Planning Monitoring & Evaluation Officer – P2

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 fulfil 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, vision

The fundamental and primary 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 favouritism. 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 child survival, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens ? addressing inequity ? not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, 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.

 

For every child, Support:

UNICEF has been operating in the Sultanate of Oman for over 50 years. While initial programming focused more on a more traditional child survival and development agenda, with the graduation of the country to high income’ status in 2007, UNICEF has adjusted its approach to undertake targeted, upstream interventions that address the country’s unfinished business. This includes issues related to the quality and financing of services; institutional capacity; and behavioural and social norms.  Hence, the overarching goal of the 2022-25 Country Programme is to support the Government to empower all children in Oman to realize their rights and participate equitably in building a knowledge-based society and competitive economy, by

Outcome 1: Strengthening evidence-based policies for children, so that by 2025 improved public finance analysis, data and evidence are used to inform social policies and programmes for children, adolescents and young people, and progress towards the realization of the SDGs. 

Outcome 2: Enhancing systems and services for children, adolescents and young people, so that all children, adolescents and young people in Oman, including those with disabilities, benefit from improved social service systems and services.

 

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Programme Manager, the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PME) Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the planning, monitoring, evaluation process preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative tasks to contribute to evaluation planning, implementation, oversight and reporting to ensure that evaluations are carried out according to schedule and that results and recommendations are implemented and followed-up. In a small office like Oman CO, this post fulfills crucial responsibilities in addition to core PME functions, supporting the Programme Manager with various programme activities across areas such as Social Protection, Child Protection, CWD, ECD and ECE among others.

 

The PME officer will be expected to perform key functions, and accountabilities as described below:

(1) Setting Standards for Programme performance planning and monitoring:

• Provide technical support as necessary to the process of developing and monitoring Annual Work Plans, including reporting on progress of the equity and gender marker as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Guidance.
• Provide technical support as necessary in organising and managing annual/mid-year/mid-term/end term country programme reviews ensuring consistency with objectives and goals set out in the CPD and contribute to the Annual Management Plan.
• Monitor follow-up actions based on management decisions resulting from Country Office performance monitoring and evaluation.
• Support the programme components to effectively monitor and report on the intersectoral programme results, cross sectoral programme component results and field office results to facilitate programme coherence and convergence where appropriate.
• Provide technical support to programme sections to effectively monitor and report on the intersectoral programme results.

(2) Support to the preparation of the integrated monitoring and evaluation plan (IMEP):

• Participate in evaluation planning and discussions and support the development and completion of IMEP through research, collection, analysis and reporting of evaluation related information/data to facilitate integrated evaluation planning and priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout the evaluation process by executing/administering a variety of technical, operational and administrative transactions, preparing related materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support evaluation results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and assessing results.
• Prepare required documentations/materials/data to facilitate evaluation planning, implementation and reporting.

(3) Support implementation of evaluations:

• Draft and/or develop terms of reference for external consultants and initiate the recruitment process to ensure the timely selection and recruitment of evaluators. Manage the various processes of assessing and/or selecting consultant and evaluation teams to facilitate the recruitment/selection process.
• Organize materials, briefings and all required administrative arrangements to ensure external consultants are provided appropriate and comprehensive information to start and continue effectively and efficiently the conduct of evaluations.
• Keep abreast of evaluation progress to proactively meet the evaluators’ need for information or other related issues to ensure delivery of results as scheduled and allocated.
• Prepare timely analytical documents highlighting critical areas for management progress monitoring, oversight and action.
• Consult stakeholders to seek clarification and/or validate findings from draft and final evaluation reports and report on feedback to facilitate timely action.
• Upload/disseminate completed evaluation reports into Global Evaluation Data base to allow global sharing and final quality review.

(4) Evidence-based Advocacy:

• Support a rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Collaborate with partners and assist in the strengthening of quality child rights-based programmes through consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Contribute to coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
• Analyze programme related issues and policies from a children’s and women’s rights perspective and  advocacy at the community and family levels for elevating credibility in national policy debates. Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication.
• Provide professional technical assistance in the preparation of the Situation Analysis for programme development and management by collecting and analyzing data and monitoring implementation progress. Contribute to the identification of critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects. Draft or prepare programme work plans as required. Propose adjustments/changes in work plans. Propose program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices for supervisor.
• Monitors programme implementation progress and compliance.  Monitors the allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate recommendations or actions to optimize use of programme funds.

(5) Networking and partnership building:

• Facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies.
• Provide technical and operational support to a wide range of stakeholders and evaluators on UNICEF and UN policies, practices, standards and norms.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders.

(6) Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned from programmes for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts.
• Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

 

The PME Officer will be expected to produce the following key end-results:

(1) The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Officer to the Country Management Team and wide range stakeholders contribute to the successful planning and execution of evaluation efforts that in turn result in improved country office and national stakeholders’ development planning, performance and achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

(2) Effective implementation of evaluations enhances UNICEF’s capacity and credibility in delivering highly effective programs and concrete and sustainable results that directly improve services to mothers and children in the country.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have?

Education:  

A University Degree in economics, psychology, sociology, education or other social science field is required. An advanced university degree in a relevant field is an asset.

Work-related experience:

(1) A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in social development analysis and programming at the international and/or in a developing country is required.

(2) Relevant experience in program/project monitoring and evaluation in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

(3) Familiarity with programming areas such as Child Protection, Early Childhood Development/Education, and Children with Disabilities is an asset.

(4) Knowledge of admin data systems and survey tools such as MICS is an advantage.

(5) Experience working in a High-Income Country with upstream technical policy advocacy is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Language requirement: Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

 

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are?

(1) Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

(2) Works Collaboratively with others (1)

(3) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)

(4) Innovates and Embraces Change (1)

(5) Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)

(6) Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

(7) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

 To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

 

Statement on UNICEF’s Zero-Tolerance policy on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

 

Remarks:

Rotational Remark: This position is classified as ?rotational? which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

Diversity Remark: Given due consideration to the gender diversity in the overall UNICEF Oman CO, with specific reference to IP posts, both genders are encouraged to apply.

Higher education remark: UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at

Flexibility with the audience remark: The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)

Shortlisted candidate remark:  All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

 

Other Remarks: As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates from industrial countries are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required  to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

 

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