Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Social Dialogue for Peace and Crisis Prevention in Sri Lanka

Introduction

Sri Lanka faces a number of serious and persisting risks that are very likely to severely undermine economic recovery, and result in heightened social tension and conflicts, unresolved causes of armed conflict and heightened by the ongoing economic crises, creating a substantial risk to its stability, and potentially contributing to the reigniting of residual issues of conflict.

Key drivers of conflict identified include the lack of institutional dialogue and dispute resolution systems within the public sector, weak institutional social dialogue mechanisms in the private sector, multidimensional poverty, low female labour force participation, low youth employment rates and structural exclusion of marginalized communities from the formal economy and social protection mechanisms. Each of these challenges by themselves poses a serious risk to economic recovery, peace, social cohesion, and non-recurrence of violence in Sri Lanka. The combined risk to peace, social cohesion and economic recovery is therefore substantial. If these challenges remain unaddressed, there is a strong likelihood of social conflict and violence sparked by frustration and anger over the persisting exclusion of the most vulnerable from economic opportunity and support systems. By prioritizing economic inclusion, Sri Lanka can strengthen its resilience and ensure a more equitable, peaceful, and stable society.

The project will focus on enhancing the effectiveness and inclusivity of existing dialogue mechanisms for the private sector, and, by establishing and making more inclusive dialogue and dispute resolution mechanisms for the public sector. Policy and decision-making dialogue and recovery initiatives at the national level will be informed by evidence, generated on the economic and social priorities of the most marginalized communities, including those in the informal economy, women and young people with intersectional vulnerabilities and will contribute to a more peaceful, inclusive, and just response to the effects of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, through inclusive social dialogue at national and local levels. 

This is a UN Joint Project, and ILO will be the lead Agency, partnering with UNFPA & UNESCO.

Reporting lines

The Monitoring & Evaluation Officer will work under the supervision of the National Project Coordinator.

Main duties and responsibilities

•    Contribute to the preparation of project work plan and timely delivery of activities in line with the objectives and main outputs identified in the project document.
•    Provide overall support and national leadership in the development, operational planning and implementation of monitoring and evaluation tools including reporting on impact.
•    Day-to-day responsibility in managing the implementation M&E.
•    Review and analyse information and monitoring & evaluation data.
•    Produce analytical reports with findings, recommendations and lessons learnt.
•    Ensure gender is mainstreamed as a cross-cutting issue in project workplan, implementation of activities and monitoring and evaluation.
•    Liaise with technical experts in DWT, Regional Office, and Headquarters, as needed.
•    Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Specific Duties

•    Provide technical input into the design, development and implementation of the project including the evaluability assessment, Impact Measurement Framework, and the M&E plan.
•    A full gender-mainstreamed monitoring and evaluation plan of the project’s operation.
•    Provide technical advice on the design of baselines and other data collection activities. 
•    Follow-up the carrying out of baseline surveys and repeat baseline surveys in collaboration with any other relevant data collection initiatives.
•    Actively contribute in the development of a comprehensive data management and reporting strategy.
•    Provide process and methodological support to the design of the impact evaluation, including beneficiary selection and control groups.
•    Advise and plan for M&E systems for specific interventions.
•    Design and implement capacity-building activities on monitoring and evaluation for national partners as part of building and strengthening national monitoring and evaluation systems and processes.
•    Act as resource person.
•    Support independent evaluations and provide input to the methodological review and preparation of consolidated comments for independent evaluations.
•    Act as national focal point within the project on technical support to monitoring and evaluation.

Education

University degree in economics, statistics, management, social science, or related field, with specialization or formal training in planning, design, data collection, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and project cycle management. Understanding of the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh would be advantage.

Experience

At least three years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of development programmes and policies, including planning, management and conducting impact evaluations. Familiarity with project management and implementation. Knowledge of evaluation theories and methods. Experience with baseline surveys and other comprehensive systematic data collection approaches. Knowledge of current debates and the literature on theory of changes, impact evaluation and related aspects is desirable as is experience in setting up and supporting broader comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems, preferably at national level. 

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English, (both spoken and written) and good working knowledge of another local language (Sinhala or Tamil)

General Competencies

•    Knowledge of programme and budget, project administration and evaluation concepts and procedures.
•    Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
•    Ability to work in a team and good interpersonal skills.
•    Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes

Job Specific competencies and skills

•    Understanding of qualitative and quantitative approaches in social science research.
•    Theoretical and practical knowledge of impact evaluations.
•    Demonstrated skills and experience in working with a variety of stakeholders and partners including trade unions, employers, and government.
•    Proficient in information technology Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, web browsers, use of database applications.
•    Familiarity with using Data Analysis packages.