Evaluation Specialist

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S.-based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 100 countries and implemented over 300 projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, agriculture, economic growth, food security, education, environment, and global health.

Job Title: Evaluation Specialist
Department/Location: MERL / Remote or West & Central Africa (WCA) region
Reports To: Team Leader/Senior Evaluator
Type: Consultant (Short-Term Technical Assistance)
Classification: N/A (Consultant)
Clearance Required: None

Overview:

IBTCI is seeking qualified Evaluation Specialists to support the design and conduct of high-quality evaluations across multiple technical sectors in the West and Central Africa (WCA) region. Working under the guidance of the Evaluation Team Leader, the Evaluation Specialists will contribute to evaluation design, data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring the application of ethical standards and child-sensitive, gender-, and equity-based approaches. This role is ideal for professionals with demonstrated experience conducting rigorous evaluations in low- and middle-income countries, including humanitarian emergencies..

*Qualified candidates from West and Central Africa are strongly encouraged to apply.

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design of evaluation methodologies, data collection tools, and sampling strategies.
• Conduct desk reviews and synthesize secondary data.
• Conduct interviews, focus group discussions and other structured data-collection.
• Support the integration of innovative tools and methodologies, including the use of artificial intelligence and child-centered approaches.
• Ensure ethical standards and safeguarding principles are applied throughout the evaluation process.
• Provide design and oversight of methods for the team and local partners in key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and survey implementation.
• Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis, including data visualization.
• Apply gender-, equity-, and human rights-based lenses in the interpretation of findings.

Sector-Specific Expertise:
Support evaluations in one or more of the following sectors:

• Primary Health (children, mothers, adolescents)
• Nutrition
• Basic and Early Childhood Education
• Child Protection and GBV
• WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
• Social Protection (e.g., child poverty, children with disabilities)
• Public Policy, Governance, and public finance for children (PF4C)
• Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Response
• Social and Behavior Change (SBC), Community Engagement
• Gender Equality and Adolescent Development
• Innovation and Climate Change
• Anti-trafficking and child protection
• Capacity building of ministries and CSOs
• Support the development of high-quality deliverables including inception reports, presentations, and final evaluation reports in line with UNEG and UNICEF standards.
• Ensure data and evidence are translated into actionable findings.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across diverse institutional and cultural settings.
• Contribute to participatory approaches and inclusive practices during fieldwork.
• Travel to field locations, including remote or hard-to-reach areas, as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in evaluation, social sciences, nutrition, economics, public health, education, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of experience in evaluation or applied research (seven to ten years for senior specialists).
• Demonstrated experience conducting evaluations in low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Experience applying equity, gender, and human rights-based approaches.
• Knowledge of and adherence to evaluation ethics and safeguarding principles.
• Experience with UNICEF evaluations or familiarity with UNEG standards highly preferred.
• Fluency in English and/or French; proficiency in both is strongly preferred.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of the WCA region, including development and socio-political context.
• History of work directly for UNICEF strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence, statistical software and AI-driven tools and innovative evaluation methods.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data into clear recommendations.
• Strong written, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in cross-cultural teams.
• Ability to travel across multiple countries in Africa.
• Quantitative Analysts: Minimum 5 years’ experience in survey design, statistical analysis, and data visualization.
• Qualitative Analysts: Minimum 5 years’ experience in qualitative interviews, FGDs, coding, and narrative synthesis.

Working Environment:

Remote work with international travel up to 25%, including to field and hard-to-reach locations.

Work Authorization:

Candidates must be authorized to work in their country of residence. IBTCI does not sponsor work visas for consultants.

Diversity, Gender Balance & Non-Discrimination:

IBTCI is committed to fostering gender balance and diversity within our evaluation teams. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities. Consulting firms should demonstrate policies supporting gender equality and non-discrimination.

About the Organization:

IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP), Social & Behavior Change (SBC), and Capacity Building. We serve clients across sectors such as agriculture, food security, conflict, governance, education, global health, environment, and humanitarian assistance. At IBTCI, we promote collaboration, innovation, and the professional development of our staff and consultants.