The M&E Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and key contributor to strengthening the capacity of programme staff, implementing partners and others within the CO. S/He is responsible for reports, updates and information on progress, and achievements of these components of the UNFPA supported programme and associated projects, in line with the principles of results based management. S/He ensures coherence with agreed national and international policy and planning frameworks, including the UNFPA Strategic Plan, Interim UN Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) and Humanitarian Response Plan.
The primary role of M&E Programme Specialist is the focus on results based management and quality delivery of programme results in the areas of all UNFPA programme components. The incumbent ensures that UNFPA programming and policy priorities are strategically positioned and optimally integrated in cluster response plan and national sectoral frameworks; and are constantly reviewed and updated accordingly. S/he also ensures that UNFPA resources target the most under-served and vulnerable groups in accordance with its comparative advantage. Under the M&E Specialist, evidence derived from research and lessons learnt are increased and utilised and the substantive and financial accountability of the Country Programme is strengthened.
S/He establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government and CSOs , to ensure a solid accountability system in place to achieve CP programmatic results.
Programme Support and Reporting:
Provide high level technical guidance to programme and operations teams on Monitoring/Evaluation/Learning (MEL) concepts, processes, design, training and best practices.
Provide expert direction and technical guidance in the implementation of the M&E Programme Management Plan (PMP), strategic information, monitoring, evaluation and learning plans.
Provide guidance to the CO staff and stakeholders in understanding of performance monitoring, evaluation advising on specific measurement techniques for their programmes/projects/activities.
Guide on data collection, data validity and data quality.
Support the CO Programme Specialist to strengthen UNFPA staff and Implementing Partners (IPs) capacity in developing Annual Work plans (AWPs) aligned to donor signed agreements.
Provide technical input and build the capacity of implementing partners in humanitarian and development settings to strengthen monitoring, reporting and evaluation systems and enhance quality of programme data collected and reported.
Coordinate and provide technical support to the programme team in preparing quarterly, annual, ICF and donor programme implementation reports; conduct ongoing analysis and consolidation of programme results in the area of SRHR/GBV for women and young people in humanitarian and development settings.
Provide technical oversight to programme monitoring and evaluation processes at UNFPA and for implementing partners across humanitarian and development settings, ensuring that all monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities are compliant with the Result-Based Management (RBM) principles, UNFPA guidelines/standards, and donor requirements.
Provide technical input to the design of technical and joint monitoring visits, participate in their implementation and support their follow up by preparing synthesis reports of findings and monitoring the implementation of the recommendations from the monitoring missions.
Lead the Organisation of the annual review of the UNFPA Country Programme with the Government and Humanitarian progress reports.
In collaboration with the Government, ICCG and the ICF M&E Advisory Group, facilitate annual reviews and planning meetings with partners.
Oversee Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning :
Provide technical guidance to ensure evaluations are properly planned and carried out in a high quality and professional manner
Lead teams in the development and execution of evaluation plans that ensure compliance with the UNFPA programme evaluation Policy.
Advise thematic teams and technical analysts on planning, designing and implementation of appropriate evaluation plans.
Lead cross-cutting evaluations and support prioritization and implementation of recommendations as required.
Encourages and guides on organizational learning in the CO.
Research, Quality Assurance and Knowledge Management :
Lead analysis of DHIS, GBV IMS, e-LMIS, and MPDSR (Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response) and other research data.
Contribute to documentation, publishing and dissemination of good practice and lessons learned.
Lead digitalization of knowledge management for ongoing programmes, optimization of M&E data reporting, analysis and storage systems, and capacity strengthening for UNFPA staff and implementing partners to utilize ICT-based M&E and reporting tools.
Liaise with resource mobilization and communication units to make sure that knowledge products are well used to serve communication and resource mobilization efforts.
Design and manage specialized data banks on programme/project profiles for development, implementation and evaluation purposes as well as best practices in programme design/implementation for knowledge sharing.
Share and encourage the use of evidence-based information and data with other colleagues in UNFPA and external partners
Analyze and distribute key knowledge pieces and materials in a timely manner to programme and stakeholders
Coordinate the process of collecting, systematizing, and disseminating knowledge products.
Correctly project UNFPA rules, policy positions, etc. on matters of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in all activities including in Humanitarian Response settings.
Communications and Capacity Building :
Develop evaluation factsheets, briefing materials, info graphics, and presentations for public information, advocacy and resource mobilization purposes.
Plays a key role in M&E capacity building of the CO staff and implementing partners
Support national and district partners’ capacity to analyse and utilize M&E data for evidence-based decision making, policy and program formulation, monitoring and evaluation in support of integrated national development and humanitarian response.
Maintain solid and cooperative working relationships with the Government, UN partner agencies and other stakeholders, and participate in national, interagency and other M&E coordination platforms and technical working groups.
General Support :
Stand-in for other Programme team members on selected functions as may be required.
Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Masters degree in statistics, demography, health economics, public health or related field. Post-graduate training in monitoring and evaluation will be an added advantage.
Knowledge and Experience:
At least five (5) years of experience in MEL in SRH/FP programming in a related field and/or research.
A thorough understanding of the UN system in general, and especially the UNFPA mandate, its policies and operations.
Excellent computer/information systems skills.
Previous experience in the UN system is an advantage;
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;
Computer literacy - Word, Excel, Power-point, etc.;
Good writing and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment
Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English. Working knowledge of another UN Official Language is an asset.
