UNDP Jobs - 51805- Regional Monitoring Specialist

Regional Monitoring Specialist

Location :

Panama City, PANAMA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

05-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

05-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of the Country Office and Regional Programme Support Team the Regional Monitoring Specialist’s responsibility is principally the coordination of the work of the Regional monitoring and planning area and provision of high level technical support and advisory for Results Based Management, planning, monitoring and evaluation across the region.

The Regional Monitoring Specialist is based in Panama, works in close relation with the Compliance and Operations Area, the Regional Programme Area, the South-South and KM area and in support to the Country Specialists interface role with Country Offices. He/she also liaises as needed with BPPS Team Leaders, Country Offices and the Central Evaluation Office and other relevant central Bureaux and liaises closely with internal and external evaluation networks and partners, including other UN Agencies. The incumbent will be expected to bring to bear his/her cutting-edge technical expertise to support the UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean in designing and managing high quality evaluations, establishing results oriented monitoring practices to support high quality, evidence based and results oriented programming in the UNDP.

The Regional Monitoring Specialist works towards the coordination of the work of the Regional monitoring and planning Area and provision of high level technical support and advisory for Results Based Management, planning, monitoring and evaluation across the region contributing to the following results of the:

Improved quality, credibility and use of the decentralized evaluations in the region;
RBM and M&E skills and practices of the LAC Country Offices, UN Country Teams and the Regional Programme developed forimproved development effectiveness;
Knowledge and practices on RBM, monitoring and evaluation improved through a Regional Community of Practice on Evaluation and knowledge management;
Local, national and regional RBM, M&E capacity development supported and experiences exchanged through comprehensive partnerships to allow for effective public policies, programmes and institutions, and improved accountability and transparency for democratic governance.

Managerial Functions:

The Regional Monitoring Specialist is responsible for the overall coordination of the Work in RBLAC in monitoring and planning areas, including:

Planning, monitoring and reporting of the work of the Regional Monitoring and planning Area;
Leading of the Regional Monitoring and Planning Support Area and the work of the Associate Experts in provision of technical advisory to ensure high quality support which is relevant and responsive to the needs of the internal and external clients;
Managing the Regional Monitoring and Planning Support Area oversees the work of one RBM Analyst;
In consultation with the Chief of the Country Support and Regional Programme Team, responsible forperformance and career management and supervision of his/her respective area staff to motivate and promote organizational excellence;
Efficient financial management of the resources of the Area in line of UNDP rules and regulations;
Including implementation of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the Evaluation Area;
Team work - Promotes cross-unit team work.

S/He works closely with the Planning, Reporting and Oversight Team in HQ.

Technical Functions:

Lead the technical support and oversee the design, management, implementation and use of evaluations commissioned at regional and country levels;
Lead the technical support for improved skills and practices in RBM, Planning, Results Oriented Monitoring and Development Evaluation;
Lead the facilitation of Regional Communities of Practice and other knowledge management mechanisms;
Lead the advisory support to local, national and regional RBM, M&E capacity development and actively promote exchange of experiences and good practices through comprehensive partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the technical support and oversee the design, management, implementation and use of evaluations commissioned at regional and country levels by:

Lead the integral technical assistance to the design, management, implementation and use of evaluations in the region and provide quality control of substantive and process-related aspects of regional and country-level evaluations by supporting the formulation of quality TORs with evaluation stakeholders, supporting the selection of consultants and the ensuring the quality of evaluation inception and final reports to assure independence, cost-effectiveness, quality and utility of all evaluations;
Develop briefs and reports as needed as part of an overall dissemination and use of evaluation findings to support regional and corporate reporting and communications , including the systematization of lessons learning from evaluation in coordination with RBLAC units and Country Offices,in coordination with Planning, Reporting and Oversight Team;
Guide the use and transparency of evaluation findings to improve the quality of programmes, strategic decision making and learning;
Maintain and up-date the quality assurance, approval and support mechanism for evaluation plans, which includes monitoring of their implementation and development and implementation of corresponding management responses (as per UNDP quality criteria, guidelines, and requirements);
Report on CO compliance in the development and implementation of evaluation plans and management responses to evaluation; and
Facilitate the public access to all evaluation plans, evaluation reports and management responses produced in the region through the Evaluation Resource Center (ERC).

Lead the technical support for improved skills and practices in RBM, Planning, Results Oriented Monitoring and Development Evaluation by:

In close coordination with Country Specialists, lead the design and support to the implementation of a monitoring and evaluation Strategy for the Regional Programme (2014-2017);
Support the implementation of corporative initiatives in the region, including COSI and Strategic Plan alignment processes,to improve quality of the UNDP programmes through RBM and quality M&E;
In the context of the alignment to the new Strategic Plan 2014-2017, support systematically the planning of UN Development Assistance Frameworks and UNDP Regional and Country Programmes, and selected project planning processes, including the construction of Theories of Change and SMART results frameworks to ensure evaluability, linkages to National M&E strategies and to support quality monitoring;
Lead advisory to M&E function in the COs, including establishment and strengthening of the M&E positions and units;
Lead the provision of technical support to the development of Results oriented M&E strategies/ plans, including Results Oriented Annual Reports ROARs; and
Lead the design and provision of training processes, methodologies and materials on RBM, planning and M&E.

Lead the facilitation of Regional Communities of Practice and other knowledge management mechanisms by:

Facilitate, and strengthen the regional UNDP Community of Practice on Evaluation to promote networking and experience sharing among M&E practitioners, including organization of face-to-face and virtual events; promote its continued relevance in line with the strategic plan and corporate priorities;
Coordinate, review performance and regularly update the Evaluation Area Associate Expert Network, including identification of potential future Experts;
Create, update and maintain databases M&E support expertise, lessons learnt and good practices,practical tools and methodologies to be made available to Country Offices and other members of the Community of Practice upon demand;
Align M&E work with the policies and work in monitoring and evaluation at the corporate level in UNDP as well as in other regional networks, communities (and sub-communities) of practice, and other relevant partners; and
Support the incorporation of LAC inputs in the corporate policies, practices and reports on RBM, M&E.

In close coordination with Country Specialist lead the advisory support to local, national and regional Results Based Management, Monitoring and Evaluation capacity development and actively promote exchange of experiences and good practices through comprehensive partnerships by:

Participate in the implementation of the LAC Regional Programme to lead the support to M&E and results-based management capacities of regional and national institutions;
Lead the advisory to formulation and implementation of national RBM, M&E strategies and establish linkages to the Result Based Management frameworks of the UNDAF, CPDs and CPAPs/AWPs;
Support the systematic integration of M&E concerns into national planning processes;
Liaise with other UN agencies to support national evaluation capacity development, enhance coherence, harmonization and efficiency in the evaluation function in the region, and plan and implement joint evaluations
Liaise with regional and national evaluation associations, universities and private Consultancy firms, experts and other relevant actors to enhance alignment and coherence; and
Build strategic partnership to support RBM, M&E function and practices in the region.

Ensures integrity and effectiveness in the management of the Monitoring and Planning Support team by:

Providing strategic guidance and overseeing the resources management including staff motivation and learning activities to ensure adherence to policies and procedures and the accountability framework;
Establishing the team’s annual work plans and setting objectives, performance measurements, standards and expected results in collaboration with his/her supervisor;
Supervising and assessing work in progress to ensure delivery of results according to performance standards, overall objectives and accountability framework;
Providing intellectual leadership and technical guidance and taking timely decisions to meet objectives, escalating to his/her supervisor as needed; and
Promoting teamwork to facilitate harmonization, linkages, collaboration and synergy in order to ensure staff members are provided sufficient information, guidance and support to develop their capacity, share their expertise, expand the reputation of the team, and perform and deliver results according to organizational and professional standards of efficiency, accountability and integrity.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work;
Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow;
People Management - Ability to improve performance and satisfaction;
Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform;
Delivery - Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional Competencies:

Primary:

Monitoring and Evaluation - Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations;
Strategic Planning - Ability to make decisions that align with strategy and vision;
Results Based Management - Ability to synthesize monitoring data and make changes throughout the life of the programme or project;
Development Planning - Knowledge of development planning processes at macro and sectoral levels and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;
Data Measurement - Ability to set goals and indicators and to interpret and synthesize results into usable information to inform policy, strategy, and/or action.

Secondary:

Partnerships - Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships;
Relationship Management - Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Economics and/or Development Studies or related field;
Specialized courses in Development Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Experience:

A minimum of seven years of solid experience in Results Oriented development, planning, monitoring and evaluation;
Demonstrated expertise in diverse economic and development typology of countries (MICs, LDCs, NCCs and crisis countries);
Experience in working with the United Nations or other international agency, and preferably with the UNDP , specifically in the area of monitoring and evaluation;
Strong knowledge of Latin America and the Caribbean and deep understanding of current development issues;
Deep knowledge of planning, monitoring and evaluation approaches, processes and methodologies;
Consolidated training experience in development planning, monitoring, and evaluation design, management and methodologies;
A track record of extensive national/international working experience in Latin America and the Caribbean with increasing managerial responsibilities;
Strong management experience in a global multi-cultural setting and ability to lead teams and contribute to team work;
Experience in financial and human resources management;
An extensive network of international and individual contacts and networking skills;
Resource mobilization skills and client orientation;
E-literate in terms of software and e-networking.

Language:

Excellent written and oral English and Spanish communications skills;
Working knowledge in Portuguese or French will be an asset;
Excellent written and verbal communication required.