Job Vacancy @ UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) – Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst

The coastal zone of Sierra Leone is highly vulnerable to increased frequency and severity of coastal erosion, flooding and storm surges which severely impact social wellbeing (health), livelihood security (and water resources) and major economic sectors such as fishing, tourism, water resources and agriculture. Coastal communities are already experiencing considerable repercussions of these impacts, notably on their livelihoods with reduced fishing productivity, ecosystem degradation and low farming outputs. The limited accessibility of climate-related data limits the ability of decision-makers to make informed planning and policy decisions for the coast (in particular, marine and sea parameters databases such as wave height, wave period, wind speed and direction), and to take any clear strategic actions to remedy these negative effects. This inadequate lack of knowledge is contributing towards undermining social and economic development, particularly under a changing climate.

The project, through its three outcomes, will support the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to become more climate resilient while contributing towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The activities under Outcome 1 focus on enhancing the availability of high quality climate risk information that is critical for development decision-making in the coastal zone. Under Outcome 2, a series of appropriate protection measures shall be designed along with supporting policy/legal tools and integrated coordination mechanisms to improve or support the implementation of policy to help deal with current and long-term coastal challenges; Finally, Outcome 3 will promote public awareness and promote climate resilient alternatives to sand mining for better adhesion of policy makers and communities on adaptation. The introduction of innovative and resilient livelihood options to address the issue of sand mining along the coast of Sierra Leone shall provide a sustainable and economically viable solution that may be embraced by the GoSL and the construction sector. This project is implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA SL), the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and the Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (IMBO) and the National Tourist Board (NTB).

Duties and Responsibilities:

The position of a National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Analyst is required to work with the project team to collect M&E information to enhance project effectiveness, impacts and results of the project.

• Develop the overall framework for project M&E (i.e. annual project reviews, participatory impact assessments, process monitoring, operations monitoring, lessons learned workshops). This will include the formulation of key performance questions and parameters for monitoring project performance and measuring its progress towards its targets, the analysis of existing social and economic data;
• Organize missions to project sites to monitor the project results;
• Record and report physical progress towards the indicators and the risks;
• Provide relevant information to the project management unit, the steering committee (or similar body), funding agencies and the cooperating institution, as requested;
• Provide the relevant data for annual reporting (PIR) and support the PMU, EPA-SL and any other relevant stakeholder, in preparing their progress reports;
• Foster participatory planning and monitoring by training and involving primary stakeholder groups in M&E activities;
• Prepare reports on M&E findings, as required, working closely with financial controller, technical staff and implementing partners;
• Guide the regular sharing of the outputs of M&E findings with project staff, implementing partners and primary stakeholders;
• Make regular reports to the project board/ decision-making structure, highlighting areas of concern and preparing the documentation for review at meetings;
• Support the mid-term and terminal evaluation process and provide assistance, as needed, to the team of consultants;
• Based on the reports submitted, conduct annual analysis of the progress and challenges and, in coordination with the PMU and EPA-SL, suggest corrective measures;
• Prepare communication documents to share the results and lessons learned from the project. This can include, but are not limited to, on-line, paper, radio or to communication pieces, to be shared locally, nationally or internationally.

Scope of Work:

The National M&E Analyst is responsible to develop the overall framework for project M&E (i.e. annual project reviews, participatory impact assessments, process monitoring, operations monitoring, lessons learned workshops). This will include the formulation of key performance indicators and parameters for monitoring project performance and measuring its progress towards its targets.

Specifically;

A. Design and Implement M&E Systems:

• Design M&E tools and implement monitoring and evaluation of the projects, as well as ensure updated and high quality of regular reports to GEF and partners;
• Coordinate all external and internal evaluation processes, including drafting of ToR, M&E tools and methodologies;
• Liaise with project team to collect and analyze data and to determine progress achieved;
• Ensure compliance of project deliverables according to the required standards of the donor;

B. Project Information Management

• Track project’s output and outcome level results on a periodic basis in close coordination with project team;
• Review and compile monitoring reports, project progress reports, evaluation reports, etc;
• Update and maintain the project database.

C. Capacity Development in M&E

• Facilitate knowledge sharing and networking on M&E-related focus areas;
• Provide technical support to Implementing Partners on all M&E related activities;
• Support monitoring and evaluation of the effects and impact of the project;
• Assist in coordinating across the available components of the Project to ensure effective implementation of M&E.

D. Quality Assurance

• Develop the overall M & framework for the  project (annual project reviews, participatory impact assessments, process monitoring, operations monitoring, lessons learned workshops etc);
• Formulate key performance indicators and parameters for monitoring project performance and measuring its progress towards its targets and analysis of existing social and economic data.

• Support the development of project annual reporting (PIR), Country Office annual report and review reports from implementing Partners and any other relevant stakeholder;
• Work closely with the project team to ensure that lessons learned from project evaluations are documented properly;
• Develop and maintain accurate information in a project database, as well as accurate and timely electronic files on deliverables;
• Undertake the quality control of project’s implementing strategies and approaches.

F. General responsibility

• Work closely with the project team member and relevant stakeholders to monitor project interventions;
• Ensure relevant outputs of M&E findings on the project and shared among implementing partners and primary stakeholders;
• Update project risk log and upload relevant documentation into the UNDP system;
• Carry out other duties and responsibilities related to M&E as assigned by supervisor.

Institutional Arrangement

The M&E Analyst will be supervised by the Project Manager and overall report to the Team Lead for the Sustainable and Local Economic Development (SLED) Cluster.

Competencies

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline;
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvement;
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback;
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible;
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident;
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Development

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

Business Management 

• Results-based Management:
  •  Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• 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.
• ​​​​​​​Evaluation
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks;
  • Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 2-years (master’s degree) or 4 years (bachelor’s degree) of professional working experience in Monitoring and Evaluation or development work;
• Two (2) years of experience in designing and implementing results measurement systems in the development context at the national or international level, including experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies is mandatory;
•  At least two (2) years of experience in extracting relevant findings from data to inform strategic decision-making in the public or private sector is mandatory;
• Experience in monitoring projects with a market systems development approach is desirable;
• Experience in innovation and technology for inclusive finance is desirable;
• Experience in providing training on results measurement systems is preferable but not mandatory;
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills;
• Able to work effectively in a team and in an international environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate and engage with project stakeholders;
• Experience working with international organizations, developing country governments, donor agencies and / or NGOs and other civil society groups involved in various sectors of international development;
• Experience in Information analysis and report writing;
• Demonstrated experience and good knowledge of Monitoring & Evaluation system design;
• Demonstrated experience in Data processing skills;
• Experience in use of computer to present data using graphics, creativity.

Language Requirement:

• Excellent knowledge of English language (fluency in both oral and written English).