UNDP Jobs - 65749- Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Location :

Bujumbura, BURUNDI

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2016

Application Deadline :

03-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year Renewable

Languages Required :

English French

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 Deputy Country Director/Programme, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in a large Country Office ensures the effective implementation of the monitoring and evaluation policies, sets minimum monitoring and evaluation requirements for the Country Programme and projects, initiates and manages thematic and crosscutting evaluations, makes a consistent follow up on implementation of recommendations. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist ensures that objective monitoring and evaluations are designed and managed to assess the country programme relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of results; evaluations carried out in a credible and systematic manner; monitoring and evaluation lessons and recommendations are used for programme design, contribute to implementation of UNDAF priorities and results.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist supervises professional and support staff of the Oversight Country Office Unit.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will liaise closely with the Evaluation Office at Headquarters and the Regional Service Centre for Africa regarding monitoring and evaluation approaches and methodologies, ensuring that UNDP meets the minimum requirements for monitoring and evaluation, including the conduct of mandatory project evaluations.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist works in close collaboration with the Management Support and Business Development, Programme and Operations Teams in the CO, UNDP Evaluation Office staff and Government officials to ensure that thematic, programme and project evaluations are carried out according to schedules and that findings and recommendations are implemented and followed up.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Design of programme monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies;
Implementation of monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies;
Management of the monitoring and evaluation process;
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing on monitoring and evaluation.

Design of programme monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies:

Participates in UNDAF and UNDP programme and projects design;
Design the programme monitoring and evaluation tools in line with the UNDP Corporate Strategic Planning as well as with the UNDP Results-based principles, approaches and tools;
Provide tracking key indicators of the Programme in line with the UNDP IRRF principles and tools;
Develops monitoring and evaluation tools and processes, innovative approaches in monitoring and evaluation that meet the requirements of UNDP;
Ensure the production of the Country Office documents related to monitoring and evaluations;
Set a coordination mechanism for monitoring / evaluation plan;
Participates in the Country Office resources mobilization.

Ensures the implementation of monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Direct responsibility and accountability for planning, management and oversight of thematic, country programme/project monitoring evaluations and other types of evaluations conducted in the Country Office;
Participes in the joint UNCT monitoring and evaluation exercises;
Develops and maintains close dialogue with HQ Evaluation Office and evaluation Units in other Country Offices with a view of harmonizing evaluation approaches and agendas;
Advice to the Senior Management on the programme of work, including identification of topics, and projects/programme to be monitored and evaluated Promote the exchange of information in order to build best practices and effective programme management;
Organizes, coordinates and leads monitoring and evaluation missions for development projects, sectoral and thematic monitoring and evaluations;
Prepares and supports independent and credible evaluations in compliance with professional standards, namely with the UNP standards;
Ensures that monitoring reports and evaluations are useful and that their recommendations and conclusions are implemented;
Organizes and coordinates desk evaluations/studies on selected sectors/themes.

Ensures effective management of the monitoring and evaluation processes in the Country Office, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Promotes monitoring and evaluation standards, quality assurance/control and capacity development in the Country Office;
Prepares the Terms of Reference (TOR), consultant and evaluation team selection, technical feedback on evaluations and budget oversight;
Provides guidance on UNDP monitoring and evaluation policies, procedures and practices to programme managers, UNDP Country Office staff concerned with monitoring and evaluation, consultants and/or members of the monitoring and evaluation team.
Provides the technical advice at the design stage of programmes/projects setting up a framework with defined indicators at the design stage to facilitate the evaluation at the later stages;
Provides evaluation feedback into policy/project/programme design, including comments on various documents;
Coordinates all program monitoring activities;
Follow up on implementation of monitoring and evaluation recommendations. Ensuring the optimal use of monitoring and evaluations reports by providing guidance in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations and by developing a communication plan related to.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the area of monitoring and evaluation, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Provide training / capacity building;
Identifies and formulates lessons learned from monitoring, evaluations and studies;
Provides intellectual and conceptual contribution in the implementation of the monitoring, evaluation knowledge management and learning strategy;
Set collaboration and coordination with other UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations on monitoring and evaluation issues;
Organizes and conducts of results-oriented monitoring and evaluation trainings in the Country Office;
Participates in monitoring and evaluation community remaining abreast of latest development and professional norms, standards, tools and methodologies.

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UNDP’s interventions and activities in achieving the country’s development and the Sustainable development goals (SDGs). Effective implementation of monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies, as well as efficient management of the monitoring and evaluation process, enhance the organization’s capacity and credibility to provide leadership and high-quality technical advice on the formulation of innovative programme strategies and projects which address specific needs of the country in the UNDP Practice Areas.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and building partnerships

Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Developing new approaches

Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations)

Implementing resource mobilization strategies

Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
Identifies and compiles lessons learned.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Developing tools and mechanisms

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing; and learning;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking;
Prince2 and UNDP required certifications.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Management, Economics or related social sciences.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national and international level in international development issues, both in the field and/or HQ;
Accurate Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation with UNDP in African countries office is essential;
Experience in monitoring and evaluation with a background in the analysis of socio-economic issues and related policy matters.
Experience in managing people;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both French and English.

Note :

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged;
This post is not opened to burundian candidates.