Programme Management Advisor (MEAL) – Retainer positions , Multiple positions

Functional Responsibilities

This vacancy is open to all nationalities.

Under the direct supervision of the Sr. MEAL Manager and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the MEAL Programme Management Advisor will be responsible for the following activities:

MEAL Management Support

• Provide strategic advice and support concerning the development, implementation, and updating of an effective MEAL system that (1) promotes accountability to the LIFT Fund Board, communities, and beneficiaries; and, (2) supports meaningful collaboration with LIFT partners.
• Advise and support the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reporting to the Fund Board.
• Participate in relevant technical meetings and maintaining contacts with key stakeholders ensuring that discussions integrate a technically-sound MEAL perspective.
• Participate in Fund Management Office and Fund Board meetings to provide technical MEAL inputs, as directed.

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Support a culture of learning both within the MEAL Unit and the overall FMO
• Help ensure effective collaboration between the MEAL and Communication teams in matters concerning knowledge management.
• Ensure that MEAL data are readily available, as appropriate, to the FMO, Fund Board, partners, and other stakeholders, particularly on impact and lessons learnt from Fund activities
• Advise and support MEAL capacity strengthening for the national MEAL team and programme teams, as well as partner MEAL teams.
• Provide technical support in improving information sharing on all aspects related to MEAL activities among the team stakeholders, including learning and knowledge products

Data Collection and Data Management

• Advise and support the design of baseline, mid-term and final evaluation surveys;
• Provide technical advice to ensure adequate feedback to/from Fund beneficiaries on data and analyses
• Support the development and implementation of data visualization (i.e., mapping, graphics)

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Review and ensure the MEAL systems align with MEAL Frameworks in order to generate data for results measurements and impact assessments
• Provide technical advice to LIFT’s monitoring and evaluation activities including the preparation of annual MEAL work plans, budgets, and staff allocations
• Inform technical MEAL responses to ad hoc requests for information from the Fund Board and others
• Support monitoring and evaluation missions commissioned by the Fund Board or UNOPS
• Conduct project and programme evaluations as needed
• Ensure that MEAL activities and processes are conflict-sensitive and adhere to Do No Harm principles
• Support in the incorporation of MEAL findings into LIFT reports and providing recommendations to the Fund Board
• Support the preparation of quarterly, semi- annual, and annual reporting to the Fund Board

Monitoring and progress controls

Once a consultant is contracted, he/she will be contacted to conduct a specific task based on his/her expertise. The deliverables and number of days will be agreed through a so-called task note which will provide the details of the planned activity.

The retainers will work in close coordination with the LIFT programme managers under the supervision of the MEAL Senior Manager and will be expected to report in a timely fashion on the assigned task notes.

Deliverables

Outputs and reporting requirements will be detailed in Task Notes specific to each assignment. Task Notes will include:

• Administration and logistics arrangements
• Indicative work plan
• Travel requirements, if any
• Deliverables: Regarding evaluation work, this often includes a debriefing to the partners and LIFT staff at the end of the field visit, and a final report on the findings. Regarding advisory services, the actual deliverables will be specified in a task note.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s Degree is required. Preferably in Social Sciences, Business Administration, Research and Statistics, Information Technology, Agricultural Sciences, Political Sciences, Development Studies, Rural Finance & Economics, Nutrition or related field.
• Additional two years of experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered equivalent.

Work Experience

The Consultant is required to have a minimum of 7 years’ experience in advisory services in one or more of the areas listed below. Please indicate in your application letter the areas for which you would want to be considered.

• Quarterly, Bi-Annual, Annual MEAL Reporting
• Qualitative/Quantitative Research and Survey Design
• Data-base Management, including Visualisation
• MEAL capacity strengthening, personnel and systems
• MEAL capacity strengthening, local partners (CSOs, CBOs)
• Remote Monitoring and Third Party Monitoring (TPM)
• MEAL management in conflict affected areas
• Learning and Knowledge Management

The Consultant is required to have a minimum of 5 years’ experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in project or programme evaluation related to one or more of the subject areas listed below. Please indicate in your application letter the areas for which you would want to be considered.

• Nutrition and WASH
• Climate Smart Agriculture, including: Natural Resource Management (NRM), land tenure, livestock production, crop extension services, small-scale irrigation, seed production,fisheries and aquaculture;
• Local Governance and Community-based Programming
• Social Protection;
• Rural Finance (non-formal financial inclusion mechanisms);
• Cash/Voucher Assistance (CVA)
• Labour & migration, including TVET and capacity building
• Gender and Social Inclusion

Good knowledge and experience working with local communities, CSOs, and CBOs on various aspects of community-based programming and local governance would be asset;

Experience of working in Myanmar and/or South East Asia is an advantage;

Knowledge of robust M&E systems according to latest techniques, measures and standards is preferred;

Experience in design and execution of field surveys in rural socio-economics studies with both quantitative and qualitative methods is an asset;

Experience in data management, processing, statistics and analysis is desirable;

Experience in designing, drafting, editing, presenting and disseminating knowledge products is preferred;

Language

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential.