The Position:
The Evaluation Associate is responsible for delivering quality organizational, administrative, logistical and financial support services to the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) staff, mastering all relevant administrative rules, guidelines and processes, and applying established systems and procedures. The Evaluation Associate also supports evaluation and research activities. You will be expected to demonstrate strong client and result orientation in service of the IEO. You will report directly to the Director.
The IEO is the custodian of the evaluation function. It reports functionally to the Executive Board and administratively to the Executive Director. The office is independent from the operational, management and decisionmaking functions in the organization, and is impartial, objective and free from undue influence. Evaluation at UNFPA serves three main purposes: strengthening accountability, evidence-based decision-making and learning.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of the IEO, the Evaluation Associate provides organizational, administrative and financial management assistance as well as evaluation and research support to the IEO. They will maintain and update systems, processes and tools to facilitate the IEO work and ensure compliance with UNFPA policies and procedures. They will also support IEO evaluation managers in the conduct of evaluations and other evaluative exercises.
You would be responsible for:
A. General Administrative Services and Procurement
B. Financial Management
C. Support for Evaluation and Research Activities
D. Support for Communication and Knowledge Management
A. General Administrative Services and Procurement
- Lead general administrative functions for the IEO to ensure smooth daily operations of the Office, including drafting correspondence, calendar management, organizing meetings, supporting filing of recordings, minutes and other documentation.
- Manage implementation of the travel processes, including travel planning, authorizations, monitoring and reconciliation for all IEO personnel. This entails providing policy advice guidance to all IEO staff, preparing travel authorizations and travel arrangements, providing guidance travel policy and regulations, preparing travel documentation for issuance of tickets, obtaining security clearances, and preparing and filing F10 claim reports for expense recovery upon return.
- Implement and use corporate systems and applications in support of finance and administration, procurement activities, travel arrangements and office operations.
- Organize on-boarding and orientation of new staff; prepare and maintain IEO staff lists and organogramme; and monitor staff leave plans.
- Provide necessary information and data for reporting and planning activities of the Office, including the annual report and any other reporting obligations.
- In collaboration with the Nairobi OSC team, support security related administrative tasks, such as dissemination of UNDSS and UNFPA security information, updating of warden communication trees, safe filing of HIM-Personnel Security Questionnaires (PSQ), preparing of Residential Security Measures (RSM) F10 claims for eligible IEO staff, and compliance monitoring.
- Prepare, coordinate and monitor the annual procurement plan, including end-of-year update on completed and pending procurement activities, and act as a IEO focal point on procurement activities in collaboration with SCMU.
- Coordinate and provide support for consultant contract arrangements, including supporting recruitment and selection processes, guiding IEO staff on alignment with corporate policies, and drafting and quality assurance of documentation such as contracts, costing tools, and other supporting documents.
- Serve as IEO focal point for the UNFPA Consultant Roster; assist IEO staff with vetting processes in line with UNFPA policies and procedures and the established IEO consultant vetting process; and ensure regular updating of evaluation consultants contact details, areas of expertise and performance assessments in the UNFPA Consultant Roster and the IEO Evaluation Kit Consultant Directory. Serve as IEO focal point for the Global Directory and UNAll / IDAM requester.
- Provide effective budget administration services, including monitoring of the utilization of financial resources in accordance with UNFPA financial rules and procedures.
- Support annual budgeting process and costing of annual workplan of the IEO, including the Resource and Results Plan (RRP) in Quantum.
- Maintain accurate financial records and reporting systems, including internal control and audit follow-up; monitor the expenditure ceiling of the IEO; extract and prepare financial reports on request; support evaluation managers to track expenditures by evaluation; and execute year-end closure activities and preparation of annual analytics on total expenditure, including support expenditure reporting for the decentralized evaluation function.
- Process and monitor financial transactions in a timely and compliant manner.
- Serve as the Quantum ERP focal person for finance matters; provide user support and guidance to IEO staff.
- Identify and propose to the IEO director improvements to internal controls, compliance, and office efficiency, applying a range of policies and procedures to achieve optimal results in operations areas.
C. Support for evaluation and research activities
- Research, collect and systemize information and data from relevant UNFPA and external databases, and document relevance for evaluations, as required by Evaluation Managers, and other evaluation and research support as needed.
- Research data in Quantum, carry out financial analysis, and prepare spreadsheets and tables, graphs, diagrams, surveys with guidance from evaluation managers.
- Schedule interviews for evaluations managed by the IEO and provide administrative and logistical support for evaluation field missions.
D. Support for Communication and Knowledge Management
- Support the organization of IEO training activities, conferences, workshops, and retreats, including virtual events and webinars, for internal and external audiences.
- Organize and maintain the iDocs library of the IEO in collaboration with the IEO Communications, Knowledge Management and AI team and the UNFPA Information Technology Solutions Office.
- Provide administrative and logistical support to other communications and Knowledge Management activities as may be required.
Perform any other related administrative duties as deemed necessary.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Completion of secondary school education, with additional training in finance, procurement, administration and management is required. A first-level university degree in business administration, public administration or social sciences is desirable.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in administration and/or finance and budget management;
- Proven experience and track record in successfully managing and implementing administrative and/or financial policies, processes and systems;
- Experience in UN procurement and financial procedures is desirable;
- Demonstrated ability to analyze data and generate clear and concise reports;
- Hands-on experience navigating and using an ERP system (e.g. PeopleSoft, Oracle, SAP) or similar computerized applications;
- Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Google workplace applications (Google Suite);
- Excellent writing and communication skills.
Languages:
- Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Shares knowledge and experience
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more focus areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported
- Ability to organize, review and analyze a variety of data
- Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations
- Strong IT skills, knowledge of Quantum
- Ability to provide input and monitor processes and implementation of new systems and plans
Leadership and Self-Management and Teamwork
- Focuses on results and responds positively to feedback
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Remains calm under pressure and tight deadlines.
- Ability to work interactively with a team, often responding to varying requests under pressure
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
This position is no longer open.
