PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POSITION IS BEING RE-ADVERTISED. THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANOTHER APPLICATION.
THE POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF SOUTH AFRICA ONLY.
Job Description
Organizational Context
The East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in line with UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), is accelerating evidence-based interventions towards achieving the Transformative Results in the region, namely (i) ending unmet need for family planning, (ii) ending preventable maternal deaths and (iii) ending gender based violence and harmful practices by 2030. In addition, the region continues to be the epicentre of HIV infections, informing a regional flagship result area of ending sexual transmission of HIV.
In line with UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), ESARO pays particular attention to advancing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as a transformative investment in strengthening the skills and capabilities of young people, especially that of adolescent girls and young women, in exercising their agency and rights, bodily autonomy, decision-making and leadership. The UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Intervention Action Plan (RIAP) recognizes the youthful population in the region and has therefore committed to strengthen advocacy and policy dialogue at regional and national levels to promote an enabling legal and policy environment for adolescent and youth-responsive information and services, comprehensive sexuality education for in-school and out-of-school youth, and the progressive realization of human rights of all adolescents and youth in their diversity for bodily autonomy and protection from harmful practices.
ESARO, with support from Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and in partnership with its country offices, has been implementing the Safeguard Young People (SYP) Programme since 2013 in 12 countries. The overall aim of the programme is to improve the wellbeing of adolescents and young people aged 10-24 with a focus on their sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV prevention.
The Position
Under the overall guidance of the Health System Strengthening Regional Advisor and the direct supervision of the Youth Team Lead and SYP Regional Coordinator, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will contribute to the quality assurance and the effective monitoring and evaluation of the SYP Programme. She/he will also analyze and assess the implementation environment of the programme including the political, social and economic environment, and provide timely inputs to improve results-based management and reporting of the programme.
The Purpose
The M&E Specialist facilitates quality assurance of the SYP programme by applying regional standards and promoting healthy exchanges and good practices among the implementing countries. S/he ensures effective management and harmonization of the regional results framework and programme interventions. S/he promotes south-south cooperation, knowledge and strategic information sharing among implementing countries. As part of the regional technical team, the M&E Specialist ensures optimal coordination of the programme related data and provides Technical Assistance to the countries. The M&E Specialist facilitates the use of regional quality assured and standardized tools that when implemented consistently across the countries allow for a deeper level of evaluation/assessment of the programme interventions. S/he ensures that the reporting of programme data is done in a timely and accurate manner.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
The M&E Specialist will ensure that:
The SYP programme is objectively monitored and results reported as per Results framework of the programme;
SYP programme priorities are highlighted, strategically positioned and optimally integrated into national development frameworks; and are constantly reviewed and updated;
Evidence derived from the programme as well as research are documented, disseminated and utilized; and,
Countries are constantly assisted to generate, document and utilize evidence.
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist will:
Manage SYP programmes’ M&E Results Framework, support quarterly and annual reporting by countries in the ‘Data For All Monitoring (DFA)’ system. DFA is an online monitoring and reporting system of the SYP programme;
Support the development of country annual work plans of the SYP programme, and help integrate them into DFA;
Assist in enhancing the national health management information systems (HMIS) and the regional online M&E and technical assistance platform for monitoring project achievements against targets,
Facilitate the organization of monitoring visits to countries by the UNFPA coordination team, donors and other stakeholders;
Facilitate strengthening of the programme implementers’ capacity in results-based management and monitoring techniques;
Facilitate and support the final independent evaluation of the programme;
Analyze, advise and report on programme progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems;
Identify constraints and resource gaps, and recommend corrective action; identify and communicate best practices;
Maintain and update the Adolescent and Youth database, performing indicator analyses, and develop factsheets on thematic issues;
Ensures coherence and linkages across the SYP programme outcomes, incorporating lessons learned and best practices;
Monitor the overall utilization of programme resources with the view to determining cost effectiveness;
Analyse data needs and initiate/coordinate operational research activities linked to the Programme for improving programme delivery; and,
Performs other emerging M&E functions as required by the ESARO.
Key Deliverables:
Regional and national SYP programme M&E frameworks in place and shared with the relevant UNFPA and IPs officers for operationalization;
Result tracking tool maintained;
Annual work plans for the Regional Office and the Country Offices are developed with objectively measurable indicators;
Annual results are objectively measure and shared with the Programme Coordination Meeting and the Steering Committee;
Quality Annual Reports drafted timeously
Final evaluation of the programme conducted; and,
Performs other duties as assigned by the ESARO.
Job Requirements
Education:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Statistics, Demography, Social Sciences, Public Health or other fields directly related to the substantive areas of this position. Postgraduate training in monitoring and evaluation is an added advantage.
Knowledge and Experience:
At least 7 years’ experience in a related field and/or in M&E;
An understanding of the UN system in general, UNFPA’s mandate in particular would be an added advantage;
Familiarity with monitoring tools, M&E and Value-for-Money (VfM) is desirable with field experience;
Professional experience in SRHR will be desirable;
Excellent computer skills especially Access, Excel and analytical/M&E tools.
Experience of working effectively with youth networks, academia, and diverse partners will be an asset; and,
Languages:
Fluency in English is required (both verbal and written). Knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French is desirable.
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
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
Managerial Competencies:
Providing strategic focus
Engaging internal/ external partners and stakeholders
Leading, developing and empowering people/ creating a culture of performance
Making decisions and exercising judgment
Strong negotiating and networking skills.
Functional Competencies:
Delivering results based programmes
Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
Creating visibility for the organization
Documenting best practices, and Internal and external communication and advocacy for resource mobilization.
Compensation and Benefits
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary, pension, medical and other benefits as applicable.
Disclaimer
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
