Senior Evaluation Officer, IDEV at African Development Bank - AfDB

The senior evaluation officer contributes to the delivery of the division’s work program by contributing to the delivery of complex evaluations, co-leading and supporting moderately complex ones, and providing evaluation expertise to junior colleagues.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Under the general supervision of the Division Manager, IDEV2, the incumbent will:

Contribute to the delivery of complex evaluations, and co-lead or support moderately complex evaluations, of the Bank’s interventions including policies, strategies, operations, country/regional, sector, thematic or corporate priorities:

1. Contribute to the design, conduct and reporting of evaluations in accordance with the Bank’s Evaluation Policy and Manual and international evaluation standards (e.g., OECD-DAC evaluation standards and the Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) Good Practice Standards). This includes the following:
   1. Contribute to develop the scope and concept note of the evaluation.
   2. Contribute to the preparation of an approach paper. Develop (i) Theory of Change; (ii) the evaluation design (e.g., randomized, quasi-experimental, non-experimental) including limitations; (iii) economic, social and statistical methodologies and approaches; (iv) clearly identify methodological limitations and how they will be addressed; (v) the analytical framework; and (vi) test data collection tools.
   3. Develop the terms of reference for consultancy support and support the procurement process of hiring consultants.
   4. Carry out data collection and code data against coding schemes in accordance with the evaluation approach paper.
   5. Analyse findings of evaluations in terms of approach used, political sensitivity, strategic focus, economic and social implications in accordance with the analytical framework.
   6. Report on evaluation results - develop the performance story based on the analysis of evaluation findings. Co-author or contribute to evaluation reports that are concise, clearly written, balanced, evidence-based and timely. Ensure that they address the evaluation objectives and questions outlined in the approach paper. Contribute to making recommendations to the Bank’s Board and senior management on changes to the Bank’s policies, strategies, and operations, based on evaluations that have been approved by IDEV management. 
2. Establish an effective quality management process including preparing terms of reference for internal and external peer-review. 
3. Provide regular written progress reports to IDEV management.
4. Communicate IDEV’s evaluation mandate and approach to Bank managers and staff at the outset of the evaluation and seek their engagement throughout the evaluation process (through the establishment of a Reference Group with a clear mandate). Obtain their feedback on the approach paper and draft evaluation reports, and provide clarifications on evaluation recommendations for the preparation of the management response.
5. During the evaluation process, consult widely and engage regularly with Bank’s Management and staff both at headquarters and country/regional office levels.
6. Identify any improvements to the evaluation process that IDEV may consider for future evaluations as part of its learning and communicate these lessons to IDEV management and staff.

Co-lead or support the management of the human and financial resources of a multi-disciplinary evaluation team to ensure the delivery of moderately complex evaluations that are conducted in an independent, cost-effective, rigorous and timely manner:

1. Supervise staff and consultants, manage project budgets, monitor and report on the use of resources ensuring that evaluations are conducted in a cost-effective and timely manner as per the standards instituted by IDEV management.
2. Manage multidisciplinary project teams composed of internal staff and/or external resources involved in the conduct of evaluation studies.
3. Develop and monitor work plans, project schedules and project budgets.
4. Select, provide clear guidance and supervise the work of both staff and consultants in order to deliver high-quality and timely evaluation products that meet the Bank’s Evaluation Policy and manual and international evaluation standards (e.g., OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) evaluation standards; Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) Good Practice Standards).
5. Convey clear priorities, expectations, and milestones to team members and assign work based on the strengths of the team members. Monitor progress and provide useful feedback. Manage poor performance effectively. Guide team members in overcoming constraints to delivering quality products on time and within budget.
6. Contribute to making timely decisions, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure to ensure effective management of evaluation projects.

Promote the mandate of the evaluation function and contribute to the development of an evaluation culture in the Bank and in RMCs:

1. Promote the use of evaluation as an effective accountability and learning tool in the Bank and RMCs.
2. Support evaluation capacity development initiatives within the Bank and in RMCs. Prepare and deliver evaluation training and offer opportunities to apply the training.   
3. Ensure effective and appropriate communication of evaluation findings, lessons, conclusions and recommendations to the relevant stakeholders.
4. Support the development of innovative communication tools (briefs, highlights, tip sheets etc.) that are targeted to different audiences (e.g., policymakers) and select appropriate communication channels (social media, websites, conferences etc.) to optimize the use of evaluation findings. 
5. Review, analyse and provide comments on documents prepared by Country and Sector Departments and other Units of the Bank to ensure that lessons of experience are duly incorporated in the design of Bank Group policies and operations.
6. Organize meetings, workshops and other discussion fora to establish dialogue on evaluation results.
7. Prepare oral or written answers to enquiries about IDEV’s evaluation work.
8. Represent IDEV in relevant conferences, workshops, seminars etc. within the Bank and elsewhere, seeking to ensure that evaluation perspectives and results are given due consideration.

Contribute to building strategic alliances and partnerships with key stakeholders within and outside the Bank to further the evaluation function’s mandate:

1. Engage in evaluation communities of practice within and outside the Bank.  Provide substantive input to these communities and share lessons of experience. 
2. Contribute to building and maintaining strategic partnerships with counterparts in other international institutions to ensure effective collaboration on joint initiatives and to identify good practices and learn from the experience of other organizations.   

Perform other duties as required.

COMPETENCIES (skills, experience and knowledge)

1. Holds at least a Masters’ degree, with specialization in economics, sociology, statistics, public administration or development-related field. Degree or certificate in development evaluation, development-oriented research and/or program/project planning, management and evaluation.
2. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in formulating, implementing and evaluating development interventions, in accordance with international evaluation standards (e.g., OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) (OECD-DAC) quality standards and Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) Good Practice Standards).
3. Experience in development planning, management and evaluation in Multilateral Development Banks or other international development agencies.
4. Experience in writing evaluation and/or research reports.
5. Experience in providing strategic advice to management.
6. Facilitation experience in multi-cultural or multi-sector setting.
7. Knowledge of the Bank’s mandate, strategic priorities, policies, strategies and operations.
8. Knowledge of evaluation theories including approaches, designs and methods,
9. Knowledge of independent evaluation principles, standards, and procedures including OECD-DAC Evaluation Standards and ECG Good Practice Standards.
10. Knowledge of developments and trends in international development.
11. Knowledge of different types of evaluations, evaluation design and quantitative and qualitative methods.
12. Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods.
13. Knowledge of development theories and issues relating, in particular, to Africa.
14. Ability to manage projects, to manage project teams and to provide expert advice to project teams.
15. Knowledge of the Bank’s mandate, strategic priorities, policies, strategies and operations.
16. Knowledge of evaluation theory, frameworks, process, methodology.
17. Knowledge of the Bank’s Evaluation Policy and manual, OECD-DAC Evaluation Standards and ECG Good Practice Standards.
18. Managing relationships: Team working relationship management and leading people with good interpersonal, supervisory and communication skills. 
19. Ability to operate under pressure and adapt to changing priorities. Demonstrated analytical and writing skills, and attention to detail.
20. Ability to communicate effectively (in writing and orally) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other. Proficiency in both languages is desirable.
21. Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Competence in qualitative analysis software (e.g. Atlas.ti), artificial intelligence (AI) and use of GIS and remote sensing data for evaluations is desirable.