Monitoring & Evaluation Officer at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of UNV is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

Location : Abuja, Nigeria

Type of Contract : UNV
Post Level : UNV
Languages Required: English
Duration of Initial Contract : 12months renewable based on availability of funds

Background
Preamble:
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.
In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.
In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

Organizational Context:
Nigeria has piloted the UN ‘Delivering as One’ (DaO) initiative in some selected states through the UNDAF II since 2009. This pilot was aimed at unifying and aligning the work of the UN system in Nigeria to efficiently and effectively deliver results in support of national priorities, as well as serve as a preparation for a full-fledge self-starter DaO country in the near future. Working as one, the UN agencies and organizations will bring in the necessary synergy for greater impact to the country’s efforts on the development and action against humanitarian challenges that face the country. By combining the skills and resources of UN Agencies active across the country, the UN can complement the efforts of the Government, civil society, private sector and other development partners through the provision of quality policy advice and technical assistance to Nigeria. The commitment of UNCT Nigeria to the UN coherence and the self-starter ‘Delivering as One’ is therefore about being a more effective partner for Government focusing on the UN’s comparative advantage. The UN system, Government and other stakeholders have completed the formulation of the UNDAF III with DaO modality for 2014-2017, and the formulation of an UNDAF action plan. The development of the operational document, the UN Development Action Plan (UNDAP) will assist the UN system to improve accountability, division of labour and better reporting of results for enhanced coherence of programmes. Although Nigeria is in development mode, there are many pockets of emergency and humanitarian challenges resulting from natural and man-made sources. The increasing security challenges in recent years culminating to the declaration of the State of Emergency in three northern-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe has exacerbated the situation and stretched the limited capacity supporting the resident coordination system in Nigeria. With the implementation of the UNDAF/P underway, the UNCT is seeking to enhance the capacity of the RCO with UNV to support the process.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Coordination Specialist, of the UN system and the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator/UNCT, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will;

• Assist the UNCT in the development and implementation of a comprehensive mechanism for the monitoring and evaluation of the UN Development Assistance Framework in Nigeria. This would entail the development and coordination of existing agency specific M&E capacities and resources, and working closely with the UN’s Thematic Working Groups to support and facilitate the M&E related aspects of the TWG’s work.
• The M&E officer will also need to establish an external network with National Counterparts including the Government, Civil Society, Academia and other institutions that are involved with Development related M&E. The primary purpose of this interaction is for learning and dissemination of information and to mobilize resources for activities such as surveys etc.
• Support the UNCT in the development and implementation of an UNDAF III M&E Framework and the establishment of a corresponding M&E system. Contribute to the end of cycle reviews of UNDAF II.
• Support and undertake UNDAF/P Reviews;
• Development of technically sound and clearly defined SMART indicators for each UNDAF/P Outcome and outputs.
• Development of evaluation tools and processes, innovative approaches in evaluation that meet the requirements of the UN DaO principles;
• Compilation of Periodic progress reviews of the UNDAF Results Matrix through the TWGs;
• Designing and undertaking periodic evaluations of progress vis-a-vis the stated UNDAF/P Outcomes and corresponding indicators.
• Assist the Joint UN Team (JUNT) on M&E and the Programme Management Team (PMT) in the monitoring, management and implementation of UNDAF processes and in coordinating the M&E of UN flagship Programmes in the focal states.
• Serve as UNRCO focal point for JUNT M&E and with the government’s M&E TWG;
• Support the revitalization of JUNT M&E with clear TOR and membership;
• Keep track of UNDAF M&E activities, studies, surveys and other M&E-related products;
• Promotion of evaluation standards, quality assurance/control and other global, regional and national M&E principles;
• Provision of feedback into policy/project/programme design, including comments on various documents;
• Surveys designed and undertaken for the collection of required data, baselines, if not available from existing sources;
• Direct responsibility and accountability for the management, enhancement and oversight of the UN in Nigeria Data Bank and responsibility for appropriate tools and activities for data collection, integration and dissemination (DevInfo, EMIS etc).
• Manage and enhance the current UN Nigeria Data Bank (DevInfo, eMIS etc) towards an effective One UN RBM M&E System;
• Knowledge building and knowledge sharing on monitoring and evaluation, including resource mobilization.
• Contribute to capacity development to enhance the enabling environment; orient and train UN programme staff in understanding and applying results-oriented monitoring & evaluation policies, tools & methods;
• Identification and formulation of lessons learned from evaluations and studies to be integrated into broader UN in Nigeria knowledge management;
• Support resource mobilization efforts, especially for activities such as surveys etc.

Competencies

• Computer skills: ability to use the internet, and knowledge of Knowledge of Microsoft applications word, Publishers, excel and PowerPoint desirable
• Strong communications expertise, conceptualization skills, and sound judgment.
• Familiarity with the aid context and development processes in Nigeria would be advantage.
• Excellent coordination skills to facilitate inter-agency collaboration.
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks at times within short deadlines without compromising quality.
• Possess good Interpersonal skills, team spirit and positive working relationships.
• Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Masters degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Science, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, including hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing relationships among partners.
• Basic knowledge of the UN system would be desirable.

Language:
Fluency in English and Knowledge of any major local language in Nigeria would be an advantage

Conditions of Service
A 12-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to N94, 914 settling-in-grant (if applicable) Equivalent of one month VLA, i.e. N94, 914 for a 12-month assignment if candidate is recruited from outside the duty station, or pro-rated if assignment is shorter than 12 months; life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Application Closing Date
14th July, 2014

Method of Application
Interested candidates should
Click here to apply