Monitoring & Evaluation Advisor

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of functions:

1. Strategy and evaluation

2. Technical and Institutional Support

3. Implementation and Outreach

4. Monitoring and Reporting

5. Knowledge management and innovation

• In consultation with Project Team, make significant refinement of project Monitoring and Evaluation plans, and develop relevant systems and tools to ensure project activities are being monitored and evaluated effectively in line with the project results framework and GCF requirements.

• Design a Project performance monitoring and evaluation framework to track the Project’s progress towards achieving its targets, including gender responsiveness of Project implementation. 

• Review established baselines, indicators, mid-term targets and final targets established in the approved funding proposal for the project and suggest modifications as necessary. Develop and conduct baseline surveys using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods as necessary. 

• Advise Project Team, Technical Partners and PMU on best practices and systems to collect on an on-going basis data and evidence, which can be used for tracking Project Results and Outcomes, and reporting and to contribute to increased learning, impact, and accountability.

• Support the PMU in facilitating implementation of M&E plan and reviews for staff and partners to critically reflect and adapt the project strategy, results, theory of change, conflict analysis, assumptions, and risks.

• Coordinate and facilitate internal evaluations with UNEP HQ, PMU and Project teams, including through the design of data collection activities.

• Support teams with the analysis of their monitoring and evaluation data.

• Continuously monitor progress during Project implementation as outlined in the developed monitoring and evaluation framework by compiling and analyzing data and measuring the indicators to assess the progress of the Project and reporting the Project’s performance to the PSC and PMU based on inputs from EEs and Technical Partners.

• Monitor the delivery of activities where UNEP acts as Executing Entity and manage for results and outcomes.

• Coordinate structured collaboration and communication with the national Executing Entity and Technical Partners for monitoring the progress of the targeted project activities, based on the indicators, Means of Verification (MoV) and timeline of the approved Funding Proposal and agreed PCAs/UN to UN agreements.

• Organise trainings for EEs and Technical Partners in data collection and analysis, and on the Project cycle, particularly on effective monitoring and reporting of activities. All training should take a strengths-based approach, both in the training process and in the principles and practices taught. 

• Ensure that monitoring activities are collecting meaningful information and that the information is able to be used both for adjusting inputs throughout the implementation phase and for continuous evaluation of progress.

• Ensure data collected is sex- and age-disaggregated where possible.

• Provide operational management support, including measures to address challenges to Project implementation, participate in training activities, write reports and facilitate relevant expert activities.

• Support project audit and evaluation activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits, midterm evaluation and terminal evaluation, and follow up on observations/recommendations, assist UNEP with developing management responses to findings of the audits and mid-term and terminal evaluations

• Ensure participatory approaches in monitoring & evaluation are followed and that stakeholders and community members are informed and involved in the implementation and monitoring of activities, as relevant.

• Ensure communication and gathering of lessons learned across the Project Steering Committee and focal points.

• Ensure monitoring and evaluation of the project is done in compliance with both GCF and UNEP rules and regulations, monitoring and evaluation expectations, Results Based Management (RBM) principles, and requirements for reporting on not only project activities, but against the approved funding proposal. This includes the Logical Framework Core Indicators, Fund-Level Impacts, Fund-Level Outcomes, Performance Indicators, Activity Outputs, Gender Assessment and Action Plan, and the Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

• Support the Project Team in populating the monitoring and evaluation sections of reports to the GCF based on the GCF report templates, particularly in obtaining relevant information from country-level project focal points and consolidating reports from the Executing Entity and technical partners.

• Ensure documentation of the lessons learned in monitoring & evaluation, and that best practices are recorded and acquired by the National Executive Entity and Technical Partners during project Implementation to include in relevant sections of the Annual Performance Report.

• Support in regular review of project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

• Conduct field visits to project sites as needed to monitor progress.

• Embed monitoring and evaluation practices and RBM principles into project implementation, in line with the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

• Monitor project progress and propose corrective actions, risk mitigation options, and practice adaptive management in the event of delays and implementation challenges in coordination with the Chief Technical Advisor, Project Steering Committee, and UNEP Task Manager

• At key points (i.e., baseline, annual performance reports, mid-point and end of Project) coordinate evidence-gathering exercises to verify this progress 

• Ensure that M&E data are readily available, as appropriate, to the Project Team and other stakeholders, particularly on outcomes, results, impact and lessons learnt from project activities

• Ensure the exchange of information and knowledge on monitoring & evaluation across the Executing Entity and Technical Partners

• Identify, analyze and communicate lessons learned on Monitoring and Evaluation to UNEP HQ that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects. The duty of identifying and analyzing lessons learned is an on-going one, and the duty to communicate those lessons is on an as needed basis

• Share knowledge on the Project and its achievements. Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organizational sharing and learning. Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture.

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.

Impact of Results

Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor directly impacts on achievement of project results by promoting results-based monitoring and evaluation to track progress, improve activities, objectively verify outcomes and impact, and facilitate learning of lessons that can inform more effective future interventions. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNEP as an effective Executing Entity and Accredited Entity in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.