Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Intern

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

About the Region

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

Education is one of the most powerful drivers of progress, yet seven out of ten children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read with understanding by age 10. Meanwhile, half of education programmes show no measurable impact on learning or employment.

Global spending on education is falling short by an estimated $100 billion each year. Traditional approaches have not delivered the transformation required to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4.

The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) was created to address these challenges — by shifting how education is funded, how success is measured, and how systems are held accountable. We are part of a global movement to turn education financing into real learning and employment outcomes, especially for the most disadvantaged children and youth.

Job Specific Context

EOF is a global initiative transforming how education and skills are financed and delivered. We partner with governments, donors, investors, and implementers to make education systems more effective, equitable, and accountable. Through our Outcomes Partnership model, funding is tied to measurable results, aligning incentives across all actors to ensure that resources lead to real improvements in learning and employment outcomes. EOF’s approach is grounded in systems change - we align incentives, strengthen data and delivery capacity, and foster collaboration across public, private and social sectors. By embedding results-based principles within national systems, we help governments shift from inputs to outcomes, ensuring that every investment leads to a measurable, lasting impact for learners.

The MEL Intern will work closely with, and under the supervision of, the MEL Lead to support (i) the effective design of upcoming EOF programmes, (ii) the monitoring of the execution of the evaluation strategy across EOF’s programmes in implementation, and (iii) the production of knowledge and evidence in line with EOF’s sustainability and advocacy strategic objectives.

Support the Design and Implementation of EOF’s Program Evaluation Strategy

• Provide administrative and coordination support to the procurement of external evaluators and research firms (e.g. compiling documentation, scheduling and note-taking).

• Assist in developing evaluation methodologies, protocols and frameworks for EOF’s programs by conducting background research and drafting sections under the guidance of the MEL Lead.

• Help research appropriate measurement tools and indicators for program metrics, summarising options and trade-offs for review by the MEL Lead.

• Support the design of programs’ learning agendas and sustainability frameworks by helping to draft research questions and map data collection methods, under the guidance of the MEL Lead.

• Participate in and help prepare for MEL discussions with relevant stakeholders (governments, external evaluators and contractors, implementing partners and technical partners), including scheduling, note-taking and follow-up.

Support Evidence Generation and Knowledge Management

• Support the MEL Lead to identify MEL-related learning opportunities across programs, such as by conducting background research and comparing data collection and analysis methods.

• Support MEL and sustainability-related activities across EOF’s programs, including assisting with data collection and analysis and helping to track timelines and deliverables.

• Support the sharing of evidence, findings and lessons learned with program partners.

• Assist with the production and dissemination of external knowledge products emerging from EOF’s programs, as well as complementary sector-specific studies, such as by drafting content and preparing graphics with input from the MEL Lead and external firms.

• Assist with documenting EOF’s evaluation and MEL approach across programs and support internal knowledge-sharing on key challenges, best practices and lessons learned, such as by drafting sections of guidance material and presentations.

• Support adherence to data protection requirements, including maintaining and filing relevant documentation.

Required:

• Candidates must be currently enrolled in, or have recently completed (within 3 years prior to the application date of the internship) a Bachelor/Master’s/Ph.D.

• Relevant degree subjects include education, evaluation, economics, developmental studies, political science, international development, or a related field.

Required:

• Exposure to research, evaluation or education work - for example through professional or volunteer experience, internships, or academic projects.

Desired:

• Professional experience in education, research, or evaluation-based roles.

• Exposure to or coursework in research design and mixed-methods impact evaluations, including qualitative process evaluation methods.

• Familiarity with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks, methodologies and tools, including impact evaluations and performance monitoring.

• Previous experience or familiarity with adaptation, validation and psychometric analysis of measurement tools in education or another related field.

• Experience working in complex contexts and managing competing priorities from different stakeholders

• Demonstrated interest in evaluation, education, skills-for-employment, international development and/or innovative finance, or similar.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.