Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning/Knowledge Management (MEAL/KM) Specialist

Since 2010, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement has inspired a new way of working collaboratively to end malnutrition, in all its forms. With the governments of SUN Countries in the lead, it unites people—from civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses and researchers—in a collective effort to improve nutrition. The SUN Strategy 2021–2025 (SUN 3.0) prioritises country leadership and focuses on supporting systemic change at the country level. It seeks to capture the ambition of SUN countries and guide the work of all actors at all levels aligning concerted action behind and responding to commonly agreed national priorities set out by governments in SUN countries. 

SUN 3.0 is committed to fundamental, non-negotiable aspects of effective nutrition action, including equity and the principle of leaving no one behind. For its third phase, the SUN Movement will drive forward gender equality and enshrine youth leadership across the Movement.  SUN 3.0 will strengthen partnerships to achieve greater impact on nutrition through food systems, health systems, social protection systems, actions by the private sector and humanitarian and development actors, and through education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and climate change adaptation.

The SUN Movement Secretariat (SMS) plays a central role in enabling the multiple members and structures of the Movement to work together to advance progress on country-level priorities and the global positioning of nutrition.  

The SUN Movement Secretariat comprises approximately 35 personnel, based in Geneva and in various regions globally.  All parts of the Movement – member governments, the SUN Global Support System - the GSS, consisting of  four SUN networks (Civil Society, United Nations, Business, Donors) and the SUN Movement Secretariat, together with the SUN Movement Coordinator, work together to align and focus efforts on priorities within countries.

The SUN Movement Secretariat is hosted by UNOPS.

Role of the MEAL/Knowledge Management Specialist:

The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL)/Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist is part of the Country Action Team of the SUN Movement Secretariat.  The purpose of this team is to support SUN Countries in advocacy, positioning, planning, multi-sector/stakeholder collaboration, resource mobilisation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of their National Nutrition Plans, and accountability and learning..  

The MEAL/Knowledge Management Specialist reports to the SMS Regional Representative, Africa Portfolio 1. The purpose of the role is to support and strengthen SUN Countries evidence-based policy making and implementation, including through implementation of the Movement’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system.  

This role helps to ensure policy and practice across the Movement is informed by country needs, with a focus on translating the political commitment of SUN Movement actors into coherent action in-country, aligned with national priorities.

This role is based in Dakar, Senegal, and is responsible for the Africa Portfolio 1 geographic region.

• Facilitate and support SUN Countries, within the assigned geographic region, in the implementation of the overall MEAL Framework/Strategy.

• Contribute to the Joint Annual Assessment process in the Region/SUN Countries to ensure it captures progress in institutional and systemic shifts for nutrition, and helps to assess and identify capacity building, training and integration need

• Lead MEAL data analysis, for reports, assessments and data portals.

• Maintain the SUN MEAL database; review incoming data (for quality and programmatic compliance); ensure the quality of the database and ensure that MEAL data are readily available.

• Assist in the development and maintenance of the MEAL dashboard to increase and strengthen the quality and availability of SUN Country and programmatic data.

• Review outcome surveys, independent evaluations, and studies in the Region/SUN Countries to ensure that institutional and systemic change within countries is monitored, assessed and shared, on an annual basis, drawing on qualitative and quantitative data. 

• Contribute to a periodic review of the implementation and operation of the monitoring and evaluation system(s); including the preparation of good practices and lessons learned.Organise and oversee field evaluations as required.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in nutrition, public health, international development or other related social science discipline is required.
• A bachelor's degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted  in lieu of the master's degree.

1. Contract type :International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level : ICS 10 / IICA 2
3. Contract duration :  Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• Dakar , Senegal is a UN Family Duty Station
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.