The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

Established in 2004, the UNOPS Amman Multi-Country Office (MCO) provides strategic and operational support to partners across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the Gulf countries. The MCO delivers solutions that address development, peace, and humanitarian challenges through infrastructure, procurement, project management, and human resources services. Working in close collaboration with national governments, UN agencies, and donors, the office supports efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio includes large-scale operations focused on improving essential services, strengthening national systems, and enhancing resilience in complex and fragile settings.

This position is crucial for the effective monitoring and evaluation of the Natural Resource Management (NRM) project in Syria. The role involves designing and implementing M&E frameworks, conducting data analysis, and providing recommendations to improve project performance and impact in a challenging operational environment.

The Nexus Response Mechanism (NRM) is a flagship EU-funded initiative managed by UNOPS under the DG MENA (The Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf) framework. NRM will contribute to resilience and sustainable development in Syria through linking immediate humanitarian relief with long-term socio-economic development. The project objectives are: 

• Reduce Vulnerability by addressing immediate needs through programmes that simultaneously build long-term resilience, with particular attention to areas affected by repeated displacement and infrastructure damage.

• Enable Sustainable Recovery and Stabilization by creating the Nexus, linking humanitarian assistance with early recovery and development interventions that promote human rights, inclusive governance, and social cohesion, ensuring that interventions are context-sensitive and conflict-informed.

Facilitate Returns by creating the physical and economic conditions necessary for the durable return of displaced Syrians and returnees to their homes, while prioritizing safety, social cohesion, and equitable access to services

Under the direct management of the Senior Programme Manager, the Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Officer will lead the development and implementation of the M&E framework for the NRM project in Syria, ensuring the project's activities are effectively monitored, evaluated, and aligned with project goals and objectives. The role involves data collection, analysis, reporting, and providing recommendations for continuous improvement.

1. M&E Framework Development and Implementation

• Develop and implement a comprehensive M&E framework for the NRM project, including indicators, data collection methods, and reporting mechanisms, review and update M&E frameworks periodically to incorporate lessons learned and evolving project priorities.
• Ensure the M&E framework aligns with project objectives, donor requirements, and international best practices.
• Establish data quality assurance procedures and ensure data integrity throughout the project lifecycle.
• Integrate gender, social inclusion, and environmental considerations into indicators and assessment metrics.
• Advise project teams on feasible M&E approaches for newly introduced project interventions.

2. Data Collection and Analysis

• Design and implement data collection tools and methodologies, including surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews, ensure adherence to ethical standards in data collection and management.
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to assess project progress, outcomes, and impact, collaborate with field teams to validate data and cross-check for accuracy.
• Utilize statistical software and data visualization techniques to present findings in a clear and concise manner.

3. Reporting and Dissemination

• Prepare regular M&E reports, baseline and evaluation reports, for internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to progress and donor report drafting by providing analytical insights and evidence-based findings.
• Disseminate M&E findings through presentations, workshops, and other communication channels.
• Provide recommendations for project improvement based on M&E findings, identify emerging trends, patterns, or risks from data to inform the project management.
• Develop concise briefs, dashboards, and visual summaries for external audiences.

4. Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Provide technical support and training to project staff and partners on M&E principles, methods, and tools and collaborate with partners to develop joint training materials and guidance for standardized data collection.
• Build the capacity of local stakeholders to conduct M&E activities independently.
• Promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the project team, document lessons learned and best practices for knowledge management purposes. 

5. Coordination and Collaboration

• Coordinate with the project management, technical specialists, and other stakeholders to ensure M&E activities are integrated into project planning and implementation.
• Collaborate with external evaluators and researchers to conduct independent evaluations of the project.
• Represent the project in M&E-related forums and meetings.
• Contribute to internal project meetings by providing evidence-based recommendations.
  

Required

• Ph.D./Doctorate/Post Doctorate with 2 years of relevant experience

• Masters degree or equivalent with 2 years of relevant experience

• Bachelors degree or equivalent with 4 years of relevant experience

• High School/ Secondary School Diploma with 8 years of relevant experience

Desired

• Master's degree in a related field such as Development Studies, Economics, or Statistics

• Certification in Monitoring and Evaluation

Required

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of development projects, preferably in natural resource management or related fields.

• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing M&E frameworks, data collection, and analysis.

Desired

• Experience working in conflict-affected or fragile states.

• Experience with GIS software and spatial data analysis.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.