Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist Full Time NEW

For every child, HOPE!

Ethiopia has faced severe challenges due to climatic shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing conflicts, particularly in the northern regions in Afar, Amhara, and Tigray. These crises have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, significant loss of life, and massive displacement, disrupting the lives of millions. The collapse of essential services has severely impacted the physical and psychological well-being of the population, particularly young people. These youths have experienced forced labour, recruitment into armed groups, violence, exploitation, trauma, displacement, and separation from their families. Young women and persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected due to prevailing social norms and limited access to education and economic opportunities. 2

The conflict in Northern Ethiopia has led to the destruction of infrastructure, disruption of production, and displacement of more than 4.5 million people, resulting in considerable social trauma and economic crisis. In response to these challenges, UNICEF and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to co-design and implement the Biqu Wetat (ብቁ ወጣት) Programme.

This initiative aims to help young people pursue and sustain opportunities in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment. The program is driven by the belief that equipping young people with knowledge, positive attitudes, and relevant skills, including social-emotional, soft, and technical skills through mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), can enable them to rebuild social connectedness, become more resilient, and unlock their potential to create positive and sustainable change in their communities.

The program will be implemented in the conflict-affected regions of Afar, Amhara, and Tigray, targeting 50 economically disadvantaged woredas selected through an iterative prioritization process. The program will focus on youth prioritizing the most vulnerable and marginalized, including women, and persons with disabilities. Building on its human rights mandate and commitment to the “leave no one behind” principle (LNOB), the program will ensure that all youth in the affected areas have access to program-supported opportunities and can fulfil their basic needs and rights, regardless of their background, location, gender, or disability.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of Key Functions and Accountabilities:

 1. Design and Implementation of the MEL Framework

• Develop a comprehensive MEL framework that aligns with the program’s objectives and UNICEF’s global monitoring standards.
• Identify relevant indicators, data collection tools, and methodologies across all related program sectors: MHPSS/protection, health, nutrition, education, WASH, social protection, and employment.
• Ensure the inclusion of gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive indicators in line with the program design and targets.
• Support the development of baseline, midline, and endline surveys.

2. Data collection and management

• Oversee the collection, management, and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from program activities.
• Work with field teams and program CSO partners to ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality data reporting.
• Support capacity-building of filed staff and CSO partners in data collection methodologies and use of digital tools for data collection and tracking.

3. Evaluation and Learning

• Support program evaluations, including process evaluations, impact evaluations, and thematic studies as required.
• Facilitate learning sessions and workshops to ensure insights from monitoring and evaluation activities inform adaptive programming and management.
• Document and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and innovations to stakeholders.
• Support the development of learning products – reports, case studies, presentations – for internal and external audiences.

4. Reporting and Accountability

• Prepare and submit timely reports on MEL activities, highlighting key findings, challenges, and recommendations.
• Contribute to reporting for the Mastercard Foundation, ensuring that MEL data and analysis are accurately represented.
• Contribute to UNICEF corporate reporting by ensuring that progress of Mastercard Foundation programme is well captured.
• Support accountability to affected populations by integrating feedback mechanisms within the MEL framework.

5. Collaboration and Coordination

• Work closely with sectoral teams – education, protection (MHPSS), nutrition, WASH, health, SBC, and social policy – to integrate MEL activities into sectoral plans.
• Collaborate with UNICEF’s CO Monitoring and Evaluation teams to ensure alignment with global MEL standards and practices.
• Engage with external partners, including government agencies and CSOs, to strengthen the program’s MEL capacity and promote joint learning.

6. Capacity Building

• Provide ongoing support and capacity-building to program and field office staff on MEL tools, methodologies, and data use.
• Strengthen the MEL capacity of CSO partners to promote sustainability of monitoring and learning systems

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following areas Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• At least Five (5) years of relevant work experience in in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, ideally within multisectoral context.

Skills:

• Strong experience in designing MEL frameworks, conducting and/or supporting evaluations, and facilitating learning.
• Proficiency in data collection and analysis software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Stata, Power BI).
• Knowledge of digital MEL platforms and tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, CommCare).
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work in a multisectoral team and in a cross-cultural environment is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills are highly desirable.
• Experience working with UNICEF or other international organizations is highly desirable

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English language is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian), Amharic or the local language is an asset.
• Experience working in the UN system or other international organizations is highly desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

How To Apply

Apply Link: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/581281/monitoring-evaluation-specialist-noc-temporary-appointment-6-months-open-to-ethiopian-nationals-only-post131637

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 (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.