Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Technical Specialist - Global Sustainable Supply Chains for Marine Commodities

Overexploitation of marine fisheries is a major global issue and a key driver of changes in the marine environment. Excessive fishing is caused by a variety of inter-acting factors, including the growing global demand for seafood.  Growing demand for seafood is driven by complex interactions of several factors, including population growth, diet diversification in industrialized countries, growing emphasis on seafood as a healthy and nutritious food, rising income and a related change in diet preferences in developing countries, rapid urbanization and the associated increase in demand of more processed and higher value added products, increased trade, improved distribution channels, and transformations in the food distribution and retail sectors.

There are many examples of how the market forces have been a major driver of overfishing and fisheries collapse when natural resources management is deficient. However, the same market forces can promote sustainable fisheries if the demand focuses on seafood from sustainable sources and therefore pull improvement along the value chain. Therefore, several market tools have been explored, from consumer education and awareness, to ecolabeling. Nowadays, Marine Stewardship Council is the largest fisheries certification scheme, and despite the value of certification and ecolabeling, several fisheries, mainly from developing countries, cannot enter this scheme for various reasons.

To bridge this gap, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) initiated the concept of fisheries improvement projects (FIPs). A FIP is a collaborative effort of the value chain stakeholders (from fishermen to retailers) to improve the sustainability of the fishery. FIPs give an opportunity to fisheries that cannot be certified or do not wish to be certified to benefit from their sustainable efforts.

Hence, the project’s objective is to contribute to the transformation of the seafood market by mainstreaming sustainability in the value chain of important seafood commodities from developing countries. To do so, the project uses a variety of tools such as corporate sustainable purchasing policies and FIPs. The final goal is to forge changes in seafood industry practices and national fisheries policies for improved governance while generating learnings to be shared worldwide.

The project will allocate Global Environment Facility (GEF) resources strategically to:

1. Engage major seafood buyers in the main world markets (EU, Japan, US) into responsible sourcing, providing tools to prepare and implement sustainable seafood sourcing policies,
2. Adapt the concept of green commodities platforms (currently used in agriculture) to the seafood value chain, implement public-private sustainable marine commodities platforms in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia and Philippines to generate experience that could be used in other countries,
3. Support the stakeholders of these platforms to develop practical experience with fisheries improvement projects and upgrade existing tools for FIP implementation and monitoring, and,
4. Upgrade existing information platforms to facilitate access to reliable material to value chain stakeholders in support of sound decision making, and capturing, documenting and disseminating the learnings of the project.

The project target fisheries include tuna fisheries in the Pacific Ocean, mahi mahi (dorado) and large pelagic fish in the Eastern Pacific Ocean; Indonesian snapper, Filipino octopus, and blue swimming crab fisheries in Indonesia and The Philippines. The project is an inter-regional intervention. Market engagement and knowledge management are global components. The sustainable marine commodities platforms and FIPs will be implemented, using a participatory approach in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia and Philippines.

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Country Offices of Costa Rica, Philippines, Indonesia and Ecuador, and the direct supervision of the International Project Coordinator, the UNDP-Ecuador country office is recruiting a M&E Technical Specialist based in Manta.

ROLE OBJECTIVE:

To monitor project progress, to evaluate results, and to provide feedback to the coordination unit.

LOCATION:

The duty station is located in Manta, Ecuador with frequent trips inside the country, and occasional overseas trips (if necessary), both for project execution. All expenses related to travel, accommodation and food, in the framework of the implementation of project activities, will be covered by the project. It is considered to move the Project Management Unit from the MAP offices in Manta to MAP offices in Quito. Therefore, there exists the possibility to change the duty station to the capital.

The candidate must work on a regular schedule from Monday to Friday. However, flexibility in the worktime schedule is expected.

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation strategy for the project, based on project logical framework. This, with the use of clear methodologies to properly measure results and impacts of each activity during project implementation.
• To compile and systematize information generated from the project and available from databases to properly monitor project development and impact indicators.
• For each work plan and its activities, clear impact and development indicators will be prepared. Then, M&E Technical Specialist will verify that the activities are being implemented according to the work plan and budget at the international component and national levels (Costa Rica, Indonesia, Philippines and Ecuador).
• To create and maintain fluid communication with implementing partners, and all stakeholders involved in the project.
• Provide feedback about project results to the coordination unit, and assist in the development of new strategies and corrective actions.
• Participate in the preparation and publication of documentation related to lessons learned and technical summary reports.
• Provide training to the coordination unit and national platforms on M&E tracking tools.
• Consolidate information with the support of the IPCU, to update project indicator on a regular bimonthly basis; to monitor and evaluate the project based on the logical framework and operational planning.
• Ensure that annual and multi-year operational plans (POAS) are updated, based on the information received from stakeholders and country offices.
• Prepare technical reports when need it from the coordination unit, country offices, Technical Committee and the Project Steering Committee.
• Update the risks, impacts and problems matrix for the project.
• Develop semiannual and annual reports on the operational execution of the project (PIR) for GEF.
• Assist the coordination unit to maintain the physical and digital archive of all the reports prepared, as well as the documentation related to M&E of the project.
• Elaborate reports from meetings and travel assignments.
• Provide input on best practices, lessons learned, guidance and tools that can support the coordination unit and national platforms.
• Facilitate information and assist evaluators during Mid-term review, terminal evaluation and audits related to the project.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly progress report for the UNDP-Ecuador Country Office.
• Prepare, monitor and update GEF focal area tracking tools.
• Document technical reports after planned field visits.
• Provide technical input on National Commodity Platform products: Communications strategy, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Root Cause Analysis, Sustainable Fisheries National Action Plan, financing strategies.

Professionalism – Advanced knowledge of the use of information; highly conceptual developed, analytical and innovative ability to identify and articulate the information management requirements of complex situations requiring a coordinated response between disparate actors; demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment to ensure the effective and timely completion of complex tasks; ability to work under extreme pressure.

Communication – Excellent communication and training (spoken and written) skills including the ability to convey complex information management concepts and recommendations to staff at all levels, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style that can be readily understood by non-information management practitioners.

Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision.

Planning and Organization – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability –Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates and peers, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Stakeholder Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “stakeholders” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; designs solutions and basis recommendations on the principles of usability; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with stakeholders by gaining their trust and respect; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems

Judgment/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, gathers relevant information before deciding, considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. 

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Fisheries, Agriculture Economics, Food Science, Environment and Development, or related fields.

• Desirable Master of Science in Project Management, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Economics, or related fields.

Professional experience:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in strategic planning, design and monitoring of agricultural, fisheries or conservation projects, field research and related responsibilities. Previous experience working with international projects - is considered a plus).
• Work experience of at least 2 years in public institutions, international organizations, universities or cooperation agencies regarding project monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven experience working with logical frameworks and strategic planning.
• Proven ability to gather scientific knowledge related to M&E management and fisheries reports.
• Proficiency using online communication platforms.
• Advanced level of English and Spanish.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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