UNEG Programme Specialist (Home based)

Background

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The UNDP Independent Evaluation Office runs the Secretariat of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), had been established in 2003 as the successor to the Inter-Agency Working Group on Evaluation, which was created in 1984. UNEG’s mission is to promote, strengthen and advocate for a robust, influential, independent, innovative, and credible evaluation function throughout the UN system to support decision- making, accountability and learning (see UNEG Strategy 2019-2024). To achieve its mission, UNEG’s work focuses on three Strategic Objectives:

1. Develop and safeguard professional norms, standards and guidance;
2. Enhance professionalization and capacity; and 
3. Influence policy-making and operational work through evaluations. UNEG currently has a membership of 50 organizational entities responsible for evaluation across the UN system, and partners with a number of global and regional evaluation networks.

The UNEG Programme Specialist provides the secretariat function for UNEG and plays an integral role in ensuring UNEG’s status as a professional global evaluation body by but not limited to: supporting the UNEG Chair and Executive Steering Committee; managing UNEG funds; developing and maintaining UNEG communication and knowledge management systems and tools; supporting the UNEG Working Groups in the delivery of their annual work plans; and organizing the annual UNEG EvalWeek.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist works in close collaboration with the operations, programme, and projects staff in the IEO and UNDP HQs to resolve operational-related issues and exchange information when needed and indicated by the IEO Directorate.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, the Programme Specialist provides functional support to UNEG operational and programmatic processes, including:

Advise and Support to the UNEG Chair and Executive Steering Committee:

1. Convene UNEG Executive Steering Committee (ESC) meetings (preparing the agenda; presenting membership-related and other UNEG-wide matters; drafting and finalising meeting minutes);
2. Identify and analyze key issues potentially requiring the Chair and ESC’s attention and/ or collective action, and propose a position if needed;
3. Support the UNEG Chair, ESC and the Strategic Planning Task Force in the preparation and finalization of the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, (including providing strategic input to the preparation of the Strategic Plan; coordination of TF meetings; and preparing detailed meeting reports);
4. Support the UNEG Chair and ESC in immediate priority communications, outreach and partnership tasks;
5. Draft the UNEG Chair’s Annual Report (for presentation at the AGM), the UNEG Treasurer’s Report and the AGM Outcome Decisions document; 
6. Advise courses of action based on UNEG’s standard operating procedures/ ways of working; and
7. Coordinate the election process for UNEG Chair and vice-Chairs.

Substantively contribute to the UNEG Work Programme

1. Work with the ESC and UNEG work groups to finalize and implement the annual work programme following the outcomes and decisions taken at the UNEG AGM;
2. Provide support as needed for activities such as assessments, reviews, elections, surveys, member inquiries, external inquiries, etc.;
3. Provide technical and operational support, conduct research, analyze issues/data as needed, draft reports and relevant documents in support of specific Strategic Objective/Working Group initiatives;
4. Coordinate activities requiring consultation among UNEG’s different constituencies (members, observers, working group members, institutional partners, etc.)
5. Liaise with stakeholders and partners; and
6. Monitor relevant work of other networks, e.g., ECG, OECD/DAC EvalNet.

Effective Event Planning and Organization

1. Identify viable hosts/locations for EvalWeek 2025.
2. Organise and ensure the successful delivery of the UNEG Evaluation Week (EvalWeek) which includes the UNEG Annual General Meeting, Professional Development Seminar and Evaluation Practice Exchange (EPE) Seminar, in coordination and consultation with the host agency(s), ESC and EPE Organising Committee.
3. Plan and organize other events (high-level events or side events), webinars and joint activities.

Facilitate Effective Communication and Knowledge Management

1. Manage and quality assure UNEG publications, including working with designers/editors/printers;
2. Develop and implement a dissemination strategy for UNEG publications/materials;
3. Produce promotional materials as needed;
4. Prepare UNEG newslette