Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Manager (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning - MEAL), Multiple positions

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. 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.

Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund (A2H), the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). 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 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.

UNOPS is Fund Manager for the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT), a multi-donor fund established in 2009 to address food insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar. LIFT’s designated outcomes are improvements in income, resilience, nutrition, and pro-poor policy developments. So far, LIFT has reached more than 7.2 million people, or roughly 20 percent of Myanmar’s population; and is active in almost half the country’s townships. For more details visit www.lift-fund.org (http://www.liftfund.org/).  

At the direction of its Fund Board, LIFT has developed a new programming strategy for 2024-2028. This strategy focuses on multiple dimensions of food security, including availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. LIFT has also reorganized its programming structure, shifting from the current thematic orientation (i.e., Agriculture Markets and Financial Inclusion Nutrition, and Decent Work and Labour Mobility to one that is geographically oriented and managed. LIFT is committed to climate change as well as gender equality and social inclusion as cross-cutting priorities. LIFT is also increasingly focusing its programming approach around a commitment to localization.

During the first half of 2023, LIFT has conducted a comprehensive review of its MEAL arrangements to ensure that its MEAL system is fit-for-purpose in the evolving context. Fit-for-purpose means that MEAL systems are well-aligned with the 2024-2028 Strategy and new programming structure, as well as conflict sensitive. The review has also considered how learning can be more effectively shared with and utilized by implementing partners, the FMO, Fund Board, and other relevant stakeholders. 

While maintaining a clear focus on accountability, the Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Manager (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning - MEAL) will ensure that meaningful learning and knowledge management supports programme planning and implementation, as well as adaptive management in a highly dynamic context.

Under the direct supervision of the Fund Director and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Manager (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning - MEAL) will be responsible for the following activities:

MEAL Oversight

• Continual development, implementation, and updating of an effective MEAL system that promotes accountability to Fund Board members, communities, and beneficiaries; 

  • The system will align with MEAL Frameworks in order to generate data for results measurements and impact assessments; 

  • The system will identify meaningful achievements and focus on learning for programme management; 

  • The system will ensure LIFT’s MEAL arrangements are collaborative and responsive to partner information and management requirements;  

• Ensuring that MEAL activities and processes are conflict-sensitive and adhere to Do No Harm principles;

• Ensuring/promoting coordination and clear communication across the FMO, including the programme, communications, and operations  teams.

Team Leadership

• Management, capacity strengthening, coaching and mentoring of the national MEAL staff and coaching and mentoring of other national program staff on MEAL responsibilities.

• Collaborating with programme teams and partners on MEAL, including staffing requirements and allocation of responsibilities for project/programme MEAL, such as;

  • Reviewing implementing partners’ internal MEAL systems and needs, and strengthening their  MEAL capacities as required.

  • Ensuring the final evaluations of implementing partners’ projects are undertaken according to best practice standards and guidelines; 

  • Providing technical assistance to implementing partners to ensure timely and effective participation in LIFT MEAL processes; 

  • Routinely visiting project sites for MEAL activities, as feasible.

• Managing contracts and contractors related to LIFT’s MEAL activities, including the development of the terms of reference for national and international consultants.

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Promoting and supporting a culture of learning both within the MEAL Unit and the overall FMO;

• Promoting collaborative efforts between the FMO and partners to generate meaningful knowledge that informs adaptive management;

• Ensuring that MEAL data are readily available, as appropriate, to the FMO, Fund Board, partners, and other stakeholders, particularly on impact and lessons learnt from Fund activities;

• Promoting information sharing on all aspects related to MEAL activities among stakeholders, including learning and knowledge products.

Data Collection, Management, and Presentation

• Designing baseline, mid-term and final evaluation surveys using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods and conducting and/or supervising survey implementation and analysis;

• Ensuring adequate feedback to/from Fund beneficiaries on data and analyses;

• Ensuring the maintenance of the database of performance data for all LIFT-funded projects;

• Support the development and implementation of data visualization (i.e., mapping, graphics).

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Develop, oversee, and coordinate LIFT’s monitoring and evaluation activities, including the preparation of annual MEAL work plans, budgets, and staff allocations. 

• Support monitoring and evaluation missions commissioned by the Fund Board or UNOPS;

• Ensure the incorporation of MEAL findings into LIFT reports and providing recommendations to the Fund Board;

• Support the preparation of quarterly, semi- annual, and annual reporting to the Fund Board;

• Respond to ad hoc requests for information from the Fund Board or other stakeholders. 

Representation and Networking

• Attending relevant technical meetings and maintaining contacts with all stakeholders, whether in Yangon or in the field;

• Maintaining a detailed knowledge of all relevant issues impacting his/her field of MEAL;

• Plays an active and constructive role in Senior Management Team meetings and other organizational coordination/management meetings;

• Maintaining contacts and relationships with other UNOPS Funds’ MEAL staff;

• Participate in Fund Board meetings as directed by the Fund Director.

• Master's Degree in Social Sciences, Agriculture, Political Economy, Development or a related field is required. 
• A Bachelor’s Degree with additional two years of similar experience is considered as equivalent.

• A minimum of seven  years professional MEAL experience of which four  years related to the MEAL of rural development, livelihoods, or food security programs in developing countries is required;
• Extensive experience with knowledge management and supporting the development of an institutional culture of learning is required;
• Extensive experience in developing measurement frameworks and identifying appropriate performance indicators is required;
• Excellent skills in quantitative and qualitative research and analysis are required;
• Computer literacy in Google Suite applications, along with data management and visualization applications are highly desirable;
• A proven track record of team leadership is highly desirable.
• Previous successful involvement with, and good knowledge of NGOs and civil society is highly desirable.
• Experience with institutional change management is highly desirable;
• Knowledge of the political, economic, and social situation in Myanmar is highly desirable;
• Significant professional experience elsewhere in Southeast Asia is desirable;
• Professional experience and familiarity with conflict settings is desirable;
• Experience with the MEAL of multi-donor trust funds is desirable;
• Experience in capacity building and development would be an asset.

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: IICA - 3
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.

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. 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.