Background
The importance of accurately measuring results of UNDP’s programmes and projects as well as communicating those results to our partners and the general public, cannot be overstated. Results-based Management (RBM) is integral to how UNDP designs, implements, monitors and evaluates its programmes and projects. Reporting on and communicating results of development programmes and projects are much richer if based on evidence collected through the monitoring and evaluation process. It is the principle on which UNDP’s quality assurance of its country programmes and projects is premised. Hence, it is critical that UNDP’s programmes and projects have clear results frameworks, robust M&E systems in place, and the human resources with the appropriate levels of skill sets to develop and operationalize RBM-based planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.
In this context, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) is going to develop a roster of specialists on Results Based Management to provide dedicated support to its programmes and projects in the Asia Pacific region. Once included in the roster, the selected candidates will work when needed under the direct supervision of the Team Leader, RBM Unit/Country Office Support and Quality Assurance in BRH or UNDP CO senior management that hires them for their services.
Objective
The overall objective is to assist UNDP programmes and projects in developing and strengthening results frameworks, monitoring frameworks, monitoring plans, evaluation plans, and quality of reports. The nature of the support will entail capacity development through short-term training on RBM or topic-specific training on various aspects (e.g. Theory of Change, indicators, results reporting, etc.), facilitation of workshops (e.g. to develop Theory of Change for programmes and projects, or results framework of a new Country Programme or a new project), and technical support to develop M&E strategies and guidelines, M&E systems and procedures, and/or M&E tools and templates. It will also include supporting the Country Offices (COs) in improving the quality of programming by applying UNDP’s quality criteria for programmes and projects. In addition, it will also include supporting the COs in doing better quality reporting by using results language, evidence-based reporting, and ensuring stronger linkages between reporting of activities, outputs and outcomes and consistency in data use and quality in reporting.
Duties and Responsibilities
To be considered for inclusion in the roster, applications would need to have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Capacity development on RBM, monitoring and evaluation;
- Providing training in and facilitation for developing Theory of Change for programmes and projects;
- Providing training on evaluation;
- Developing results frameworks, monitoring frameworks and M&E systems;
- Developing capacity in results reporting.
Tasks assigned in each individual assignment may include one or more of the following:
Capacity development on RBM and results-based monitoring.
- Design and deliver training to staff from the UNDP Country Office, projects, and implementing partners on RBM principles and practices particularly the way in which UNDP applies them in its programmes and projects;
- Design and deliver training on monitoring including concepts of various types of monitoring and monitoring tools;
- Include in the training, a module on SMART indicators, types of indicators and selecting indicators;
- Develop a training module on data, types of data, collecting and recording data, data analysis and use;
- Ensure that gender results are monitored and indicators are gender responsive;
- Deliver such a training in a participatory manner;
- Apply the RBM concepts to real projects and programmes that UNDP is supporting so that the participants can later apply the same and improve the quality of their programmes and projects.
Providing training in and facilitation for developing Theory of Change for programmes and projects:
- Presenting the concept of Theory of Change and its use;
- Training on how to develop a theory of change for Country Programmes and projects;
- Facilitating workshops on developing theory of change;
- Developing the diagrammatic representation of the theory of change and writing up the narrative that explains the theory of change;
- Explaining the linkages between a theory of change and results and monitoring frameworks.
Providing training on evaluation:
- Designing and delivering training on the concept of programme and project evaluation, various types of evaluations and their use for programming, lessons learned, accountability, and improvement;
- Elaborating on the concepts of equity-based and gender responsive evaluation;
- Including a module on developing Terms of Reference for evaluations and other key aspects such as the evaluation matrix, evaluation questions, etc;
- Introducing key aspects of ensuring quality of the Inception Report and Evaluation Report;
- Setting up an effective governance mechanism to manage evaluation;
- Preparing management responses to evaluation recommendations and using the findings and recommendations of evaluations.
Developing results frameworks, monitoring frameworks and M&E systems:
- Developing a robust results framework that is linked to the theory of change;
- Facilitating workshops to develop outcomes and outputs in a results framework;
- Developing outcomes and output indicators, identifying data sources and data collection methods, and responsible parties;
- Developing M&E systems including M&E strategies and guidelines, tools and templates, roles and responsibilities, monitoring plans, indicator protocol sheets, etc;
- Supporting Country Offices in developing robust planning and M&E systems as per corporate requirements and setting up the necessary standard operating procedures including data collection systems and capacities for data analysis.
Developing capacity in results reporting:
- Training on doing effective reporting of results;
- Using results language (versus action language);
- Illustrating the results hierarchy and how to show the linkages between them and capture the most critical results in reporting;
- Identifying good gender results and how to report them;
- Integrating data and evidence to strengthen credibility of the report;
- Communicating and presenting the results effectively so that the issue, action and impacts are clear to the readers.
Supervision and Performance Evaluation
The supervision and performance evaluation will be carried out by the unit hiring the consultant for his/her services. If BRH is hiring, the consultant will report to the Team Leader of the RBM Unit, Country Office Support and Quality Assurance. If the consultant is hired by a UNDP Country Office or a project, he/she will report to the management of the hiring unit as specified in the terms of reference for the assignment. A specific Terms of Reference (TOR) outlining the outputs and detailed arrangement for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract (IC) will be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame.
Competencies
Professionalism
- Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
- Exercises the highest level of responsibility and able to handle politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
- Results and client-oriented;
- Highly detail-oriented;
- Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
- Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time and produces quality results to meet established goals;
- Willingness to travel to programme countries and project sites.
Training, facilitation and communication
- Excellent training skills;
- Excellent facilitation skills;
- Excellent writing, presentation and verbal communication skills;
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills, especially in a multi-cultural environment;
- Communicates effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner;
- Excellent report writing skills.
Teamwork
- Work well in a team to advance the priorities of UNDP as a whole;
- Ability to work with a multicultural environment and a multidisciplinary team;
- Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
- Welcomes constructive feedback.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Master’s degree in a relevant field of study (e.g. monitoring and evaluation, development studies, economics, political science, statistics, sociology, communication, and related fields)
Experience:
- Minimum 7 years of experience in developing, reviewing, implementing results frameworks and M&E systems and processes, and/or writing results reports in the context of development interventions;
- Proven record of designing and facilitating trainings on RBM, M&E and/or Results Reporting;
- Extensive knowledge of results based management, monitoring and evaluation required;
- Sound knowledge of Theory of Change and its applications and delivering training on theory of change;
- Knowledge of current issues and innovation in result-oriented monitoring, including trends, principles, and methodology;
- Experience in designing either quantitative and/or qualitative data collection methods for programmes and projects;
- Excellent analytical and writing skills;
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge of any of the thematic areas UNDP engages in.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English (written and oral)
Evaluation of Applicants
Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above. Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above and may be may be requested to participate in a brief interview.
Qualified women are encouraged to apply.
Applications should include:
- A cover letter, clearly identifying the “Areas of Expertise” as mentioned in the background section above;
- Updated CV with phone/email contacts.
Successful candidates will be included in UNDP RBAP Experts Roster for a period of 5 years, in one of the “bands” indicated above. However, the addition of an individual in the Roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.
Contracting
- When a request for services arises, the roster manager shall Contact the individuals included in the specific area of expertise with ToR, location and dates of the assignment seeking confirmation of availability, as well as other costs such as living allowance, travel cost, etc. The daily fee quoted by the individual during this application process shall remain as the ceiling fee and cannot be increased upwards for any offered individual assignment(s).
- Travel: For each assignment UNDP shall reimburse cost of travel from the place of domicile of the individual to the place of assignment (most direct economy fare).
- The individual selected for the deployment will be contracted as an Individual Contractor to the UNDP. The Contract template and associated conditions are available at
http://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/operations/procurement.html - The Contract and its terms and conditions are non-negotiable.
Payment:
Payment(s) shall be made following certification by the hiring UNDP Office that the services related to each deliverable, as specified in the contract, have been satisfactorily performed and the deliverables have been achieved by or before the due dates specified, if any.
Other information
- This call for experts is not linked to other UNDP rosters or to a specific UNDP recruitment opportunity;
- Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
For any clarifications please write to rbap.icroster@undp.org