Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant

Organizational Location

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Consultant is located in the UNFPA South Sudan Country Office in Juba, South Sudan, and reports to the Technical Adviser for Census and Population and Development.  S/He manages the full range of monitoring and evaluation work of the Country Office, particularly focused on the midwifery programme.

Job Purpose

The M&E Consultant advises the Country Office on the monitoring and evaluation activities of the midwifery and country programme within the context of results-based management, taking into account lessons learned from evaluations. S/He provides guidance and assistance to the Midwifery Specialists and country office in establishing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks and systems to ensure the collection of monitoring data, particularly for the midwifery programme

S/he manages programme-level evaluations of midwifery programmes and assists country office in implementation of country programme and other evaluations, in evaluation planning, preparation of the terms of reference and/or requests for proposals, evaluation of proposals, review of inception reports, identification of evaluators and follow up on recommendations, as appropriate. S/He supports evaluation capacity building in the country office and among national counterparts. 

S/he contributes to the establishment of partnerships with government, professional bodies, national institutions, United Nations partners and other development partners aiming at further developing evaluation and monitoring capacities.

The M&E Consultant will work within an integrated and coordinated approach. The primary roles of the M&E Specialist are:

• Key responsibilities in monitoring and evaluation                                             
• Support to strategic results achievement
• Capacity development

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination.

Key responsibilities in monitoring and evaluation

• Contribute to the development of methodologies and tools for monitoring and evaluation of CO Programme particularly the Midwifery Programme;
• Provide leadership in the monitoring and evaluation work of the Midwifery Programme in the Country Office;
• Work in collaboration with other M&E Officer in the formulation and implementation of monitoring plan and system for the CO Programme;
• Advise and provide technical support to Midwifery Specialist and other concerned officers on monitoring and evaluation frameworks and processes;
• Support the CO in the planning and conduct of related programme evaluations, and nurturing an evaluation culture within the CO;
• Manage the Midwifery programme-related evaluations and contribute to CO Programme Evaluations;
• Co-ordinate with other UN evaluation units and professional evaluation bodies and working groups for programme and thematic evaluations and other evaluation activities.

Major Activities/Expected Results

Support to strategic results achievement

• Contribute to the formulation and monitoring the use of results-based indicators and advise on data collection and analysis to ensure results-based management is practiced in the midwifery programme and other Country Office programmes;
• Provide technical support to the CO, to ensure that the theory of change and appropriate hierarchy of results are applied in the Country Programmes, and performance and impact indicators and their measurement methods/sources are well identified;
• Promote the use of evaluation findings, lessons learned and findings from other studies/assessments related to UNFPA’s areas of work in ongoing strategic planning, programme development, substantive strategies, policies, tools and approaches; and
• Contribute to the development of indicators, monitoring frameworks, methodologies and databases for Midwifery and CO Programmes.

Capacity Development

• Contribute to the development and adaptation of RBM tools and guidance as well as training materials and manuals in monitoring and support their use for capacity development of implementing partners and UNFPA staff in the CO;
• Provide training and identify learning opportunities for UNFPA staff and implementing partners in monitoring and evaluation;
• Contribute to organizational learning and knowledge sharing through the monitoring and evaluation communities of practice;
• Oversee the work of expert consultants and provide quality assurance of their work, together with the country offices and concerned officers.

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination

• Contribute to the review, adaptation and dissemination of state-of-the-art knowledge and new approaches to monitoring practice, and make recommendations for their adoption in the Country Office;
• Contribute to the identification, analysis/synthesis, documentation and dissemination of good practices and lessons learned in monitoring and evaluation;
• Monitor and analyze evaluation reports, synthesize evaluation findings and disseminate lessons learned to improve relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the UNFPA’s work;
• Keep abreast of the latest discussions and developments, new skills and knowledge in monitoring and evaluation through regularly reading articles, papers, presentations and publications.

Other

• Carries out any other duties as may be required by the Country Office.

Work Relations

External partners include staff of sister UN agencies, government agencies, international and local NGOs in particular UNFPA CO implementing partners to exchange information and maintain partnerships.

Internal partners include primarily UNFPA Country Office staff, including Representative, Deputy Representative, Technical Advisors, Midwifery Specialists and other technical staff; periodic contacts with staff of other Country Offices and Regional Office.

Job Requirements

• Advanced University Degree in public health, social science, demography, gender, economics, international relations, international development, public administration, management or other related field. The graduate or post graduate degree should preferably include credits in the principles and practice of monitoring and evaluation;
• At least 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience, of which five years at the international level. At least five years in health and/or social sciences evaluation; including periodic updating of technical skills;
• Solid knowledge and expertise in monitoring and evaluation are required;
• Strong track record of leadership in managing programme-level evaluations, and proven ability to produce good-quality, demonstrable results is required;
• Programmatic experience, including programme development, planning, monitoring and reporting, is desirable;
• Field experience is a strong asset;
• Ability to network with the academic institutions, professional associations and development community;
• Excellent verbal and writing skills in English are required.

Required Competencies

i) Values: Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change;

ii) Core Competencies: Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, Communicating for impact

iii) Managerial Competencies: Provide strategic focus, engage internal/external partners, lead, develop and empower people, create impact a culture of performance.

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ advancing a policy-oriented agenda   
• Developing and implementing conceptually innovative approaches to the provision of technical expertise - conceptual innovation;
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners, and building strategic alliances and   partnerships
• Providing a technical support system; Strengthening the capacity of country offices;
• Adaptation and application of knowledge / innovations in different contexts;
• Integration in a multidisciplinary environment
• Internal and external communication and resource mobilization

Languages: Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is an added advantage.

Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life.  We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.