Monitoring and Learning Associate – UNDP India

Apply by 2nd NOV 22

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from democratic governance to poverty eradication, to sustainable energy and environmental management. UNDP’s programmes are aligned with national priorities and are reviewed and adjusted annually.

Degree Level Secondary School Leaving Certificate
Job Schedule Full time
Agency UNDP
Grade NB3
Vacancy Type National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area Effectiveness
Bureau Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Education & Work Experience Bachelor’s Degree – 3 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 6 year(s) experience
Required Languages English and national language of duty station
Vacancy Timeline 2 Weeks
Mobility required/no mobility no mobility required
Job Category Monitoring & Evaluation

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.
 
Organizational Context: 

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s current Country Programme, 2018-2022, is in its final year of implementation. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Project Description: 
UNDP India’s Country Programme (CP) 2018-2022 is anchored in the principles of programme effectiveness and results-based planning, management and monitoring. The CP results framework agreed with the government of India is aligned with the national development agenda and SDGs vision. The CP is operationalized through a set of multi-year projects implemented in partnership with the government of India at the central and state level. Each project has specific results planning framework and monitoring strategy to track progress towards achieving the projects outputs and results contributing to the overall CP outputs and outcomes. UNDP’s quality assurance tools are applied from project design to implementation to closure stages.

The monitoring and evaluation function in UNDP India Country Office provides support to programme units and project staff in thinking through programme effectiveness approaches and results-based design, review and management of programmes and projects and is an interface on corporate monitoring and evaluation policies, tools and results reporting. The support function coordinates and consolidated programme inputs and provides support to quality assurance and corporate compliance and advice to senior management in strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, and results reporting.   UNDP India’s monitoring and evaluation function also provides management support function in response to the needs and requirements from time to time.

Duties and Responsibilities
Main Purpose:
UNDP India requires the services of a Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) professional for overall programme support, monitoring, and knowledge management function in the country office. Under the guidance and supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, the incumbent will support the programme effectiveness approaches; implementation of results based management, monitoring and evaluation plans, quality assurance both at the programme and project levels, results reporting, and ensure corporate alignment and compliance. The incumbent will liaise closely with the programme and project teams to ensure monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken and results framework is complied, seek inputs from teams and support high quality results-oriented reports reflecting the achievements of UNDP projects and programmes. The incumbent will be required to support developing data collection and analytical tools, strengthen monitoring and reporting systems, and develop knowledge management tools and systems and help in dissemination. The incumbent will support coordination with programme and operations and contribute to preparing briefs, presentations, status notes, review meetings, retreats, key events etc. The incumbent may be required to travel to the field including where projects are under implementation.

While the MEL Associate will work under the overall guidance of the Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, s/he will work directly and in coordination with Programme and cross cutting units in the office to ensure results-based management, implementation, monitoring and reporting. The position is based in New Delhi with travel across India.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

The specific roles and responsibilities of the MEL professional are: 

Planning:

• Support and contribute to multi-year and annual work planning processes and review of documents and appraisal processes.
• Support in developing and implementing the programme M&E plans from results-based management perspective along with indicators, targets, means of verification and monitoring steps at output and activity level in multi-year work plans and annual work plans, support in developing plans and monitor the programme and project’s risks and issues matrices in line with UNDP guidelines.
• Support monthly and quarterly planning and implementation reviews with Programme Units, document follow up actions.
• Support liaising with Finance and Programme team on annual budget planning, pipeline management, data analysis on financial sustainability.
• Support the pipeline management of the CO in reviewing and updating the information in the portal
• Support monitoring and tracking of Country Office Key Performance Indicators and Compact with Regional Bureau.
• Supports planning and quality assurance of programme and project risk registers.
• Support planning, review and oversight mechanisms and processes; maintain effective knowledge of innovation and management and contribute to key planning products, processes and events.
• Support planning and inputs to corporate dashboards, audits, quality assurance reviews and oversight, online performance monitoring tools, Vital signs, Quantum+, programme and project management dashboards etc. Act as resource person for the trainings, as appropriate.
• Support and contribute to the content development, agenda setting and presentations for the programme planning events, staff retreats, review meetings etc.
  Monitoring:
• Support design, review and monitoring of programmes/projects’ results planning and framework with defined indicators and targets aligned with the Country Programme 2018-22 framework.
• Support and contribute to analysis and compliance of corporate planning and monitoring tools (e.g. Corporate Planning (and monitoring) System; Integrated Work Plans; Project Information Management Systems; Project Quality Assurance, & Social and Environmental Screening tools; programme and project risk management monitoring, Project Information on International Data Transparency portal (IATI), Country office Knowledge Management platform; Evaluation Plans and Reporting Dashboard etc) through structured tracking tools.
• Actively monitor programme dashboards and support monitoring of Country Office Key Performance Indicators; identify and escalate bottlenecks and potential issues, and support in taking timely action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant colleagues in the Programme for timely resolution
• Support programme oversight mechanisms such as Country Programme Management Board, Outcome Boards.
• Ensure quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in the annual and multi-year work plans.
• Support monitoring of Programme and Project SOPs; programme and project risk dashboards and CO Integrated Work Plan platform.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews, both internal and external, to assess progress and to determine required interventions to achieve the results.
• Support in capacity building of the teams, and M&E system establishment, corporate dashboards, Quantum+, vital signs platform etc and maintain the programme database (MIS) and knowledge management platforms.
• Contribute to discussion, trainings and roll out of corporate initiatives, as and when required
• Undertake field visits, if needed

Evaluation and Audits:

• Support implementation of planned programme and project evaluations, follow up on timely implementation of the recommendations and key tasks
• Support in reviewing Terms of Reference and support in evaluation design of high quality in line with UNDP’s programme and project evaluation policies and guidelines
• Make available quality documentation, information, reports, evidences to the evaluators
• Support in Monitoring Evaluation dashboard and ensure all duly approved and signed off reports, documentation (in line with the checklist) and management response is made available and follow up on tasks and activities corresponding to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for timely implementation.
• Support dissemination of evaluation findings, recommendations and lessons learnt to the stakeholders.
• Support Country Office Audits and ensure tracking of documentation throughout in line with UNDP Audit compliance, processes and procedures.

Reporting, Learning and Documentation

• Support corporate reporting requirements; review and drafting of analytical and evidence-based results-oriented reports (ROAR, Mid-term and annual review reports etc) with inputs from the programme and project teams
• Support coordination and review of project progress reports from programme units and provide constructive feedback to finalize the reports
• Support inquality information of results and progress reports and ensure its timely completion;.
• Identify and document lessons learned, best practices, and use knowledge gained to feed into the ongoing as well as future programming and for developing/managing knowledge products (knowledge management).
• Promote awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of M&E function among team members including the field staff through communication, training, learning and development activities
• Undertake development of knowledge management and lessons learnt tools, systems and best practices by working closely with programme units and communication unit and help in dissemination
• Support coordination with programme and operations and contribute to preparing briefs, background and status notes, presentations, review meetings, retreats, key events etc and participate in review meetings.

Competencies
Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 
Business Management    

Working with Evidence and Data    Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Business Management:   

• Digital Awareness and Literacy    Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
• Partnerships Management    Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide network of stakeholders, government, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Results-based Management    Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Risk Management    Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Development :   

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

Business direction and strategy :   

Strategic Thinking    Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
 
Engagement and Effectiveness    :

Effectiveness

• Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis
• RBM standards and practices for programming
• ROAR and the ARA
• Systems and tools and for managing risk
• System-wide approaches to strategic planning and results

Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:

• Min. Education requirements:
• Secondary Education or a Bachelor’s Degree in Social science, management or related field is not a requirement but will be given due consideration.

Min. years of relevant work experience: 
Secondary education with 6 years OR 3 years (3 years with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in monitoring and evaluation, planning, and programming related work experience.

Required skill:
Demonstrated experience in project management.

• Proven experience in conducting M&E, analyzing data and preparing high quality reports and evidence-based notes
• Strong knowledge of monitoring and evaluation tools is required, in particular results-based management and impact evaluations
• Experience is usage of office software packages and in handling web-based management systems.
• Excellent writing, communication and analytical skills; knowledge of IT tools

Desired skills: 

• Certification in Project Management will be an asset
• Experience in developing practical guidance and tools on M&E activities including M&E data management will be desirable.
• M&E experience with an International organization and/or UN/UNDP will be desirable.
• Knowledge of UN system programming will be desirable.
• Substantive knowledge of development issues.-Experience in the development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative methodologies would be considered an asset.

Experience in support to M&E Trainings

Desired competencies in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

Results based planning and monitoring, research and analysis:

• Demonstrate Accountability and Results-Based Programme Development and Management
• Knowledge of methodologies, assessment tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations
• Familiarity with RBMS, LOG FRAME, RESULT CHAINS, etc.
• Proven capacity for analysis of complex, cross-sector programmes.

RBM concepts and tools and data analysis:

• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to programme planning and monitoring, and results-based management
• Knowledge of analytical tools, market research and methods for undertaking substantive research on various policy related issues
• Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods; Ability to synthesize monitoring data and make changes throughout the life of the programme or project; Ability to set goals and indicators and to interpret and synthesize results into usable information to inform policy, strategy, and/or action.

Evaluation: 

• Demonstrable experience in developing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks.
• Demonstrate understanding of corporate evaluation guidelines and application
  Practical development programme experience and understanding of field realities.
• Document and demonstrate application of evaluation finding and learnings in future programmes and projects.

Communication and Knowledge Management:

• Ability to prepare quality reports and excellent communication skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.
• Ability to prepare briefs from the field for communication and reporting purposes

Required Language(s: 
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and the national language of duty station.

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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