Key Thematic Expert

BackgroundSoCha LLC is applying to serve as the prime contractor for the multi-country evaluation of UNICEF’s Building Resilience in the Sahel (BRS) Programme (2023–2027), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The programme aims to strengthen resilience capacities of children, adolescents, women, and communities in fragile and crisis-affected settings through an integrated approach across health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection, and social protection, with emphasis on community engagement, local governance, social cohesion, and the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus. The evaluation will focus on accountability and learning, assess performance against OECD-DAC criteria (excluding impact), and ensure strong integration of gender, equity, and human rights (GEHR) in both evaluation design and analysis.Overview of the PositionThe Key Thematic Experts will support the Evaluation Team Leader and Lead Thematic Expert by providing deep technical expertise in one or more thematic sectors relevant to the BRS Programme (child protection, health/nutrition, WASH, education, social protection, adolescent development). The experts will participate in all stages of the evaluation process and will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting sector-specific evidence to support evaluative judgments. This includes contributing to evaluation design, field-based data collection, thematic analysis, triangulation, and drafting of evaluation findings, conclusions, and recommendations.Key ResponsibilitiesThe Key Thematic Expert will be responsible for the following:* Contribute to the inception phase, including refinement of evaluation questions and indicators related to the assigned thematic area(s). * Support development and validation of sector-specific data collection tools and methodological approaches, ensuring GEHR-sensitive and child-sensitive framing where relevant. * Conduct desk review of programme documents, routine monitoring data, and relevant secondary sources related to the assigned sector(s). * Participate in fieldwork activities (as assigned), including KIIs, FGDs, participatory consultations, and beneficiary-level interviews, ensuring strong adherence to ethical protocols and quality standards. * Provide technical oversight and mentoring support to national consultants and enumerators working on thematic components of data collection. * Analyze qualitative and quantitative findings related to the assigned thematic area(s), ensuring robust triangulation and evidence-based conclusions. * Produce structured thematic analysis inputs (memos, coding summaries, evidence tables, sector-specific findings) to support country and regional reporting. * Contribute to drafting of country evaluation reports and consolidated regional report, including development of clear, prioritized, and actionable recommendations for UNICEF and partners. * Support preparation of country debriefing presentations, validation workshops, and dissemination materials as required. * Ensure all assigned responsibilities comply with UNEG Norms and Standards, UNEG Ethical Guidelines, and UNICEF procedures on ethical standards in research, evaluation, data collection and analysis.DeliverablesUnder the direction of the Evaluation Team Leader and the Lead Thematic Expert, Key Thematic Experts will support the delivery of key outputs, including:* Technical inputs to inception reports (including thematic contributions to the evaluation matrix, sampling approach, tools, and analysis plan). * Completed sector-specific fieldwork documentation, including high-quality interview notes, observation records, and/or validated transcripts. * Thematic analysis memos and evidence summaries contributing to evaluation findings and conclusions. * Written contributions to draft and final country evaluation reports (French and English), including sector-specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations. * Inputs to the consolidated regional evaluation report, supporting cross-country comparison and synthesis of thematic findings. * Contributions to debriefing PowerPoint presentations, validation workshop materials, and dissemination products (policy briefs, syntheses, infographic content).Reporting and CoordinationThe Key Thematic Expert(s) will report to the Evaluation Team Leader and coordinate closely with the Lead Thematic Expert, other thematic specialists, and national evaluation teams. The experts will contribute to coordinated planning, fieldwork scheduling, analysis processes, and iterative review cycles to ensure timely delivery of high-quality evaluation outputs.Required Qualifications and ExperienceThe Key Thematic Expert(s) should have the following profile:* Advanced university degree in child protection, human rights, social sciences, public health or other relevant field with emphasis on African and fragile contexts. * A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible work experience in the planning, management and/or evaluation of thematic interventions with focus on resilience building in humanitarian and fragile contexts, with practical experience in the evaluation of such interventions. * Substantive relevant experience in West Africa region (preferably the Sahel) and knowledge of the social, political and economic environment of the region. * Knowledge of current developments in the thematic fields of the assigned sector(s). * Have a strong command of quantitative and qualitative methods of research and evaluation methods based on equity, human rights and gender. * Have excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English as well as skills in facilitation of participatory processes. * Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-country teams and contribute high-quality written deliverables under tight timelines.Expected Level of EffortLevel of effort will be confirmed during inception planning. The assignment is expected to span April 2026 to January 2027 and include contributions across inception, fieldwork, analysis, reporting, and validation phases. Travel to one or more Sahel countries may be required depending on the agreed evaluation workplan and team composition.HOW TO APPLYTo submit your application, kindly provide your CV using the form provided below.To apply before 24 February 2026.