UNICEF Pacific Consultancy: Technical Advisor – Education Monitoring, Evaluation and Research, Apia, Samoa, 18 Months

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 learning.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.

How can you make a difference? 

The scope of work identified under focus areas is outlined below:

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework (MELF) including:

• Annual Monitoring Framework: In line with the new sector and corporate plan, and working with the relevant PPRD staff, develop and implement a structured annual monitoring framework that allows for reporting progress at multiple levels, support evidence-based decision making and has strong feedback loops to inform planning.

• Evaluation Plan: Work with the Principal Planning Officer to develop and implement programmes of evaluation for the work of the Ministry to provide evidence of strategy impact and sustainability and the effectiveness and efficiency of process.

• Reporting Requirements: Support to the Assistant Chief Executive Office (ACEO) and relevant PPRD team members in responding to requests for information in broader social sector monitoring and evaluation programmes with both government and partner agencies.

• Support to Joint Sector Review with Education Partners

Data Analysis Improvement Plan:

• Education Sector Analysis: Support the Principal Information Analyst to respond to requests for information – both internal and external including other government agencies, donors, partners and stakeholders

• Dissemination: Support the dissemination of data in formats for different audiences including through different social media channels to increase stakeholder engagement.

• Technical Capacity Development: Provide broader monitoring and evaluation support to the Education Sector Plan (ESP) MELF, coordinating through ACEO Sector Coordination with other ESP implementing agencies as required.

Research; Coordination and Reporting:

• Support the development of high-quality project briefs and research and funding proposals in consultation with relevant Principal Officers and ACEO (Policy Planning & Research)

• Provide technical inputs and quality assurance to project updates for CDC meetings when required

• Coordinate project monitoring and provide project progress reports and emerging issues and present to management in a timely manner

• Oversee risk management programmes on research and project activities: including support to the development of informative reports based on evidence from project updates, with an emphasis on risk management (identification and mitigation)

Skills Transfer, Capacity Support and Development

• Create and utilize opportunities for skills transfer in the delivery of all work components in the team

• In collaboration with the ACEO develop and implement a specific programme of skill development related to data and the use of data across the Ministry.

• Provide capacity development opportunities to ensure technical inputs to the Principal Officers in monitoring, research, project management and data to complete their priorities within divisional workplans

• Ensure capacity support and training to other divisions of MEC and education sector agencies relevant to their planning, monitoring, research and evaluation functions

You will be expected to:

• Actively engage in PPRD divisional meetings and provide advice and guidance to the implementation of agreed actions at the same.

• Join the Ministry’s Full Executive Committee meetings to present on M&E outcomes or provide inputs on specific interventions/research developments

• Support the work of other senior members of the PPRD as requested by the ACEO PPRD and ACEO Sector Coordinator.

Please refer to the  ToR – Technical Advisor (Monitoring, Evaluation and Research).pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit the following application documents:

• A cover letter explaining suitability for position
• Technical proposal
• Financial offer in a separate attachment, stating all-inclusive lump sum amount for all the deliverables with a breakdown for the following:
• Daily fees based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference
• For international applicants, for travel – 2 economy return tickets will be available for the assignment. No living allowance is allocated to this consultancy.
• Miscellaneous – to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A Master’s degree in Education (with research) is preferred although a post graduate qualification in a related field with relevant experience and skill portfolio will be considered.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in related work with increasing seniority, scope and responsibility
• Extensive understanding of the policy, planning and M&E cycle in the education sector
• Experience in co-constructing, designing and implementing research and evaluation programmes of work
• Work experience serving in a developing country is required. Work experience in the Pacific Islands region is an asset.
• Experience working in UNICEF or a UN system agency is an asset.
•  

 Skills:

• Able to work effectively with people internal and external parties
• Communicates clearly and concisely
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality analytical reports
• Ability to facilitate team members towards targets and empower individuals to be confident in the same.
• Planned but flexible approach

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of Samoan would be an asset.

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 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. 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, program 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.

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.