UNDP Jobs - 52341- Monitoring and Data Analytics Specialist (DOCO)

Monitoring and Data Analytics Specialist (DOCO)

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

11-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year

Languages Required :

English

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

The United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) brings together the UN development system to promote change and innovation to deliver together on sustainable development. DOCO works under the leadership of the UNDG Chair and guidance of the UNDG. The team provides field evidence to inform policy, facilitates the achievement of shared results, and promotes excellence in UN leadership and coordination. The core objective is a relevant and impactful UN contribution to development.

DOCO works in close collaboration with the development, peacebuilding, humanitarian, human rights and administration arms of the UN and its partners, to ensure teamed-up efforts and results through the following:

Provide ideas, analysis and advocacy on the UN’s common normative and operational agenda, including on integrated development policy;
Develop and quality assure UNDG programme and operations methodology and instruments to facilitate the UN working together for development;
Support UN development system coordination mechanisms at country and regional levels, including for Delivering as One;
Support field practices on UN coordination and coherence, that result in improved efficiencies and impact;
Support the UNDG Chair, regional UNDG Chairs, ASG Advisory Group and the UN Resident Coordinators in the discharge of their leadership and coordination responsibilities;
Manage and facilitate inter-agency networks of expertise and knowledge sharing.

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader, Knowledge Innovation, Monitoring and Evaluation, the Monitoring and Data Analytics Specialist leads design and rollout of monitoring tools to advance the UNDG’s knowledge of progress on UN coherence; the impact of increased coordination on sustainable development; data collection and analysis as an input to UNDG policy adaptation and coordinate agency support to UNCTs to advance the data revolution. The Monitoring and Data Analytics Specialist works with the DOCO team to facilitate the collection and analysis of data to improve innovation across DOCO’s work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Frame, structure and prioritize data analysis tools and projects to advance UNDG strategic priorities:

Direct management of data collection, through existing systems and via design and/or oversight of additional surveys where necessary, to support monitoring of UNDG efforts to deliver together for development;
Design and oversee tools to ensure data collection to produce and analyze regular data on UNDG strategic plans and priorities, the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review Monitoring Framework and other relevant monitoring frameworks including through cooperation with the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs;
Perform data analysis and recommend areas for further data discovery using a range of data sources including but not limited to UNDG data sources to contribute to the UNDG’s ability to create an evidence base for the impact of coordination for sustainable development;
Collect evidence on the use of data, knowledge and innovation to demonstrate the impact of joined up UNDG efforts in sustainable development;
Using knowledge management networks support, engage with and promote learning among UNCT Monitoring and Evaluation teams to identify opportunities where global analytic projects, support and tools can add value to country level programming and coordination;
Identify areas where common data related infrastructure can improve efficiency, encourage collaboration and create incentives to innovate across the UN Development system.

Improve use of data, knowledge and innovation to ensure feedback loops in UNDG policies and practice:

Design mechanisms for open data analysis and engage members of the UNDG to actively use the UNDG Information Management System;
Contribute to the planning, implementation and monitoring of UN DOCO’s knowledge and innovation strategies
Collaborate with communications experts within DOCO and across the UNDG, where relevant, to generate data to be used in infographics, videos and other communication tools to facilitate the use of data for advocacy purposes;
Explore and craft partnership opportunities with UN agencies and entities to advance the data revolution across the UN development system;
Support UNDG working mechanisms in the development, roll out and adaptation of guidance and tools on data, knowledge and innovation;
Advise on and oversee the design and use of case studies to integrate quantitative and qualitative data as part of the UNDG’s efforts to monitor the impact of coordination in development and humanitarian contexts
Advise on and draft reports to demonstrate DOCO’s contribution to UNDG strategic priorities;
Lead DOCO capacity development on data collection, analysis and use in sustainable development coordination. Promote the use of existing tools, and create others where needed, that improve real time monitoring and use of alterative data sources to reduce the information gap on key areas of UN coordination and sustainable development

Management of the UN Development Group Information Management System (UNDG IMS):

Lead on design and management of the UNDG;
Backstop RC office and UNCT member use of the system to ensure accurate data collection and entry;
Increase capacities and understanding of the use of the new tool in UN DOCO, UNDG Working Mechanisms and others as needed on the new information system;
Monitor the use and impact of the new system and recommend areas for further improvement and development;
Oversee maintenance and administration of the UNDG IMS;
Generate reports from UNDG IMS and increase report generation capacity of Regional, Country and Global staff working on the UNDG strategic priorities. Create a narrative based on the data generated from the system for global annual reporting;
Where viable, plan for interoperability of the UNDG IMS with other tools including the UNDG website, common directory, Devinfo and other databases as relevant;
Advise on and develop open data policies and portals for DOCO and support inter-agency efforts to increase data availability and access through open data platforms.

Improve knowledge base for UN Country Team joint monitoring and evaluation functions:

Use knowledge exchange networks and tools within and outside the UNDG to increase UNCT knowledge exchange on monitoring and evaluation;
Design methods to make use of external capacities, including through collection, procurement and updating of rosters of expertise to support monitoring and evaluation of UN Development Assistance Frameworks and other UN-wide strategic plans;
Together with the Programme and Operations Team, plan, organize and coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities to be conducted by UN DOCO. Design and oversee initiatives to increase analysis of available data and use for advocacy and capacity development across the UN Development System;
Together with the Programme and Operations Team, support UNCTs to conduct quality UNDAF evaluations and develop analytical tools to increase evidence base on the collective impact of the UN system at country level;
Document and promote examples of technology and innovation in monitoring and evaluation across the UN system as input into inter-agency knowledge exchange and policy development forums;
Collaborate or coordinate with other UNDG agencies on monitoring and evaluation issues, including to explore the use of technology and innovation in monitoring and evaluation tools and indicators, including for sustainable development;
Identify and formulate UNDAF and global evaluation findings, lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader DOCO/UNDG knowledge base, disseminated publicly and channelled into UNDG decision-making processes;
Participate in monitoring and evaluation inter-agency task teams and initiatives to encourage and support innovation in monitoring and evaluation and to contribute to the formulation of new guidelines, standards, tools and methodologies;
Create knowledge tools and conduct skills development to increase capacities among coordination staff on data collection, data literacy, quantitative and qualitative data analysis and use of data in policy formation and decision making.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates and promotes the values of the UN in actions and decisions and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants;
Shows willingness to work without bias with all persons regardless of gender, nationality, religion or culture;
Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly;
Works effectively with colleagues inside the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;
Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Remains calm, composed and patient when facing conflict, manages conflict productively, focusing on mutually acceptable solutions;
Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action;
Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge; creates/contributes to mechanisms to collect and share knowledge;
Actively seeks learning opportunities; demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development;
Proposes Innovative ideas and new solutions to work.

Functional Competencies:

In-depth substantive knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation tools and methodologies and data analysis;
Ability to develop monitoring and evaluation and data analysis approaches, methodologies and databases to measure the contribution of multi-sector and inter-agency coherence in sustainable development;
Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis capacities. Advanced survey design and analysis skills a plus;
Good knowledge of sustainable development and humanitarian coordination issues, country level experience a plus;
Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain inter-agency and other professional networks and partnerships, including through social media;
Awareness of key developments in innovation and technology for development. Knowledge of the application and utility of open data, big data and citizen generated data a plus;
Demonstrated ability and use of monitoring and evaluation tools and information management systems to support increased coordination for sustainable development;
Demonstrated ability to produce timely and effective data analytics for use in policy creation, programme development and advocacy;
Strong team orientation and ability to increase the value add of inter-sectoral, multi-disciplinary teams across time zones and organizational boundaries;
Ability to speak and write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences; ability to explain complex concepts in non-technical terms
Ability to produce the business case for proposed initiatives, models and methodologies and to monitor and evaluate the impact of data, monitoring and innovation initiatives;
Analyzes and evaluates policy applications, reviews results, extracts key elements and prepares proposals to address areas of weakness in organizational performance.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Advanced degree in international relations, political Science, economics, data science or other related social science field is required.

Experience

A minimum of 7 years relevant experience at national and international levels in programme monitoring and evaluation.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English is required;
Proficiency in another UN working language is desirable.