Overview
Director, Independent Evaluation Office for UNFPA Jobs in Nairobi County, Kenya at SRI Executive
Title: Director, Independent Evaluation Office for UNFPA
Company: SRI Executive
Location: Nairobi County, Kenya
SRI Executive Search has been contracted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to assist with the search for an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Director, Independent Evaluation Office.
About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.
For more information, visit https://www.unfpa.org/.
Role purpose
The Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is located in the UNFPA Nairobi Headquarters and reports functionally to the Executive Board, and administratively to the Executive Director. The Director provides the strategic leadership, vision and overall management of the Independent Evaluation Office, ensuring the independence, credibility, quality and utility of UNFPA’s evaluation function in accordance with the Evaluation Policy approved by the Executive Board.
The Independent Evaluation Office is accountable, with support from the Executive Director of UNFPA, for implementing the evaluation policy approved by the Executive Board of UNFPA. The Independent Evaluation Office operates independently within UNFPA to ensure impartiality and objectivity in its evaluations. The Director will uphold the principles of independence, transparency, and ethical conduct in all evaluation activities. The Director safeguards the institutional independence, impartiality and credibility of the evaluation function, ensuring that evaluations are conducted free from undue influence and in accordance with UNEG Norms and Standards and internationally recognized professional principles.
UNFPA’s Independent Evaluation Office works to strengthen organizational effectiveness, accountability, learning and evidence-informed decision-making through independent thematic and programmatic evaluations and contributes to organizational learning, accountability, and transparency. The Independent Evaluation Office assures the quality and use of UNFPA evaluations by establishing norms, standards, and guidelines and by knowledge sharing and networking with both internal and external partners.
The Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is responsible for:
- Leadership and overall management of the Independent Evaluation Office.
- Development of the multi-year costed evaluation plan for all evaluations, based on input and consultations with the Executive Board, UNFPA management and other stakeholders, for the Executive Board’s approval.
- In accordance with the approved Evaluation Plan, conduct of corporate evaluations (Thematic, Country Programme).
- Leadership in development and provision of state-of-the-art evaluation methodological guidance, technical assistance and capacity development to enhance the centralized and decentralized evaluation function.
- Facilitation of learning; dissemination of knowledge; knowledge management and capacity development.
- Provision of advisory services to the Executive Director and senior management on evaluation matters.
- Representation and Partnership Building, ensuring strategic representation of UNFPA within UNEG and other international evaluation fora, fostering partnerships and advancing innovation and excellence in evaluation practice.
The Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is appointed by the Executive Director for a fixed term of five years, renewable once. She/he is barred from working for UNFPA thereafter. Appointment, renewal and dismissal of the Director of the Independent Evaluation Office is made after consultations with the Executive Board.
Job Requirements
Education:
- Advanced university degree (equivalent of Masters) in one or more of the following population related fields: Management, Economics, Public Administration, Population/Demography and/or Social Science disciplines.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in evaluation work at progressively increasing levels, with at least 8 years of related work experience at the international level.
- Professional experience in international development and humanitarian settings.
- Excellent technical knowledge of evaluation design, data collection, including quantitative statistical methods/methodologies and analysis and reporting and skills needed to provide substantive guidance to staff on evaluation design, methodology and reporting.
- Excellent knowledge of emerging global issues and evaluation trends that impact on the work of the Office, including the ethical and responsible use of AI.
- Proven excellent ability to lead and manage diverse teams to achieve demonstrable results, with at least 5 years of managing and supervising a team of professional staff.
- Excellent software skills e.g. Access, Excel, statistical applications.
Language
- Fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of French or another official UN language is highly desirable.
Compensation and Benefits
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits. UNFPA Work Environment: UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.
Disclaimer
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please ensure you click Apply or email at [email protected] by 11:59 PM on 29 September 2026, New York time (GMT -4). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.
Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.
Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
