Inter-Agency Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the “Apply now” button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit “submit application” tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Travel:

While the assignment is home based, occasional travel to Lebanon to meet with partners may be required as and when needed and depending upon security and COVID 19 measures.

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

Project Description

Project background and objective

The impact of the Syria crisis on Lebanon is reaching a scale unprecedented in the history of complex, refugee-driven emergencies. The crisis is not only challenging the country’s existing social and economic infrastructure, it also brings to Lebanon a new set of disparities, cleavages and tensions that threaten to undermine Lebanon’s delicate social and political stability.

With the protracted nature of the crisis, refugees are living in poverty, accumulating debt and making tough choices to reduce costs, with negative consequences for quality of shelter, access to health, clean water and education opportunities. Furthermore, areas with the highest concentration of refugees, North Lebanon and the Bekaa valley, are among the poorest and most underserved regions of Lebanon. Even before the crisis, social services, infrastructure and livelihood opportunities were inadequate. Now, increased refugee populations are putting enormous pressure on water, sanitation, education and health care systems, with critical consequences for Lebanon’s natural and environmental resources. Furthermore, this dynamic is unfolding within the context of a socio-economic crisis in Lebanon where on 17 October 2019, nation-wide protests erupted throughout the country, coinciding with a major economic and financial crisis. The unfolding crisis presents new challenges which are resulting in further di?culties for both vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees in terms of livelihoods, food security, and health care (including mental health). In the medium to longer-term, the number of vulnerable families is likely to rise and the situation for those already living in poverty will worsen. The unpredictability and fluidity of the situation is affecting the crisis response.

Reflecting the protracted nature of the crisis and its profound impact on Lebanon, the response to the crisis moved in 2017 towards a four-year integrated humanitarian-stabilization response, the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP)

2017-2021. The LCRP is an integrated humanitarian and stabilization strategy. The main objectives are to: (1) Ensure protection of vulnerable populations, (2) Provide immediate assistance to vulnerable population, (3) Support service provision through national systems, and (4) Reinforce Lebanon’s economic, social and environmental stability by investing in Lebanese institutions, services and systems in a manner that helps maintain Lebanon’s stability throughout the crisis. The LCRP is steered by the Minister of Social Affairs (MoSA) and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, in collaboration with other ministries and the lead UN agencies. The plan covers 10 sectors and all activities are coordinated by line ministries through sector working groups. Response partners thus work across a range of areas: Food Security, Basic Assistance, Education, Health, Water, Protection, Social Stability, Livelihoods, Energy, and Shelter.

Through the LCRP response management, there is a strong emphasis on ensuring an integrated Monitoring & Evaluation framework, based on a broad evidence base, informed by quantitative and qualitative research as well as direct engagement with affected populations. Furthermore, mainstreaming protection, conflict sensitivity, gender and environment are key areas of focus within the response.

UNDP’s role has evolved in parallel, with UNHCR leading on the refugee dimension of the response, UNDP leads on stabilization, under the overall leadership of the Government of Lebanon. In addition to this overall leadership role, UNDP is also leading three of the ten sectors of the response, the social stability, livelihoods and energy sectors, while UNDP programmes are providing crucial contribution to Lebanon’s stability by supporting host communities in the areas of livelihoods, basic infrastructure and environmental and social stability.

  Institutional Arrangement

The Inter-agency M&E specialist will work in the Inter-Agency Coordination unit and report to the Chief Technical Advisor of the Coordination Unit in UNDP. She/He will work in very close collaboration with the Senior Inter-Agency Coordinators, and with support from the Inter-Agency coordination team (UNDP and UNHCR), the M&E  Specialist will contribute to monitoring & evaluation, strategic planning and reporting at the inter-sector and sector levels.

Her/his main role will be to support the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan Inter-Agency coordination mechanism with strengthened results based management and M&E, which will help inform programming. The M&E Specialist will play a key role furthering the M&E aspect of the regional crisis response (3RP), based on lessons learned from the Lebanon experience.

The Inter-Agency M&E Specialist is also expected to interact with national and local authorities and stakeholders, international agencies, sector working groups to ensure that M&E is enhanced and deadlines respected. The M&E specialist will work closely with all sectors coordinators to provide support and technical advice on all M&E related activities.

Scope of Work

The scope of work of the assignment includes:

Deliver reliable, relevant and timely monitoring reports according to the M&E calendar

• Ensure timely and high-quality quarterly sector dashboards and end of year sector dashboards
•  Lead on updating and disseminating the LCRP reporting calendar
•  Lead on ensuring alignment between the LCRP reporting and other relevant frameworks reporting, includingUNSF
• Draft the LCRP annual report, including the report on support to public institutions (PIST)
• Provide timely inputs to other relevant products and reports for strategic and operational planning, and prioritization

Ensure  that  the  LCRP  and  response  operations have  a  clear  and  comprehensive monitoring &  evaluation framework.

•  Coordinate and manage the inter-sectoral monitoring & evaluation framework and ensuring alignment and quality of results of sector log frames.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to sector working groups and government with a focus on improving the quality of sector log frames and indicators measured.
• Conduct and oversee monitoring and evaluation activities including monitoring at the outcome level and the impact results (in line with the M&E framework)
• Collect data for the Brussels monitoring framework and prepare bi-annual analysis
• Lead on follow up related to the  LCRP Review including preparing the Management Response
• Ensure communication and dissemination of the findings of the LCRP review and of the Compendium on
• Lessons learnt and Good practices
• Participate in other relevant coordination fora related to M&E, data and reporting (such IMWG, Data Working Group and Assessment and Analysis Cell)

LCRP annual strategic planning process

• Coordination and manage the 2022 LCRP Situation analysis exercise (methodology, consultations…)
• Take a lead in the process to update sector ToCs including guidance to coordinators and field inter-sector, technical support and coordination
• Provide support to Sector coordinators in updating their sector logframe.
• Track information on needs, targeting, coverage, progress and gaps across sectors aligned with relevant reporting systems, i.e., Activity Info
• Liaise closely with the Senior Inter-Agency Coordinators to develop key products related to inter-sector analysis

Core competencies:

Innovation

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work
•  Level 5: Integrate & Empower (Strategic Advisor)

Leadership

• Ability to persuade others to follow
• Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
•   Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Communication

•  Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
•  Level 5: Integrate & Empower (Strategic Advisor)

Delivery

• Ability to get things done
•  Level 5: Integrate & Empower (Strategic Advisor)

Technical/Functional competencies

Primary

•    Results Based Programme Development & Management – Level 5: Integrate & Empower (Strategic Advisor)
•    Building Strategic Partnerships -Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)
•    Advocacy/Advancing a Policy Orientated Agenda – Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)
•    Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise – Level 5: Integrate & Empower (Strategic Advisor)

Secondary

•  Knowledge Management – Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)
•  Client Orientation – Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)