UNDP Jobs - 49965- M&E and Statistic Specialist (RCO)

M&E and Statistic Specialist (RCO)

Location :

Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

03-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

10-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide the basis for the UN’s strategic positioning and support to national development plans. Drawing on best practices from a global perspective, the UN formulates and coordinates innovative approaches to development that are suited to the unique political, economic and social context of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

PNG’s MDG Progress Report (2010) reveals that the country achieved some of the country-tailored targets set in the Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010, particularly on MDG 1 (poverty reduction) and MDG 4 (child mortality), but did not achieve any of the internationally agreed MDG targets. It is unlikely that PNG will meet any of the MDGs by end 2015.

The UN system in Papua New Guinea supports national development and humanitarian operations in the country through the activities of 14 UN agencies represented on the ground.

Delivering as One in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea became a UN Delivering as One (DaO) self-starter country in 2007, with the design of the One Programme and (UNDAF) Action Plan. Since then, the UN Country Team (UNCT) has proceeded with an advanced reform programme aimed at reducing duplication, fragmentation and transaction costs of the programming efforts of the UN, while enhancing transparency and accountability of UN interventions in the country. The overall aim of the DaO model is to provide development assistance in a more coordinated manner, in order to increase the UN system’s impact through more coherent programmes.

With the full support and encouragement of the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG), the UNCT have put in place a Joint UN Country Strategy based on five pillars:

One Country Programme;
One Fund;
Communicating as One;
Operating as One;
One House.

The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2012-2015, Action Plan and Results Matrix constitute the overarching programming and operational framework for all UN agencies. The current UNDAF 2012-2015 is the second joint programme where the UN in PNG coordinates human and financial resources under the DaO framework.

The UNDAF is aligned to government frameworks and national priorities, namely Vision 2050, the Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 and Medium Term Development Plan 2011-2015. In 2014, the GoPNG launched an addendum to the PNG Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030. In line with this, the government is extending the current 2011-2015 Medium Term Development Plan by two years to 2017 to take into account changes to the 2010-2030 Development Strategic Plan. In the spirit of DaO, to fully support the achievement of PNG’s national priorities and goals, the UN system is in the process of aligning the current UNDAF 2012-2015 and Action Plan to the revised time-frame. Development of a new UNDAF 2018-2021 will commence in quarter 4 of 2016.

The current UNDAF 2012-2015 comprises four cluster outcomes. Under these clusters there are ten outcomes, with a task team dedicated to each outcome (one outcome has two task teams, making eleven Task Teams in total). The Task Teams are multi-agency, ensuring programmes are jointly designed and implemented.

One Fund

The functioning of the PNG UN Country Fund – the ‘One Fund’ - represents positive progress on the harmonization of resource mobilization efforts across the UN in PNG. The ‘One Fund’ allows the UN in PNG to move towards a single financing method for development.

The governance arrangements of the PNG UN Country Fund ensure national ownership and alignment with national priorities through the Government of Papua New Guinea’s co-chairing of the UN Programme Steering Committee. The management responsibilities are divided between the Resident Coordinator, the Government of PNG and the UN Country Team.

The Resident Coordinator is responsible for the strategic leadership of the PNG Country Fund. This involves:

Engaging in joint resource mobilisation for the PNG UN Country Fund;
Ensuring the allocation process is documented;
Ensuring consolidated PNG Country Fund level reporting in collaboration with the administrative agent and based on submissions received from participating UN organizations.

The Government of PNG - UN Programme Steering Committee is responsible for:

Monitoring the overall results of the UNDAF;
Outlining programmatic priorities;
Allocating resources at the inter-agency outcome level.

The UNCT is responsible for:

Monitoring the overall delivery of joint UN country strategy results;
Meditation of disputes in case of disagreements on allocations, utilization or management of the PNG UN Country Fund
Putlining programmatic priorities;
Allocating resources at the inter-agency outcome level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Coordination Specialist, the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Statistics Specialist supports the UNCT in the evaluation of UN initiatives and the regular monitoring and reporting of UNDAF results. She / he will provide technical expertise to annual work plan reviews, the extension of the current UNDAF 2012-2015 (to be extended until 2017) and the development of a new UNDAF.

The M&E and Statistics Specialist will also support Task Teams on data and statistical analysis, quantitative and qualitative data collection, and information sharing. This includes developing and disseminating appropriate tools and methodologies for data collection, monitoring and evaluation.

Together with UN agencies, the M&E and Statistics Specialist actively promotes the strengthening of national statistical capacity through supporting an M&E network with national partners. These activities contribute to capacity building to utilize development data for the development and monitoring of relevant programmes at the national and subnational levels.

Key functions include:

Utilises specialised Monitoring & Evaluation and Statistics knowledge and background to enhance capacity of UN staff and improve system-wide processes. This includes developing and disseminating new M&E and reporting templates. Deliverables include:

Finalization of a revised M&E Framework, to form an integral part of the UNDAF Monitoring and Evaluation Process of the revised 2012-2017 UNDAF;
Finalization of technically sound and clearly defined SMART indicators for each UNDAF Outcome as part of the UNDAF extension process and development of the new UNDAF;
Development of tools for the collection of socioeconomic and other data.

Acts as the UN system-wide focal point for knowledge building and management. This includes identifying new approaches and strategies for better knowledge building and management, promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing, and developing awareness of various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources.

Develops capacity of UN staff and government counterparts by organising and running training on coordination issues, monitoring and evaluation, and results-based management. These activities would be supported by specialised consultants, when appropriate.

Develops and disseminates results-based programme development and management tools, including identifying country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach; setting performance standards; and monitoring and reporting on progress. Tracks bottlenecks, problems and issues with joint agency initiatives, and proposes solutions. Working closely with the RC and the UNCT, intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes. Makes use of a variety of resources to help achieve improved results and reporting through establishment of cross-functional teams and collaborative funding approaches. Researches links across programme activities to identify critical points of integration.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (including honesty, impartiality, objectivity and integrity);
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN (including high level commitment to deliver results and quality work);
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Shares relevant knowledge and experience from within and outside the UN Country Team;
Encourages UN staff to share knowledge and experience;
Develops deep understanding of, and commitment to, UNDAF, UN System reform and MDGs/SDGs.

Coordination Effectiveness

Experience of building and sustaining effective partnerships with UN Agencies, government and main partners through advocating effectively, and communicating sensitively across different constituencies.

Management and Leadership

Focuses on delivering impact and results;
Establishes priorities; schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources; monitors performance against development and other objectives and corrects deviations from the course;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with UN staff, clients and external actors;
Manages conflict and stress, remaining composed;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexity;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behaviour with a view to constant improvement.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Statistics, Demography, Social Sciences, Economics or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years work experience in RBM, project cycle management and M&E (ideally in a variety of cultural settings);
Has knowledge/experience of data analysis and statistical analysis, quantitative and qualitative data collection and research methods, results database system, and results based reporting;
Experience with the UN System, UN Programming and UN coordination structure would be an advantage;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software package is essential.

Language Requirements:

Full working knowledge of English, including excellent drafting and presentation skills;
knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage.