Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Analyst

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the project activities for UN Global Pulse.

UN Global Pulse (UNGP) is an initiative of the Executive Office of Secretary-General (EOSG) founded in 2009.  UNGP works in support of the Secretary-General’s priorities, in advancement of the UN Charter.  It serves as a cross-pillar lead and hub for experimentation and digital innovation with globally distributed Network in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

UNGP works with digital innovation, strategic foresight, real-time data and artificial intelligence to further sustainable development, humanitarian and peace outcomes.  UNGP’s vision is ‘A world in which responsible and inclusive digital innovation serves to empower people and protect the planet’.  UNGP’s mission is to work at the intersection of digital innovation and science to inform, inspire and support the entire UN and those it serves, to anticipate and respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS, under its full responsibility.

To achieve its goals, UNOPS is recruiting for UNGP a Monitoring & Evaluation Senior Analyst.  The role contributes to i) strengthening UNGP’s monitoring and evaluation capabilities and ii) supports UNGP’s broader transformation to a more performance, results and impact-driven organization.  This role seeks to develop and refine M&E frameworks, support portfolio teams to integrate M&E across their work and develop network wide processes and tools to regularly report on and learn from UNGP’s results and impacts.  Strategically, the role will help ensure that UNGP is focused on impact, learning and continuous improvement.

The role is expected to support the iterative and innovative nature of UN Global Pulse’s work. The ideal candidate will be driven by methodologies, processes, people and impact.  The ideal candidate is inquisitive and curious on how the UN can use M&E to improve the organization and is keen to experiment and explore the two-way relationship between M&E and innovation. 

The successful candidate will be able to combine Theory of Change, Results Frameworks, Systems Thinking and Change Management/Processes to inform the evolution of UN Global Pulse’s work. The candidate will offer advice and guidance on how bringing together learning from M&E processes across the organization helps to improve the quality of UNGP Network wide results and impact. 

The role is based in Helsinki, Finland.  Occasional travel and field missions may be required, as conditions allow.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Lab Manager and execute the following duties:

1. Management and Strategic Direction
2. Monitoring and Evaluation Development, Research and Analysis
3. Monitoring and Evaluation Knowledge Creation, Capacity Building
4. Communication, Partnerships and  Reporting

1.  Management and Strategic Direction

●       Develop a Monitoring & Evaluation methodology and process which supports learning, agile and continuous development by incorporating best practices and lessons learnt.  Establish network-wide rules of operation including accountability mechanisms, roles and responsibilities.

●       Regularly refine and develop individual portfolio-level, lab-level and network-level Theories of Change, Results Frameworks and Key Performance Indicators.  Ensure revisions are coherent with (or ideally improve) how UNGP reports on fulfilling its vision, mission and goals set out in UNGP’s Terms of Reference. 

2. Monitoring and Evaluation Development, Research and Analysis

●       Design a data collection/management system and analysis process. Conduct qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis and evaluations which offers insights into trends, progress, constraints and gaps.  Provide advice on all Monitoring & Evaluation matters, progress reviews, and evaluations.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation Knowledge Creation and Capacity Building

●       Support project, portfolio, country teams to build their Monitoring & Evaluation knowledge & capacity.  Lead on the design of new Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks for emerging portfolios or sub-workstreams.  Support project/portfolio teams to establish process/results/impact indicators for emerging pilot experiments.  Ensure indicators and frameworks are coherent and well integrated into the network-wide Theory of Change and Results Framework. 

4. Communication, Partnerships and Reporting

●       Identify ways to promote information sharing related to Monitoring & Evaluation among UNGP’s donors and stakeholders.  Work closely with Portfolio Teams, Partnerships and Communications colleagues on the reporting of UNGP’s results and impact. 

UNGP will improve the way the impact of innovation is measured.  UNGP will be able to utilize its innovation and digital development evaluation work to inform and improve innovation initiatives of the UN and its development partners. 

The incumbent will help UNGP to establish systems and tools to measure additionality or co-benefits.  These could include but are not limited to  i) How the UN has changed the way it works to become more agile, lean and responsive in supporting innovation for impact; ii) How has UNGP changed the behaviour or decisions of development partners who also work in a similar innovation / digital transformation space; and iii) The success of UNGP in integrating gender, climate and diversity across throughout its work. 

This role will contribute directly to the ‘Performance and Results Orientation’ pillar under the ‘Quintet of Change’.  This role will support the development of the other four pillars of the ‘Quintet of Change’ (Data, Analysis & Communications; Innovation & Digital Transformation; Strategic Foresight; and Behavioural Science).

●       An advanced university degree (Master´s or equivalent) preferably in international development, social sciences, data sciences or another relevant discipline is required.

●       A first level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) and an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.


Experience:

Required:

●      At least two (2) years of Monitoring and Evaluation experience in international development, research, or another related field.

The following experience is desirable. Candidates who do not have experience in these areas are welcome to apply:

●       Monitoring & Evaluation experience in innovation or digital development.

●       Experience in humanitarian or development sectors, including experience in the UN or international organizations or national/regional/local government contexts.

●       An understanding of adaptive assessment approaches in the UN, or from public sector innovation initiatives.

●       Developing monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches for experimental portfolios including scaling innovation and/or futures thinking/strategic foresight.

●       Experience in think tanks or innovation accelerators.

●       Experience in the coordination and management of M&E processes across multidisciplinary teams.

●       Experience in delivering high-quality research and analysis preferably in both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

●       An understanding of project/programme management in a UN context.

●       Fluency in English (speak, write, read) is required.

●       Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset.

• 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.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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’ peacebuilding, 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.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster 

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.