Programme Management Advisor (Evaluation) - Retainer , Multiple positions

UNOPS 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, 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 towards the elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations 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. 

The Nexus Response Mechanism is a programme initiated by the EU aimed at contributing to Myanmar's lasting peace and national reconciliation, security, stability and sustainable development without missing humanitarian needs. Its actions are focused on providing support to conflict-affected populations, displaced populations, host communities, and returnees by strengthening the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, linking relief with rehabilitation and development.

NRM’s interventions are designed to pilot new ways of working and are aimed at contributing to systemic change. Both its short-term and long-term interventions incorporate rights objectives and pathways for advocacy and policy dialogue, ensuring that programming is accompanied by substantive efforts to address rights and structural challenges in Myanmar. To ensure its projects are holistically designed, the NRM utilizes a three-pillared approach focused on the integration of H-D-P sectors and the incorporation of a rights-based approach, the transformation of power dynamics and imbalances through greater localization and inclusion, and accountability to both donors and communities through adaptive project design and a robust learning agenda.

In order to assess the effectiveness and impact of its projects, the NRM carries out mid-term and final evaluations of each project. Final evaluations are managed in collaboration with implementing partners and assess the relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency of the project, as well as particular technical issues specific to the project, and include recommendations for improving the evaluated and similar projects going forward.

The NRM is seeking to establish a pool of evaluation experts with knowledge of Myanmar and evaluation experience with projects in humanitarian, development, peace and human rights. The expectation is that these contracted retainers, periodically mobilized, will increase the quality and the value-for-money of the project evaluations, including the contributions of each case to the learning of best practices.

Objectives of the Assignment 

Under the direct supervision of the  Programme Manager, and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the consultant shall conduct mid-term and final project evaluations on NRM-funded projects.

Evaluations will assess the overall achievements of the project in its duration, particularly in terms of the project’s relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, as well as review its overall approach and specific methodologies. Each evaluation will be based on a desk review of available documentation as well as interviews with NRM and project staff and should result in a report that summarizes findings, lessons generated, and recommendations. 

The list below includes the criteria on which project evaluations should be based.

• Relevance: The extent to which the project and its components are suited to (1) the priorities and needs of the target beneficiaries; (2) NRM’s policies and objectives; and (3) the current Myanmar policy and development context.

• Effectiveness: A measure of the extent to which the project attained its expected results and targets, based on the project’s theory of change, measurement framework, and/or logical framework.

• Efficiency: A measure of the extent to which the project has delivered value for money, in terms of costs and major benefits.

• Sustainability: An assessment of the sustainability of the project, if relevant. Particular focus on the extent to which the project has identified and established sustainable models or approaches for achieving policy and programme outcomes after NRM support ends. 

• Gender equality and inclusion: The extent to which the project contributed to furthering equity and empowerment for traditionally excluded and marginalised groups - women, people with disabilities, and minorities. 

• Conflict sensitivity: The extent to which the project proved to be effective and responsive to conflict and context  dynamics when working in conflict-affected areas and on issues prone to conflict.

• Nexus: The extent to which the project has been implemented in an integrated manner and tapped into synergies and complementarities across themes, geographies, actors, and other ongoing investments in humanitarian, development, and peace-building interventions.

• Address specific questions mainly related to the process, how and in what ways the project was working, what systems were in place, what was the quality of implemented activities and output products, the engagement of different stakeholders, and the appropriateness of adopted methodologies.

• Design, preparation, and execution of evaluations of IP-implemented projects

• Evaluation of the projects according to geographical areas and/or technical themes and sectors

• Evaluation of impacts, results and usefulness of the project and its outputs

• Assessment of IPs’ capabilities in research, surveys, information management, monitoring, and evaluation; their needs for improvement, and potential NRM responses to those needs

• Comparative review and critique of evaluation principles, methods, technologies, and human resources in NRM and related agencies.

• Distil lessons and good practices, as well as identify barriers to effective implementation with a focus on the project approach, stakeholder engagement, and beneficiaries’ outreach, to provide meaningful and feasible recommendations for improving and adapting similar projects in the future.

Deliverables

Reporting requirements and outputs will be specified in task notes for each assignment, including an indicative work plan and schedule. At a minimum, this will include an evaluation report containing the findings of the evaluation.

Monitoring and Progress Controls 

The retainer will work in close coordination with the NRM Secretariat under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager. He/she will be expected to report in a timely fashion based on the agreed work plan.  

If feasible, the consultant may be required to travel to Myanmar for certain tasks. Domestic travel logistics will be arranged by the NRM Secretariat. However, most assignments will likely be home-based.

Education

• A Master’s degree preferably in Development Policy, Community Development, Social science, anthropology, political sciences, peace studies, development studies,  and/or  any relevant academic discipline relevant to the TOR is required. 

• Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered equivalent.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in humanitarian assistance, development, conflict management, and/or peacebuilding is required.

• Experience in  designing and conducting qualitative/ quantitative research, surveys, and evaluations in humanitarian assistance, development, conflict management, and peacebuilding is required. 

• Extensive knowledge of the humanitarian, development, conflict management or peace sectors is highly desirable.

• Extensive work experience and established relationships with civil society organizations in Myanmar are significant assets. 

• Significant professional experience in Southeast Asia, with professional experience in Myanmar or another fragile context is an asset.

• Proven ability in establishing good working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders with different cultural backgrounds is preferable.

• Excellent report-writing skills are required.

• A sound understanding of humanitarian assistance, development, conflict management, and peacebuilding issues in South-East Asia and/or Myanmar is an advantage.

Language

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is required. 

• Understanding and communication in Myanmar language/s is an asset

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
Contract level: IICA-3
Contract duration: Maximum 100 days in 12 months (renewable subject to organisational 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.