Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MEL) Specialist

Background
 
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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.
 

UNDP has a global mandate to support governments in strengthening security and justice sector governance) and has extensive experience in proving strategic advice and assistance in this regard in a range of countries and contexts globally. 

UNDP Rule of Law Programme in Pakistan is working to strengthen the rule of law and to ensure equal access to justice, particularly for women and marginalized groups across Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) including the merged districts (MDs), Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The Programme intents to expand geographically to cover Sindh, Punjab, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Working in close collaboration with a range of government, rule of law and justice sector institutions, the overall Programme of work aims to enhance and sustain peace and stability for the longer- term in Pakistan. 

The overall Programme activities and interventions therefore directly correspond with the government of Pakistan’s strategies and commitments to rule of law and justice reforms as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of institutions to deliver accountable and affordable security and justice services to the public. 

As such the Rule of Law Programme implementation is guided by the following four strategic objectives:

• Policy, legal and regulatory frameworks strengthened to warrant people-centered, equitable, timely, affordable justice and security delivery to all people with an emphasis on women, marginalized and vulnerable groups, and digital technologies. 
• Capacity of justice and security stakeholders (duty bearers) enhanced to deliver inclusive, timely, and accessible services to all people with an emphasis on women and digital technologies.
• Capacity of women, and the most vulnerable and marginalized (rights holders) strengthened to access referral pathways to justice and security. 
• Justice and security sector institutional facilities enhanced to deliver inclusive, timely, and accessible justice and security services, through women friendly and gender- responsive infrastructure development support with an emphasis on flood resilience and green energy. 

Against this backdrop, UNDP actions and interventions are aimed at restoring public confidence and service delivery in the formal justice and rule of law sectors through a range of initiatives i.e. policy development and reform, fostering justice and security sector governance, as well as oversight and accountability at an institutional level with emphasis on inclusive and gender-responsive programming. The overall engagement strategy, therefore, involves both federal and local levels. 

UNDP Rule of Law Programme is implemented with support from the European Union (EU), and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US- INL).
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MEL) Specialist, Rule of Law Programme will be based in the UNDP Pakistan Country Office (CO) Sub- Office in Peshawar with regular travel to its head office Islamabad and to Programme’s target provinces. He/ she will directly report to the Programme Manager -Rule of Law Programme. 

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Manager, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning (MEL) Specialist, Rule of Law Programme, will be responsible for overseeing the design, planning, and execution of the programme’s monitoring and reporting activities in line with UNDP and donor compliance requirements. S/he will support the Programme Manager in ensuring timely and effective delivery of the programme aligned with key targets and indicators, as well as support the achievement of cross-cutting programme results through rigorous research and analysis (where necessary). S/he will be responsible for the development of all internal and external reports and/or knowledge products, liaising with third-party/donor monitoring teams and counterparts. The postholder will be responsible for the following functions:

Provide sound technical advice and assistance in the overall monitoring and evaluation of the Rule of Law Programme work strands on strengthening access to justice and rule of law in Pakistan, including designing M&E plans, results frameworks, reporting templates, and field data collection methodologies. The specific tasks will include the following: 

• Design and implement an integrated M&E plan to ensure effective implementation and achievement of programme results; monitor the implementation of the plan including measurement of programme indicators, design of monitoring tools and establishment of data flow systems, producing high quality, evidence-based and outcome driven quarterly/annual reports. 
• Set key performance indicators (KPIs) for the programme, in accordance with the UNDP annual work plan (AWP) and project result frameworks; oversee and assess the achievement of all performance indicators against UNDP and project result framework priorities, and work with the rest of the team members on course correction to address gaps and omissions. 
• Set up and maintain a database for the management of the indicator framework. In collaboration with Rule of Law project leads, identify data sourcing methods and agree on all aspects of budget, frequency, reporting, etc.
• Conduct and manage quality assurance activities, develop strategies for course correction and update M&E frameworks as required.
• Oversee collection and validation of data to support any change that might be required in the programme activities; and undertake field M&E activities as required.
• Develop and implement a system for data visualization using digital tools such as Power BI and Tableau to support data-driven decision-making and improve project monitoring efficiency.

Manage reporting and information sharing related to all programme M&E and oversight aspects in coordination with the rest of the programme team, the Democratic and Governance Unit (DGU) and the Monitoring Support Unit (MSU) as well as third-party monitors/ evaluators of donors. The specific tasks will include the following:

• Lead preparation of all donor and UNDP programme and monitoring reports, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual reports. 
• Develop corporate reports such as the Results-Oriented Annual Report (ROAR) and Annual Programme Report (APR), ensuring alignment with UNDP corporate standards and project KPIs.
• Manage the UNDP Quantum system to update project data and results regularly. Ensure accurate entry and alignment with project outcomes, KPIs, and results frameworks.
• Oversee data entry and reporting within donor MIS tools, including the EU-OPSYS and the US-INL-Dev Results, to ensure timely, accurate updates that align with both UNDP and donor-specific reporting standards and requirements.
• Provide cross-cutting analytical and programme management support to project leads in the Rule of Law Programme to ensure achievement of key programme results and targets; lead policy analysis, research and strategic planning activities as needed. 
• Support technical/policy advisory/research on key thematic areas of focus, ensuring alignment with the Rule of Law Programme and government implementing partner priorities.
• Support programme planning, operations, budgeting and forecasting activities in line with KPIs and targeted results committed to UNDP and respective donors; work with the Programme Manager, Project Finance and Operations Manager and rest of the team to provide strategic planning support while also working with the DGU team for internal and external reporting requirements.
• Engage with programme staff and consultants to facilitate communication of information and assist in generating a strong understanding of project activities, M&E framework, and related issues; conduct field visits as required.

Proactively engage and lead programme’s knowledge management working closely with the rest of the Rule of Law Programme team. The specific tasks will include the following:

• Provide training and mentoring support to implement effective programming and achieve desired results; including the design of tools, data collection and analysis, and onboarding and capacity strengthening of M&E and/or program staff while utilizing data to assess and improve the programmatic impact.
• Work with the rest of the Rule of Law Programme team and external consultants to design, execute, and report on programme activities, evaluations and/or surveys.
• Keep up to date with all developments in the Rule of Law Programme projects and track implementation to prepare appropriate reports, briefings, background notes, and other documents to ensure alignment with approved work plans. 
• Manage generation and implementation of learning initiatives as requested (document and share success stories, best practices, and lessons learned; seek out new information and approaches to the same).

Manage one professional national personnel and 2-3 short term national and international consultants– including overall supervision, mentoring, and oversight in the implementation of access to justice and rule of law projects/ interventions of the Programme.   

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

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:

Business Development           

• Knowledge Generation - Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. 

Business Management            

• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• 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 
• Result Based Management - Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools 
• Monitoring and Evaluation - Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. 
• Working with Evidence and Data - Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. 

Business Direction and 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 

2030 Agenda: Peace   

• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights - Access to Justice and Security for Women incl GBV

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Law, Political Science, International Relations, Management, Development Studies or related area is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree), or seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in justice and rule of law sector reforms with national and international organizations and field experience in project implementation is required.
• Familiarity with UN/ UNDP policies, processes, and programming frameworks is an added advantage.
• Experience in risk -management and related methodology is an asset.
• Knowledge of using online progress reporting platforms such as OPSYS (EU), and Dev Results (US-INL) will be an asset.
• Prior experience with the use of ICT tools to improve data systems, data collection and analysis is desired. 
• Prior experience in MEL on rule of law, justice, security and/or justice sector governance multi-year programme is desired.
• Experience in report writing, drafting policy briefs, and related documentation is desired. 
• Proven experience in gender- sensitive and gender- responsive programming, and related topics will be an advantage.
• Previous work experience with UNDP/ UN agencies/ international organisations will be an added advantage.
• Proven professional track record in monitoring and evaluation, research, and knowledge management related to multi-year project implementation and development with hands on field experience in Pakistan is desired.
• Experience and knowledge of donor policies, processes and reporting requirements is desired,
• Proven professional track record in coordinating external evaluations, conducting public perception surveys, and related studies is desired.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Urdu is required. 

Professional Certificates        

• Certificate/diploma/fellowship on monitoring and evaluation will be an added advantage

Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders) 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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