Background
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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Background and Organizational Context
The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform that repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator – the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at the country level – support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. The position is in Gambia’s United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO).
The PBF support has helped catalyze critical peacebuilding processes in a very short period, helping to ensure that the country did not descend into violence during this fragile transition period, including the 2021 presidential elections. Thanks in part to PBF assistance, and with the technical support of UN agencies alongside the government’s commitment and participation, commendable progress has been made in sustaining peace, particularly in the areas of transitional justice, constitutional review, security, judicial and civil service reform, women and youth empowerment and participation, returning migrants and economic development.
A dedicated PBF Joint Steering Committee was established on the 21st of August 2023 to provide strategic guidance on the PBF portfolio and strengthen coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the portfolio towards achieving the project results. The Joint Steering Committee (JSC) is the primary decision-making body overseeing PBF-supported projects. The JSC is Co-chaired by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Secretary-General, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Gambian Government. Its membership comprises key coordination Ministries, Development Partners, Bilateral and Multilateral partners, donors, and civil society.
The work of the PBF Secretariat will be guided by the peacebuilding priorities established during the re-eligibility application and the associated Strategic Results Framework for the period 2024 – 2028
Position Purpose
Under the overall supervision of the Resident Coordinator (RC), reporting directly to the PBF Coordinator of the PBF Secretariat and indirectly to the Peace Building Support Office, the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist of the Peace Building Fund Secretariat will work in close collaboration with the RCO M&E Officer and oversee development and implementation of a monitoring, evaluation, and reporting framework for the PBF portfolio in The Gambia. S/he will contribute to strengthening PBF recipient agency and partner M&E capacities.
The M&E Specialist will oversee the development of a joint integrated M&E system for PBF projects (including cross-border and gender and youth promotion initiative projects) to promote synergies between projects. He/she will ensure the formulation of common results and indicators at the macro level to help measure achievements based on priorities defined in the eligibility application.
S/he will support the implementing agencies of PBF projects in collecting and analyzing data. S/he will ensure that data collection aligns with the PBF Strategic Result Framework for the Gambia. In collaboration with project teams, s/he will help ensure that the results of different projects are documented, monitored, evaluated, analyzed, and built upon. S/he will contribute to specific activities (perception surveys, etc.), maintain the updated mapping of activities, and develop and implement a reporting strategy in close collaboration with the PBF Secretariat Coordinator and the peacebuilding team. S/he will regularly review individual project implementation through spot-check implementation visits. S/he will also be a focal point for the Steering Committee’s annual report. S/he will work closely with the RCO M&E Expert, project managers recipient agencies, and their implementing partners.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.) Design and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks, systems, and tools, and as applicable, conduct programme quality assurance in keeping with corporate policies.
- Develop integrated monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and results-based management (RBM) frameworks and systems for overseeing PBF projects. This will help ensure project effectiveness and compliance with corporate programming and reporting requirements and support the PBF Secretariat and JSC in making informed decisions;
- Develop mechanisms to collect, analyze, and communicate project data, and ensure data collection to measure project indicators. M&E-related support will be provided to the JSC, including monitoring and analysis of PBF-supported project implementation progress, and facilitating potential field visits by the JSC;
- Monitor the impact of peacebuilding projects by organizing field visits and joint M&E missions on project sites. Evaluation exercises will be organized and participated in, ensuring that recommendations are followed. Collaborate with implementing partners on quality monitoring, and promoting planning and participative monitoring is encouraged;
- Facilitate joint M&E activities with national partners, and the work plan will be followed in real time. Identify any challenges to project implementation and advise on solutions or corrective measures in a timely manner to projects and the Steering Committee;
- Conduct a joint annual review of work plans will ensure that project monitoring is integrated. Contribute to reports to ensure quality control and if necessary, updated notes on implementation progress or performance indicators will be prepared;
- Prepare briefing to communicate project results to JSC.
2.) Lead coordination of and support to monitoring, reporting, evaluation and results-based management of Country Office programmes and projects.
- Oversee implementation and application of efficient and evidence-based results monitoring, and as applicable, quality assurance work for CO programme and project development and delivery using integrated portfolio management approach;
- Provide M&E related support to the JSC, including monitoring and analyzing PBF supported projects implementation progress; Ensure timely identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks and advise the PBF Secretariat and projects on strategies/corrective measures to address them;
- Ensure PBF reports are timely and in accordance with established requirements. Prepare Results Reports, analysis of project results, and other periodic information and reports for the Secretariat, government partners, donor community, and other key stakeholders. Advise on data use and interpretation to assess results, improve project quality, identify trends, and inform future decision-making processes;
- Ensure timely implementation of planned evaluations in line with UNDP standards as outlined in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance. Review and approve all plans and Terms of Reference (TOR) for project mid-term reviews, evaluations, and assessments. Participate in consultant and evaluation team recruitment and selection. Review and provide input on evaluation inception reports and evaluation methodology, as well as draft evaluation reports for quality assurance and compliance purposes;
- Ensure the optimal use of evaluation findings and recommendations. Provide guidance and input in preparing timely management responses and key actions to all evaluations; consolidate evaluation findings to assess the effectiveness and impact of PBF projects; and develop a communication/dissemination plan to incorporate into recommendations for improvement by projects and partners. Follow up on the implementation of evaluation recommendations by project teams;
- Support collation of monitoring and evaluation of impact results and/or data/information in a format relevant to evidence-based policy and/or development interventions.
3.) Provide substantive contributions to capacity building and facilitate knowledge building and sharing on monitoring, evaluation, and results-based management.
- Contribute to assessing capacity needs and elaborating capacity development plans, tools, and methodologies. Design, organize, and lead training activities; and prepare knowledge packages on RBM, monitoring and evaluation, data collection/survey methods, gender mainstreaming, and portfolio approach for PBF project teams, national partners, and key stakeholders;
- Support identifying, synthesizing, documenting, and disseminating key lessons learned and good practices derived from monitoring and evaluating activities on what works and what does not, to identify innovative ideas for their scaling or replication;
- Create a database of interventions and stakeholders involved in peacebuilding to promote synergies;
- Support the Steering Committee to develop monitoring and reporting tools promoting results visibility.
4.) The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core 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
Business Direction & 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 Management – Portfolio Management- Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
Business Management- MonitoringAbili-ty to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Business Management-Evaluation-Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
Business Development-Knowledge Generation-Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
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
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness-Effectiveness Programming principles & standards and development effectiveness principles.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development/Development Studies, Economics, Statistics, Business Management, Social Policy, or related field is required; or
- A Bachelor degree in Social Sciences, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Political Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies or related field in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in M&E, programme and/or team management working with quality assurance instruments, results-based management models, and multiple stakeholders;
- Proven technical knowledge of the results-based management cycle and monitoring and evaluation is required;
- Proven experience in designing monitoring and evaluation systems and designing development projects or integrated portfolios is required;
- Proven ability to work with quantitative and qualitative data, and appropriately use qualitative data /information collection tools in innovative ways is desirable;
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and web-based management systems, and up-to-date, advanced knowledge of data management tools and database packages;
- Experience in designing, implementing and/or managing assessments and/or data collection exercises/processes is desired;
- Experience conducting applied research projects and reporting on findings is desired;
- At least 5 years’ experience with peacebuilding programming and/or M&E in the context of peacebuilding is highly desirable.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in the UN language of the duty station is required,
- Fluency in the national language of the duty station is required for local staff.
- Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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