Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, NO-3, New Delhi, India, SAR, Post Number- 51976 (This vacancy is open for Indian Nationals Only)

Under the supervision of Chief Social Policy, Monitoring and Evaluations, will guide and coordinate development and implementation of data strategy for children in India for effective monitoring and reporting of SDGs and UNICEF Country programme Provide assessment and guidance to establish and strengthen data ecosystem of the country including Management Information Systems, other administrative data systems of the government at national and state levels and Civil Registration System and Vital Statistics through innovative and technological solutions.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children.

Across 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. And we never give up! 

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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. Our workplace policies promote flexible work arrangements, to support all staff in maintaining a healthy life balance, both in and out of the office.

We are the first United Nations agency to be awarded the EDGE certification – the leading global standard for gender equality in the workplace. 

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UNICEF prides itself on fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:

In an effort to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver better results for children, there is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s 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.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job: 

To ensure that the UNICEF Country Office has useful, valid and reliable information on:

• the situation of children’s and women’s rights;
• the performance of UNICEF-supported programmes including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, and in emergency contexts, their coverage, coordination and coherence.

To work within the UN country team to support UNCT goals for delivering valid and reliable information on the attainment of the SDGs and other goals, and on the performance of UN-supported programmes.

To guide and coordinate development and implementation of data strategy for children in India for effective monitoring and reporting of SDGs and UNICEF Country programme.

To provide assessment and guidance to establish and strengthen data ecosystem of the country including Management Information Systems, other administrative data systems of the government at national and state levels and Civil Registration System and Vital Statistics through innovative and technological solutions.

To assist in the development of national capacities for monitoring, evaluation and research, with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of government, community, and civil society stakeholders.   

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks:

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’s 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 SDGs and other key social development indicators through strengthening national Management Information Systems and innovative approach for data collections to improve national planning and monitoring of SDGs.
• Support partners in the establishment and management of national statistical databases, 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’s and women’s 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 (interagency or independently if necessary) to be carried out within the first 48-72 hours, working in close collaboration with the humanitarian clusters partners.  

Strategy for Data for children and advocacy:

• Support data landscape analysis and high-level advocacy to strengthen data ecosystem of the county for monitoring and reporting of SDGs and UNICEF Country programme.
• Plan and implement strategy for capacity strengthening of MIS, administrative data systems of the governments and Civil Registration systems to support UNICEF programme monitoring, evidence for policy advocacy, situation analysis and SDGs monitoring.
• Guide and develop innovative technological solutions for strengthening MIS and data systems

M&E Systems and Capacity Building:

Ensure that the monitoring and evaluation capacities of Country Office staff, national partners – government and civil society – and Management Information Systems and Civil Registration system are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead monitoring and evaluation processes.

• Promote the awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of M& E function and RMB among all staff members, particularly of Social Policy Programme through communication, training, learning and development activities organization-wide.
• In close collaboration with partners, ensure that an 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, Management Information Systems in social sector and Civil Registration system will be strengthened by 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.

Programme Performance Monitoring: 

Ensure that the Social Policy Programme and 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 of Social Policy Programme is identified and adjusted as necessary, with inputs of all concerned partners in the context of the multi-year and annual PRIME/IMEPs, the Management Plan and 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 standardized 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.

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. 

Key End Results:

Situation Monitoring and Assessment:

• A collectively Situation Monitoring and Assessment system including Management Information Systems owned by all key partners is in place and functioning, through which the Country Office and national partners have timely and accurate measurements of change in conditions of children, women, and their families in the country or region; this information is available to facilitate planning and measure program impact.

Strategy for Data and Monitoring & Research Planning:

• The Country Office and national partners have a well-prioritized and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities, developed collaboratively that provides all the relevant and strategic information needed to manage the Country Programme and Social Policy Programme.

M&E Capacity Building:

• The monitoring and evaluation capacities of Country Office staff, national partners – government and civil society and Management Information Systems – enhanced with the contribution of UNICEF knowledge partners meet the expectations and requirements of their positions and responsibilities.

Programme Performance Monitoring:

• The planning function of the Country Office has quality information collected and disseminated with the participation of all concerned partners to assess progress towards expected annual and multi-year results.  

Coordination and Networking:

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

Qualification:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics, demography, planning development and IT. 

Work Experience:

• Professional work experience in strengthening and designing of MIS, development of innovative technological solutions, data management, programme development and implementation including monitoring and evaluation activities as follows:
• Five years of relevant professional work experience. Developing country work experience (for IP) or field work experience (for NO)
• At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.

Technical Knowledge:

Specific Technical Knowledge:  

• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in methodology of M&E, including theories of change, standards and models, quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods, validity/reliability testing of data, data analysis and interpretation, and statistical inference methods.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in RBM, Follow-up on Recommendations and Dissemination of M&E results.
• Emerging international good practice in monitoring and evaluation partnerships.

 Common Technical Knowledge: 

• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in demography, statistics, and data management.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in Activity Monitoring & Evaluation, data analysis, and reporting.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness

Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced:

• Professional/technical knowledge/expertise in Team Management, Coaching & Training.
• Mastery of UNICEF’s M&E policies and procedures.   
• Latest programme monitoring and evaluation theory, methodology, technology and tools.
• Understanding of UN Mission and system, current key UN topics; and International Code of Conduct.
• Understanding of UNICEF Mission Statement and UNICEF Guiding Principles.
• UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

Competencies and level of proficiency required:  

Core Values: 

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies:

• Communication [ II ]                  
• Working with People [ II ]        
•  Drive for Result [ II ]

Functional Competencies:

•  Leading and Supervising [ II ]          
•  Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II ]
•  Analyzing [ II ]    
•  Applying Technical Expertise  [ II ]   
•  Planning and Organizing [ III ] 

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Remarks:  

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
• Selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a nonsmoking working environment.     

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