Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, NO-3, FT, Caracas, Venezuela

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For every child, a champion. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Representative Programmes, the PM&E Specialist will coordinate the planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting functions for the country programme. This will be done in close collaboration with other Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation section members and sectoral programme staff from country and field offices.

The PM&E specialist is responsible for designing and implementing the well-prioritised and realistic planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities, developed collaboratively, with other UNICEF programme sectors and relevant external partners, that provide all the strategic information needed to manage the Country Programme and adhere to organizational planning and reporting requirements.

S/he is also responsible for producing monitoring tools and reports based on quality data and information compiled, analysed and disseminated with the participation of all concerned partners, to assess progress towards expected annual and multi-year results. The PME specialist will coordinate the implementation  of planning methodologies and tools according to the context of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity: (i) foresight analysis, (ii) scenario planning, applicable in dynamic contexts like Venezuela, (iii) management in uncertainty contexts, with agile decision-making mechanisms, flexibility, and adaptability in complex contexts. The incumbent will also be responsible for organizing and supporting the delivery of specialized training, including the design of materials and methods (especially on RBM).

The CO is implementing significant technological innovations to enhance efficiency. A digital platform for programmatic monitoring is in an advanced development stage. The tool will articulate indicators for monitoring the situation of children in each prioritized state, results-oriented monitoring of the cooperation program, and high-frequency monitoring of humanitarian indicators. The platform will also include supply and end-user monitoring and triangulation of information from rapid surveys.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Programme Planning.

Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme design. Support the Country Office and national partners in developing an equity-focused, results-based Country Programme and rolling workplans with measurable indicators and targets that provide the basis for implementation, performance monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

Duties & Tasks

• Contribute to creating a strategic vision and value proposition of UNICEF based in the country context.
• Provide technical guidance to the country office programme team in the preparation of management strategies as part of the strategic planning process, linking programme and management strategies to ensure results’ achievement.
• Leads the work planning process, as well as periodic reviews and adjustments based on evidence and analysis.
• Ensures the alignment of donor proposals with the priorities, results framework, strategies and key interventions reflected in the CPD and programme WP.
• Articulates and ensures consistency between the CO programming, WP and response plans with the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC), and other ad hoc humanitarian resource mobilization plans.
• Ensures viable recommendations on programme implementation, alternative approaches, new programme initiatives and management strategies to achieve the planned results.

2. Situation Monitoring and Assessment 

Ensure that the Country Office and national partners have timely and accurate measurement of change in conditions in Venezuela, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country’s wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies.

Duties & Tasks

• In coordination with other stakeholders, support the collection of SDG’s and other key social development indicators (through MICS or other surveys) to improve national planning.
• Support partners in the establishment and management of national statistical databases, ensuring that key indicators are readily accessible by key stakeholders.
• Develop a collective Situation Monitoring and Assessment system owned by all key partners which supports the preparation of country-level statistical and analytic reports on the status of children’s and women’s rights issues; and which allows, when opportunities emerge, to influence developmental and social policies.  To include technical support to global reporting obligations including national reports on progress toward the MDGs, and toward CRC and CEDAW fulfilment.
• In humanitarian response situations, provide professional support for one or more rapid assessments (inter-agency or independently if necessary) to be carried out within the first 48-72 hours, working in close collaboration with the humanitarian clusters partners.

3. Programme Performance Monitoring.

Ensure that the Country Office has quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual/rolling work plans.

Duties & Tasks

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, with inputs of all concerned partners to assess progress towards expected annual and multi-year results in the context of the Annual Management Plan and Rolling Work Plans, as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Manual.
• Coordinate with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly used, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardized across programmes to feed into programme performance monitoring, with special attention to humanitarian response.
• Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key programme performance and management indicators, provide professional input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports.
• Provide technical support to the programme and field offices staff to roll-out programme monitoring mechanisms including mid-year and annual reviews, mid-term reviews, strategic moments of reflection, to record the progress and identify potential bottlenecks to be addressed by the programme sections and field offices.
• Provide technical support and inputs on programme monitoring systems/tools using and strenghtening, inter alia, digital platforms.  This includes field-monitoring by programme staff and extenders, third-party monitoring (TPM) – including the management of TPM contracts – humanitarian performance monitoring (HPM) and community-based monitoring.
• Provide technical support to programme sections and field offices on the design of project-specific monitoring systems, including the design of various types of questionnaires and surveys.
• Support programme staff and field offices in the implementation of the programme monitoring framework and provide inputs for regular adjustment of the standard operating procedures to ensure optimal monitoring results.
• Provide technical support to, and closely collaborate with, the Implementing Partnership Management Specialist and Implementing Partnership Management Officer to ensure that HACT monitoring constitutes an integral part of the MCO comprehensive monitoring system.

4. Evaluation

Ensure that UNICEF-supported evaluations are designed and implemented to established UN quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.

Duties & Tasks

• Technically support programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference and evaluation designs of high quality, when relevant drawing on the know-how of knowledge institutions, in compliance with the organization’s programme evaluation policies and guidelines.
• Monitor and ensure the quality of the field work and data management during the implementation phase, and the quality of the analysis and ease of understanding during the report writing phase.
• Disseminate evaluation findings and recommendations to the intended audiences in user-friendly methods.  In particular, to ensure that effective participatory feedback is provided to community and civil society stakeholders.
• Monitor and ensure that a management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation.  Most specifically, ensure that evaluation recommendations are submitted to the Country Management Team (CMT) and follow-up actions recorded in CMT minutes. Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation.

5. Reporting.

Ensure that the internal and external partners (Regional Office, HQ, donors and national counterparts) regularly receive up-to-date and accurate information on the programme results produced by the Country Office. 

Duties & Tasks

• Analyse monitoring and key programme performance indicators, to support the Chief, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in preparation of professional inputs to management reports including the COAR, as well as reporting on SMQs and KPIs among others.
• Provide regular updates to the UNICEF monitoring/reporting platforms (RAM etc) as well as on ad hoc requests from the Regional Office/HQ, and support programme sections in RAM-related reporting.
• Collaborate closely with the Reports Officer to ensure quality assurance to donor and CO reports, proposals, CSO programme documents in line with RBM principles, with emphasis on equity and gender considerations.

6. Capacity Building.

Ensure that the planning, monitoring, and reporting capacities of Country Office staff and national partners – government and civil society – are grounded in relevant, up-to-date evidence and adhere to RBM principles, thereby enabling them to engage in planning and monitoring processes more effectively.

Duties & Tasks

• Build staff capacity to integrate Rights and Results Based Management (RRBM) approaches in the entire spectrum of planning, implementation, review and reporting processes.
• Promote awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of RBM among staff members, including in field offices, and national partners through communication, training, learning and development activities organization-wide.
• Support the PME team in development and implementation of a strategy/approach for RBM capacity building through a participatory process with sectoral and field staff as well as national partners.
• Support the conduct of quality reviews of donor proposals and reports, as well as draft PCAs, from an RBM perspective.

 7. Coordination and Networking.

 Ensure that the UNICEF office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF PM&E developments in a way that both contribute to and benefit from organizational learning on effective PM&E management.

 Duties & Tasks

• Interacts with LACRO’s Regional PPM & Evaluation Advisers in all aspects related to existing and emerging guidance, procedures and policies related to planning, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Collaborate with regional advisors, peers from other UNICEF offices as well as with the UN agencies in the duty station, field offices and national partners for overall coordination of priority PM&E activities.
• Partner with the relevant regional staff to ensure that current and accurate monitoring and reporting data and results are included in regional reports, multi-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks.
• Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful planning and monitoring practices and experience at the national and subnational level, and ensure they are shared as appropriate.
• Liaise with UNICEF and other professional PM&E knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the CO and partners.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics, strategic planning, or management. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Work Experience:

  • Five years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience at the national level in programme planning, implementation, and monitoring. 

  • Field work experience.

  • Managerial experience is required.

  • At least two years of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish is required. Fluency in English is desirable, proficiency is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) is considered an asset.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

The following positions is only applicable for national personnel. All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Staff members who meet the requirements of the role, and whose functional area falls under the Programme Pillar, will be longlisted for concise review.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.