Field M&E Specialist (Multisector: Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition)

UNOPS has been present in Bangladesh since 2003, initially providing operational support programme focusing on police reforms and disaster management. The presence has significantly grown since then with UNOPS being appointed as Local Fund Agent for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Bangladesh.

In 2014, UNOPS established formal representation in Bangladesh as a response to a request from the Executive Board of UNOPS to provide more substantial support to the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) across various areas, including organizational capacity development and integrating resilient infrastructure approaches. The office provided capacity development support to several GOB infrastructure-related agencies and key national NGOs focusing on improving operational capacities within the sectors of procurement, human resources management, finance and internal control, and project management.

Moving forward, UNOPS, in line with its global priorities is expanding its portfolio within Bangladesh to provide more significant support in the sectors of resilient infrastructure, fund management and operational efficiency with an emphasis on building national capacities, improving the resilience of communities and supporting in the implementation of SDGs.

Building on its global expertise in Fund Management, UNOPS is working with development partners in the country in setting up a development fund that will support humanitarian, disaster management and early recovery sectors.

General Background on the Assignment

The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, deliver the Global Goals, and tackle global challenges in line with the Government’s UK Aid Strategy. DFID appointed UNOPS to provide Fund Management services to its Strengthening Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Programme (SHPR) which aims to provide more effective, timely and predictable humanitarian support to refugees in Bangladesh and to vulnerable communities following disasters. DFID is one of the largest donor for the ongoing humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities.

As the Fund Management Agency, UNOPS is responsible for multiple functions covering fiduciary management, legal and technical oversight, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, quality assurance and communication. UNOPS will also be required to support DFID in its humanitarian agenda from the onset of this project. This requires the management of multiple individual grants supporting UN agencies and NGOs, including some consortia. Given the scale of the UK’s funds to the Rohingya crisis, there is now a need  for UNOPS to establish a full-time presence in Cox’s Bazar in order to effectively manage these funds. This terms of Reference and new position responds to this requirement: supporting the management of DFID projects that are being funded through by UNOPS as well as DFID direct funding to other UN and International Organisations in Cox’s Bazar that are assisting both the Rohingya and Host Communities to ensure their effective and efficient delivery.  This marks a first step in building UNOPS capacity to field-based management and monitoring.

Under the overall supervision of the Field Fund Manager with a secondary reporting line to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist, the Field M&E Specialist’s (Multisector: Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition) prime responsibilities will be in the following areas:

Results Based Management

●        Provide ongoing oversight, verify and report back on the sectoral standards of different DFID funded and UNOPS managed projects, with a particular focus on food security, livelihoods and nutrition projects and their output and outcome-level results.

●        Flag and follow-up where planned results are not being achieved, and the reasons for these – working with the rest of the UNOPS team and others as appropriate.

Monitoring of data, qualitative information and report writing

●        In liaison with SHPR M&E team develop monitoring systems to track project outputs related to food security, livelihoods and nutrition and programme quality and provide orientation to users of the tools.

●        Utilize and analyze monitoring and evaluation statistical data to understand the overall progress in reaching project outcomes.

●        Contribute with technical expertise to DFID funded multi-sectoral projects predominantly food security, livelihoods and Nutrition 

●        Support the reporting of Program data to enable timely and effective decision-making and planning.

●        Keep a record of field monitoring and issues being raised and progress. Support the development of new projects, including the development of new calls for proposals, the review of new project proposals, and other related activities, providing a strong ground truthing on how they correspond with the sector priorities

●        Address directly or flag issues that restrict the ability of partners to deliver their programme.

Evaluation

●        Provide feedback and analysis on the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of project interventions to the needs of the community.

●        Provide information to the Field Fund Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist on the contribution of the SHPR to the overall Rohingya and Host Community Response.

●        Examine and advise on programme quality and outcomes, and partners’ compliance with all relevant standards and safeguards.

Capacity Building and Learning

●      Conduct sessions with partners to provide feedback on the fieldwork findings, agree on remedial action and monitor the implementation of the action plan.

●        Provide training and capacity building to SHPR staff and partners to cover identified gaps.

●      Coordinate and facilitate monitoring visits  by UNOPS SHPR team, DFID and others as set out in the above plan.

●      Conduct field work and use a range of participatory tools to check on programme quality and outputs against sector standards, other global and regional standards and in line with the agreed programme standards.

●      Participate in relevant ISCG sector meetings to be updated on sector standards and contribute to the refinement of sector standards and their implementation in SHPR.

Perform other duties as required.

To achieve this, there will be a need to:

●        Work with SHPR M&E team to develop systems approaches and methods to track project

●        Establish and maintain contacts with SHPR implementing partners and the broader range of humanitarian and development actors based in Cox's Bazar, such as RRRC, ISCG, SHPR-funded Implementing Partners that include UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, National NGOs and Research Institutions.

●        Liaise closely with the SHPR partners implementing Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition projects and discuss issues, challenges as well as proposed plan of action.

●        Ensure DFID and UNOPS’ visibility amongst key SHPR players.

●        Verify the Food security, and Livelihoods assets and inputs procured/developed under the SHPR.

●        Maintain a register and database of project outputs and collect GPS coordinates of verified assets.

●        Ensure Program implementation and progress are regularly monitored and reviewed with stakeholders and corrective actions are undertaken in a timely manner.

●        Explore communication opportunities for DFID funded projects.

●        Communicate with the Field Fund Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist on project updates and issues.

●        Ensure active dissemination of programme findings through the production of quality lesson learned documents and their effective dissemination to key stakeholders/audiences.

a. Education 

●        Advanced university Degree (Master’s equivalent) in social sciences and/or discipline relevant to International Development work in social sectors with a preference for food security, livelihood and nutrition related discipline.

●       A Bachelor’s degree in the above fields with additional relevant 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s Degree.

b. Work Experience

●        Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience related to humanitarian response and development in the field is required.

●        At least 2 years’ experience in the multi-sectoral development field with a focus on food security/ livelihood/ nutrition related discipline preferably with International Organisations, UN, International NGOs and/or donors.

●        Substantial donor and grants management experience is an added value.

●        Ability to define problems collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

●        Effective computer skills (G-Suit, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Gmail for email).

●        Proven technical knowledge and skills in emergency response, climate smart livelihoods, nutrition, and value chain activities.

●        Experience in training and providing technical support in food security, livelihoods and nutrition projects is an advantage.

●        Experience working in refugee camps and host communities is an asset.

c. Language

●      Fluency in English is required (must be able to effectively communicate in both oral and written)

• The post is open to Bangladeshi nationals only.
• Position called for qualified female as preference
• Qualified male candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peace-building, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.