National Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, at NOB level, on Fixed Term, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (only for Tajik nationals)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.

For every child, a voice
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

As UNICEF Tajikistan started it’s Country Programme Document 2023-2026 and the PME unit was just established, this position will be helping in assisting in information/data collection, statistics, and data analysis, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), preparation of reports, and in implementing training programmes for national and sub-national data collection, monitoring, evaluation, and research capacity building with special attention to the interest, concern, and participation of primary stakeholders, strengthening knowledge management, learning and information sharing by documenting good practices and lessons learned of successful programs and flagship initiatives within the UNICEF team.

How can you make a difference?
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer is accountable for the accomplishment of the stated key end results by providing professional expertise and assistance in information/data collection, statistics, and data analysis, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), implementing training programmes for national and sub-national data collection, monitoring, evaluation, and research capacity building with special attention to the interest, concern, and participation of primary stakeholders, and strengthening knowledge management.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief of the PME Section and in collaboration with other PME staff, the M&E Officer will be supporting the program teams of UNICEF CO and provide support and assistance in information/data collection; statistics and data analysis; planning, monitoring & evaluation, knowledge management and capacity building/

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS:
Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end results.

1. Plan for Research, Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME)
Provide technical support to ensure that the Country Office and national partners use a well-prioritized and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme, including tracking and assessing UNICEF’s distinct contribution.
Duties & Tasks
• Make professional contributions to and provide technical assistance for the planning and establishing the major research, monitoring and evaluation activities in multi-year and annual PRIME, which is to be reflected in UNSDCF M&E Plans.
• Participate in management studies and support/participate in thematic/strategic evaluations to improve development & organizational effectiveness.
• Support and contribute to effectively joint evaluations with developmental partners, including joint evaluation of UNICEF or of multi-partner programs.
• In close consultation with management and liaison with partners, make a professional contribution to formulation of the PRIME from a sound results-based programming process and collaborative working relations with partners
• In close coordination with partners, ensure that the PRIME include data collection activities that provide accurate and relevant data on key activities and results, including results for children.
• Contribute to the incorporation of M&E tasks in the PRIME which were identified within the CO Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, to anticipate and prepare for the information needs and operational modalities of an emergency, in consultation with humanitarian partners.
• In humanitarian response situations, within the first month, draft and recommend a simple one-month data-collection plan to cover key data gaps as required for the initial emergency response, working in close collaboration with the humanitarian cluster partners. After the initial humanitarian response, support management of the medium-term response with a revised PRIME.

2. Situation Monitoring and Assessment
Provide technical support to ensure that the Country Office and national partners have timely and accurate measurement of change in conditions in the country or region, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country’s wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies.
Duties & Tasks
• In coordination with other stakeholders, support the collection of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators (through MICS or other surveys) to improve integrated national planning.
• Support management of available baseline information on national statistics and key indicators through established databases (e.g., DevInfo) for easy access and use. Prepare country level statistical reports on the status of children’s and women’s human rights issues, and provide a technical support to global reporting obligations including national reports on progress toward the MDGs, toward CRC fulfilment, and toward CEDAW fulfilment.
• Keep monitoring the situation of children’s and women’s rights with national partners and keep updated with the information of the quality research that address issues and challenges affecting children and their families.
• Coordinate with the Country Office and partners and provide assistance in their using up-to-date information in, inter alia, Situation Analysis, Common Country Assessment, Early Warning Monitoring Systems, Annual Reviews, Mid-Term Reviews, and Annual Reports or other progress reports.
• In humanitarian response situations, provide technical support for a rapid assessment (inter-agency or independently if necessary) to be carried out within the first 48-72 hours. Provide rapid and accurate information on emergency programme’s coverage, coordination and coherence in close collaboration with partners and in line with the core commitment on children (CCCs).
• Provide technical support to ensure that the CO has information necessary for UNICEF to effectively report on and advocate for children’s rights through the appropriate channels and to enhance partnerships with key players in monitoring collectively progress on child focused international commitments, including MDGs.
• Support the CO in collecting and interpreting existing early warning data effectively to guide the adjustment of programmes and operational approaches when and as country contexts deteriorate.

3. Programme Performance Monitoring
Provide technical support to ensure that the Country Office has quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual work plans.
Duties & Tasks
• Provide technical support as necessary to identifying and adjusting a set of programme performance indicators, in the context of the multi-year and annual PRIME, the Annual Management Plan and Annual Work Plans, as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Manual (especially, Chapter 6, section 6: PRIME).
• Provide technical support to ensure that monitoring system are in place and that key annual programme indicators are tracked and analyzed, including those related to partnerships initiative, and provided regularly to the Country Management Team/ Senior Management Team to guide programme and management decisions.
• Carry out data collection and analysis from field visits, standardizing them across programs, to feed into to programme performance monitoring.
• Keep tracking of follow-up action based on management decisions resulting from Country Office performance monitoring and evaluation.
• Compile monitoring and evaluation information/data, and make them available to programme/planning sections. Contribute to the preparation of management reports (e.g., relevant sections of the annual reports), drawing on monitoring and analysis of key management indicators. Assist in the preparation of reports on systemic issues, good practices or any other analysis or data related to programme implementation and/or evaluation, including programme’s performance, relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability; as well as good practices in partnerships and collaborative relationships.

4. Evaluation
Provide technical support to ensure that a well-prioritised and strategic selection of evaluations at programme or Country Office strategy level is managed in order that each evaluation is designed and carried out with quality process and products and that evaluation results are useful to the intended audience.
Duties & Tasks
• Provide support to ensure that the relevant programme partners participate and formulate Evaluation Terms of Reference and design of high quality.
• Provide technical support to ensure that evaluation design and management meet quality standards as outlined in UNICEF Programme Policies and Procedures and related stand-alone Evaluation Technical Notes, when necessary seek expertise of knowledge institutions. Facilitate and take part in producing Evaluation Office’s responses on specific and substantive issues.
• Review and provide technical comments on draft evaluation reports. Contribute to the effective dissemination and sharing of knowledge, findings, conclusions, recommendations and lessons from evaluation to the intended audience as described in the Terms of Reference with a view to improving programme performance and contributing to wider learning. Specifically, assist in feeding evaluation results into key UNICEF programme planning processes including the Annual Reviews and the Mid-Term Reviews, and formulation of the Country Programme Document, the Country Programme Action Plan and the Annual Work Plans. Support effective participatory feedback, including to community and civil society stakeholders.
• Provide assistance in tracking to ensure that a management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation. Most specifically, ensure that evaluation recommendations are submitted to the Country Management Team and follow-up actions recorded in CMT minutes.
• Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation.

5. M&E Capacity Building
Provide technical support to ensure that the monitoring and evaluation capacities of Country Office staff and national partners – government and civil society – are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead monitoring and evaluation processes.
Duties & Tasks
• Contribute to the collaboration of an M&E capacity building strategy for national partners and institutions and corresponding activities for implementation in the context of the PRIME or UNSDCF M&E plan.
• Provide technical support for implementation of capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of primary stakeholders.
• In close consultation with senior managers, contribute to formulation of staff capacity development strategy and plans, and exercise effective leadership in implementing them, ensuring that Country Office staffs have the basic knowledge and skills to fulfil their monitoring and evaluation responsibilities, and training is planned and carried out to fill identified gaps.
• Promote and provide support to ensure that Country Office staff and national partners are aware of and have access to UNICEF monitoring and evaluation learning resources. .
• Contribute to facilitate that Evaluation capacity of national partner organisations is strengthened through their involvement in evaluation processes and possibly through specific capacity building initiatives. .
• Contribute to liaise with knowledge institutions to seek partnerships for the identification of capacity gaps and the development of strategies to address them. .
• Provide technical support to Country Office staff on data collection, data management and data analysis for basic monitoring and evaluation. .
• Provide synthesis of M&E results to the country office senior management, the Country Management Team and key programme and operations staff. .
• Ensure that evaluation recommendations are communicated to the relevant partners for implementation, with advice on the Implementation Plan and follow-up action for future programming. .
• Seek advanced or in-depth technical support on monitoring and evaluation from the Regional M&E Advisors and headquarters advisors on monitoring and evaluation as necessary. .
• Collaborate with the Regional M & E Adviser to ensure the availability of current and accurate monitoring and evaluation data and results. .
• Collaborate with Regional M&E Advisers and HQ Officers for overall coordination of priority research, monitoring and evaluation activities.

6. KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Provide technical support to ensure that all of the above tasks are carried out and accomplished through effective knowledge management, as elaborated below:
Duties & Tasks
• Facilitate or contribute to integrated planning of research, monitoring and evaluation activities within the Country Office, with national partners, the UN Country Team and the wider international community, in the context of internal office management plans, the country programme process, the UNSDCF and sector wide approaches respectively, in consultation with child-right partners
• Facilitate in production performance dashboards, and knowledge management tools and ensure quality of data collection
• Jointly with programme colleagues develop solid data collection mechanisms and tools in line with planned interventions.
• Support the development and implementation of needs assessments and ensure the results are shared with the programmes to take corrective actions and inform any changes in planning.
• Support dissemination and follow up of findings from different programmes including from field monitoring and third-party assessments, studies and researches with a particular emphasis on adaptive management of adaptive programming.
• Keep a record of evaluation reports and assessments for easy reference and to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Ensure the UNICEF Information Management Accountability for all sections, particularly for health and nutrition, education, WASH, social policy and child protection.
• Maintain/develop the UNICEF Team site in close collaboration with UNICEF Knowledge Management community and other relevant colleagues and sections.
• Develop simple and effective tools for information sharing, lessons learned, knowledge products, University degree in social sciences, development studies, planning, evaluation, survey implementation, advanced statistical research.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
 University degree in social sciences, development studies, planning, evaluation, survey implementation, advanced statistical research.
Experience:
Two years of professional work experience in programme development and implementation including monitoring and evaluation activities.
At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning considered as a strong asset.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian and Tajik is an asset.
Technical Knowledge:
a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job)
• Knowledge of Project and Activity Evaluation.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in Data Collection
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation Process Management, Follow-up on Recommendations and Dissemination of M&E results.
b) Common Technical Knowledge Required 
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in demography, statistics, and data management.
• Methodology of monitoring, theories, standards and models, quantitative/qualitative/mixed methods, validity/reliability testing of data, data analysis and interpretation, and statistical inference methods.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in activity monitoring, data analysis, and reporting.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness
c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)
• Knowledge/expertise of best practices, lessons learned and communication.
• Understanding of UNICEF’s policies and procedures for programming, monitoring guidelines.
• Latest programme monitoring theory, methodology, technology and tools.
• Understanding of UN Mission and system; and International Code of Conduct.
• Understanding of UNICEF Mission Statement and observance of UNICEF Guiding Principles.
• UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

For every Child, you demonstrate..
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Application:
The candidates, who are interested to apply for the position, should follow the electronic application’s instructions. It requires the applicant to upload a detailed CV and copy of academic degrees/diplomas, and at least two latest performance evaluation reports.

 UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.