Head of Evaluation Office

Organizational Context

The UNHCR Evaluation Office provides senior leadership and quality oversight for the organization's evaluation function. The incumbent reports directly to the High Commissioner, supervising staff and collaborating with regional bureaux, divisions, and country offices to develop and implement evaluation policies and strategies. The role involves active participation in inter-agency evaluation forums and representing UNHCR externally on evaluation matters.

Job Purpose

The Head of Evaluation Office provides senior-level leadership, coordination, and quality oversight for UNHCR's evaluation function. This role is crucial for developing and implementing the evaluation policy and strategy, ensuring its integration across regional bureaux, divisions, and country offices. The incumbent will lead necessary revisions to these policies, coordinate annual evaluation planning and budgeting, and provide technical guidance to strengthen decentralized evaluation functions. A key aspect is ensuring evaluations are contextually relevant and reflect UNHCR's operational and protection dimensions. The position also involves leading the development and adaptation of evaluation methodologies, ensuring quality assurance for all evaluations, and overseeing the dissemination and use of evaluation findings. Furthermore, the Head of Evaluation Office represents UNHCR in external and inter-agency forums, fostering cooperation and contributing to broader evaluation discourse and normative development.

Responsibilities

Oversee the implementation of the UNHCR Evaluation Policy and Strategy, ensuring its continued development in collaboration with various organizational units. Lead any necessary revisions or updates to the evaluation policy and strategy. Coordinate the annual evaluation planning and budgeting process, consulting with senior management on centralized evaluation topics and publishing bi-annual workplans. Provide technical guidance, advice, and support to regional bureaux, divisions, and country offices to strengthen decentralized evaluation functions, promoting efficient resource use and timely reporting. Establish and maintain processes to ensure evaluations are contextually relevant and reflect UNHCR's operational and protection dimensions. Lead the development and adaptation of evaluation methodologies suitable for diverse operational environments. Ensure quality assurance for centralized and decentralized evaluations, including technical support, capacity development, and final review of reports. Oversee the development and implementation of a communications and external engagement strategy for the Evaluation Office, facilitating regular engagement with internal stakeholders. Promote the dissemination and use of evaluation findings and lessons learned across the organization. Represent UNHCR in external meetings and inter-agency forums on evaluation, maintaining and strengthening cooperation with other evaluation services and professional networks. Contribute to UN System-wide evaluation efforts and professionalization. Coordinate the Annual Programme Review, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and effective resource utilization. Lead risk assessments and discussions to proactively manage risks and opportunities impacting objectives, integrating risk management principles into decision-making. Perform other related duties as required.

Work Experience

At least five years of experience managing and conducting independent evaluations, preferably in the humanitarian sector. Proven track record as an evaluator/social science researcher of humanitarian or development operations. Demonstrated expertise in evaluation standards and practices (e.g., UNEG, OECD/DAC, ALNAP). Experience with various evaluation purposes and methodologies. Knowledge of qualitative/quantitative data collection, monitoring, reporting systems, and results-based management. Field experience in a monitoring and evaluation leadership role, preferably in a UN humanitarian or development organization. Understanding of humanitarian response and coordination, particularly refugee response. Experience influencing senior decision-makers and strong diplomatic, representational, and communication skills.

Skills

Evaluation Policy and Strategy Implementation Evaluation Policy Revision Evaluation Planning and Budgeting Decentralized Evaluation Strengthening Methodology Development and Adaptation Quality Assurance of Evaluations Communication and External Engagement Strategy Dissemination of Evaluation Findings Inter-agency Representation Risk Management Research and Evaluation Methods Data Collection and Analysis

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