Vacancy Announcement Details

Position Purpose

The post is located within the Synthesis and Reflections Workstream of the IEO. Under the supervision of the Chief of Section for the Synthesis and Lessons workstream, the Synthesis Specialist will be responsible for designing, conducting, managing, and overseeing UNDP evaluative synthesis work, including joint and system-wide synthesis, the synthesis of findings on achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, s, and the synthesis of evidence on UNDP results at a regional level. The synthesis specialist will also participate and provide methodological rigor to the work of the IEO in generating lessons from evaluations, which are reported through the IEO  ‘Reflections’ series. The Synthesis Specialist might also participate in other evaluation activities anchored in other IEO workstreams.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lead and support evidence synthesis activities, such as joint and system-wide synthesis, SDG ‘synthesis, and regional synthesis, based on factual evidence and methods that are independent, rigorous and credible.
   Example of Duties:
   • Carry out  evidence synthesis assignments – in both lead and support capacities.
   • Develop the methodological approaches for more rigorous synthesis work at IEO
   • Effectively coordinate synthesis and other analyses conducted by/with other staff members and consultants.
   • Establish and maintain high professional standards in line with the UNDP Evaluation Policy and the UNEG Norms & Standards for evaluation in the UN system.
   • Keep abreast of developments in the area of evaluation and synthesis, applying up-to-date techniques and approaches.
   • Collaborate with other UN evaluation and synthesis units and professional bodies
      
2. Ensure that synthesis products are useful, and support follow-up of evaluative findings and recommendations.
   Example of Duties: 
   • Report on recommendations and lessons learned drawn from synthesis products.
   • Organize and participate in meetings, workshops and other discussion fora to promote dialogue on synthesis results.
   • Advocate for the use of synthesis results in the design and appraisal of strategies, policies and projects/programmes
      
3. Promote the synthesis function in the Organization.
   Example of Duties: 
   • Contribute to the development and review of policies, guidance, systems, procedures and tools related to the synthesis of evidence on development results.
   • Support synthesis capacity development initiatives within the office.
   • Contribute to methodological improvements in IEO synthesis practices.
      
4. Support the effective deployment of human and financial resources of IEO.
   ​​​​​​​Example of Duties: 
   • Plan synthesis, including budget preparation.
   • Manage effectively and efficiently the use of resources for synthesis’ assignments.
   • Select synthesis consultants through competitive processes, in accordance with UNDP contracting  procedures.
   • Supervise synthesis consultants.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Supervisory Responsibilities: Lead or support synthesis teams, comprising external consultants TAs, IPSAs and ICs, in the data collection, analysis, and reporting on the scope of synthesis assignments, using established criteria and methods.  

Full details available on the UNDP website. Application deadline 9 November.