International Consultancy – Formative Evaluation of Polio Programme in Afghanistan – Remote

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Background:

Afghanistan is grappling with a complex humanitarian crisis driven by decades of conflict, large-scale internal displacement, mass migration, loss of livelihoods, rising poverty, and the effects of severe droughts and climate change. These challenges are exacerbated by widespread food insecurity, malnutrition, and their deadly interplay with disease and mortality. The situation is further worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and simultaneous outbreaks of diseases such as measles and acute watery diarrhea. In 2024, it is projected that 23.7 million people, including 12.6 million children, will need humanitarian assistance across various sectors.1 Afghanistan’s Human Development Index (HDI) value for 2022 is 0.46 — which put the country in the Low human development category — positioning it at 193 out of 204 countries and territories.

Purpose, Objectives, Use and Scope

The purpose of this formative evaluation is to assess UNICEF Afghanistan’s Polio Programme (particularly from October 2024 onwards when the site-to-site campaign modality was implemented nationwide) and examine its strategies to address immunity gaps in Afghanistan (particularly in overcoming refusals and reaching hard-to-access populations). This evaluation aims to generate actionable insights to inform strategic and operational decision-making, ensuring that UNICEF’s interventions are evidence-based, context-specific, impactful, and makes best use of financial and human resources. The findings will guide the refinement of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategies to address vaccine refusals, misinformation, and behavioural barriers. It will also provide recommendations to optimize community engagement approaches, ensuring equitable access to immunization services and fostering social inclusion, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women, caregivers, and children in hard-to-reach areas. The evaluation should also contribute to strengthening VCCM processes. The evaluation will comprehensively examine the programme’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, coherence, coordination, and impact, to the extent possible, while addressing humanitarian criteria of coverage. Key areas of focus include relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, contribution, sustainability, coordination, lessons learned and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The findings will provide insights into what worked well, what did not, and how future programming can better support children, women, and families in Afghanistan.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [JD/TOR here]

Work Assignment Overview

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• advanced degree (PhD preferred) in public health, infectious disease control, immunization, global health security, health economics, biostatistics or other health or social science related field.

Work Experience: 

• At least ten years of relevant work experience in conducting evaluations/ research of programmes focusing on public health, infectious disease control, immunization (particularly polio), ideally with experience in fragile countries.
• Experience in conducting evaluations of Polio programmes, preferably in Afghanistan.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

How to apply:

• Interested applicants are required to submit a financial proposal with an all-inclusive fee.  Please see the financial proposal template here:  Consultancy Financial Offer template.docx
• Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.

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 

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 jobs-near-me.org 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 female 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.