Monitoring & Evaluation Officer at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• Under the supervision of Head of the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) and the Project Manager, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will strengthen monitoring, evaluation and reporting function within dedicated project(s) through effective implementation of the evaluation framework, conduct of rigorous thematic evaluations and adherence to quality reporting. As such, the M&E Officer will design objective evaluations that address the relevance of the project, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of results. The incumbent will ensure that evaluations are carried out credibly and systematically and that evaluation lessons and recommendations are applied in program design.
• The incumbent directly underpins country office high performance extending the reach and rigor of quality, ethical and client-facing management practices to programme and operations support activities, including continuous team learning, and models an approach to support services characterized by technical excellence, pride in accountability and high regard by users and clients. S/he also works with the UNDP programme and operations teams, programme staff in other UN agencies, UNDP HQ staff and Government officials, technical advisers and experts, multi-lateral and bilateral donors.

Scope Of Work

• Under the immediate supervision of the Project Manager, the M&E Officer will be guided by the following main deliverables:

Key Responsibilities Will Include But Not Be Limited To

• Managerial Support;
• Monitoring implementation of project components;
• Evaluation of the project results;
• Capacity development and transfer of knowledge;
• Programme Results Based Management (RBM).

Managerial Support:

• Support the Programme Manager in preparing documents for the steering committee, donor group and project approval committees; Ensure quality and timely documentation on calls for proposals; grants etc;
• Participate in donor meetings and ensure strategic planning processes for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) activities within the project;
• For business continuity, act as back-up for other officers in the team during periods of absence from the office dealing with non-substantive issues.
• Monitoring implementation of project components:
• Develop monitoring and evaluation plans and processes to measure the impact of grants awarded to grantees;
• Develop and Strengthen sector specific M & E systems & mechanisms to monitor and ensure the timely implementation of all activities under each component of the project including development of performance indicators and success criteria for each component;
• Provide expert guidance on reporting tools and set reporting standards and timelines;
• Manage the online monitoring & evaluation reports tracking tool and monitor its effectiveness as a central repository system. Ensure all relevant M & E documents are properly uploaded. Make improvements and refinements for high performance. Optimize its usage in periodic results monitoring (quarterly, semiannual and annual);
• Together with the programme analysts, PMSU and Project Management Unit (PMU), plan, prioritize and sequence the implementation of project activities ensuring that the activities result in tangible outputs and outcomes;
• Play the role of a technical specialist and coordinate progress of sound implementation of M&E focusing on synergies within the PMSU and the project Regional Offices;
• Ensure that lessons learnt are fed back to planning and improving Amkeni Wakenya’s projects. Facilitate dissemination of best practices. Ensure that risks are properly monitored and mitigated;
• Undertake regular field visits to Regional Offices to ensure timely implementation of planned monitoring & evaluations and compliance;
• Prepare presentations, briefings, analytical reports including performance monitoring charts based on the data collected from the field;
• Using appropriate tools and methods, conduct baseline data collection (both qualitative and quantitative) on the project indicators;
• Contribute to knowledge products development in liaison with Country office Communications team; collect success stories from the field for posting;
• Provide technical inputs to the preparation of progress reports and annual reports in areas of M&E;
• Ensure audit recommendations are implemented.

Evaluation of the project result:

• Consolidate and analyze all evaluation plans from the Regional Office to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project and that activities and outputs result in positive outcomes;
• Carry out quarterly informal and annual formal evaluation of the project in coordination with the project team and relevant implementing partners. Ensure that evaluation findings and recommendations are implemented and followed-up;
• Prepare plan for corrective action and assist relevant implementing partners to realign the project activities and outputs to ensure positive results.

Capacity development and transfer of knowledge:

• Develop technical capacity of programme analysts in the field through orienting and training in understanding and applying monitoring & evaluation policies, tools & methods, particularly at the regional level;
• Conduct on-the job-training and regular briefings on effective monitoring and evaluation for projects staff;
• Plan and conduct dedicated & focused capacity building sessions for implementing partners across all Regional Offices with a focus on increasing conceptual understanding of different M & E methods, tools and reporting guidelines;
• Ensure that Amkeni Wakenya’s monitoring & reporting technical capacities are of added value and address needs of the partners;
• Provide evaluation feedback and address weak areas as a learning mechanism.

Programme result based management:

• Contribute to implementation of UNDP Kenya’s results based management policies and strategies including the M&E framework, systems and processes;
• Support results planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the Country Programme;
• Contribute to RBM learning and capacity building.

Institutional Arrangements

• The M&E Officer works under the general supervision of the Project Manager and Head of PMSU and collaborates closely with the Senior Project Associates, Programme Team Leaders and Analysts, M&E Hub and the Project Management Unit (PMU).

Competencies
Core Competencies

• Achieve Result: 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 improvements;
• 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

• 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.

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Result-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Programme and Policy

• Effectiveness
  • RBM standards and practices for programming.

Requirements
Minimum education requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required or;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum Years Of Relevant Work Experience

• Up to 2 years (with master’s degree) or minimum 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.

Required Skills

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;
• Knowledge and experience in relevant thematic area.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Good networking abilities or experience and partnership development;
• Excellent writing and analytical experience in drafting concept notes and reports;
• Experience writing donor reports and working within the Development agencies preferably with CSOs;

Language

• Fluency in English and Swahili is required.

Professional certificates

• Professional certification in project management or relevant area is an advantage.