M&E Specialist

Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with Governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the pledge to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development issues such as the widening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, rapid urbanisation, the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis, COVID.19), the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and the emergence of health threats. The scope and scale of delivering health and well-being for all demands innovative partnerships and financing.

UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund (GF), in line with UNDP’s HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025: ‘Connecting the Dots’, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the pledge to leave no one behind.   When requested, UNDP acts as interim Principal Recipient (PR), working with national partners and the Global Fund to ensure management, implementation, and oversight of GF grants, while simultaneously strengthening health institutions and systems for national entities to assume the PR role over time.

UNDP has been identified by the Global Fund as the interim PR for the Venezuela malaria grant, which is in the final year of grant implementation, having started on 1 January 2021 and ending on 31 December 2023.  The grant was exceptionally approved by the Global Fund Board as a result of the sustained increase in malaria cases which began in 2010.

UNDP implements the programme in close coordination with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the Ministry of Popular A1-B2 level desired Power (MPPS), and other technical agencies. 

In order to manage the malaria grant and achieve its aforementioned goal, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU), has been established to ensure strategic, programmatic and operational management and oversight of the grant.  Importantly, since there is no CCM in Venezuela, a multi-stakeholder advisory group (‘the malaria technical advisory group’) has been established.  Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is the Sub-recipient supporting programme implementation.

In March 2023, UNDP was nominated to serve as PR for the next Global Fund grants – one malaria grant and one HIV/TB grant, both of which will start on 1 May 2024 for a 3 year grant period. 

The M&E Specialist aims to strengthen the PRs capacity in Results Oriented M&E Processes by promoting a collaborative, client-focused, quality approach related to the key role in Information management systems and geo-information systems. Under the direct supervision of the UNDP/GF Programme Coordinator, the M&E Specialist works in close collaboration with the M&E team and the PMU team members.

Scope of Work 

Working under the supervision of the UNDP/Global Fund Programme Coordinator, and in close liaison with PAHO and the MPPS, as well as with guidance provided by UNDP Global Fund Partnership and Health Systems Team (GPHST), the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will carry out the following activities:

–             Lead the Monitoring & Evaluation function within UNDP’s Project Management Unit (PMU):

• Lead the development and implementation of the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan with support of two M&E team members;
• Lead on the planning and execution of effective monitoring visits; ensure that visit recommendations are documented, shared, followed-up and tracked;
• Strengthen and/or enforce existing PMU M&E systems, databases, processes;
• Coordinate reporting on the programmatic sections of progress update and disbursement request (PUDR) and ensure that the relevant LFA queries are addressed;
• Ensure that the M&E component of Global Fund Performance Letters is addressed;
• Support the Programme Coordinator in ensuring timely and quality contributions to the UNDP Quantum project management module, the UNDP Results-Oriented Annual Reporting (ROAR), the Transparency Dashboard and the Project Quality Assurance system;
• Line manage two staff: (1) one M&E Analyst (NOB) and one (1) M&E Associate.

–             Act as UNDP’s Technical Lead on data availability and quality with a view of capacity development, knowledge building and sharing with the Ministry of Health and other implementing partners:

• In close collaboration with the Ministry of Popular Power (MPPS)  actively contribute public health expertise to improving the availability and quality of data at all levels of the health system including DHIS2 strengthening activities;
• Establish and nurture functional partnerships with the Epidemiological Surveillance departments within MPPS Disease Programmes and other relevant implementing partners;
• Help the Disease Programmes and CSO partners identify and address bottlenecks in data availability and quality;
• Help improve the quality of data reported to the Global Fund through the promotion and execution of data quality review meetings at provincial and central levels;
• Contribute to the timely implementation of the malaria activities planned, in collaboration with PAHO and the Ministry of Popular Power (MPPS);
• Source relevant technical assistance through the drafting of terms of reference, review and validation of Consultant proposals;
• Co-represent UNDP vis-à-vis multilateral and bilateral partner discussions (UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA) on national data reporting issues.

–             Serve as a lead member of the PMU transition team from the current NFM3 malaria grant to GC7 malaria and HIV/TB grants 

• Lead inputs into the M&E sections of the Global Fund’s Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT);
• In close consultation with GPHST, PAHO, CSOs and MPPS, lead negotiations of the Performance Framework, ensuring indicators and targets are appropriate, realistic and measurable for the context;
• Review existing data collection tools and templates and ensure necessary updates to prepare for GC-7 implementation.
• Develop tools and templates to support data collection and verification for the HIV/TB programme, including for CSOs, MPPS and other partners as needed

–             The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The M&E Specialist will report to the UNDP/Global Fund Programme Coordinator. He/she will liaise closely with the PAHO Technical Coordinator and MPPS staff at central and provincial level. 

Competencies

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility 

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
Act with Determination 
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area
Name
Definition
Business Direction and Strategy
Negotiation and Influence

Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations 

Business Direction and Strategy
System Thinking 
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Development 
Knowledge Facilitation
Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
Business Management
Risk Management

Ability to identify and organise action around mitigating and proactively managing risks 

Business Management

Results-based management 

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results

Partnership Management

Relationship management

Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Agenda 2030: People

Health 

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM)

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Academic Education           

• Advanced university degree (Masters’ Degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Epidemiology or a related area is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree

Min. years of relevant Work experience             

•            Minimum 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of public health programs and related fields.

Required skills and competencies          

• Strong programme M&E experience including developing and improving M&E frameworks, data collection systems, tools and/or processes is an asset.
• Experience working with Global Fund programmes in M&E is an asset.

Desired additional skills and competencies        

• Experience working with UNDP, UN agencies or international organization
• Familiarity with health information software and platforms (e.g. DHIS2)
• Experience in stakeholder management
• Country level experience in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Work experience in a challenging operating environment.
• Experience in knowledge transfer and capacity development of national counterparts.

Required Language(s) (at working level)             

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

Travel:  

• UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only if the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
• The position is based in Caracas.  Frequent travel to the provinces where the programme operates – Bolivar, Amazones, Sucre, Delta Macuro – are to be expected.