Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator – Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform

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.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on natural capital, environment and climate, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments, and knowledge management services.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy, and waste.

The UNDP Climate Hub is responsible for:

• Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate;
• Strategy and vision formulation;
• Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit;
• Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices;
• Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA;
• Integration across thematic areas;
• Strategic Partnerships development and resource mobilization;
• Lead and support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate;
• Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change);
• Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and
• Innovation.

At the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) in Madrid (the United Nations Climate Change Conference), the Adaptation Fund launched a new US$10 million pilot grant programme to foster innovation in adaptation in developing countries. The programme targets a broad range of potential finance recipients, including non-governmental organizations, community groups, young innovators, and the private sectors. The programme is part of the Adaptation Fund’s innovation facility, providing small grants to developing countries to support innovation for effective, long-term adaptation to climate change. UNDP acts as small grant aggregators for innovation in adaptation, making small grants available to a broad scope of stakeholders on a competitive basis. In January 2021, the European Commission and UNDP signed €10 million in funding for the UNDP-led Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform (ISGAP).

The AF-EU-UNDP Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform (ISGAP) is designed to support the development, diffusion and evidence building of innovative adaptation practices, tools, and technologies in developing countries. The ISGAP programme is intended to provide 44 direct small grant funds to local entities (i.e. programme grantees) that are building resilience at the local level through innovative adaptation solutions spanning 33 countries.

The project Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator will contribute to the implementation of ISGAP´s Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The M&E Coordinator will support ISGAP´s PMU to ensure that the project is appropriately monitored and evaluated against corresponding indicators and targets in the project results framework. S/he will support the PMU to follow-up with grantees, ensuring that they meet the performance targets and indicators from their grants – Low Value Grant Agreements (LVGA), as well as the risk management measures, safeguards and gender commitments.  S/he will also coordinate as needed with ISGAP responsible parties (knowledge management; philanthropy and corporate foundations engagement), and other ISGAP consultants (communications, finance and investment, safeguards, website) to ensure optimal outcomes and results.

Scope of Work

Overall advice and support to ISGAP PMU in project monitoring and evaluation.

• Support and advise in monitoring of outputs and results as per the results framework for the project.
• Support and advise monitoring project progress and provide technical inputs and data to annual and other progress reports ensuring that they meet the necessary reporting requirements and standards (e.g. for ISGAP Project Board).
• Ensure project M&E meets the requirements of the UNDP and the donors (European Union and the Adaptation Fund).
• Oversee and ensure the implementation of the project’s M&E plan, including periodic appraisal of the project’s results framework with reference to actual and potential project progress and results.
• Support and guide the design of surveys/ assessments commissioned for monitoring and evaluating project results (more generally, for the ISGAP Project).
• Assist the Project Manager in supporting mid-term and terminal evaluations, or audits of the project, including management responses.
• Coordination with Results and Knowledge Specialist in the VF Programme Support, Oversight, and Compliance Unit for developing and updating Mid Term Review (MTR) response matrix.
• Facilitate annual reviews of the project and produce analytical reports from these annual reviews, including learning and other knowledge management products.
• Support the Project Manager in drafting ISGAP´s project amendments if required, revising work plans, and updating indicators for project extensions.

Actively support with Technical Coordination and Technical Assistance

• Assist the Project Manager in coordinating with grantees and other internal and external stakeholders, to ensure smooth functioning and reporting of LVGA results.
• Support the PMU to follow-up with grantees, ensuring that they meet the performance targets and indicators from their Low Value Grant Agreements (LVGA), as well as the risk management measures, safeguards and gender commitments.
• Support the Project Manager to develop LVGA amendments reflecting necessary changes in indicators, targets and timelines.
• Engage regularly with ISGAP grantees to support the CSOs/NGOs meet their workplans´ goals, identify potential challenges and solutions to implementation problems.
• Maintain regular communication with ISGAP grantees via emails or calls. The primary objective is to assist CSOs/NGOs in achieving their workplans’ goals while also aiding UNDP in identifying potential challenges and proposing solutions to address them.
• Review the quarterly and annual substantive reports and provide feedback to grantees as necessary, and provide technical clearance for the quarterly reports.
• In coordination with the Project Manager, the M&E Coordinator will contribute to the organization of trainings/consultations, provide inputs to draft works/service specifications, and follow up with different UNDP units or external partners to provide technical assistance, as needed.
• Provide advice and support in the design of surveys/assessments commissioned for monitoring and evaluating project results (to receive feedback from ISGAP grantees or other counterparts).
• Support the organization and deployment of project site M&E and learning missions, if deemed necessary. This entails coordinating, under the lead of the Project Manager, with certain UNDP Country Offices or with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) network.
• Visit project sites as and when required to appraise project progress on the ground and validate written progress reports (troubleshooting as needed).

Advise on data Analysis, Reporting, and Dashboard Maintenance/Update

• Ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of narrative reports data submitted by ISGAP grantees on a quarterly basis.
• Evaluate, capture, codify, and synthesize data from quarterly reports to make it available for the PMU utilization.
• Conduct data processing, cleaning, and analysis for the ISGAP project dashboard.
• Aggregate data from grantee reports and make it available for communication, knowledge management, and advocacy purposes.
• Provide and update data and project information for ISGAP website.
• Maintain the ISGAP dashboard, ensuring its design, layout, and contents align with the project’s objectives and outcomes.
• Regularly update the ISGAP dashboard to reflect the most up-to-date information.
• Lead and coordinate with Web administrator HQ/GEF to ensure that ISGAP most updated information is reflected on website.

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

Institutional Arrangements

• The incumbent will work remotely from his/her home-base.
• The incumbent will report to the ISGAP Project Manager, under the guidance of the Regional Technical Specialist -Climate Finance and Investment. S/he will work closely with other staff in the UNDP Regional Hubs, HQ staff and counterparts as appropriate (grantees, responsible parties, and partners).
• The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The incumbent will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection.
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably be flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.

Expected Demonstration of 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 

ThematicArea	Name	Definition
Business Management	Monitoring	Ability to provide managers and keystakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actualactivities and programme performanceand results.
Business Management	Evaluation	Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks – Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs andconcerns.
Business Management	Working with Evidence and Data	Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and modeldata with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusionsand supporting decision-making
Business Management	Risk Management	Ability to identify and organize actionaround mitigating. and proactively managing risks.
Business Management	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.
Partnership Management	CSO engagement	Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs
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 Education, Experience, Skills and Competencies

Minimum Education requirements

Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in project management, environmental managementsciences, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Business or Public Administration or other related fields is required. OR

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields of study, 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

Minimum5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree)of professional experience working on monitoring and evaluation in the development sector, on the development of M&E systems and/or performance-based management is required

Required skills 

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience working with environment, sustainable development and/or climate change projects is required;
• Demonstrated experience and good understanding on project risk identification, risk management, safeguards and gender mainstreaming and how to incorporate these in M&E project frameworks is required;
• Full computer literacy is required: Microsoft Office programmes i.e. MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-PowerPoint.

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

• Experience with regional or global donor-funded projects and project teams.
• Previous work experience with UNDP and/or a related international organization (international NGOs, multilateral banks, bilateral cooperation agencies) from the UN system is desired;
• Demonstrated expertise in data mining, processing, transformation and analysis, and in developing dashboards in Power BI.
• Experience in coordinating and supporting international development projects with strong engagement of local NGOs/CSOs, is an advantage.
• Experience in reporting, monitoring, and evaluation within multi-donor projects (especially vertical funds or the EU), is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical support including M&E, capacity building and coordination for global programmes is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and developing Knowledge Management products such, synthesis reports, factsheets, websites, articles, and communication materials.
• Good knowledge of an ERP System (such as Atlas or Quantum), or a project management system (such as PIMS+) is considered an advantage.

Required Language (s): 

• Fluency in English required.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience, and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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