Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP, and the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) strengthens the development effectiveness of UNDP by enhancing accountability and fostering learning through independent, strategic evaluations. As one of the largest and most established independent evaluation functions in the UN System, the IEO is committed to helping shape the evaluation and evidence community to enhance the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDGs). 

The 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report highlights that only 12% of SDG targets are on track, while nearly half are significantly lagging. Recognizing the urgent need to address the slow progress toward the SDGs, the IEO established the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition (the “Coalition”) in 2022. The aim of the Coalition is to reverse this trend by harnessing the power of evaluation and "living synthesis" to accelerate SDG progress. It is founded on the principle that science must be multidisciplinary, equitably produced, openly shared, and socially relevant to drive the systemic transformations required for global sustainability.

Now co-led by IEO and UNICEF’s Evaluation Office, with IEO hosting its secretariat, the Coalition’s leadership group includes the UN SDG System-Wide Evaluation Office. The Coalition’s diverse membership spans 45 UN entities, member states, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions, uniting efforts to catalyze meaningful progress toward the 2030 Agenda through the power of evaluation (and broader forms of evidence). In 2025, the Coalition will play a pivotal role in shaping transformative investments from key donors — including the Wellcome Trust, UK Research and Innovation, and the Jacobs Foundation — totaling approximately $126.74 million. These investments form part of the broader global initiative, the Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative (ESIC), which aims to dramatically enhance the availability, accessibility, and usability of evidence to accelerate progress on the SDGs. See here and here for further information.

The Partnerships and Engagement Specialist will be an integral part of the Coalition’s secretariat team, based in the IEO offices in New York. This pivotal role will support the Coalition in advancing its mission to develop ambitious global evidence architecture for the SDGs, building on and working alongside transformative investments from the Wellcome Trust and UK Research and Innovation amongst other ESIC partners. 

Scope of Work

This role offers a unique opportunity to drive global efforts in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through evidence-informed decision-making. Positioned at the intersection of policy and evidence, the role is central to ensuring that the Coalition’s priorities are integrated into broader initiatives within the UN system and beyond, contributing to a stronger global evaluation and broader evidence infrastructure.

The role will lead the Coalition’s partnerships and engagement strategy, working closely with UN entities, development banks, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and other stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical and partnership-building skills, complemented by the ability to think systemically about global sustainable development. They should have expertise in leveraging evaluation and evidence to inform policy and decision-making, navigating complex multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder initiatives, and engaging diverse actors such as UN entities, member states, donors, academia, and civil society. Experience of advocacy for evidence-informed decision-making in high-level fora is also essential.

The position collaborates with a Senior Evaluation Synthesis Specialist and a Secretariat and Communications Consultant to implement key initiatives and ensure the Coalition’s priorities are aligned with global development efforts.

Lead Engagement and Partnerships within the UN System

• Establish strategic engagement and partnerships with UN entities, including Coalition members, the UN Evaluation Group, the UN Secretary-General’s Science Advisory Board, UN DESA, UN Economic and Social Council, the UN Office for Partnerships, UN Country Teams, Regional Representatives, and Member States and Permanent Missions to the UN fostering collaboration on evidence-informed decision-making for the SDGs.
• Contribute to the strategic engagement and partnerships with other multi-lateral evaluation entities, including multi-lateral development banks (members of the Evaluation Cooperation Group), OECD-DAC EvalNet, and international financial institutions such as the World Bank. 
• Contribute to the strategic engagement and partnerships with other ESIC members, including peak bodies representing global evidence synthesis producers, evidence intermediaries and evidence users. 
• Contribute to the mapping of relevant decision-making structures at all UN levels and policy windows to help the Coalition understand potential entry points for evidence to influence decision-making on the SDGs.
• Lead the Coalition at high-level meetings, events, and forums, ensuring alignment of its priorities with broader UN initiatives, such as the 2030 Agenda and UN Development System reforms.
• Facilitate the integration of evidence and evaluation as central components of UN policy dialogues, advocacy campaigns, and programmatic strategies.

Lead Engagement and Partnerships Beyond the UN System

• Support the Coalition co-chairs, the leadership group and pillar co-chairs to develop, strengthen, and manage strategic partnerships with key development stakeholders outside the UN system, including international development banks, financing institutions, and bilateral and multilateral development agencies, to drive joint initiatives on evidence use.
• Support Coalition co-chairs, the leadership group and pillar co-leads to co-ordinate and engage with other ESIC stakeholders, including sectoral and regional hubs funded by donor investments. 
• Participate in the Coalition in global forums, such as the Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) and OECD/DAC EvalNet, promoting collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and increased visibility of the Coalition’s work.
• Advocate for the inclusion of UN evaluative evidence in evidence-informed decision-making on global development policies, funding frameworks, and multilateral agreements.

Contribution to Global Evidence Architecture

• Contribute to the Coalition’s central role towards the design, development, and implementation of a global evidence architecture for the SDGs, ensuring it is inclusive, responsive to stakeholder needs, and reflective of global best practices.
• Work with Coalition co-chairs, the Secretariat, and partners to identify gaps and opportunities in evaluative evidence generation, communication, and utilization for accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
• Strengthen the role of the UN system in governance structures related to evidence generation and use, bridging the gap between evidence supply and demand
• Contribute to the Coalition’s efforts to develop partnerships for capacity development through existing national evaluation capacity development actors, 

Event Leadership and Coordination

• Plan and deliver high-profile Coalition events, such as side events at the UN General Assembly and High-Level Political Forum, relevant high-level summits and annual meetings, or strategic forums, showcasing evidence-based solutions and fostering dialogue among stakeholders.
• Design innovative event formats, such as workshops, roundtables, and knowledge-sharing sessions, to promote the use of evidence in policy discussions and decision-making processes.

Amplification of Coalition Communications

• Develop and oversee the implementation of the Coalition’s communications strategy, managing its website, blogs, news updates, and digital platforms to ensure effective translation and communication of its work.
• Support the creation of compelling knowledge products, including evaluation synthesis reports, evidence maps, and policy briefs.
• Coordinate campaigns and outreach activities to showcase the Coalition’s contributions to advancing evidence-informed SDG decision-making and attract new partners and donor.

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s) and UNDP

• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for the documentation and communication of best practices, programme results, and lessons learned under the project. 
• Actively participate in and make substantive contributions to external networks and communities of practice to promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends. 
• Support establishment of knowledge platforms and innovative mechanisms for capturing and disseminating knowledge from the project; and ensure development of knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Partnerships and Engagement Specialist will work as part of the Coalition Secretariat team reporting to the IEO Director. The UNDP IEO (Senior Evaluation Synthesis Specialist), UNICEF’s Evaluation Office and the UN SDG System Wide Evaluation Office will also provide oversight of and guidance for the Secretariat’s workplan.