Historique

Tanzania has held four credible general elections since the reintroduction of multi-party politics in 1992. Citizens and the government are eager to maintain this track record and to further strengthen democratic practice in Tanzania. Looking to the 2015 general election, government has undertaken early and comprehensive preparations for the electoral processes. Since receipt of official requests for UN assistance to the election cycle leading to the 2015 general election from the National Election Commission and Zanzibar Electoral Commission, a UN Needs Assessment Mission recommended the development of a project in support of the national efforts.

In addition, in 2014 the United Republic of Tanzania will likely conduct a first national referendum on a new constitution. The national EMBs and other stakeholders in preparing for these critical events have requested the support of UNDP to provide technical support to the preparation and execution of the referendum. To this end, the Democratic Empowerment Project (DEP) is a four year (2013-2016) UNDP, UN One Fund and other donor-funded project with the overall aim of contributing to Tanzania’s UNDAP’s Outcome 7: i.e. “key institutions of democracy, (i.e. EMBs, etc.) effectively implement their election and political functions”.   UN Women and UNESCO are implementing partners in a One UN Country Team context.

The DEP seeks to promote democracy and contribute to the realization of the following four objectives:

• Capacity of key democratic institutions (EMBs, CRC, RPP, etc.) enhanced to support and promote legal and institutional reform in the context of the on-going constitutional reform process and beyond;
• Capacity of the EMBs to conduct credible elections enhanced through strategic, technical and operational support and improved EMB engagement with stakeholders (i.e. political parties, CSOs, and the media) to foster a democratic environment;
• Inclusive participation in elections and politics enhanced through the empowerment of women, youth and PWDs; and
• National peace infrastructure enhanced to mitigate and prevent election-related conflicts, including violence against women in elections.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The M&E Specialist has overall responsibility and accountability for monitoring, evaluation, performance management and results reporting activities for the project.

• Development and completion of a dedicated project M&E framework;
• Implementation and monitoring of the M&E framework;
• Capacity development for institutional reforms and development;
• Knowledge management and lessons learnt.

Under the direct supervision of the DEP Project Manager and working closely with all DEP technical specialists, the M&E Specialist will be responsible for the finalization, implementation, and management of the project M&E Framework.  This will include the provision of timely and reliable performance data to project stakeholders, and supporting project reporting and learning.

• Review and update existing project M&E framework in accordance with the project document M&E plan.

• Provide technical advice for the revision of performance indicators;
  
• Ensure realistic intermediate and end-of-project targets are defined; Identify sources of data, collection methods, who collects data, how often, cost of collection and who analyzes it;
  
• Ensure all critical risks are identified and updated periodically and Identify the core information needs of central project management, the Steering and Technical committees, donor agencies and cooperating institutions;
• Identify the requirements for collecting baseline data, prepare terms of reference, support contracting of a baseline surveys, and monitor progress;
• Clarify M&E responsibilities of different project personnel;
• Contribute to the development of the Annual Work Plan, ensuring alignment with project strategy, agreement on annual targets and inclusion of M&E activities in the work plan;
• Prepare a detailed M&E budget;
• Prepare a calendar of M&E activities;
• Identify additional M&E expertise that the project needs to contract. Guide procurement.

Implementation of M&E framework:

• Oversee and execute M&E activities as per the Annual Work Plan, with particular focus on timely and reliable data on project performance, reporting on results and impacts, as well as on lesson learning;
• Promote a results-based approach to monitoring and evaluation, emphasizing results and impacts; 
• Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed;
• Foster participatory planning and monitoring by training and involving primary stakeholder groups in the M&E of activities;
• Prepare draft TORs and evaluation questions for the final evaluation in accordance with UNDP policy guidance;
• Recruit, guide and supervise consultants or organisations that are contracted to implement special surveys and studies required for evaluating project effects and impacts;
• Organise and provide training in M&E for project and implementing partner staff, local organisations and primary stakeholders with view to developing local M&E capacity.

Capacity Development and Institutional Reforms:

• Provide advice, support and recommend assistance to DEP project and senior EMB management in regards to monitoring and evaluation, performance management/ monitoring and results reporting;
• Facilitate coordination among and between DEP technical specialists and EMBs in strengthening the M&E system and results reporting;
• Working with each EMB support the development of performance management plans based on verifiable outputs and targets established by each EMB;
• Recommend and develop strategies to measure the performance of EMBs and work with each EMB to implement mechanisms for the collection and verification of performance data;
• Recommend and ensure the application of national and international best-practice in the subject areas and generate knowledge-based products, drawing on global, regional and thematic policy and advisory support resources within the UN and other development partners.

Knowledge Management and Lessons Learned:

• Working with the CTA and Project Manager, support the design and implementation of a system to identify, analyze, document and disseminate lessons learned;
• Promote a culture of lesson learning involving all project staff and allocate specific responsibilities;
• Document and disseminate lessons at least every 12 months.

The key results of the post will contribute to the UN’s efforts to consolidating democratic structures and systems of good governance in Tanzania by strengthening political, civil society and electoral systems that enhance effective participation, representation and greater political tolerance.

Compétences

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the DEP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly and without favoritism.

• Specialist knowledge and experience in the area of M&E methodologies and approaches, preferably related to elections administration and ideally in Africa;
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development and governance issues;
• Good understanding of political dynamics in government, civil society and the donor community in developing countries.

• Shares knowledge and experience, contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
• Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on electoral issues;
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes;
• Ability to apply theory to the specific country context.

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong writing, facilitation, and presentation skills;
• Builds strong relationships and networks with clients and external actors;
• Negotiation skills: capacity to work with diverse partners including government, donors and civil society;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Qualifications et expériences requises

• Masters degree in public policy research, economics, political science, development management, public administration, social sciences, or other area relevant to the assignment.

• At least 5 years’ direct experience in monitoring, evaluation, performance management/monitoring and reporting in development projects, including experience with:
• M&E methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory);
• Planning, design and implementation of M&E systems for large scale development projects;
• Devising and delivering training in M&E development and implementation and/or facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of M&E data with multiple stakeholders;
• Data and information analysis;
• Report writing.

Other desired qualifications include:

• Ideally, significant experience (2 years+) implementing M&E systems in an elections support project, or in support of electoral processes;
• Good understanding of concepts and approaches in democratic governance and electoral management;
• Expertise in gender analysis, mainstreaming concepts and approaches;
• Institutional capacity building experience, training, project design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills desirable;
• Knowledge of UN processes and management systems an advantage;
• Experience with UN, governments, donors, non-government and international development organizations;
• Excellent analytical, communication, writing and presentation skills;
• Conversant with standard office computer software and basic database software (Access, Excel, etc.) suitable for M&E data management;
• Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa an advantage;
• Willingness to travel frequently in Tanzania and to work extensive hours.

• Fluent written and spoken English essential;
• Knowledge of Kiswahili an asset.