Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist (MICS), P-3, Temporary Position, Fiji (Pacific Islands) - MCP, 364 days, Tarawa, Kiribati, #00137208

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For every child, the right to a Future

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

The Pacific Multi-Country Office is the oldest and largest MCO in UNICEF. As such it is a model for the new MCOs being established. All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. UNICEF’s programme focuses on advancing children’s rights and wellbeing through integrated efforts in health, nutrition, education, child protection, climate resilience, and social policy—addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing small island developing states, including vulnerability to climate change, geographic isolation, and service delivery constraints.

Through the MCO approach, staff contribute to meaningful, system-level changes supporting governments and communities to strengthen essential services, improve equity for the most vulnerable children, and build resilience across generations. With nearly 40 per cent of the region’s population under 18, the impact of UNICEF’s work is both immediate and long-term, shaping healthier, safer, and more inclusive futures for children across the Pacific.

Kiribati offers a unique opportunity to live and work in a remote and culturally rich Pacific island setting, comprising low-lying coral atolls surrounded by vast ocean landscapes. While the country presents a rewarding environment for those motivated by meaningful development impact, living conditions can be modest, with limited infrastructure, services, and access to goods compared to more urban duty stations. Due to its isolation, candidates should be prepared for a simple lifestyle, higher reliance on imported goods, and a slower pace of life, alongside close-knit communities and strong cultural traditions. At the same time, Kiribati is on the frontline of global development challenges, including climate change and environmental resilience, offering a highly engaging and purposeful professional experience for those seeking to contribute to impactful and innovative programmes.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of Chief of Field Office Kiribati, and with a dotted reporting line to Chief Social Policy at the PMCO for technical guidance and quality assurance, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MICS) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF PMCO Office and the Kiribati KNSO (KNSO) for the preparation, implementation and completion of the MICS survey in the Kiribati. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MICS) will advise and support the KNSO, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, reporting, dissemination and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MICS) will communicate effectively between the UNICEF PMCO and KNSO, responding promptly to MICS-related needs and issues as they arise.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MICS) will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS process. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the survey team, the stakeholders, and Steering and Technical Committees and will represent UNICEF in meetings and workshops in relation to the survey as needed. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MICS) will also work in close collaboration with the Regional MICS Coordinator at the UNICEF Regional Office (RO) and the MICS Team at UNICEF Headquarters (HQ), as well as experts and consultants assigned to support the Country MICS (collectively labeled “The UNICEF MICS Team”).

1. Provide primary technical and managerial support to the MICS in Kiribati.
2. Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g., ministries, UN Agencies, in-country Development Partners, etc.).
3. Finalize, in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF PMCO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including the timetable, and share with the Regional MICS Coordinator.
4. Prepare the submission for the MICS proposal to the National Research Review Committee under the Office of the Beretitenti and secure endorsement.
5. Ensure that the Ethical Protocol and other ethical recommendations are addressed in the survey implementation process and that all MICS-related documents are shared with the national Ethical Committee on time for approval.
6. Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the KNSO, more specifically during training and field supervision visits.
7. Communicate regularly with the UNICEF PMCO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team, responding to all MICS-related issues in a timely manner.
8. Provide monthly updates on MICS activities to the UNICEF PMCO and Regional MICS Coordinator.
9. Coordinate the work of KNSO specialists and the UNICEF MICS Team, and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF PMCO and/or the UNICEF MICS Team to support different survey stages.
10. Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e., Sampling, Data Processing, and Household Survey experts and consultants) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the PMCO, the UNICEF MICS Team and the KNSO.
11. Ensure that all survey-related documents and deliverables are properly archived throughout the survey process (for example: Memorandum of Understanding, Survey Plan and Budget, questionnaires, manuals, sample design, training/pre-test reports, expert reports, CAPI application, field check tables, output and tabulation plan tables, syntaxes, datasets, cluster geocodes, boundary shapefiles, Survey Findings Report, Statistical Snapshots, dissemination materials, etc.).
12. Participate in all in-country MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings.
13. Participate in, and contribute to MICS Regional Workshops.
14. Organize, as required, and facilitate the national Data Interpretation and Report Compilation Workshop.
15. Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly shared with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries and the UNICEF MICS Team) through all means available.
16. Support planning and customization of other MICS initiatives (MICS Plus, MICS GIS, MICS Link) in collaboration with the relevant experts of these initiatives from the Global MICS Team.

Explore the different areas of our work here:  UNICEF Pacific Islands and in the short video: Work for UNICEF in the Pacific”

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Upldated TOR for M&E Specialist.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s University degree in, Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field is required. Two years of additional relevant work experience gained after obtaining a bachelor’s degree may be accepted in lieu of advanced degree.
• Work Experience: Proven minimum of 5 years of experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) preferred) are required.
• Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS) is required.
• Experience with CAPI data collection is required.
• Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations.
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
• Skills: Knowledge of SPSS, Statistical analysis, CAPI-data collection, Survey-report writing, Data processing, Stakeholder engagement is required.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
2. Expertise in MICS, DHS, GIS, Pacific region, Kiribati, Multicultural are desirables.
3. Experience in SIDS or the Pacific context is considered an asset.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are an asset.
5. Familiarity and previous experience of working in Kiribati and/or in the region are highly desirable.
6. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization, more specifically with National Statistical Offices are an asset.
7. Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability are desirables.
8. Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.
9. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates from the East Asia and Pacific region and people with disability are encouraged to apply. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates from the East Asia and Pacific region and people with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reductions. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.