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MONITORING AND REPORTING SPECIALIST

Location : El Fasher, SUDAN
Application Deadline :11-Jul-12
Type of Contract :FTA International
Post Level :P-3
Languages Required :
 English  
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)		01-Aug-2012
Duration of Initial Contract :1 Year with Possibility of Extension

Background
Announced at the Sirte talks in October 2007, the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund (DCPSF) is a pooled funding initiative aimed at promoting peace, stability, security, justice and social equity across diverse communities in Darfur.
 
The DCPSF is seeking to promote peace at the grassroots level by addressing conflict triggered by competition over scarce resources and a weak governance system. DCPSF is planning to commission discrete pieces of work that complement programming approaches, whilst serving to deepen contextual understanding of what drives conflict in Darfur. In this the DCPSF will work in partnership with civil society, UNAMID, UN agencies, INGOs and specialist for a as the Darfur Dialogue and Consultation process.

Through civil society, UN and INGO partners the DCPSF continues to reach across communities (Arab/non Arab, nomadic, farming and IDP, rural/urban), exploring community dispute resolution and processes of reconciliation. A Small Grants Mechanism has been established to systematically strengthen the capacity of CSOs/NGOs and improve operational service delivery.
 
The DCPSF is overseen by a Steering Committee (SC), chaired by voting members of SC on a rotational basis. A Technical Secretariat (TS) has been established to facilitate the workings of the DCPSF and shape policy and programming approaches.

Scope of the DCPSF:

Based on empirical evidence the DCPSF is keen to support a wide range of innovative, community-oriented approaches to peace building that may include the following:
  • Activities and processes that improve community democratization. Working with and through traditional authorities, and amplifying the voices of women and young people, facilitate processes that allow communities affected by conflict to play a prominent role in its resolution. Programming may focus on conflict mediation training, community workshops and/or arbitration forums, capacity building and community problem solving;
  • Activities and processes that incentivize peace through improved service delivery. Responding to needs within the health, water etc. sector can act as entry points to dialogue and consultation that, in turn, leads to a greater sense of trust and confidence amongst communities;
  • Activities and processes that provide equal livelihoods and educational opportunities thereby defusing inequity as a source of tension and driver of conflict;
  • Activities and processes that strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations/communities as facilitators of peace building processes. Training and improved organization of networks/fora will enhance the credibility/legitimacy of CSOs in the eyes of affected communities.
The Technical Secretariat of the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund is responsible for 1) preparing key policy, planning and prioritization documents for use by the Steering Committee, working groups and end-users; 2) undertaking programme and project appraisals and providing recommendations for funding allocations to the Steering Committee; 3) undertaking monitoring reviews, 4) providing regular narrative reporting of progress of DCPSF-funded programmes and projects, and 5) fulfilling the secretariat function to the Steering Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Monitoring & Evaluation/Reporting Specialist will be responsible for the following duties, under the supervision of the Head, TS:
  • Develop, in consultation with the Peacebuilding Specialist, an appropriate monitoring pro-forma for use by Participating UN Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations with their partners in reporting progress and constraints, which facilitates information sharing and informs decision-making, follow-up and audit;
  • Ascertain, in consultation with the Head of TS, that Participating UN Organizations have responsive monitoring and reporting systems to ensure proper oversight of programmes and projects funded under the DCPSF by Participating UN Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations, with particular attention being given to timely, accurate and appropriate progress updates and the identification of constraints;
  • Support, as requested, Participating UN Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations in developing a results-oriented monitoring plan, and help in identifying indicators to measure progress towards realizing the outputs of the plan;
  • Advise and assist the Head of TS in preparing and presenting workshops for Participating UN Organizations, Non-governmental Organizations and their partners, on the simple-to-operate reporting pro-forma required by the DCPSF Steering Committee.
  • Develop, in consultation with the Peacebuilding Specialist, (a) progress indicators (outputs), (b) performance indicators (efficient use of resources), and (c) outcome indicators for ascertaining progress towards realizing the overall outcome and desired impact of each programme and project funded by the DCPSF;
  • Contribute to the evaluation of NGO / CSO capacity assessments submitted by Participating UN Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations as part of proposals to the DCPSF for funding;
  • Receive and interrogate progress updates and reports received from Participating UN Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations, seeking clarification regarding gaps, contradictions and ambiguities;
  • Advise and assist the Peacebuilding Specialist in preparing guidelines for Participating UN Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations for capturing best practices and lessons learned, based on approaches pertinent to the funded interventions;
  • Advise the Head of TS, in recommending the undertaking of programme or project appraisals to the Steering Committee;
  • Assist the Head of TS, in the preparation of the consolidated progress updates and reports as required;
  • Perform other TS-related duties as assigned from time to time by the Head of TS.

Competencies
  • Professionalism – Good working knowledge of and exposure to rehabilitation and development issues; conceptual and analytical capacity to analyze programmatic and budgetary; demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment in
  • Applying Technical Expertise to reviewing proposals; ability to resolve complex issues/problems; strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement; ability to work under extreme pressure; good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to UN humanitarian protection and knowledge of the institutions of the UN system; demonstrated ability to complete studies and to formulate conclusions/recommendations; ability to relate key issues including gender, environment, governance, to political, economic, social and human rights programmes in affected country/region.
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning – Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.
  • Communications – Very good communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to convey concepts and recommendations to staff at various levels in stakeholder organizations, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style.
  • Planning & Organizing – Ability to coordinate the work of others, in this case the working groups, work to tight deadlines and handle concurrent projects/activities.
  • Technology Awareness – Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet, etc.
  • Teamwork – Very good interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in political or social science, international studies, public administration, economics, management or in a technical (e.g. engineering, earth sciences, etc.) or other relevant field; or an equivalent combination of relevant education and extensive working experience in a related area.
Experience:
  • Five years of progressively responsible experience in the related areas; at the national or international level. High level of English drafting skill is essential.
  • Knowledge of the Sudanese context, experience in a crisis and/or post conflict country context at the field level. Knowledge of management practice, operations management and resource management and/or administrative functional areas is desirable.
  • Excellent command of MS office applications (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and advanced knowledge of web based management systems (PeopleSoft, etc).
  • Good knowledge of the UN common system and understanding of agency mandates.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure and meeting deadlines.
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision, with efficiency, competence and integrity with people of different national backgrounds.
  • Experience in working with UN agencies, multilaterals, donors, NGOs and CSOs.
  • Working experience in Middle East and Africa region, particularly in Sudan, would be an asset.
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in oral and written English is essential; knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.


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