Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

Myanmar

Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for some of the largest development programmes in the country. In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative targeting drug-resistant malaria in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS also provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Project Information

LIFT is embarking on a new strategic period for 2024-2028. The LIFT 2024-2028 Strategy builds on the achievements of LIFT's experience as well as recent adaptations and learning in the face of a changing and dynamic context. The new Strategy outlines an approach to tackle structural drivers of poverty and vulnerability, while also considering immediate interventions to secure and maintain Myanmar's previous development gains. LIFT has proven itself as a key delivery partner across Myanmar’s changing contexts – ranging from post-Nargis recovery, a time of political transition, and relief support during COVID-19. LIFT is managed by the United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS) and has received funding from 16 international donors. The current donors are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark.

Job Specific

Under the direct supervision of the M&E Senior Manager, the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist will lead the design of methodologies and tools to ensure the availability of clear and accurate information for the Programme. The incumbent under this position plays an essential role in data management, surveys, and quality by designing a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system that follows UNOPS policies and principles, to ensure the highest standards of quality and compliance.

The Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist will provide strategic and technical support to and strengthen capacities of LIFT teams on MEAL. The post holder will act as the Deputy M&E Senior Manager. 

1. MEAL Design and Planning
2. Partnerships Building and Partner Support
3. Capacity Strengthening and Knowledge Management
4. Monitoring and Reporting
5. Risk Mitigation

MEAL Design and Planning

• Work closely with the M&E Senior Manager to develop the MEAL Framework and Work Plan. 
• Provide and coordinate technical support to projects on the development of their project MEAL frameworks and associated tools to ensure that partners meet LIFT M&E requirements, including developing and updating the results framework and MEAL plan, including KPI´s for existing and new projects.
• Coordinate periodic reviews of M&E tools, guidelines, and processes - consolidating recommendations for necessary updates for review by M&E Senior Manager and undertaking follow-up actions, as required.
• Lead project planning processes related to  MEAL work plan and budget. 
• Establish and/or maintain a reliable MEAL framework according to the donors’ requirements and UNOPS policies and principles to ensure quality and compliance. 
• Conduct regular project visits to monitor operations and ensure quality deliverables.

Partnerships Building and Partner Support: 

• Become familiar with the different LIFT teams’ objectives, challenges, and methods to understand and provide relevant information and advice.
• Create dynamics to regularly meet and participate in relevant discussions within the teams to constantly learn about their performance and needs.
• Coordinate closely with the team leads to ensure constant communication and fluent interaction between both parties.  
• Liaise with HQ when necessary for benchmarking, networking, and/or capacity-building purposes.
• Become a trusted advisor for the LIFT organization. 
• Conduct comprehensive and ongoing assessments of LIFT partner’s MEAL systems and identify areas for capacity development to improve the overall quality of data reported to LIFT.
• Participate in project field visits to review LIFT partner MEAL systems and conduct data quality reviews.

Capacity Strengthening and Knowledge Management

• Guide LIFT junior MEAL and other relevant personnel on the utilization of the LIFT.
• Framework implementation tools to ensure consistency in their application across LIFT.
• Support project staff with training and mentoring on routine monitoring procedures and monitoring techniques.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and on-the-job training to the MEAL team to improve their skills and constantly raise the bar. 
• Organize annual re-skilling and up-skilling sessions with the LIFT team.
• Support in developing KM mechanisms and processes for the project.
• Establish practices within the MEAL team to incorporate project studies’ findings, lessons learned, achievements, and gaps, to ensure knowledge management.
• Facilitate process review and lessons learned exercises, including data collected to assess improvement opportunities and act upon them. 
• Conduct relevant M&E training and related capacity development activities to ensure LIFT partner MEAL systems are fully operational and in compliance with the LIFT MEAL standards.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Oversee implementation of day-to-day LIFT M&E activities and raising issues affecting implementation and proposing subsequent actions to the M&E Senior Manager in a timely manner.
• Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data and statistics.
• Lead the regular reporting process for the Programme and work closely with the LIFT teams to ensure alignment and quality/reliable data. 
• Consolidate and draft inputs for regular reporting exercises.
• Create an effective, efficient, and reliable framework for data reporting. 
• Establish reporting parameters with the M&E Senior Manager, to ensure timely compliance of reports requirements and deliverables. 

Risk Mitigation

• Identify and mitigate risks related to the Programme´s performance and proactively communicate them.
• Identify risks affecting the implementation of Programme M&E activities, raising these risks and proposing subsequent actions to the Sr. M&E Specialist in a timely manner;  
• Ensure putting in place the right mechanisms to identify and act on risk management, considering the Programme's processes and UNOPS policies and principles. 
• Create a risk management culture within the MEAL team, to enhance proactivity and safeguard the Programme's interests.

Education:

• A Master’s degree preferably in social sciences, statistics, international development, public administration, sociology, or similar is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields with an additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) at the programme level, preferably in food security, rural development, health, nutrition, agriculture, climate, or related fields, is required.
• Experience in designing, implementing, and overseeing monitoring and evaluation processes is required.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative M&E methodologies is required. 
• Experience in coordinating or managing diverse stakeholders is required. 
• Experience in leading or coordinating teams is required.
• Previous experience designing and implementing gender-sensitive or disability-inclusive M&E would be a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming MEAL practices within large-scale development projects is highly desirable.
• Experience working with the UN or international organizations is highly desirable.
• Experience with database management would be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Proficiency in  Burmese is an asset.
• Proficiency in other Myanmar languages is an asset. 

Contract type: LICA Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA Specialist-10
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. 

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• This position is based in Yangon, Myanmar which is a non-family duty station.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.