UNDP Jobs - 13658- Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

Location :

Harare, ZIMBABWE

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Dec-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

18 Months

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

UNDP is a key partner to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and is the UN agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient of GFATM grants in Zimbabwe. In its role as Principal Recipient, UNDP ensures quality financial management, timely procurement of supplies, and efficient monitoring and service delivery.

UNDP‘s management role consists of implementing grants, ensuring financial accountability, and training of national and international counterparts on programme management, financial accountability and timely programmatic reporting to the CCM and GF Secretariat. To ensure effective and efficient management of the GF programme in Zimbabwe, UNDP Zimbabwe is in the process of establishing a Project Management Unit (PMU) to manage the GF grant is seeking the services of a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to provide overall technical leadership for M&E approach and strategy for the program.

Under the overall guidance of GFATM Project Coordinator, the M&E Specialist will provide M&E expertise in the development and implementation of the M&E Plan, build capacities of staff and local partners and ensure that data quality standards are monitored, met and reported timely. The M&E Specialist will oversee three M&E Officers of the three disease areas. The Specialist will lead in identifying M&E technical needs of SRs and SSRs and make appropriate recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist ensures the following responsibilities:

Ensure the implementation of monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies, focusing on achieving the following results:

Participate in and contribute to the finalization of Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks for the Global Fund Programmes;
Develop monitoring and evaluation tools and processes for all Global Fund grants;
Provide technical support to the SRs and SSRs to strengthen their monitoring and evaluation systems for Malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV and AIDS programmes and HSS component;
Develop and update as necessary Monitoring and Evaluation plans for Malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV and AIDS grants, consistent with the national M&E framework, in consultation with the MoHCW and the National AIDS Council;
Develop systems and tools, and training materials to train the MoHCW, NAC and other implementing partners personnel;
Conduct assessment of the Sub-Recipients (SR) and Sub-sub Recipients (SSRs) capacity in the field of M&E, and develop and lead the implementation of a capacity development plan, in collaboration with the Capacity Development Specialist;
Provide technical guidance for the implementation of the M&E plan, through training and other on-site support;
Facilitate review of progress on a quarterly basis; problem solving and development of remedial actions ensuring any disparity between planned and actual outputs are addressed;
Assist UNDP in the identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks and recommend appropriate strategies to address them;
Manage and provide leadership to a team of three M&E Officers assigned to the three disease areas; and
Prepare quarterly and annual programmatic progress updates on GF programmes

Ensures effective management of the monitoring and evaluation process, focusing on achieving the following results:

Ensure that project monitoring arrangements comply with GFTAM grant agreement and that the provisions of the Grant Agreement are fully observed;
Review the management information systems of the PR and Sub recipients and agree on required changes, support and resources to ensure that data quality standards are monitored and met;
Review the quality of existing data sources, the methods of collecting them and the degree to which they will provide good baseline data for mid-term and end of project evaluations. Based on this review consult partners to develop approaches to address identified gaps;
Prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) for baseline, mid-term, and end-line surveys including methodology preparation, sample selection and staff training if needed, and provide overall technical direction for the conduct of the surveys;
Provide evaluation feedback into the global fund programmes
Follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations. Ensure the optimal use of evaluation findings by providing guidance in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations and by developing a communication/dissemination plan.

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

Identify and formulate lessons learned and document best practices from evaluations and studies to be integrated into project reports;
Collaborate and coordinate with other UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations on monitoring and evaluation issues;
Lead the design and delivery of M&E and HIS training and/or capacity building to personnel of MoHCW, NAC and other sub-recipients, and implementing partners involved in the implementation of GFATM grants;
Maintain cooperative relationship with all key stakeholders, including CCM, SRs and SSRs, policy makers and donor partners; and
Participate in external supervision and evaluation missions of the GFATM and other agencies by facilitating access to M&E data as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treat all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promote knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Development and Operational Effectiveness;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects

Management and Leadership

Build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Lead teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Masters Degree in Public Health/Health Sciences or Social Sciences with 7 years M&E related experience in the field of tropical diseases, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
Extensive knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies i.e. both quantitative and qualitative data collection, processing and analysis;
A strong background in health programmes, having managed projects wherein systematic input, output and process data were colleted and used to guide programming;
A good understanding of routine health information systems, and literacy in management information systems;
Knowledge of sampling and questionnaire design.

Experience:

Experience designing and implementing country level M&E and HIS trainings;
Minimum of 7 years professional experience, which includes 3 years of international experience in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments in developing countries;
Experience working with and maintaining good relations with international, as well as counterparts and beneficiaries (e.g. International and Local NGOs and government representatives;
Ability to work in a team.Solid experience in the management of people and systems in high-pressure environments. Strong IT skills.

QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.