Evaluation Officer at World Health Organization (Deadline: 22 December 2023)

Evaluation Officer at World Health Organization (Deadline: 22 December 2023)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Executive Director’s division (EDD) provides the vision and leadership through which country offices and technical divisions are supported in the efficient delivery of the General and European Programme of Work (GPW/EPW) and the WHO Programme Budget. It encompasses the functions of programme and resource management, resource mobilization, external relations and communications, and support to governing bodies of the European Region.

Within the EDD Division, Programme and Resource Management (PRM) aims to support the establishment and creation of a culture of evaluation in the European Region (Regional Office and country offices), ensuring evaluation plays a central role in the regional efforts to increase accountability for results, to make evidenced-based policy, to promote organizational learning and to improving corporate performance through the systematic implementation of evaluation findings and lessons learnt. In addition, PRM has the overall responsibility for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WHO programmes at the regional and country levels and in strengthening the alignment and joint work across the three levels of the Organization. It is also responsible for the management of corporate resources and the effective and efficient allocation of such resources to achieve the results laid out in the GPW/EPW.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Evaluation Officer provides high level expert technical and operational leadership to the evaluation function in the WHO Regional Office for Europe aiming to enhance and strengthen regional evaluation practice. The Evaluation Officer coordinates the development of regional and country evaluation plans, contributing to the promotion and operationalization of a quality evaluation culture and ensures the timely planning, management, reporting and both internal and external evaluation of EURO’s technical work within the framework of the WHO Evaluation Policy. Evaluation is a critical function for the European Regional Office’s implementation of the European Programme of Work (EPW), the General Programme of Work (GPW) and the Programme Budget.

Key duties:

Capacity building, advice, and guidance

1. Provide strategic, policy and operational advice, information and guidance to evaluation managers at regional and country levels on the conduct of decentralized evaluations through application of the Framework of the WHO evaluation policy;

2. Support evaluation capacity development in the region, e.g., through the development of relevant materials, conducting a variety of briefings and trainings. Prepare all the briefings and reports related to the evaluation function as requested by EDD/PRM for the governing bodies and other relevant meetings.

Management of the evaluation function

3. Coordinate the development and implementation of regional and country evaluation plans (including budget considerations), to ensure adequate evaluation coverage of the most salient topics in the region (including tracking where donor proposals and agreements mandate evaluations) in overprogrammed budget cycle. Manage these monitoring and evaluation plans, budget, and funds to successful completion so that all evaluations are relevant, timely, credible, and useful to the region.

4. Oversee the application of an organization-wide quality assurance system to ensure that regional and country-level evaluations are conducted in accordance with the most updated/applicable WHO Evaluation Policy and UNEG Norms and Standards for evaluation.

5. Initiate, design and conduct individual decentralize devaluations both internal and with external evaluators including preparation of the terms of reference, facilitating access to all relevant documents, stakeholders and secondary data. Oversee the recruitment and management of the external evaluation team. Manages all external contracts for evaluations, including issuance of bid solicitations, development of contracts, provision of adequate administrative and logistical support (travel, meetings, and field visits).

6. Ensure that evaluations are impartial, independent, and credible and are of excellent quality and contribute to corporate accountability, evidence-based policymaking, organizational learning, and performance improvement.

7. Support EDD in the commissioning and manage independent evaluations of WHO strategic contributions at the country level (CSE)with the WHO Evaluation Office, in close collaboration with the respective WHO country office, the Country Support and Partnerships (CPA) division and the Country Support Unit Network and through application of the CSE framework.

8. Facilitate the European Region Organization-wide thematic evaluations led by the WHO Evaluation Office and support such evaluations., through facilitation of data collection in the region, liaison with key stakeholder in the regional office and with its partners, and provision of technical and strategic inputs into these evaluations.

9. Manage the draft report review process by stakeholders aiming to create agreement and commitment on the way forward.

10. Review and make recommendations on inception reports and verify the satisfactory submission of evaluation reports, their issuance, publication, and dissemination.

Organizational learning

11. Prepare periodic and ad-hoc reports for the senior leadership evaluation-related issues of organizational and region-wide importance and, in coordination with relevant PRM team functions, contribute to the periodic and ad-hoc monitoring exercises. Ensure the explicit link between evaluation findings and corporate planning, monitoring, and reporting.

12. Maintain an online inventory of all evaluations performed in the European Region and maintains a system to track evaluation findings and management responses to evaluation.

13. Ensure that all applicable findings and recommendations emanating from both regional (decentralized) and corporate evaluations are followed up on in the region, e.g., by organizing meetings, workshops, and other discussions on evaluation results, advising key stakeholders in the management response process, and assisting with efforts to follow up on management responses and their associated action plans.

14. Develop material to promote transparent and effective communication of WHO’s evaluation work and findings in support of organizational learning, including preparation of an annual progress report to the Regional Committee on evaluative activities of the European Region.

Global networks

15. Contribute, together with counterparts from other regions (evaluation officers and/or advisers) and the WHO Evaluation Office, to strategies, approaches, guidance, procedures and tools for strengthening the evaluation function and evaluation practice in the Organization. Contribute to the work of the United Nations Evaluation Group and regional evaluation network activities, as appropriate.

Other duties

16. Support PRM essential operations and assume temporary/acting duties, as part of the PRM team, as and when needed, to ensure uninterrupted business continuity of the PRM functions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Essential: Advanced university degree (Masters level) in the field of public health, statistics, development economics, performance management, monitoring, and evaluation, social sciences, international development, or another field relevant to the demands of the position.
Desirable: Professional evaluation qualification. Post-graduate degree in public health.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: At least seven years of professional and progressive experience in: (a)planning, conducting and managing mixed-method evaluations, assessments and/or technical reviews of programmes, thematic topics, policies, projects, and other initiatives, that are of high credibility and utility, (b) managing external evaluation teams in the conduct of these evaluations; (c) managing the process of ensuring stakeholders’ positive and constructive engagement in, and receptivity to, evaluations.
Desirable: Relevant evaluation work experience with WHO (at country or regional levels) or in another agency in the United Nations system or international organization. Experience of working in public health related areas.

SKILLS

1. Demonstrated expert knowledge of corporate evaluation principles and methodologies, in the health or social sector, and their application in results-based management in the context of policy planning and analysis;
2. Demonstrated strong background in research methods and data analysis.
3. Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with a broad and multiprofessional group of stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated advanced communication skills to effectively communicate evaluation findings to stakeholders and other relevant parties.
5. Proven ability to work with competing priorities under pressure.
6. Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO COMPETENCIES

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Ensuring the effective use of resources

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian, German.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2397 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to 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. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (

https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to

reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
•  Applicarion will Close on 22 December 2023

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