INTERNATIONAL ONLY - Consultant Evaluability Assessment of the Smarter Safer Schools (SSS) Programme, Papua New Guinea, Evaluation research and data, 4 months (REMOTE with trip)

Contract Duration – 4 months

Working arrangement: Remote with trip

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

The purpose of the evaluability assessment is to determine whether Smarter Safer Schools (SSS) programme is well designed whether the arrangement for monitoring of results are sufficient, and whether adequate resources were allocated to support effective implementation and adaptive management and future independent evaluative activities (i.e., mid-term review and/or final evaluation). Specifically, the evaluability assessment will provide UNICEF, DFAT and government counterparts in PNG with an independent assessment of whether the programme results logic, assumptions, indicators, data systems, governance arrangements and resource provisions are robust enough to demonstrate progress and support future evaluative inquiry.

The Smarter Safer Schools (SSS) programme is a proposed DFAT–UNICEF education partnership in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with an initial implementation period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2029, with a possible two-year extension to 30 June 2031, and a total proposed envelope of AUD 45 million. The programme objective is to increase the numbers and percentages of school-age children and adolescents—especially girls, children with disabilities, and children affected by crises and disasters—who improve school retention and learning outcomes, particularly in foundational learning, as part of the 1-6-6 school restructuring, a major reform of education system in Papua New Guinea that changes how schooling is organized, from early childhood through secondary education.

The thematic scope is reflected in the following objectives:

a. To assess the relevance, logic and coherence of the SSS programme design, including its theory of change, results chain, assumptions, alignment to context and policy priorities, and attention to equity, gender, disability and climate resilience.

b. To examine the adequacy and validity of the indicators, monitoring tools and data systems for measuring outputs and outcomes, including the availability of baselines, targets, data sources, disaggregation and verification arrangements.

c. To assess whether financial, human and institutional resources are aligned with intended results, including the realism of implementation and monitoring arrangements.

d. To assess readiness for evaluation, including whether priority evaluation questions, timing, scope and feasible methodological options for a mid-term review and/or endline evaluation can already be identified.

e. Provide practical recommendations to strengthen programme design, measurability, learning, and future evaluation readiness prior to or during early implementation.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  TOR x TMC0003705.pdf

• Minimum requirements:
• Education: Advanced degree (Masters or above) university degree in education political science, social sciences, economics, public policy, international relations or related field.
• Work Experience:
• At least eight years of experience in conducting, and four years in leading evaluations, evaluability studies or assessments of organizational strategies and programmes
• Language Requirements:
• Proficiency in the English language and excellent analytical and report-writing skills;
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
• Advanced expertise in evaluation and/or results-based management and demonstrated experience with evaluability assessments, theory of change analysis, and results framework review;
• Education sector programming and MEL, in development and fragile or complex contexts;
• Demonstrated ability to support organizations on strategic gender assessments or reviews is desirable.
• Strong understanding of equity, gender, disability inclusion and climate resilience in programme design;
• Desirables:
• Familiarity with UNICEF and/or donor-funded programme environments will be considered as an added advantage
• Familiarity with the PNG education system, government structures and/or education context in the Pacific Region is an asset
• Technical requirements:
• Following the methodology indicated in Section C in the ToR, a technical proposal required articulating the proposed approach for the evaluability assessment methodology, level of effort, proposed work plan, and an updated questions/evaluation matrix
• One EA report or comparable product, and one other product used to communicate findings (e.g., policy brief, database, interactive PowerPoint presentation, etc.), solely authored or lead authored by the applicant to showcase the ability to organize her/his work and/or to communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations effectively. An EA/evaluation report that was assessed highly by GEROS or a similar evaluation quality assessment system will be an added advantage.

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV), offered separately form the proposal, with the entries that are relevant to the evaluation presented in bold or highlighted text in the TOR
• A cover Letter (1-2 pages) that highlights previous experience in evaluation (including any specific examples from working with UN/UNICEF), highlighting experience in PNG and the Pacific Region.
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal TMC0003705.xlsx

• A brief technical proposal for the evaluability assessment (maximum of 6 pages including annexes) articulating the proposed approach, methodology, of the EA activities and description of products, including a workplan, and an updated questions organized in an evaluation matrix(offered as an annex).
• One EA report or comparable product, and one other product used to communicate findings (e.g., policy brief, database, interactive PowerPoint presentation, etc.), solely authored or lead authored by the applicant to showcase the ability to organize her/his work and/or to communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations effectively. An EA/evaluation report that was assessed highly by GEROS or a similar evaluation quality assessment system will be an added advantage.

Remarks:  

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional  information about working for UNICEF can be found here.