Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Background

The situation in the oPt is complex, and involves a multiplicity of national and international actors in humanitarian, recovery and development efforts.

In this context, and as part of the UN’s focus on supporting statebuilding efforts, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office has the responsibility and opportunity to contribute to effective information management and to provide anticipatory and reactive research and analysis in order to maximize the impact of international assistance. Such services should also be offered with the intention of strengthening national information management and research capacities. This requires the collection of accurate data and the harmonization of information management systems, which constitute ever more challenging tasks.

In support of the state building agenda, the UN has developed the UNDAF, which along with the CAP is one of two key UN planning documents in OPT. In an effort to support the work of the more than 20 UN agencies operating in oPt the RCO is working to strengthen its support to the M&E of the programming of the agencies working in the OPT. M&E systems need to be managed and updated to assess the impact of the UN’s overall strategy, as reflected in the UNDAF. This will help ensure that the UN’s programming is fully aligned with and contributing to Palestinian state-building while providing enhanced accountability to donors on how the UN manages and uses resources.

Such efforts are designed to promote better informed and more effective policy making and programming, higher transparency in results achieved, as well as reduced transaction costs for both Palestinian counterparts and donors. Therefore, the key elements of a strengthened RC office research and M&E capacity will include the development and wide dissemination of in-depth and high quality analysis of socio-economic trends , the alignment of international programming with PA plans, support to national aid management systems, and harmonization of UN system and donor project management mechanisms, through joint reviews where appropriate.

This is a Developpement Project Funded Post.

Duties and Responsibilities

The PM&E Officer will perform his/her duties under the supervision of the Chief, Coordination Unit and will work closely with all UNSCO staff and the UNCT. S/he will lead a small PM&E team including direct supervision of one national Planning Officer, one National Aid Coordination  Officer and one National Data Associate. 

• Support, undertake and/or coordinate evidence based research and analysis of key socio-economic trends, issues and developments in oPt, in order to inform policy and programming within the UN and among other partners;
• Prepare public reports of a publishable quality as well as ad hoc reporting/analysis as needed.
• Working with UNSCO Data Associate, ensure effective functioning of the UN socio-economic database, including upgrades if necessary;
• Support and strengthen a regular dialogue with key national and international partners involved in socioeconomic surveys and data collection;
• Facilitate and participate in inter-agency / multi partner surveys designed and undertaken for the collection of required data if not available from existing sources;
• Analyze the quality and reliability of available data sources and promote harmonization, across the UN system and with other partners, of data collection, analysis and dissemination methods;
• Strengthen UN support and contribution to the Palestinian Authority’s Palestinian Aid Management System by ensuring inter alia timely, regular and reliable submission of relevant information; provide support to other PA assessments and analysis processes as requested;
• Maintain web-based UNDAF monitoring and reporting system (where possible, aligning with the CAP processes and format), and undertake analysis as required;
• Support UN-wide planning, M&E , including  tools and activities for data collection, for the implementation, inter alia of the UNDAF;
• Ensure complementarities of UN system wide PM&E approach, including between humanitarian, recovery and development interventions;
• Support periodic progress reviews of the UNDAF Results Matrix, UNDAF reporting and evaluation;
• Support the M&E component of UN Joint Programmes through the M&E Task Force; 
• Facilitate and coordinate joint programme / project monitoring and evaluation of international assistance on the ground, both within the UN and between the UN and national and international partners;
• Support other ad hoc PM & E and analysis initiatives as requested. 

Impact of Results 

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UN interventions and activities in achieving the country’s development and the MDG.  Effective implementation of monitoring and evaluation policies and strategies, within the framework of the MTRP and the UN’s support to PA statebuilding efforts, as well as efficient organization and coordination of the monitoring and evaluation process, enhance the UN’s capacity and credibility in implementation of highly effective programmes with strong impact.

Competencies

Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN in oPt;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management within the UN system and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to organize and coordinate results-oriented strategic and thematic monitoring and evaluations. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes;
• Good knowledge of current development issues particularly those pertinent to the UN’s strategic areas of interventions in the oPt.  Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data;
• Good technical skills in measurement and evaluation, including grasp of methodological and operational dimensions and the ability to link institutional and country level issues;
• Ability to coordinate the work of the team;
• Good knowledge of results based management.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Masters degree in Social sciences, Demography, Statistics or other related fields.

Experience:

• Relevant professional work experience, with at least 7 years of experience in the relevant field, especially project monitoring and evaluation, poverty monitoring, statistics and data management, particularly socio-economic databases;
• Experience in the oPt an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Strong English capabilities;
• Knowledge of either Arabic or Hebrew an advantage.