Lead 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 Lead Thematic Expert will support the Evaluation Team Leader in the design and implementation of the evaluation and will contribute directly to fieldwork leadership, thematic analysis, and synthesis of evaluation findings. The Lead Thematic Expert will participate in all stages of the evaluation process and will be primarily responsible for collecting and analyzing data that will be used to establish evaluative judgments, including through both secondary data review and primary qualitative fieldwork with beneficiary communities and key stakeholders. The position requires strong experience in resilience programming, humanitarian response, social cohesion, community engagement, and the HDP nexus in fragile contexts.Key ResponsibilitiesThe Lead Thematic Expert will be responsible for the following:* Participate in all stages of the evaluation process, contributing to evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting, and validation activities. * Support the Team Leader in refining the evaluation framework, evaluation matrix, sampling strategy, and methodological approach, including integration of GEHR considerations. * Conduct desk review and contribute to contextual analysis of programme implementation environments across the five Sahel countries. * Lead and/or support primary data collection activities in selected evaluation sites, including key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), participatory consultations, and beneficiary-level engagement. * Support the supervision of national consultants and enumerators during fieldwork, ensuring quality assurance and adherence to ethical protocols. * Ensure strong triangulation of evidence across data sources, methods, and stakeholder perspectives. * Contribute to the analysis of thematic findings related to resilience programming, social cohesion, community engagement, and HDP nexus operationalization. * Support drafting and review of country evaluation reports, synthesis briefs, and the consolidated regional report, ensuring findings are evidence-based and clearly linked to conclusions and recommendations. * Participate in country-level debriefings and validation processes, including preparation of PowerPoint presentations and facilitation support during stakeholder workshops. * Provide technical inputs to the development of practical and prioritized recommendations for UNICEF WCARO, Country Offices, and partners. * Ensure all assigned tasks 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, the Lead Thematic Expert will support the delivery of key outputs, including:* Technical inputs to inception reports (including evaluation matrix, sampling strategy, tools, and workplan). * Completed fieldwork documentation, including interview notes, observation tools, and high-quality transcripts where required. * Thematic analysis memos and synthesis inputs contributing to country reports and the consolidated regional report. * Contributions to PowerPoint presentations for country debriefings and validation workshops. * Written inputs to draft and final evaluation reports (French and English), including evidence-linked findings, conclusions, and recommendations. * Contributions to evaluation synthesis briefs, policy briefs, and dissemination materials (including infographic content as required). * Submission of cleaned thematic datasets, qualitative coding outputs, and/or supporting evidence files as requested by the Team Leader.Reporting and CoordinationThe Lead Thematic Expert will report to the Evaluation Team Leader and coordinate closely with other international thematic experts, national consultants, and enumerator teams. The expert will also engage as required with UNICEF WCARO, UNICEF Country Offices, and relevant stakeholders, supporting effective coordination and timely completion of deliverables across the evaluation cycle.Required Qualifications and Experience* Advanced university degree in child protection, human rights, social sciences or other relevant field with emphasis on social/economic development in fragile contexts and recovery/resilience. * A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in the planning, management and/or evaluation of humanitarian response interventions in fragile contexts with focus on resilience building, social cohesion and community engagement, with practical experience in the evaluation of such interventions. * Substantive relevant experience in West Africa region (especially the Sahel) and knowledge of the social, political and economic environment of the region. * Knowledge of current developments in the fields of HDP nexus, resilience and social cohesion in fragile contexts. * 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 as part of a multi-country evaluation team and contribute to high-quality deliverables under tight timelines.Expected Level of EffortLevel of effort will be confirmed during inception planning. The assignment is expected to include contributions across inception, fieldwork, analysis, and reporting phases between April 2026 and January 2027, including travel to one or more Sahel countries as required. At least one international team member is expected to visit and support the evaluation process in each country, and the Lead Thematic Expert will be expected to contribute to country missions accordingly.HOW TO APPLYTo submit your application, kindly provide your CV using the form provided below.To apply before 24 February 2026.