AboutDenis Jobin is a senior evaluation and policy advisory specialist with over 25 years of international experience supporting governments, UN agencies, and development partners in strengthening evidence-informed decision-making.His work spans evaluation leadership, monitoring and learning systems, public sector performance frameworks, and strategic policy analysis. Denis has led complex global evaluations and advisory assignments across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including work on social protection, urban poverty, climate resilience, and national evaluation systems.He previously served in senior roles with UNICEF, including as Senior Evaluation Specialist and Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in Nigeria, where he led evidence systems supporting large-scale development and humanitarian programmes.Earlier in his career, Denis worked in Canada’s federal public sector, including with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and the National Crime Prevention Centre (Public Safety Canada). In these roles, he contributed to performance audits, Ex ante impact evaluations (RCT, RDD, Quasi-experimental designs, and configurational designs), and the development of evidence-based policy and accountability frameworks within government.He continues to contribute to global evaluation communities and has held leadership roles in international evaluation networks and professional associations.
Denis Jobin
Evaluation, Evidence & Strategic Policy Advisory
Areas of ExpertiseStrategic Evaluations
• Global and multi-country programme evaluations
• Thematic and policy evaluations
• Development effectiveness assessmentsEvidence Systems & MEL
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks
• Results-based management systems
• Performance monitoring systems for governments and development partnersPolicy Advisory
• Evidence-informed policy design
• Social policy and poverty reduction strategies
• Urban development and resilienceEvaluation Capacity Development
• National evaluation systems
• Institutionalization of evaluation in government
• Capacity building and advisory support
Sample list of Evaluation I led, designed, managed and wrote. Denis Jobin [email protected] See CV for more.Over the course of my career, I have designed, led and managed complex global, regional and country-level evaluations within UNICEF and in partnership with governments and international partners. My role typically involved conceptualizing the evaluation design, drafting Terms of Reference, developing the theory of change and evaluation matrix, selecting methodological approaches, managing multidisciplinary teams of consultants, overseeing field missions, and ensuring quality assurance of all deliverables. I also frequently drafted or co-authored key sections of reports and led stakeholder consultations to validate findings and ensure the uptake of recommendations.Global Evaluations
Evaluation of UNICEF work in contributing to poverty reduction, including in humanitarian and fragile settings, I led the design and management of this global evaluation assessing UNICEF’s contribution to poverty reduction across multiple sectors and operational contexts. My responsibilities included developing the Terms of Reference, defining the theory-based evaluation framework, supervising a multidisciplinary consultant team, and coordinating field missions across multiple regions. The evaluation applied mixed methods including document review, key informant interviews, comparative country case studies, and contribution analysis to assess UNICEF’s effectiveness in addressing multidimensional poverty. I also led stakeholder consultations and global webinars to support dissemination and uptake of the findings.Humanitarian Evaluation of UNICEF’s Response in the Congo
I led the design and management of the humanitarian evaluation of UNICEF’s response in the Congo. I developed the evaluation framework, drafted the ToR, supervised external evaluators, and conducted field visits across multiple regions to gather primary data and engage with programme staff, partners and beneficiaries. The evaluation applied real-time and utilization-focused evaluation approaches, combining qualitative fieldwork, programme data analysis, and triangulation of operational evidence to generate actionable recommendations for humanitarian programming.Rapid Review of UNICEF’s Social Protection Responses to COVID-19 (20+ countries)
I designed and conducted a rapid multi-country review examining how UNICEF adapted its social protection programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review involved comparative policy analysis, rapid evidence synthesis and econometric modelling of social and economic impacts, covering more than 20 countries. I worked closely with regional offices and senior management, facilitating consensus on key strategic recommendations to strengthen shock-responsive social protection systems.Global Evaluation of UNICEF’s Work in Urban Settings
I led the design and management of this global evaluation examining UNICEF’s effectiveness in rapidly urbanizing contexts. The evaluation involved comparative analysis of country programmes, stakeholder consultations, and field-based evidence collection. I oversaw methodological design, quality assurance, and synthesis of findings, and supported the presentation of results to UNICEF’s Executive Board, helping inform strategic directions for UNICEF’s urban programming.Global Evaluation of UNICEF’s Social Protection Responses towards Universal Child Benefits
I led this flagship evaluation assessing UNICEF’s contribution to advancing Universal Child Benefits (UCB) as a policy instrument to reduce child poverty. The evaluation applied policy analysis, comparative country case studies, fiscal analysis and stakeholder consultations. Presented to the UNICEF Executive Board in February 2024, the evaluation was widely commended for the quality and policy relevance of its evidence, helping strengthen UNICEF’s advocacy for inclusive social protection systems.Global Evaluation of UNICEF’s Work in Addressing Multidimensional Poverty in Slums (2025)
I designed and led this global evaluation examining UNICEF’s contribution to addressing multidimensional poverty among children living in slums and informal settlements. The evaluation included deep-dive case studies in several countries including Kenya, combining geospatial analysis, qualitative field research, programme analysis and participatory consultations with communities.The evaluation generated a global Call for Action on children in slums, now informing UNICEF programme strategy. It was also featured at COP30 in Belém, highlighting the links between urban poverty, climate vulnerability and child wellbeing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9CSeVbAIOwThe Evaluation led to the Call for Action, led by the UNICEF program (2026 under development by Program Group).
It was featured at COP30 in Belém, highlighting the effects of climate change on slum communities and the importance of acting to support them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9CSeVbAIOw
Led significant impact evaluations that have influenced program direction, informed UNICEF advocacy and resource allocation, demonstrating an ability to lead evaluations that yield actionable insights.
o Impact Evaluation of UNICEF Nigeria Girls' Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3) Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) in Niger and Sokoto States
o Impact Evaluation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) within the UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation, Government of Nigeria and UNICEF, 2009-2013
o Evaluation of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in Nigeria
Impact Evaluation Leadership – Nigeria.2007–2010 | Canada – National Crime Prevention Strategy
Led the operationalization of a multi-site impact evaluation of crime prevention programmes under Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy. The evaluation generated rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of prevention-based approaches, supporting federal and provincial policy dialogue and contributing to the broader adoption of crime prevention strategies within justice systems across Canada.
Country Office Management: Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Field CoordinationDuring my tenure as Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Field Coordination at UNICEF Nigeria, I provided strategic and operational leadership for the country office’s planning, monitoring, evaluation, and field coordination functions across one of UNICEF’s largest and most complex country programmes. Working across a footprint of more than 300 staff, multiple field offices, and a highly decentralized federal context, I helped strengthen the country office’s ability to plan strategically, monitor performance, generate credible evidence, and support adaptive management at both national and subnational levels.My role combined country-level leadership, technical oversight, inter-office coordination, and government engagement, ensuring that evidence and performance information were not treated as stand-alone technical functions, but as core tools for programme management, policy dialogue, accountability, and organizational learning.PlanningI led and coordinated key country office planning processes to ensure that UNICEF Nigeria’s programme priorities, resources, and implementation arrangements were aligned with national priorities, organizational requirements, and field realities.This included:Leading the preparation and quality assurance of major planning instruments, including annual and multi-year work planning processesSupporting the design and operationalization of results frameworks, theories of change, and performance indicators across sectorsEnsuring stronger alignment between programme strategies, evidence, budgets, and implementation capacitiesAdvising senior management on strategic planning, prioritization, risk, and performance issuesSupporting the integration of lessons from evaluations, reviews, and monitoring data into future programme designFacilitating planning coherence across sectors, field offices, and state-level implementation contextsIn this role, I helped position planning as a strategic management function, linking country programme objectives with implementation realities and evidence on what was working, for whom, and under what conditions.MonitoringI strengthened the country office’s monitoring systems and practices to improve performance tracking, implementation oversight, and timely use of data for decision-making.This included:Leading the development and strengthening of monitoring frameworks for major programmes in education, health, WASH, child protection, and social policyImproving the quality and use of programme monitoring data to support management decisions at country and field levelsSupporting performance monitoring systems for both routine implementation oversight and higher-level management reviewStrengthening the use of monitoring data for course correction, bottleneck analysis, and adaptive managementPromoting more systematic tracking of programme outputs, outcomes, and implementation risksSupporting field-based monitoring and supervision systems in partnership with programme sections and government counterpartsI also supported innovations in monitoring approaches, including the use of more structured tools and systems to improve data quality, timeliness, and operational visibility in a complex and often high-risk environment.EvaluationI designed, commissioned, and oversaw major evaluations and studies that informed programme design, government policy dialogue, and donor decision-making. These included large-scale impact and performance evaluations in areas such as education, health, WASH, and social protection, implemented in close partnership with federal and state institutions, development partners, and research teams.Evaluation design and methodological leadershipI was responsible for shaping evaluation frameworks and ensuring methodological rigor and alignment with international standards. This included:Conducting evaluability assessments to ensure interventions had clear theories of change, measurable outcomes, and adequate data systemsDesigning theory-based evaluation frameworks linking inputs and outputs to outcomes and impactsDeveloping evaluation matrices, sampling strategies, and mixed-method approaches combining quantitative and qualitative evidenceEnsuring methodological rigor, including attention to internal validity, external validity, construct validity, and statistical conclusion validitySupporting the design of quasi-experimental and other robust approaches where appropriateFor impact evaluations such as the Girls’ Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3) Cash Transfer Programme, this involved combining household survey data, programme monitoring information, and administrative education data to assess programme effectiveness and policy relevance.Terms of reference and procurement leadershipI led the preparation of detailed Terms of Reference and managed procurement processes to ensure both technical quality and operational feasibility. This included:Defining evaluation objectives, questions, methodologies, and deliverablesDrafting Requests for Proposals and supporting competitive procurement processesParticipating in technical assessments of proposals from research institutions and consulting firmsReviewing proposed methodologies and analytical approachesNegotiating contracts, timelines, and deliverables with selected teamsTechnical oversight and quality assuranceThroughout the evaluation lifecycle, I provided technical leadership and quality assurance to ensure the credibility and utility of findings. This included:Reviewing and approving inception reports and detailed designsAdvising teams on data collection protocols and analytical methodsEnsuring alignment with UNICEF evaluation standards and UNEG normsReviewing survey tools, analytical frameworks, and draft findingsEnsuring robust triangulation and sound interpretation of evidencePromoting actionable recommendations linked to programme improvement and strategic decision-makingUse of evidence and policy influenceI placed strong emphasis on ensuring evaluations were used. This included:Organizing stakeholder validation workshops and technical review meetingsTranslating findings into policy-relevant recommendationsPresenting evidence to government counterparts, donors, and UNICEF senior managementSupporting the integration of evaluation findings into programme adjustments and future planningThese efforts contributed to stronger evidence-based programming within UNICEF Nigeria and informed broader policy dialogue on service delivery, social policy, and sector reform.I also successfully mobilized technical assistance for national and state evaluation policy work, contributing to the broader institutionalization and professionalization of monitoring and evaluation in Nigeria, including efforts associated with the growth of the Nigerian Evaluation Association.Field CoordinationAs Chief of PME and Field Coordination, I also played a key role in ensuring coherence between headquarters-level strategy, country office management, and field-level implementation across Nigeria’s complex operating environment.This included:Supporting coordination across field offices and programme sections to ensure consistent planning, monitoring, and reportingLinking field realities and implementation challenges with country office decision-makingStrengthening communication and performance oversight across decentralized teamsHelping ensure that field offices were adequately supported in programme execution, monitoring, and problem-solvingPromoting greater consistency in approaches, tools, and reporting across locationsFacilitating alignment between national strategies and state-level implementation realitiesThis field coordination role was particularly important in a context marked by geographic scale, operational complexity, regional disparities, and varying implementation capacities. It required both strategic leadership and practical coordination, as well as the ability to bridge corporate requirements, programme needs, and local realities.Leadership and ManagementBeyond technical leadership, I managed a high-caliber team and contributed to overall country office management in a demanding and politically sensitive context. I led functions that supported the entire programme portfolio and country office footprint, requiring strong coordination, sound judgment, and the ability to work across sectors, disciplines, and institutional levels.This included:Leading and mentoring professional staff across planning, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination functionsAdvising senior management on programme performance, evidence, and strategic decision-makingManaging complex relationships with government partners, donors, researchers, and internal stakeholdersEnsuring quality, timeliness, and strategic relevance of core office deliverablesStrengthening a culture of accountability, evidence use, and continuous learning across the organizationAmong the significant assignments under my leadership was the Independent Evaluation of UNICEF Nigeria’s Training Investments, which reflected my broader commitment to ensuring that organizational investments, not only programme interventions, were subject to rigorous assessment and learning.