UNDP Jobs - 45896- Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant (Support to D

Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant (Support to Delivering as One)

Location :

Maseru, LESOTHO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-May-2014

Application Deadline :

02-May-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

8 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

8 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

The United Nations Country Team in Lesotho is a ‘Delivering as One’ team with an integrated Lesotho United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and Action Plan (LUNDAP), various joint programmes and a coordinated approach to implementation of individual agency programs. The UNCT encompasses the following resident agencies/programmes related presence: FAO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, WFP, WHO, the World Bank and IMF.

The UNCT is working with the LUNDAP of the period of 2013-2017, that is fully aligned with the GoL’s National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP). The UNDAF is a tool for enhanced UN’s assistance harmonization, simplification and accountability. It describes the collective response of the UN Country Team to a country’s national development goals within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the upcoming Post 2015 Agenda and other international commitments.

Further, the UNCT has a number of joint programmes under implementation and development that require a strong monitoring and evaluation framework and clear linkages to the LUNDAP M&E framework. To this regard the Monitoring and Evaluation Task Force (also known as the M&E Task Team) provides oversight and support for monitoring and evaluation. It also provides technical advice to the UN Steering Committee, the Programme Management Team (PMT) and all Cluster Working Groups (CWG) to monitor and report on results and carry out targeted process evaluations.

The UN in Lesotho is looking for a Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant to work with the M&E team on a substantive review and analysis of the LUNDAP results chain and the LUNDAP M&E framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

Build partnership programs (how can we work as one UN with all stakeholders) with timelines around agreed activities;
Identify mechanisms by which to strengthen Results based M&E, with particular attention to benchmarking cross cutting issues of gender, youth and HIV and AIDS;
Suggest ways to increase communication and exchange good practices with other countries in the region;
Enhance knowledge/skills of specific staff in UN agencies on existing approaches and methodology so as to provide timely technical assistance to all partners in the area of Results based M&E;
Initiate actions/approach to strengthen linkage between the LUNDAP comprehensive M&E mechanism/system, the National development plan M&E mechanism and imminent global sustainable developmental goals;
Facilitate the consolidation and analysis of the 2014 LUNDAP mid-term and annual progress reports.

Competencies

Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor through technical leadership in a broad range of operational areas;
Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and negotiating skills, and the ability to cope with situations which may pose conflict;
Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
Proven ability to work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relations within the RCO, with persons of different UN Agencies, government counterparts, donors and NGOs;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships;
Strong analytical aptitude and effective interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;
Ability to solve complex problems with minimal supervision;
Ability to lead formulation and evaluation of development programs and projects;
Ability to work with small multi-disciplinary, multi-national teams to deliver quality products in high stress, short deadline situations;
Ability and demonstrated capacity to work in complex environment;
Facilitation and training skill;
Proficient in computer skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in a field relevant to the assignment, for example in development studies, Statistics, Results Based Management related social science fields, or business administration.

Experience:

At least 7years of experience in the area of RBM, Strategic Planning, and M&E related capacity building;
Proven experience in the monitoring and evaluation of development projects, if possible with UN agencies;
Experience in delivering training on M&E and data analysis;
Experience in qualitative and quantitative M&E approaches;
Background in training and M&E advising in donor-funded programs and for government officials
Experience with UNDAFs and country programmes;
Experience of developing M&E results frameworks and progress reports;
Good knowledge of UN system, procedures and operational activities for development is an advantage.

Language Requirement :

Demonstrated ability to write and speak fluently in English.

Detailed terms of reference can be viewed on www.ls.undp.org.