Location:

Suva, Fiji
Salary:

negotiable / YEAR
Job type:

CONTRACTOR
Posted:

1 month ago
Category:

Audit and Oversight, Education, Evaluation, Project Management
Deadline:

17/04/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The UNDP Pacific Office (PO) in Fiji, as part of its Inclusive Governance and Economic Growth programme delivered across the region, supports the institutional building of 14 national legislative assemblies and a number of sub-national legislatures to fulfil their constitutional mandate of law making, oversight and representation. The UNDP PO is currently implementing four parliamentary development projects in the Pacific:

The Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiatives Project – Phase 2, 2019 – 2024
The Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project, 2021 – 2024
Strengthening Legislatures’ Capacity in Pacific Island Countries Project – Phase 2, 2023-2026
Fiji Parliament Support Project – Phase 3, 2022-2025

Through these projects, UNDP provides direct support to the Legislatures of Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The Project MELK Specialist will execute the duties and responsibilities outlined above under the guidance and supervision of the Parliamentary Development Portfolio Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Project MELK Specialist has overall responsibility for monitoring, evaluation, learning, results reporting and knowledge management activities for the parliamentary development portfolio. They will work closely with the portfolio team as well as team members assigned to specific projects within the portfolio, and report to the portfolio manager.

Summary of key responsibilities include:

Lead on development, maintenance and periodic revision of project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks based on the respective project documents, to include:
Results and indicators table
Results monitoring tools
Indicator metadata
Periodic results reporting tools
Ensure cross-cutting integration of gender-sensitivity throughout MEL frameworks, ensuring portfolio capacity to measure and demonstrate progress against the portfolio’s gender quality targets;
Set up and maintain a database for the management of the indicator framework, and accessible online dashboard showing realtime activities and results.
Collect and document baseline information and provide monitoring data to key project management processes.
Lead the process of writing all project reports, support project staff in the drafting of project activity reports and undertake quality assurance of project activities.
Systematically document and disseminate project lessons, and identify opportunities for, and lead development of, communications material and knowledge products to further disseminate project impact, lessons and technical knowledge.

Development, maintenance and periodic revision of project MEL frameworks

Develop, consult on and finalize the portfolio MEL plan
Produce the projects’ MEL frameworks in accordance with the portfolio’s MEL plan.
Guide and coordinate the review of project results tables including:
Provide technical advice for the revision of performance indicators.
Ensure realistic intermediate and end-of-project targets are defined.
Identify sources of data, collection methods, who collects data, how often, cost of collection and who analyzes it.
Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is integrated in the MEL framework and in results reporting
In collaboration with data providers, identify data sourcing methods and agree on all aspects of budget, frequency, reporting, etc.
Identify the requirements for collecting baseline data, prepare terms of reference, support contracting of a baseline survey/ies, and monitor progress.
Contribute to the development of Annual Work Plans, setting of annual targets and prepare a detailed MEL budget and calendar of MEL activities.

Establishment and maintenance of MEL database and results dashboard

Establish comprehensive portfolio-level database of activities, outputs, results and impact, and ensure it remains up-to-date and correctly utilised by portfolio team;
Provide support and MEL mentoring to portfolio team members to ensure capacity to input data in a timely and accurate way;
Lead development of and maintain an engaging, easy to use and real-time results dashboard that showcases project activity and supports identification of lessons, trends, opportunities for adapted programming and need for research/learning.

Continuous data collection, quality assurance and results monitoring

Oversee and execute MEL activities as per the Annual Work Plan, with particular focus on results and impacts as well as on lesson learning.
Prepare a quarterly results tracker with key activities, indicators, baseline and targets under four result areas to obtain quarterly progress towards attainment of the annual results
Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of MEL and to identify where adaptations might be needed.
Prepare draft TORs and evaluation questions for reviews and evaluations in accordance with UNDP guidance.
Ensure that project’s results are well captured in the UNDP’s corporate platforms: Integrated Work Plan, ROAR, Annual Business Plan, Strategic Plan reporting etc.

Project reporting and report management

Lead drafting of all periodic project progress reports, in consultation with project and portfolio teams;
Coordinate drafting of sub-sections among team members, providing guidance and monitoring completion in a timely manner;
Support project staff to develop and refine report drafting skills, and lead on the revision, editing and finalization of all such reports;
Lead process for securing corporate finalization and sign-off of project reports and ensure distribution to relevant stakeholders according to agreed timelines, and ensure preparation of associated milestone documentation and financial reports.

Communications and knowledge product development

Working with the Portfolio Manager, Project Analysts and other portfolio team members, support the design and implementation of a system to identify, analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned.
Document lessons learned by the project with a focus on results, impact and outcomes, and present every quarter.
In coordination with the IGEG Communications Officer, identify and collect case studies to illustrate challenges, progress and innovation in the portfolio’s work. These should include a GESI perspective.
Work with project team and any contracted communications consultants to develop engaging communications material on the above case studies.
Identify opportunities for creating portfolio knowledge products, as well as emerging research needs, and lead the process of knowledge product development, quality control and publication.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Competencies:

Core competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Peace

Governance: SDG 16

Engagement and Effectiveness

Effectiveness: Performance and data analysis and sharing lessons

Business development

Knowledge Generation : Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management

Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

Advance University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related discipline is required; or
A first-level University degree (Bachelors) in social sciences, development studies, or related discipline an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

Minimum of Five (5) years (with master’s degree) or Seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in international development projects or programmes, preferably in the field of democratic governance, including at least three years with direct responsibility for managing MEL systems.
Strong experience of utilizing data visualization tools, and the ability to develop dashboards or to work closely with a developer to that end.
Experience using office computer software and basic database software (Access, Excel, etc.) suitable for MEL data management
Familiarity with UNDP’s standards for MEL
Specialist knowledge and experience in the area of MEL methodologies and approaches, including:
Quantitative, qualitative and participatory approaches
Planning, design and implementation of MEL systems for large scale development projects
Devising and delivering training in M&E development and implementation and/or facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of MEL data with multiple stakeholders
Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing MEL systems with comprehensive GESI integration
Knowledge and Experience of democratic governance issues in a low income country context
Experience and good understanding of GESI concepts and approaches in MEL
Experience in development projects in the Pacific
Experience in parliamentary strengthening.
Institutional capacity building experience and delivering training

Required Languages:

English

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