National Consultant to Advance UNICEF Afghanistan’s Evaluation and Research Portfolio

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
To advance the evidence-generation activities of UNICEF Afghanistan through the implementation of communication and dissemination plans for evaluations, administrative coordination efforts, and technical reviews. This includes the formulation of the Evaluation Terms of Refence, recruitment of qualified teams of consultants/firms, arranging key informant interviews, and other administrative and coordination efforts. The consultancy is also expected to review key evaluation deliverables and provide technical comments, implement the monthly updates of the integrated monitoring, evaluation, and research plan (IMERP) and UNICEF’s EISI system.

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, Knowledge 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work:

The consultant will report to UNICEF Afghanistan’s Social Policy, Evaluation, Analytics and Research (SPEAR) Section. The section is responsible for being a knowledge hub about children through research, evidence, evaluations, and an entry point for integrated social protection services for the most vulnerable children in Afghanistan. The key areas of work include social and economic policy analysis, child poverty, data, research and evaluations, financing for social services for children and social protection systems, including humanitarian cash transfers for the most vulnerable children.

The evaluation and research portfolio is conducting and managing regular formative, process, summative, strategic, and impact evaluations, alongside other evaluative exercises. Specifically, the portfolio is aimed at producing rigorous evidence at impact, outcome, and output levels on different thematic and organizational areas. In addition, the team focuses on supporting high quality research for all sectors, including ensuring research ethics and standards.

The SPEAR Section is looking for a national consultant to ensure that specific activities are implemented in the evaluation and research portfolio. The consultancy will report to the Evaluation and Research Specialist.

The consultancy is expected to:

• Ensure the implementation of communication and dissemination plans for summative evaluation of joint UNICEF-WHO polio and child protection programme, summative evaluation of ECHO-funded WASH programme, and evaluation of community-based nutrition programme.
• Provide the administrative and technical review of the baseline assessment of impact evaluation of UNICEF Afghanistan mother and child cash transfer (MCCT) programme.
• Provide high-quality inputs and administrative support to planned evaluations under the discussion by ensuring that the relevant programme partners participate in the formulation of the Evaluation Terms of Refence. Ensure the recruitment of qualified teams of consultants/firms, compilation of documentation and setting up of key informant interviews and other administrative and coordination efforts. Compile, review and provide technical comments on the key evaluation deliverables, such as inception report, preliminary findings, draft and final evaluation reports.
• Implement the monthly updates of the integrated monitoring, evaluation, and research plan (IMERP) and UNICEF’s EISI system based on the evaluation implementation progress of key activities and the management response.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Applications must include:

• Cover letter.
• Resume.
• Samples of previous work.
• Financial offer in USD. (This should only be the day rate for working days).
• Applications submitted without financial and technical proposals will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process.

Work Assignments Overview	Deliverables/Outputs	Delivery Deadline
Ensure the implementation of communication and dissemination plans	Communication and dissemination plan for three evaluations are developed and implemented by improving the key evaluation deliverables and organizing and coordinating presentations and webinars.	15 November 2024   Working Days: 21
Provide the administrative and coordination efforts and technical review of the baseline assessment of impact evaluation of UNICEF Afghanistan mother and child cash transfer (MCCT) programme	Reports with compiled comments are produced, key informant interviews are set up, and the baseline assessment of impact evaluation of UNICEF Afghanistan mother and child cash transfer (MCCT) programme is reviewed.	28 February 2025   Working Days: 45
Provide high-quality inputs and administrative support to planned evaluations under the discussion	1. Review and provision of comments to the Evaluation Terms of Refence is provided ensuring that the relevant programme partners participate in the process.   2. Evaluation reports on qualified teams of consultants/firms are submitted and approved.   3. Relevant documentation is compiled, key informant interviews are set up, and other administrative and coordination efforts are implemented.   4. Compilation, review, and provision of technical comments on the key evaluation deliverables, such as inception report, preliminary findings, draft and final evaluation reports, are provided.	1. 30 November 2024     2. 30 December 2024     3. 30 March 2025     4. 30 May 2025   Total Working Days: 108
Implement the monthly updates of the integrated monitoring, evaluation, and research plan (IMERP) and update UNICEF’s EISI system	1. Monthly updates of IMERP are completed. 2. Monthly updates of EISI system based on the evaluation implementation progress of key activities and the management response are completed.	1. 30 May 2025 2. 30 May 2025 Total Working Days: 21

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

• A University Degree in University Degree in Social Sciences, Evaluation, Statistics, or similar fields.
• Two years of relevant professional work experience in evaluation, research, and monitoring activities. Field work experience is an asset.
• Excellent communications skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to work under pressure in fast paced environment.
• Knowledge of evaluation and research designs, types, methodologies, and data collection tools.
• Technical knowledge/expertise in data collection.
• Technical knowledge/expertise in evaluation process management, follow-up on recommendations and dissemination of evaluation results.
• Capacity to analyze and synthesize data and information.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness.
• Fluency in English and knowledge of Dari and Pashto.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Interested consultants are required to apply online, indicating availability and all-inclusive lump sum fee to undertake the terms of reference.

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 to ensure 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.