UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, results

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

The Health Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation) works in the Health and Nutrition team with responsibility for planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Health & Nutrition programme within the country programme.  S/He ensures that the UNICEF Health and Nutrition section has useful, valid, and reliable information on

• the situation of children, adolescents, and women with regards to health & nutrition.
• the performance of UNICEF-supported programmes including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, and in emergency contexts, their coverage, coordination, and coherence.

S/He provides technical assistance in the creation of monitoring and evaluation tools to enhance cross-sectoral partnership between the UNCT, Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and other key players; and to collectively track progress on SDGs and other international commitment for children. This role is also central to the development of national capacities for monitoring, evaluation, and research, with special attention to the interests, concerns, and participation of GoSL, community and civil society stakeholders.   

Key Functions and Accountabilities

1.  Timely Sectoral Analysis and Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Planning

2.  Situation Monitoring and Assessment 

3.  Programme Performance Monitoring 

4.  Evaluation

5.  Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Building

6.  Coordination and Networking 

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master’s) from an accredited institution is required in Social Sciences, Statistics, Development Planning, Planning or relevant field of study.

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in programme development and implementation including monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Previous responsibility for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Health and Nutrition.
• At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning is desirable. 
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Skills: 

• Knowledge of project evaluation.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in evaluation process management, follow-up on recommendations and dissemination of M&E results.
• Emerging international good practice in monitoring and evaluation partnerships.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in Demography, Statistics, and Data Management.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in methodology of M&E, including theories, standards and models, quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods, validity/reliability testing of data, data analysis and interpretation, and statistical inference methods.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in activity monitoring & evaluation, evaluation design, data analysis, and reporting.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness.
• Professional/technical knowledge/expertise in team management, coaching & training.
• Mastery of UNICEF’s M&E policies and procedures.  
• Latest programme monitoring and evaluation theory, methodology, technology, and tools.
• Understanding of UN Mission and system, current key UN topics; and International Code of Conduct.
• Understanding of UNICEF Mission Statement and UNICEF Guiding Principles
• UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

Please access the full job description here:   VA TOR - Health Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation) .pdf

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is desirable.

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 (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Sierra Leonean women and young people are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.