Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Summary of Key Functions:

The Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist is responsible for guiding the implementation of the project’s M&E strategy and providing timely and relevant information to project stakeholders. This entails close communication with all involved in M&E design and coordination: core project and partner M&E staff; representatives from primary stakeholder groups; and the Project Manager and Project Director, external consultants and field staff when appropriate, plus members of external UNDP and other M&E-related missions.
Critical tasks for the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist are setting up the national mine action sector performance monitoring system and ensuring it is implemented effectively by the primary stakeholders and implementing partners. This is undertaken through the joint development of a shared M&E system that is based on existing formal and informal mechanisms and systems among key stakeholders. This needs to be supported by facilitating stakeholders to value, have appropriate capacities for, and undertake their own M&E activities, and to link these into an overall assessment of national performance progress and needed actions.
More specifically, the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist will be responsible to:

Design/develop the national mine action sector performance Monitoring and Evaluation system
Test the system and introduce corrective measures
Implement the Monitoring and Evaluation system
Support the conduct of the Baseline Survey and Project Evaluation and other relevant recruitment
Communicate results and impacts
1. Design/develop the national mine action sector performance Monitoring and Evaluation system

Review of current practices of outcome and impact monitoring by CMAA and MAPUs, and other relevant organizations, including a review of the annual post-clearance Monitoring process;
Develop the project matrix in the areas of the objective hierarchy, indicators and monitoring mechanisms.
Develop the overall framework for project M&E, for example, annual project reviews, participatory impact assessments, process monitoring, operations monitoring and lessons-learned workshops.
Guide the process for identifying and designing the key indicators for each output, to record and report progress against the AWPB. Also steer the process for designing the format of such progress reports.
Guide the process for identifying the key indicators for monitoring national mine action sector performance and comparing it to targets. Design the format for performance reports.
Clarify the core information needs of central project management, UNDP, the Project Board, development partners and other cooperating institutions.
Ensure that all service provider contracts include specifications for the internal monitoring required of them, the reporting systems and the penalties for failure to report as specified.
2. Test the system and introduce corrective measures

Based on the AWPB and in particular the programme budgets, design the framework for the physical and process monitoring of project activities.
Develop a plan for project-related capacity-building on M&E and for any computer-based support that may be required.
Organise and undertake training with stakeholders, including primary stakeholders, in M&E skills, including participatory aspects.
Support CMAA to provide training to key national and sub-national CMAA staff in the management of the CMAA’s mine action performance monitoring system;
Guide staff and implementing partners in preparing their progress reports. Together, analyse these reports in terms of problems and actions needed. Prepare consolidated progress reports for project management to submit to the relevant bodies, in accordance with approved reporting formats and timing.
With the implementing partners, review their existing approaches and management information systems and agree on any required changes, support and resources.
3. Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation System

Organise (and provide) refresher training in M&E for project and implementing partner staff, local organisations and primary stakeholders.
Collaborate with project staff and implementing partners on qualitative monitoring to provide relevant information for ongoing evaluation of project activities, effects and impacts.
Foster participatory planning and monitoring by training and involving primary stakeholder groups in the M&E of activities
Ensure that, in general, project monitoring arrangements comply with the project agreement and UNDP regulations and, in particular, the provisions of this agreement are fully observed in the design of project M&E.
Plan for regular opportunities to identify lessons learned and implications for the project’s next steps. Participate in these events when possible.
Inform and join external supervision and evaluation missions by screening and analysing monitoring reports as well as by furnishing direct personal knowledge of the field situation.
4. Support the conduct of the Baseline Survey and Project Evaluation and other relevant recruitment

Identify other M&E staff that the project needs to cooperate with
Review monitoring reports, analyse them for impact evaluation and to identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation.
With stakeholders, set out the framework and procedures for the evaluation of project activities.
Review the quality of existing social and economic data in the project areas, the methods of collecting it and the degree to which it will provide good baseline statistics for impact evaluation.
Based on the review of existing data on the area, draw up the TOR for design and cost out a baseline impact survey and/or a needs assessment survey.
Recruit, guide and supervise organisations that are contracted to implement special surveys and studies required for evaluating project effects and impacts.
Identify the need and draw up the TORs for specific project studies.
5. Communications of Results and Impacts

Prepare reports on M&E findings, as required, working closely with UNDP Project staff and implementing partners.
Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed.
Guide the regular sharing of the outputs of M&E findings with UNDP Project staff, implementing partners and primary stakeholders.
Make regular reports to the Project Director, highlighting areas of concern and preparing the documentation for review at meetings.
Check that monitoring data are in the appropriate forum and in a timely fashion in terms of implications for future action. If necessary, create such discussion forums to fill any gaps.
Participate in external missions and facilitate mission team members’ access to M&E data and to stakeholders.
Impact of Results

The position will contribute in strengthening the national mine action sector performance monitoring capacity.

Competencies
Core Competencies:

Promoting Ethics and Integrity / Creating Organizational Precedents
Building support and political acumen
Building staff competence, Creating an environment of creativity and innovation
Building and promoting effective teams
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking
Functional Competencies:

Advocacy / Advancing Policy Oriented Agenda: preparing information for advocacy

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate
Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts
Results-based Programme Development and Management: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
Analyses country situation to identify opportunities for project development
Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly
Building Strategic Partnerships: Maintaining a network of contacts

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
Analyses and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners
Innovation and Marketing new Approaches: Enhancing processes or products

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
Documents bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes effective solutions
Embraces new approaches
Resource Mobilization: Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

Analyses information/databases on potential and actual donors
Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors
Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing: Basic research and analysis

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing
Develops awareness of the various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources
Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates the same in his/her work
Analyses the requirements and synthesizes proposals
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
Organizational Leadership and Direction

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals: Preparing information for global advocacy
Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences
Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate
Client Orientation: Establishing effective client relationships

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
Actively supports the interests of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs
Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly
Required Skills and Experience
Education:

Master’s degree in rural development or similar qualifications relevant to development with a strong focus on monitoring and evaluation systems and processes.
Experience:

At least seven years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation of development projects and programme/project management;
Proven experience in working with both government and local/international NGOs;
Experience in the M&E system including design, planning and implementation; M&E methods and approaches including quantitative, qualitative and participatory; and in providing training and knowledge sharing in M&E development and implementation;
Experience working at the national or sub-national level in national development issues particularly in the area of mine clearance is an advantage;
Proven knowledge and experience of working in the context of mine action and understanding of rural development in Cambodia is a strong asset.
Language Requirements:

Fluency in Khmer and English (both spoken and written).
Disclaimer
“Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply”