Head

Head

Job #:

req25523

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Other

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

English

Closing Date:

1/12/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG)'s mission is to improve World Bank Group (WBG) development results through excellence in evaluation. IEG is responsible for the assessment of the relevance, efficacy, and efficiency of WBG operational policies, programs and activities, and their contribution to development effectiveness. IEG's evaluations aim to enhance accountability and learning to inform the formulation of new (and course corrections of ongoing) core work of the WBG.

IEG is directly responsible for:

• Proposing strategic choices about the IEG work program after consultations with external stakeholders, the Boards, and WBG management, ensuring it is relevant and aligned with the Institutions' key strategic priorities, overall resources, and with the main development challenges affecting its member countries.

• Evaluating whether the WBG Institutions' core work is producing the expected results, including global, regional, and other programs in which the institution(s) is a participant.

• Incorporating evaluation assessments and findings into recommendations designed to help improve the development effectiveness of the WBG's core work, and their responsiveness to member countries' needs and concerns.

• Reviewing the Institutions' operational self-evaluations.

• Reporting regularly to the Boards on actions taken by the institution(s) in response to evaluation findings, and on the measures, being taken to improve the overall operations evaluation system and enhance learning, including dissemination and outreach activities.

• Identifying, disseminating, and promoting the uptake of evaluation findings and lessons to maximize contributions to the WBG's learning and knowledge framework and reinforce learning and accountability within the WBG in reference to achieving the corporate goals.

• Contributing to the international evaluation community, including knowledge-sharing with other multilateral and bilateral institution

• Encouraging and assisting member countries to build effective monitoring and evaluation partnerships, capacities, and systems.

IEG's organizational structure comprises: The Office of the Director General, Evaluation (IEGDG); the Human Development and Economic Management Department (IEGHE); the Finance, Private Sector and Sustainable Development Department (IEGSP); and the Knowledge and Communications Department (IEGKC). Through the VP and Director General of Evaluation (DGE), IEG reports directly to the Board of Executive Directors.

Methods Advisory Function

IEG's objective is to help the WBG meet its goals and enhance its development effectiveness through timely, robust evaluation. In 2016, as part of its organizational renewal, IEG's Methods Advisory Function (IEGMA) was established to help deepen the quality and credibility of IEG evaluation work. The Methods Advisory Function currently has the following responsibilities:

• Advising IEG staff on the best available evaluation methods to address specific evaluation questions, and how to employ those methods.

• Ensuring consistent and efficient use of data in evaluations through support to IEG's data arrangements, systems, and analytic staffing.

• Researching, generating, piloting and promoting innovative evaluation methodologies - within IEG and external audiences - through knowledge sharing activities and publications.

• Through a learning program, supporting the development of evaluation skills among IEG staff and ensuring that internal and external audiences understand and appreciate the rationale for IEG's evaluation methodologies and approaches.

Program Management

The successful candidate will lead the IEGMA unit. More specifically, the successful candidate:

• Leads the development of the work program in IEGMA, identifying strategic priorities and deliverables that promote quality evaluation, innovation, and accountability for learning under the guidance of the Director of Strategy and Operations.

• Oversees and coordinates effective and efficient delivery of the unit work program, including advisory services, quality assurance tasks, the data science for evaluation program and the staff evaluation capacity development program.

• Supervises a team of about 10 staff and consultants; helps plan the departmental budget and manages budget resources of the unit efficiently and effectively.

• Supervises the day-to-day work of the methods and data science team, including the implementation of methods workshops, quality assurance processes, the data science for evaluation program, and evaluation training and capacity development work within IEG and among peers.

• Maintains productive, responsive and trusting relationships and effective communication with key stakeholders in IEG (e.g. IEG leadership team, evaluation teams), in the World Bank Group (e.g. DEC, DIME, Chief Economist Office, OPCS), and externally (e.g. the Evaluation Cooperation Group, the OECD-DAC EvalNet).

• Promotes timely, cost-effective, and demand-driven learning and knowledge products and services to accelerate dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.

• Supervises, coaches, mentors and provides opportunities for each team member of the methods and data science team to reach her/his Professional Development Objectives.

• Takes part in IEG's management and steering committees, including the IEG Extended Leadership Team, IEG Data Steering Committee and the IEG Academy Steering Committee.

• Represents IEG in key evaluation fora on evaluation methods and data science applications.

Specific Duties

1. Strengthen Evaluation Methodologies in IEG Products and Practices

• Reviews and upgrades as needed existing evaluation methodologies in use in IEG products and practices, including the piloting of new and innovative evaluation techniques.

• Reviews and updates standards and tools for data collection, management, analysis, and presentation, and ensures consistency in processes and analyses across IEG products and practices.

• Provides timely, high-quality and fit-for-purpose methods advice to evaluation teams: works with evaluation teams to ensure the quality and rigor of their evaluation design through methods workshops, check-ins and regular engagements.

2. Quality Assurance of IEG Products and Practices

• Manages methods reviews for IEG products (e.g. evaluations, Evaluations Insight Notes, and the annual Results and Performance of the World Bank Group Report) by providing written comments, taking part in agenda-setting meetings and IEG One-Stop Review Meetings and clearing drafts, as part of quality assurance processes of Concept Notes, Approach Papers and Reports.

• Provides feedback to the DGE, DSO and the wider IEG Leadership Team on the quality and reliability of evaluation methods and design in IEG products and advises them on processes and practices to improve quality.

3. Foster Data Science Applications in IEG Evaluations and Promote Methodological Innovations

• Develops and manages IEG's data science for evaluation program.

• Leads IEG's efforts in broadening and deepening the use of quantitative and data science methods in different aspects of evaluative inquiry in IEG (e.g. in portfolio identification, portfolio summarization, content analysis and synthesis, imagery analysis, geospatial analysis).

• Acts as knowledge broker between evaluation teams and data scientists to identify opportunities for applying data science to evaluation work, developing and disseminating pilots, developing standards for reproducibility and conducting quality checks of applications.

• Leads the IEG Data Science Community of Practice.

• Provides leadership on broadening the range of methods in IEG evaluations (e.g., rigorous case-based approaches, systematic analysis of qualitative data, network analysis, etc.).

• Represents the methods and data science team on the IEG Data Steering Committee and supports the implementation of the IEG Data Strategy.

• Fosters partnerships with World Bank DEC, DIME, Chief Economist Team, ITS and other relevant stakeholders in World Bank Group operations to broaden the range of methods and uses of data in evaluation.

4. Evaluation Capacity Development and Knowledge Sharing

• Leads IEG's learning agenda on evaluation methods: (co-)organizes and (co-) delivers BBLs, clinics, staff trainings and other learning events in the framework of the IEG Academy and beyond, in collaboration with IEG's knowledge and learning team.

• Coordinates, supervises and quality assures the delivery of Methods Job Aids and other learning materials on methods and data (e.g., case studies, surveys, non-experimental methods, evaluation questions, etc.).

• As member of the IEG Academy Steering Committee, advises IEG Leadership on staff skill gaps and learning needs related to evaluation methods and data.

• Coordinates visiting fellows and special programs related to evaluation methods and data, to help broaden IEG's exposure to new trends and innovations in methodological approaches and the uses of data, and to enhance IEG's reputation as a leading independent evaluation function in the field of international development.

• Participates in external learning events and conferences, BBLs, symposiums and other events - both within the WBG and externally - and co-organizes such events, to disseminate IEG's knowledge and experience in the use of evaluation methods.

• Liaises with and represents IEG in international fora and conferences on evaluation methods.

• (Co)-authors IEG Methods Papers or evaluation journal articles.

• Develops and teaches (online) workshop at evaluation institutes (e.g., IPDET) or conferences.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate is required to have the following qualifications, skills, motivational and personal attributes:

• Advanced academic degree in the social sciences (or other relevant discipline), advanced degree (PhD) with specialization in program evaluation strongly preferred.

• Significant experience in designing, conducting and leading independent evaluations; typically, the successful candidate will have a minimum of 12 years of relevant professional/ evaluation experience, at least five of which spent in an independent evaluation function of an international financial institution.

• Significant experience in advising evaluation teams on evaluation design and methods for thematic, corporate, policy and project evaluations and in engaging in evaluation capacity building activities (coaching, training, teaching).

• Outstanding analytical aptitude, as evidenced by a strong track record of solid contributions to development evaluations, preferably with a solid track record of publications and presentations at evaluation learning events.

• Demonstrated aptitude to provide advice and training to junior and senior evaluation staff on evaluation methods directly applicable to independent evaluations.

• Sound knowledge and understanding of IEG evaluation products and processes and World Bank Group operational strategies, processes, and instruments.

• Sound knowledge and understanding of evaluation systems in international financial institutions.

• Strong reputation and network within the international evaluation community.

• Excellent communication, diplomatic and negotiating skills, with demonstrated strong personal maturity, balanced judgment, and a track record of building and maintaining partnerships with colleagues and clients.

• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills, capacity to motivate and supervise teams, and ability to operate collaboratively across organizational boundaries.

• Proactive, inclusive and innovative, with an open and collegial work style and ability to listen and integrate ideas from diverse points of view.

• Ability to advise managers on a range of issues pertaining to evaluation quality, use of methods and data in evaluation, staff methodological skills and evaluation systems.

• Ability to lead a team, including supervising, coaching, mentoring and empowering staff.

Job-Specific Competencies:

• Evaluation practice: Superior level of understanding and application of the design and delivery of complex evaluations. Strong practical understanding of how to design and conduct rigorous multi-level, multi-site and theory-based evaluations under real-world evaluation parameters of time, resource, and data constraints. Broad-based knowledge and understanding of evaluation design and implementation to be able to support evaluation teams across IEG working on a wide range of evaluation topics across units.

• Evaluation methods knowledge: Advanced knowledge of qualitative, quali-quantitative and quantitative evaluation methods, including data science applications. Advanced knowledge of evaluation design challenges and how to address them. Demonstrated capacity to provide intellectual leadership on evaluation methods and issues within and outside the World Bank Group to be able to help position IEG as a center of evaluation excellence.

• Data science knowledge: Ability to act as knowledge broker between data scientists, evaluation teams and managers. Track record of supervising data scientists, highly preferred.

• Outstanding capacity development skills: Ability to coach, teach, and train evaluation staff on evaluation methods and practices.

• Outstanding capacity to coordinate and work across units.

• Ability to represent IEG and speak on behalf of IEG on methods and data-science related issues in international evaluation forums.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.