Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, NO-C, Maseru, Lesotho (For Lesotho nationals only)

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will be reporting to the Deputy Representative and work in close collaboration with the Chief, Social Policy. The position will collaborate with the Ministry of Planning, social sector Ministries and technical staff in UNICEF programme sections; coordinate with UNICEF regional office and network with subject matter experts externally such as the World Bank, donor organizations, UNOs and think tanks.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,

Organizational Context:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations.

The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions  her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will be reporting to the Deputy Representative and work in close collaboration with the Chief, Social Policy. The position will collaborate with the Ministry of Planning, social sector Ministries and technical staff in UNICEF programme sections; coordinate with UNICEF regional office and network with subject matter experts externally such as the World Bank, donor organizations, UNOs and think tanks.

Purpose of the Job:

Under supervision of the Deputy Representative and guidance by the Chief, Social Policy, the incumbent of the post is responsible to ensure that (1) the country programme has valid, reliable and quality evidence on the programme interventions including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability, and in emergency contexts, their coverage, coordination and coherence; and (2) the situation of children and women rights impacted by the Country Programme is monitored, reported in a timely results based management decisions.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results

1.  Integrated Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Planning (IMEP) 

Ensure that the Country Office and national partners use a well-prioritised and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme, including tracking and assessing UNICEF distinct contribution 

Make professional contributions to and provide technical assistance for the planning and establishing the major research, monitoring and evaluation objectives, priorities, and activities in UNICEF multi-year and annual IMEPs, in consultation with child-rights and implementing partners

Likewise, support the development of UNDAF M&E Plans from a sound results-based programming process

Identify the M&E objectives, priorities, and activities required for effective CO and partner Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans

In humanitarian response situations, within the first month, draft and recommend a simple one-month data-collection plan to cover key data gaps as required for the initial emergency response, working in close collaboration with the humanitarian clusters partner.

After the initial humanitarian response, support management of the medium-term response with a revised IMEP.

2.  Situation Monitoring and Assessment 

Ensure that the Country Office and national partners have timely and accurate measurement of change in conditions in the country or region, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies.

In coordination with other stakeholders, support the collection of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and other key social development indicators (through MICS or other surveys) to improve national planning.

Support partners in the establishment and management of national statistical databases (e.g., DevInfo), ensuring that key indicators are readily accessible by key stakeholders. Potential uses include the Situation Analysis, Common Country Assessment, Early Warning Monitoring Systems, and Mid-Term Reviews.

Develop a collectively Situation Monitoring and Assessment system owned by all key partners which supports the preparation of country level statistical and analytic reports on the status of children and women rights issues; and which allow, when opportunities emerge to influence developmental and social policies.  To include technical support to global reporting obligations including national reports on progress toward the SDGs, and toward CRC and CEDAW fulfilment.

In humanitarian response situations, provide professional support for one or more rapid assessments (inter-agency or independently if necessary) to be carried out within the first 48-72 hours, working in close collaboration with the humanitarian clusters partners.

3.  Programme Performance Monitoring 

Ensure that the Country Office has quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual work plans.

Provide technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, with inputs of all concerned partners in the context of the multi-year and annual IMEPs, the Annual Management Plan and Annual Work Plans, as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Manual).

Coordinate with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across programmes to feed into to programme performance monitoring, with special attention to humanitarian response.

Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key program performance and management indicators, provide professional input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports.

4. Quality assurance of evaluation and research activities

Ensure that evaluation and research activities led and supported by the Country Office comply with methodological standards as well as organisational policies and guidelines.

Technically support programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference for evaluation and research and design of high quality evaluation in compliance with the organization's programme evaluation policies and guidelines.

Provide oversight and quality assurance of UNICEF-commissioned research and evaluation activities in compliance with Country Office Standard Operating Procedures for the Planning, Management and Quality Assurance of UNICEF-supported Evaluations, Surveys, Studies, and Research.

Monitor and ensure 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.

Disseminate 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.

Monitor and ensure that a management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation.  Most specifically, ensure that evaluation recommendations are submitted to the Country Management Team and follow-up actions recorded in CMT minutes. Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation.

If outsourcing, manage the consultants/team of evaluation researchers, while coordinating with Section Chiefs/programme staff to ensure the objectives of the evaluations are clearly defined and the stakeholders understand their respective roles and responsibilities. Act as a focal person of contact facilitating timely coordination mechanism for productive outcome.

Participate/contribute to global and/or regional evaluations and researches studies ensuring that the tasks are well coordinated taking into account all existing data/information available.

Act as Section focal point for mid-year and end-year reporting on results and for the Annual Report.

5.  M&E Capacity Building

Ensure that the research, monitoring and evaluation capacities of Country Office staff and national partners  government and civil society are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead research monitoring and evaluation processes.

Promote the awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of research and M& E function among all staff members through communication, training, learning and development activities organization-wide.

In close collaboration with partners, ensure that a research and M&E capacity building strategy for UNICEF/UN staff national partners and institutions exists in the context of the IMEP, or UNDAF M&E plan.  Pay particular attention so the capacity needs of national partners such as professional evaluation associations will be strengthened by involvement in evaluation processes and possibly through specific capacity building initiatives.

Collaborate to implement capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners. Utilize a range of appropriate skills building strategies including self-learning, seminars and workshops and practical experience in order that UNICEF and UN staff have the basic knowledge and skills in understanding and applying new M&E policies, tools, methods to fulfil their responsibilities. Similarly, design and implement strategies suited to the skills needs of national partners.

Actively seek partnerships with knowledge institutions for the identification of capacity gaps and development of strategies to address them.

6.  Coordination and Networking 

Ensure that the UNICEF office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF M&E developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective M&E management.

Collaborate with Regional M&E Advisers and HQ Evaluation Office for overall coordination of priority research, monitoring and evaluation activities, especially those of regional scope requiring the coordinated effort of multiple countries.

Partner with the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser to ensure that current and accurate M&E data and results are included in regional reports, multi-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks.

Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful M&E practices and experience at the national level, and ensure they are shared as appropriate.  Similarly, pay attention to M&E knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the CO and partners to improve their M&E function.

Competencies and level of proficiency required:

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Persuading & Influencing (II)
• Planning & Organizing (III)
• Deciding and initiating action (II)
• Applying Technical Expertise (III)

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master's) in Economics and/or Statistics/Development Planning/relevant social sciences

Experience:

A minimum of five years of progressive professional work experience in conducting research, monitoring and evaluation is required.

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520075.This notice will appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/Lesotho, and on UN Job List, UN Jobs.

Qualified women are encouraged to apply. This vacancy announcement is opened to qualified Lesotho Nationals Only. If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.