Regional Evaluation Advisor Eurasia

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation to ensure a concerted, rational, and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose

Working under the supervision of the Head of Evaluation Office, the Regional Evaluation Advisor supports the implementation of the Evaluation Strategy to help promote quality evaluations that contribute to organizational learning, accountability, and the ICRC's mission to protect the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence.

In 2021 the Evaluation Office was established to respond to the ICRC context and the ambitions set forth in the ICRC Strategy 2024-2027. The Evaluation Office has the overall responsibility for setting the strategic direction and leading the development of the ICRC's evaluation function according to ICRC's strategy and subsequent Directorate's decisions.

The position of Regional Evaluation Advisor (Belgrade) extends the Evaluation Office closer to the field. This position based in Belgrade, Serbia, and will support ICRC delegations in all countries in the Eurasia Region. In addition to increasing the office’s overall capacity, the position provides strategic and technical support that is appropriately contextualized to the region.

Accountabilities and Functional responsibilities

• Provides advice and support to commissioners of evaluations in delegations and at the regional level to implement the evaluation guidelines, strengthen evaluation capabilities, and meet international good practices and industry standards in evaluation.
• Works with the regional management to identify regional priorities for evaluation.
• Provides high-level support and advice to delegation and regional management, to strengthen the institutional capacity and visibility of evaluation including identifying opportunities to benefit from evaluation at delegation and regional levels.
• Fosters exchange between delegations regarding evaluation practice and learning from evaluations. Contributes to inter-regional exchange with Evaluation Advisors and other relevant colleagues in other regions.
• Contributes actively to regional working groups related to evidence, analysis, and learning.
• Contributes to developing methodologies and methods tailored to the ICRC's contexts in the region, working across all departments and programmes.
• Manages – or supports the managers/sponsors of – assigned strategic, regional, or multi-region evaluations led by the Evaluation Office.

Main duties and responsabilities

• Engages evaluation owners and responsible decision makers post evaluation to collaboratively monitor uptake and implementation of recommendations as per management responses (in coordination with Regional Analysis & Evidence Advisors where present).
• Works with other business units and sectors to ensure complementarity with evaluation e.g. Analysis & Evidence, and Accountability to Affected People.
• Contributes to the development of the ICRC evaluation guidelines, and their dissemination and uptake within the region, contextualising them as appropriate.
• Supports the introduction, development and upkeep of knowledge management systems and tools in support of strengthening of evaluation practice and sharing information about evaluations taking place within the region.
• Identifies evidence-based best practices and lessons learned, promoting their use to improve the ICRC's performance and decision making at delegation and regional level.
• In close coordination with the Head of Evaluation Office, provides substantive support in the elaboration of the annual work-plan of the Office, and specifically for regional activities.
• Assumes additional responsibilities regarding the work, outreach and strengthening of the Evaluation Office and evaluation practice within the ICRC as required.

Scope and Impact

• The scope of the role is primarily regional, within which it is cross-organizational, working across the ICRC’s departments to support ‘decentralized’ evaluations that are led by others.
• The role has an important element of connecting the region and the centralized level of the Office of the Director General to increase the mutual relevance of centralized and regional evaluation practice.
• The role’s impact will increase the evidence base for learning and decision making at both strategic and operational levels through multiple strategies including managing evaluations, supporting others to commission and manage evaluations, strengthening knowledge of evaluation approaches and facilitating learning from evaluations.
• In addition to facilitating learning within the region, the Regional Evaluation Advisor will also contribute to facilitating learning between regions and globally.

People management responsibilities

• No direct management responsibilities

Reports to (role)

• Head of Evaluation Office, Office of the Director-General, Geneva

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with the Head of the Evaluation Office, the Evaluation Office team in HQ and regions, and the Head of Regional Affairs (or their delegated representative as appropriate) in the regional office.
• The role interacts with the delegations in the region, the regional management and experts (métiers as part of regional analysis and other relevant working groups, the network of regional specialists, thematic advisers and Coordinators) and other units at HQ as relevant.
• Externally, interact with consultants, peers in other organizations, and represent the ICRC to stakeholders such as donors, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and organizations in the same field of expertise (e.g. UN agencies, NGOs, academia).

Education and experience required

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in evaluation, humanitarian response, IHL, human rights, social sciences or another relevant field is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the implementation and management of evaluations as per international norms and standards for evaluation. Experience of evaluation in humanitarian settings is required.
• Experience in developing evaluation methodologies, tools, policies, procedures, and operations is required.
• Fluency in English.
• Proven expertise in mixed methods for evaluation to support measuring long term effects is required.
• Experience of applied ethics in research and evaluations which include participants who are vulnerable, or disadvantaged is required.
• Experience in planning and implementing evaluation capacity and capability development activities is required.
• Experience in managing highly complex, politically sensitive, and strategic evaluations is required.
• Experience in international organizations and in managing evaluations related to the ICRC's mandated areas of work is desirable.

Desired profile and skills

• Highly effective communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to identify evidence and decision-making needs and apply relevant evaluation approaches and strategies.
• Experience in analysing, interpreting, and presenting information for decision making.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Strong knowledge of and experience with humanitarian protection and assistance evaluation practices and standards.
• Willingness to travel as activities required.

Additional information

• Type of role: Evaluation Officer 3 (801235)
• Working rate: 100%
• Location: Belgrade Regional Delegation (Vladimira Popovica 38-40, Novi Beograd, Srbija) 
• Job level: C1
• Length of assignment: Open-ended contract
• Type of position: Resident (The vacancy is open only for persons with Serbian citizenship or personal work permit in the Republic of Serbia)
• Application deadline: 05.01.2025

What we offer

•  Work and progressive professional development in an exciting international environment.
• An inspiring opportunity to practice your profession in a humanitarian and multicultural organization.
• Stimulating benefits package.

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

If you are interested in this position, please send us your CV and Motivation letter exclusively in English.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.