Assessment_.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree in evaluation, social sciences, public policy, development studies, or a related field.

Work Experience: 

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in evaluation, results-based management (RBM), or results-based programme design.
• Demonstrated experience working with UNICEF, the UN system, or comparable international organizations.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of evaluability assessment, results-based management, and programme theory of change.
• Solid understanding of UNICEF programming, evaluation policy, and UNEG norms and standards.
• Ability to assess the clarity, coherence, and measurability of complex, multi-sectoral programmes.
• Strong analytical skills to review results frameworks, indicators, baselines, and monitoring systems.
• Excellent report-writing and communication skills, with the ability to present clear, actionable recommendations.
• High level of professional judgment, independence, and ethical awareness.

Language Requirements: Excellent command of written and spoken English.

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

The 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.