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 fulfill 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 Trustable hand
https://www.unicef.org/where-we-work

How can you make a difference?

Background and Purpose:

Uganda’s Ministry of Health declared an Ebola outbreak (Sudan strain) on January 30, 2025, marking the country’s sixth such outbreak since 2000. The outbreak began in Kampala/Wakiso and spread to Mbale, Jinja, and Mukono, with a total of 14 cases (12 confirmed, 2 probable) and 4 deaths. The last confirmed patient was discharged on March 14, and the outbreak was officially declared over on April 26, after 42 days with no new cases.

The outbreak affected both urban and rural communities, prompting a swift response that included isolating patients, monitoring over 500 contacts, and enhancing border screenings. Uganda’s prior experience with Ebola helped contain the outbreak quickly, minimizing its health and socio-economic impact. Despite its small scale, the presence of cases in Kampala raised significant concern due to the city’s dense population.

In response, UNICEF activated a Level 2 Corporate Emergency Activation Procedure (CEAP) from February 11 to May 9, 2025. Following its deactivation, a post-outbreak strategy was developed with partners and the Ugandan government. As per UNICEF’s Evaluation Policy, this short-term L2 emergency requires a formal evaluation, which will assess the response, methodology, stakeholder roles, and lessons learned.

The evaluation aims to strengthen UNICEF’s accountability to affected populations, partners, and donors supporting the response to the Level 2 SVD outbreak in Uganda, whilst supporting continuous learning in improving preparedness for and response to emergencies so as to strengthen the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and UNICEF’s CCCs.

Justification

The 2025 Sudan ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda, though limited to 14 cases, affected multiple districts including Kampala, raising serious public health concerns. UNICEF’s Level 2 emergency response was activated, warranting an evaluation as per its 2023 Evaluation Policy.

This evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the response, coordination with partners, and community engagement. It will generate actionable insights to strengthen future outbreak preparedness and ensure accountability for resources mobilized.

Objectives

1. To assess to which extent the recommendations formulated during the last response have been used to inform the current preparedness and response plan and identify any resulting good practices
2. To assess the effectiveness and contribution of the UNICEF Response to national efforts, in line with CCCs
3. To inform the resilience efforts of the CO in terms of preparedness and Accountability to Affected Persons (AAP)
4. To formulate recommendations to inform transition plan, coordination and PHE response from UN, UNICEF and national partners moving forward

Major Tasks

1. Preparatory phase

• Secondary data collection and desk review
• Preliminary stakeholder analysis
• Preparation for the inception phase
• Introductory meeting with ESARO, UCO staff, EMT and ERG to review/discuss TOR

2. Inception phase

• May include a 1-week inception mission including visiting one or two priority counties
• Initial desk review
• Discussion of Theory of Change
• Preparation of draft inception report (see Annexes for the indicative table of contents), evaluation matrix and data collection tools
• Engagement with stakeholders including ERG on inception report through regular and debrief and working sessions (online)
• Undertake ethical approval process
• Finalization of inception report

3. Data collection phase

• Preparation for data collection, including piloting of instruments
• Mission in Uganda (Kampala and selected districts) to collect data and meet with stakeholders including an internal consultation with UNICEF UCO staff (rapid survey or Delphi)
• Conduct remote/in person interviews and undertake additional desk review.
• Preparation of interview reports
• Population of evaluation matrix
• Preparation and delivery of Emerging Findings Debrief through online workshop #1

4. Analysis, drafting, validation and completion phase

• Data analysis and drafting
• Preparation of a PowerPoint presentation on preliminary findings, conclusions, and recommendations
• Engagement with stakeholders on draft report
• Finalization of report and summary PowerPoint presentation
• Validation and co-creation of recommendations (Sensemaking workshop #2 – in person)

Deliverables

1. Plan for inception phase
2. Presentation of proposed evaluation approach and evaluation plan during kick -off meeting
3. Draft inception report and instruments
4. Presentation of the draft inception report - in person or via video link – to the Evaluation
5. Submit ethical approval application(s) and respond to all comments
6. Final inception report (plus completed audit trail addressing all comments)
7. Debrief with key UCO staff and ERG members at the end of the data collection phase (to present emerging findings for feedback and discuss initial recommendations)
8. A complete first draft evaluation report

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

1. A minimum of ten years’ experience evaluating humanitarian action. Prior experience evaluating UNICEF humanitarian response in Eastern and Southern Africa will be considered as an advantage.
2. Experience in conducting multi-disciplinary evaluations, including evaluating rapid onset emergencies for UNICEF, other UN agencies or other international partners at the global, regional or country levels.
3. Knowledge of the latest qualitative and quantitative methods and approaches in humanitarian evaluation, especially participatory methods and accountability to affected populations.
4. Experience in desk review-based methodologies with strong qualitative and quantitative analytical and synthesis competencies.
5. Technical expertise relevant to UNICEF’s emergency operations, familiarity with UNICEF’s emergency response, including the Core Commitments to Children, preferred
6. Experience and knowledge of child rights and participation, equity, disability inclusion, and gender equality in research and evaluation, particularly in humanitarian settings
7. Excellent analytical, communication and drafting writing skills in English
8. Experience with the ethics of evidence generation; experience collecting data from vulnerable groups; familiarity with ethical safeguards.

 Significant advantages

1. Proven ability to develop attractive evidence products that present complex information via Infographics and other communication means.
2. Proven ethical use of Artificial Intelligence for data analysis
3. A work record in Eastern and Southern Africa and with experience in Uganda within a humanitarian context
4. In-depth knowledge of Ebola in the Eastern and Southern African Region specifically, with experience in preparedness and response to other public health emergencies
5. Record of top-ranked evaluation reports by GEROS or other UN entities

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. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.