UNDP Jobs - 82309- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Innovation Speci

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Innovation Specialist

Location :

Kramatorsk, UKRAINE

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

13-Dec-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months with possible extension

Languages Required :

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

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015. In response to the situation, in 2016, UNDP has established a Project Office in eastern Ukraine with a view to consolidate and deliver the various recovery and governance projects through a comprehensive, area-based Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP) in five conflict-affected oblasts: Donetsk and Luhansk (Government Controlled Areas), as well as Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro, and Kharkiv oblasts. RPP frames UNDP’s interventions in Eastern Ukraine to address the recovery needs of conflict affected population and communities. The Programme Component has three components focusing on: (1) economic recovery and restoration of critical infrastructure; (2) restoration of governance and support to decentralization reform; (3) strengthening community security and social cohesion.To ensure the RPP activities and results are regularly monitored, evaluated and reported, UNDP invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Innovation Specialist.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Technical Specialist the M&E and Innovation Specialist will be responsible to provide overall support in developing the capacities of UNDP personnel and partners in relation to RPP M&E and facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing. The M&E and Innovation Specialist will work closely with RPP and CO M&E team staff to ensure M&E requirements are fulfilled and the M&E Framework is reported against in a timely manner with required quality checks and M&E of the entire Programme is performed to the highest standards in line with UNDP Country Office guidelines and procedures.
Specifically, s/he will perform the following key tasks:
Ensures Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment & Research Planning:

Contributes to the development and refinement of the Programme results and M&E framework. Ensure that the Programme Components have results-based annual work plans with indicators, baselines and targets established at output and activity level;
Establishes and coordinates effective mechanisms of monitoring the Programme implementation including development of evaluation tools and processes, innovative approaches;
Ensures optimal use of evaluations by providing guidance and support in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations and by developing a communication plan;
Provides technical support/advise to ensure timely and accurate measurement of change in conditions in the country or region, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country's wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies;
Prepares Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Reports capturing qualitative and quantitative aspects, according to the annual work plans and log frame. Contribute substantially to donor reporting and other communication products with the provision of evidence-based results analysis;
Provides technical support/advice to ensure that a set of RPP performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, in the context of the multi-year and annual M&E Plans, the Annual Management Plan and Annual Work Plans;
Ensures that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across Programme Components to feed into to programme performance monitoring;
Ensures that information and data from the field is captured, documented, analysed and reported in a results-based and timely manner;
Leads in the development, design and execution of a comprehensive information management system;
Performs quality control of programme data;
Monitors and analyses key program performance and management indicators, providing professional input into management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports;
Ensures that evaluations are designed and implemented in accordance with established UNDP quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely manner to stakeholders in order to improve RPP performance and contribute to wider learning;
Ensures implementation and management of evaluation policies, strategies and processes focusing on achievement of the results;
Monitors and ensures the quality of the field work and data management during the implementation phase, and the quality of the analysis and ease of understanding during the report writing phase;
Deepens use of data through programme and its projects, including new and innovative sources of data;
Ensures dissemination of evaluation findings and recommendations to the intended audiences in user-friendly methods. In particular, to ensure that effective participatory feedback is provided to community and civil society stakeholders;
Supports programme teams and senior management in planning and management of thematic, country programme/project evaluation; follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations. Ensuring the optimal use of evaluations by providing guidance in preparation of timely management response to all mandatory evaluations.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

Documents best practices and ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the area of monitoring and evaluation;
Contributes to the promotion of awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of M&E function among all staff members through communication, training, learning and development activities Programme-wide. Supports RPP and Project Office staff with effective use of tools and methodologies for planning, monitoring, reporting and measuring of indicators at the outcome level;
Contributes to the implementation of Evaluation, Knowledge Management and Learning strategies;
Cooperates with other UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations on monitoring and evaluation issues; keeps abreast of latest development and professional norms, standards, tools and methodologies.

Contributes to developing and testing new concepts, products, tools and resources:

Proposes and implements innovations in the different stages of a programme implementation;
Explores unusual and high potential impact ideas and opportunities and then links these with academia, media, youth networks, private sector, and local entrepreneurs towards solving development challenges;
Analyzes and uses social innovation to foster an environment for ideation, prototyping and production;
Researches and documents tested innovation initiatives, projects and processes;
Identifies opportunities for resource mobilisation and new partnerships and assist proposal and partnership development efforts;
Provides input in developing partnerships and networks with local innovators, organizations, NGOs, the private sector, local media and academia to build and provide a space to nurture and test new and innovative ideas.

MEASURABLE OUTPUTS OF THE WORK ASSIGNMENT:

Effective mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the Programme implementation including development of tools and processes established in line with UNDP rules and requirements;
Change in conditions in the country or region timely and accurately measured;
Programme-related data from the field is captured, documented, analysed and reported in a results-based and timely manner;
Evaluations are designed and implemented in accordance with established UNDP quality standards, the results are disseminated in a timely manner, evaluation recommendations are followed and optimally used;
Knowledge building and knowledge sharing on monitoring and evaluation: Project Office staff trained in understanding and applying results-oriented monitoring & evaluation policies, tools & methods; the application of best practices facilitated and successful experiences of the Programme in results-based monitoring & evaluation advocated through global knowledge networks.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

Multi-year and Annual M&E Plans of the RPP are fully and timely implemented in strict accordance with UNDP rules and procedures;
Reporting to donors and internal stakeholders performed according to the best UNDP results-based standards and accepted practices;
Contribution to annual Results-Oriented Annual Reporting (ROAR), ATLAS, Transparency Dashboard is provided in quality and timely manner. Inputs demonstrate the achieved results and are based on external and internal evidences;
M&E activities and products are planned, implemented and disseminated in quality and timely manner, and based on the programme needs and requests from donors and partners;
RPP Comprehensive information management system is in place and fully operational;
Relevant Programme data, best practices, lessons learned are regularly collected, updated and are available for development and programming goals;
Timely technical contributions to introduction of new and/or innovative technologies in programmes, including communication, monitoring and evaluation are established;
Opportunities on innovation-driven resource mobilization and partnerships are identified;
Substantive support of development and testing of innovation products and processes to strengthen and improve efficiency and effectiveness of UNDP programming, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and communication is provided;
Funds delivery for M&E Activities of the RPP reached 100%.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Innovation;
Leadership;
People Management;
Communication;
Delivery;
Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Monitoring and Evaluation;
Quality Assurance;
Knowledge Management and Learning;
Management and Leadership;
Result orientation;
Teamwork;
Self–management and emotional intelligence;
Capacity Development.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understands the main processes and methods of work relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Results-Based Project Development and Management:

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

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Client Orientation:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Analyses complex technical materials (including data) and makes concise relevant recommendations;
Eager to voice new ideas;
Strategic thinking, challenging existing assumptions and thinking of creative solutions to problems.

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Statistics, Political Science, Social Science or a related discipline;
At least 3 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and/or projects or related field, including hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing relationships among partners or related area;
Knowledge of information management systems is highly desired;
Experience with, or sound theoretical and applied knowledge of the UN system M&E principles will be a strong asset;
Strong knowledge of monitoring and evaluation tools is required, in particular results-based management and impact evaluations;
Extensive knowledge of advanced statistical methods for programme impact evaluation is required;
Experience in the development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative methodologies will be strong an asset;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems;
Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian is required.

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button.
Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in or paste your Resume into the last box.
Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (P-11). When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors.
Without the completed and signed P11 your application will not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at link. Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.

This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 13 December 2018
UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.