Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Associate, LICA – 7, Cotabato City, Philippines

Background Information – Philippines

Established in 2016, UNOPS Philippines provides expert support to ensure sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure activities in projects. With funds from the European Union (EU), UNOPS supports the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government under the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme (GOJUST2) through procurement, logistics, and grants management to push forward the justice reform agenda of the Philippine government through innovations and interventions; as well as providing grants to civil society organizations to improve access to justice of marginalized groups. In the Support to the Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Programme, UNOPS is working with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Government strengthening capacities of the executive, legislative and judicial branches to ensure a smooth transition, also with funds from the EU. In the health sector, UNOPS works with the DOH / ADB in the HEAL project (Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19).

UNOPS Philippines is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in cooperation with its development partners, focusing mainly on a portfolio of projects and programs in the infrastructure, logistics management, procurement in health, rule of law, and governance sectors.

Project Background Information – SUBATRA

Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) is a 5-year program funded by the European Union, and co-financed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), through an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. SUBATRA contributes to a smooth and timely undertaking of the transition through capacity building of the three branches of the Bangsamoro Government (executive, legislative and judicial) and civil society organizations. This will promote an enabling good governance environment and support the efficient implementation of policies set up by the transition plan, with a focus on capacities that are critical for the sound functioning of interim institutions. These include

• Output 1: the capacity of the BTA’s executive branch superstructure to drive and coordinate key transitional policies;
• Output 2: the capacity of the Parliament to exercise its law-making and oversight functions;
• Output 3: the capacity of the Justice System to adjudicate litigations and improve access to justice, and
• Output 4: the capacity of the civil society to contribute to a peaceful transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The expected outcomes of the project are:

• Overall Objective: To contribute to a peaceful, cohesive, secure, and inclusively developed Mindanao.
• Specific Objective: The establishment of an enabling democratic governance environment for a smooth implementation of the transition in the Bangsamoro Region.

The ideal candidate for the role should demonstrate advanced expertise in data analysis, thorough understanding of various statistical methods and software tools, proficiency in monitoring and evaluation methodologies, along with hands-on experience in designing and implementing a comprehensive M&E framework. The candidate should also have competencies in effectively assessing program impact, refining strategies, and facilitating evidence-based decision making.

Functional Responsibilities

The M&E and Reporting Senior Associate will report directly to the Project Management Support Officer. She/he will be expected to conduct regular missions to other locations to monitor and interact with project stakeholders in the execution of the projects.

The M&E and Reporting Senior Associate will be responsible for the following functional responsibilities:

1. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Monitoring & Evaluation plan including gender-sensitive performance indicators and establishing baselines and methodology, in coordination with the PMSO;
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to the project sites independently or together with the Project Manager and the Project Team to ensure that performance indicators and targets remain relevant and in accordance with the project design and work plan;
• Ensure timely and accurate entry of all SUBATRA activity data into the UNOPS data collection system, including legacy data and other recording formats;
• Regularly review the SUBATRA tracker to identify and address data quality issues such as completeness, double counting, and duplication;
• Maintain the accuracy and currency of UNOPS activity trackers within the UNOPS systems, adhering strictly to information management confidentiality protocols;
• Coordinate and support project monitoring reviews, including coordinating and/or conducting focus group discussions, key informant interviews, project observations;
• Conduct data analysis and interpretation to generate insights into project performance trends and inform decision making processes.

2. Reporting:

• Prepare progress and monthly highlight reports in collaboration with the project team members, Technical Assistance Teams, and relevant partners and stakeholders, coordinating inputs and drafting reports to ensure timely submission;
• Act as a focal point for the collection, analysis and dissemination of data and information relevant to verification, monitoring, and inspection activities in coordination with the project team;
• Gather and maintain the logs for risks, issues and lessons learnt, including those related to gender, and ensure proper documentation handover.

3. Knowledge Management:

• Facilitate knowledge sharing among project team members, Technical Assistance Teams, and relevant stakeholders and partner to ensure coordinated delivery of activities and capitalize on synergies within the project.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and project teams to solicit case studies, lessons learned, success stories, and best practices derived from project monitoring activities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to document and disseminate valuable insights, encouraging continuous learning and improvement throughout the project lifecycle.

4. Capacity Building

• Collaborate with the Project Team to develop comprehensive capacity building materials specifically tailored to M&E activities for the SUBATRA Programme, partners, and relevant stakeholders;
• Prepare with the support of the team, all the capacity-building materials related to Gender, HSSE, and MEAL activities for the SUBATRA team, as well as related collaborators and community actors;
• Assist the SUBATRA team in crafting agendas for capacity building sessions and workshops, and support in the selection of appropriate third-party resources;
• Facilitate the delivery of capacity building sessions and assess their effectiveness and impact, providing support and guidance as needed;
• Document the outcomes of capacity building sessions, gather feedback, and identify areas for improvement to enhance future training initiatives.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• High school diploma is required.
• University Degrees (Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree) in any subject may substitute some of the required years of experience i.e. 4 years for bachelor and 6 years for Master.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience (or less depending on academic credentials) in project management with relevant experience in supporting monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and/or data management within a project context is required.
• Experience in the humanitarian and/or development sector is preferred.
• High proficiency with computers, and other software/ platforms related to the position’s field of expertise is desirable.
• Good experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is desirable.
• Experience with an international donor organization and/or UN agencies programmes is preferred.
• Experience in preparing, coordinating, and leading donor reporting processes is highly desired.
• International Project Manager Association (IPMA Level B) or Project Management Professional (PMP – PMI) or PRINCE2 foundation is desired.
• experience working in the peace process; post conflict context (either public or private) and an established network in the BARMM government is desired.
• Prior experience with the UN is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is desired.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local ICA Support

Contract level: ICS-07/LICA-07
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
Duty Station: Cotabato City. (Non-family duty station.)

Application open only to Philippines nationals or with valid residence.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.