Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist (Home-based with travel to Myanmar)

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.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable communities in Myanmar. Its Enabling Community Recovery and Resilience (ENCORE) project adopts an area-based approach where community structures are strengthened, and based on the community’s own prioritization, support is provided to meet critical immediate needs, basic services, livelihoods, and village-level infrastructure.

An effective monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework is needed for ensuring project’s effectiveness and success. As such the project seeks the services of a MEL Specialist to support the development and implementation of a MEL Framework that is coherent with ENCORE project’s area-based approach, other ongoing projects and the overarching goals of UNDP in Myanmar.

The MEL Specialist will support the RSMU and area-based projects and will directly report to the CTA and will have technical reporting to area-based Project Managers and liaise with project teams. The MEL Specialist is also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under http://dss.un.org and will be given access to relevant information and administrative support necessary for executing the tasks under this assignment.

Duties And Responsibilities

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will be responsible for supporting the MEL Plan for the UNDP Country Office (CO), which will then guide the development of MEL for ENCORE project. S/he will provide support in ensuring coherence and technical alignment across the project and other UNDP projects in relation to their MEL/Results frameworks and related systems.

The MEL Specialist will also support the project management units in reviewing, developing and establishing the M&E/MIS, including data collection, storage, and updating, data analysis to inform planning, implementation, and management decision-making, and information and data sharing and reporting. The MEL Specialist will also work with UNDP’s Risk and Strategic Management Unit (RSMU) and the contracted firm to develop the grievance redressal mechanisms. In collaboration with the ENCORE’s Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), s/he shall provide capacity building and technical assistance (TA) support to the Integrated Project Management Unit (IPMT), RSMU, and field office (FO) teams, as well as township and village-level implementers.

In the conduct of his responsibilities, the MEL Specialist will replicate best practices in/across the other projects as appropriate.

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) and the CTA, and in close collaboration with the IPMT, Project Managers and RSMU, the MEL Specialist shall be responsible for:

Providing technical leadership in developing and implementing the MEL frameworks. The M&E Specialist shall support the development of the CO’s MEL Plan and lead the development and implementation by (i) leading the design, development, pilot implementation, and enhancement of their MEL frameworks and quantitative and qualitative tools for capturing MEL targets, in close collaboration with the DRR, CTA, and the Project Managers and National M&E Officers of the projects; (ii) ensuring that gender-responsive indicators are used in the MEL frameworks to enable the projects to measure if they contributed to gender transformation; (iii) planning, coordinating and leading the preparation and implementation of MEL work plans; (iv) supporting the development and setting-up of the M&E database and MIS systems, ensuring that current, complete, and correct data for Project M&E are available, and the M&E forms, tools and processes are continually adjusted to meet the evolving needs of the projects. Under the guidance of the DRR and the CTA, and in consultation with RSMU, the MEL Specialist will also support resource mobilization efforts, particularly in formulating the design of concept notes and proposals and drafting of results frameworks according to the requirements of the target donor/s

Establishing the baseline data. In collaboration with the CTA, the MEL Specialist would work with the ENCORE project and other projects to establish the baseline data, ensuring overall coherence and the ability for cross-programme consolidation and analysis. This will include leading (i) the design of the baseline survey methodology, (ii) the application of digital applications and helping tools to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of data collection, (iii) the consolidation, processing, and analysis of baseline data; (iv) the drafting of survey reports; and (v) the conduct of training activities and technical assistance support for the conduct of these activities. This will include baselining the sectoral needs and profiles of target communities, such as energy, water/WASH, and agricultural production.

The responsibility of the MEL Specialist would include leading the completion of the baseline survey started in 2023, and preparing the baseline survey report, and leading the second phase of the baseline survey covering the new/additional villages of the project.

Supporting the conduct of mid-term and end-line evaluations. In accordance with the CO’s overall project evaluation plan and UNDP’s Evaluation Policy, and in collaboration with the RSMU, the MEL Specialist will support the design and implementation of mid-term and end-line evaluations and reviews in accordance with the internal policies of UNDP and the requirements of project donors and partners.

Supporting the development and implementation of project M&E/MIS systems. The MEL Specialist shall support the CO in preparing project specific M&E/MIS procedures and systems per their results frameworks and annual work plans, including drafting related manuals and guidelines and providing quality assurance to progress reports. In collaboration with the CTA, the IPMT and RSMU, s/he will ensure that (i) the overall MEL targets of the UNDP’s projects are being addressed through their M&E procedures and activities, UNDP’s corporate reporting requirements, (and (ii) learning and cross-fertilization across the Field Offices being facilitated through the M&E activities.

Supporting the training and capacity-building activities related to MEL. In collaboration with the CTA, the TCB Specialist, and RSMU, the MEL Specialist shall support the project units in (i) identifying the training needs of project implementers on MEL, (ii) determining the training strategies and approaches that are suitable to the project’s operational context, (iii) developing the MEL training design and materials, and (iv) leading the delivery of the MEL training inputs, in collaboration with the UNDP Field Offices.

Key Responsibility And Activities

Provide technical support in developing and implementing the MEL frameworks.

• In collaboration with the CTA, the ENCORE project, the IPMT, and RSMU– support efforts to promote integration and coherence across the field offices through the development of MEL Plan and the development of harmonized project MEL/Results frameworks and associated systems and procedures.
• In coordination with the RSMU, Gender Specialist, and relevant staff/units, establish consultation and coordination links with the project units, especially with their MEL focal persons, to support the continuous refinement of the MEL frameworks and their associated systems and procedures, including ensuring that gender-responsive indicators are used in the MEL frameworks to enable the projects to measure if they contributed to gender transformation.
• Support the drafting of manuals and guidelines related to MEL.
• Lead strategic learning through the design of quantitative and qualitative procedures for capturing good practices and lessons learned and the conduct of case studies and qualitative thematic assessments.

Guide the establishment of baseline data for the area-based projects:

• Lead the completion of the first round of baseline data collection, processing, and reporting in collaboration with the M&E consultant.
• Lead the conduct of the second round of baseline survey, including designing the survey methodology (sample selection, updated questionnaire), testing and incorporating methods for measuring ‘community resilience’, providing technical guidance and quality assurance during data collection, and leading the preparation of the 2nd round BLS Report.

Contribute strategically to the conduct of mid-term and end-line evaluations:

• Base on the CO’s overall plan for evaluating project progress, support the strengthening of the evaluability of the projects.
• Provide technical guidance and support in designing and implementing the required mid-term and end-line evaluations in accordance with UNDP’s Evaluation Policy.
• Provide quality assurance in the collection and processing of data and in the preparation of the evaluation reports.

Lead the development and implementation of project M&E/MIS systems.

• Review existing MIS and M&E reporting systems and procedures in collaboration with the project units.
• Provide technical support to project M&E/MIS focal persons on enhancing the effectiveness of M&E tools and procedures and integrating them into the MIS system, if any.
• Help ensure that M&E tools and procedures are relevant, directly contribute to CO’s programme and project MEL/Results framework, and promote coherence across the programme and projects.
• Support project units in ensuring the quality of progress reports and presentations that require project data.

Support the training and capacity-building activities related to MEL

• Coordinate with the PMUs and the field implementation units to determine gaps and capacity needs in implementing their MEL frameworks.
• In collaboration with the TCB Specialist and RSMU, design and implement training and capacity-building courses to strengthen the implementation of the project MEL frameworks.
• Undertake technical missions to project sites to assess MEL procedures and provide on-site technical assistance for data collection, capturing lessons, and improving the effectiveness of M&E activities.
• Contribute to learning and documentation of success stories and project briefs.

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

Digital & Innovation

• Data Strategy and Management: Knowledge to draft or execute a data strategy or a data management framework.
• Data Literacy: Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation.; Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real-time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration.
• Developmental evaluation: Learning and adaptation focused: ability to promote and facilitate ongoing reflection and adaptation; aimed at informing learning and portfolio related decision making; Being able to carry out evaluation thinking in complex systems and adapting evaluation strategies to changing realities.; Being inclusive, collaborative and co-creative: being able to design and implement evaluation frameworks with the variety of stakeholders and beneficiaries involved.; Ability to set up the structures, conditions, rituals to create a culture for curiosity, reflection and learning and promote evaluation results and insights from a learning perspective; Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

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.

Education

Required Skills and Experience:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in the field of study such as statistics, economics, development studies, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years (with Master´s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in programme/project monitoring and evaluation, particularly with community development projects using participatory MEL approaches, preferably in Myanmar.
• Experience in developing countries, especially in Asia.
• Experience with projects financed by major donors such as the World Bank, ADB, EU, and bilateral donors.
• Demonstrated above-average skills in the use of IT/digital applications for M&E activities, surveys, and case studies.
• Experience in the design and implementation of training and capacity-building activities related to project M&E
• Any relevant professional certifications

Required Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of the Myanmar language would be an advantage.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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Non-discrimination

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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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