UNDP Jobs - 57613- Impact Evaluation of Past HACT Training Workshops

Impact Evaluation of Past HACT Training Workshops

Location :

Lilongwe, MALAWI

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

08-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30Working Days

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

Pursuant to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 56/201 on the triennial policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework was first adopted in 2005 by UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. In Malawi, HACT has been implemented since 1 January 2008 and is coordinated by the HACT Working Group representing 7 UN Agencies namely: FAO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and UNW. The HACT framework represents a common operational (harmonized) framework for transferring cash to government and non-governmental Implementing Partners (IPs), irrespective of whether these partners work with one or multiple United Nation agencies.

One of the major elements of HACT is capacity development of implementing partners so that they are able to manage development assistance in general and from the UN in particular more effectively and efficiently to achieve agreed developmental results. Capacity Development (CD) is defined as a process by which individuals, groups, organizations, institutions and countries develop their abilities, individually and collectively to perform functions, solve problems and achieve objectives. Since 2011 the UN HACT Working group, the grouping of representatives of the UN Resident Coordination Office (UNRCO), government and UN agencies that have adopted HACT that coordinates the implementation of HACT in Malawi, has organized and implemented a total of 9 Training Workshops that have been facilitated by the Malawi Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi. The training workshops have been in Financial Management, Procurement Management and Results Based Management which were identified through analyses of the macro assessment and micro assessments, HACT audits and spot checks of implementing partners (Government Ministries and NGOs) undertaken to-date. A total of 332 staff members of both governmental and non-governmental partners of the UN in Malawi have participated in these training workshops with 98 participating in the RBM training, 113 in Procurement Management and 121 in Financial Management.

UNDP on behalf of the participating UN organizations in Malawi, seeks proposals from competent individuals to undertake the impact assessment of the training initiatives so as to provide a basis for decisions on the shape and type of future capacity development initiatives under HACT.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of the HACT framework is to support a closer alignment of development aid with national priorities and to strengthen national capacities and assess the extent to which the UN undertakes Capacity Development in Malawi and to determine how effective and efficient this has been in delivering the development priorities set out in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy MGDSII (MGDS II) and the UNDAF, in particular the fulfilment of partner staff capacity development under the various training initiatives since 2011 and how well they are managing resources and programmes.

Overall Objective of the evaluation will aim to:

Establish the extent to which staff of implementing partners that have undergone training in Financial Management are demonstrating adherence to organisational processes, procedures, rules and regulations governing the management of financial resources and if this is as a result of the UN training initiatives.

Establish the extent to which staff of implementing partners that have undergone training in Procurement Management are demonstrating adherence to organizational processes, procedures, rules and regulations for procurement of goods and services than they did before the training and if this behaviour can be attributed to the UN training initiative.

Conduct a desk review of key documents;
Determine if there has been knowledge transfer between staff who have undergone training and other staff within their organizations who have not undergone UN organized training in Financial Management, Procurement Management and Results Based Management;
Identify any best practices developed by the participants which can be adopted by other partners
Develop a Catalogue the opportunities that have facilitated the participants to apply the knowledge they gained in the training they attended;
Develop a Catalogue the challenges they have faced in the application of knowledge they have gained through the UN supported training initiatives;
Make recommendations on how the training initiatives can be improved and on future capacity development options that the HACT WG can use for its partners to achieve better results.

Competencies

Drive for results;
Formulating Strategies and Concepts;
Planning and Organizing;
Familiarity with UN reforms and the larger context of the changing development aid environment, particularly aid delivery, donor harmonization and alignment;
Understanding of UN programming principles.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree in Economics, Public Administration, Finance, Capacity Development or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years relevant experience undertaking similar work/assignment;
Proven experience in organizational change management and business process reviews;
Demonstrated experience in working with, or supporting, the development of new and innovative approaches, particularly in all areas relating to human resource management, innovative learning strategies and incentive programmes, knowledge management and goal alignment;
Ability to translate strategic thinking and innovative ideas into practical operational recommendations;
Excellent analytical and presentation skills;
Ability to operate in a multicultural environment with political sensitivity and to meet deadlines;
Hands-on experience working with UN/DaO processes, supporting UNCTs at country level on change and capacity development exercises.

Language:

Fluent in English.

For further details: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=23240