Research Analyst (Home-Based / IPSA-9)

United Nations Evaluation Group; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP is seeking a Research Analyst to support evaluations and syntheses products for 2025-2026. The role involves conducting research, data analysis, and drafting reports while collaborating with evaluation managers. Candidates should have relevant experience in international development and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years experience in research or evaluation in international development.
• Fluency in English required; knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews and analyze data for evaluations.
• Draft analytical reports and manage stakeholder surveys.
• Support the implementation of evaluations and syntheses products.

Skills

Research

Data Analysis

Communication

Education

Master's Degree

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Advanced Excel

Power BI

NVivo

Job description

• Vacancy Type International Personnel Service Agreement
• Independent office Independent Evaluation Office
• Contract Duration 1 Year
• Education & Work Experience Master's Degree - 2 year(s) experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 4 year(s) experience
• Required Languages Fluency in English is required.
• Desired Languages Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Vacancy Timeline1 Week

Job Description

Background

Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP

The Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP supports the oversight and accountability functions of the Executive Board and the management of UNDP, UNCDF and UNV. The structural independence of the Office underpins and guarantees its freedom to conduct evaluations and report evaluation results to the Executive Board. The IEO conducts independent evaluations and other activities according to its programme of work approved by the Executive Board. The work of the IEO includes:

• Conducting thematic programmatic and other independent evaluations, ensuring strategic and representative coverage of UNDP programmes and results against national, regional and global scales;
• Evidence synthesis of evaluations on key themes to provide evaluative insights and lessons.
• Developing evaluation standards, procedures, criteria and methodological guidance for UNDP evaluations, and contributing to innovation in evaluation methodology and dissemination of good practices;
• Providing UNDP and its development partners with timely knowledge and lessons drawn from evaluations that can feed into development programming at global, regional and country levels;
• Assessing the quality of decentralized evaluations of UNDP, UNCDF and UNV, and monitoring compliance with best international evaluation and data collection standards, including the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms and standards, code of conduct and ethical guidelines;
• Communicating its evaluation findings, conclusions and recommendations through multiple channels and maintaining a searchable, publicly accessible repository of all UNDP, UNCDF and UNV evaluations, and respective management responses and resulting actions;
• Supporting the development of communities of practice, and partnering with professional evaluation networks to improve evaluation utility and credibility;
• Supporting the harmonization of the evaluation function in the United Nations system, including contributing to the annual work programme of UNEG, participating in systemwide evaluations, and prioritizing joint evaluations with United Nations organizations; and
• Promoting national ownership and leadership in evaluation through country-led and joint evaluations.

Scope of Work

The Research Analyst will provide direct support to the implementation of IEO’s evaluations and syntheses products being planned for 2025-2026. He/she will be responsible for supporting the preliminary research, data collection, analysis and drafting analytical pieces working closely with IEO evaluation managers. The work of Research Analyst will be guided by IEO’s knowledge and data management strategy, as well as country programme, thematic evaluation and evaluation syntheses research and process manuals.

The specific tasks include, but not limited to, the following:

• Conduct literature reviews to summarize existing research relevant to the evaluation theme. This includes collecting and compiling data from reports and databases, as well as reviewing academic articles, programme and policy documents, and evaluation reports. This also includes,gathering and analysing UNDP corporate programme documents, results reports, financial data, and any other relevant information on UNDP programmes under review;
• Carryout financial and programme portfolio analysis related to the evaluation theme and prepare an analytical report;
• Utilizing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies conduct background research for country case studies and desk studies and prepare analytical reports;
• Draft a preliminary version of the context section based on available literature;
• Design, manage, and analyze stakeholder surveys;
• Engage with programme units to organize meetings, maintain records, and compile key discussion points;
• Compile data and upload background materials to IEO’s common document portal and systems such as ERC and AIDA;
• Synthesise evidence pertaining ot the theme from AIDA;
• Code evaluative evidence for synthesis products;
• Provide research support for reflection papers.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for theefficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

The research analyst will work as a member of the Corporate and Thematic Evaluation and Synthesis section, contributing to a strong and reliable research base at the IEO, in support of efficient and effective execution of evaluation activities and high quality evaluations.

Institutional Arrangement

The Research Analyst will be supervised by the Chief of Section, Corporate and Thematic Evaluation and Synthesis section, and will work other units of IEO as needed.

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

Strategic Thinking

Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight

Business Management

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management

Communication

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Management

Working with Evidence and Data

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Digital

Ability to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions. Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it's used as a ""means to an end""

Evaluation

Technical Evaluation Skills

• Experience in developing and communicating methodological guidance across complex evaluative approaches.
• Proven understanding of theories of change and logic models and able to use a systems approach in order to identify, recreate and facilitate the development of theories of change and logic models for complex programmes, policies and initiatives; in order to facilitate evaluative thinking among stakeholders
• Ability to develop high-quality terms of references for complex evaluations, demonstrating a strong ability to prioritize and focus evaluation questions
• Demonstrated ability to design complex evaluations, drawing on existing best practices as well as developing innovative approaches
• Excellent evaluation methods knowledge, including the ability to apply and interpret a range of evaluation methods and approaches, both quantitative and qualitative, ensuring that appropriate evaluation data collection and analysis methods are used. Understands and ensures the appropriate use of multiple and mixed methods.
• Capable of analyzing data from diverse sources, identifying trends and gaps in information, being able to ensure that data and information used in evaluations are appropriate, accurate, of high quality and collected and analyzed from an ethical perspective.
• Possess strong analytical skills, with an ability to elaborate credible findings, with evidence traced through the analysis into findings, which are then placed within their context. Uses analytical skills to synthesize data where relevant, and identifies unintended results.
• Has excellent reporting skills, with highly credible conclusions substantiated by evidence; and generating clear, realistic and feasible recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent ) in Social Sciences, Economics, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, or other relevant areas is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum of 2 years (with a Master’s degree), or 4 years (with a Bachelor's degree) of relevant work experience in conducting research or evaluation in the international development context is required.

Required skills

• Experience in using computer and office software packages, web-based data management systems; Microsoft Office Word, Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, SharePoint, MS Project, NVivo

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Prior work experience at or familiarity with the work of UNDP and/or other UN agencies.
• Experience in using various research qualitative and quantitative methodologies; monitoring and evaluation tools
• Experience in python and/or R, PowerQuery and PowerBi for data analysis
• Experience in designing, managing , and analyzing stakeholder surveys
• Experience in providing research support for reflection papers
• Experience in conducting financial and programme portfolio analysis

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.