Fund Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist United Nations Development Programme Experience: 5 to 10 Years New Delhi, India Apply By: 14-09-2024

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Job Description

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to build resilience into infrastructure systems to ensure sustainable development. The Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF) is the Multi Partner Trust Fund established with the support of the United Nations to implement the vision and strategic workplan of the Coalition. The key functions of the Fund are to mobilize and channel resources for CDRI’s work plans, and to promote coordination, alignment and coherence around common programmatic priorities. The Fund is meant to support institutional capacity building and policy development; research and knowledge management; and academic programmes.

The IRAF Multi Partner Trust Fund is supported by a Fund Management Unit (FMU) hosted at the CDRI Secretariat based in New Delhi, India and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Geneva Office that heads the FMU Administrative Unit. The FMU is responsible for supporting the implementation of the Fund mandate and the application of the Fund policies. The FMU fulfills four main functions: Programme design; Programme implementation; Fund Operations; and Fund portfolio oversight, monitoring and evaluation.

As part of its support to the FMU Administrative Unit, UNDP is looking for a dynamic professional for the position of Fund Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist to support the Fund portfolio oversight function. The Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist will be recruited by UNDP to be part of the FMU Administrative Unit, and will be based in Delhi, India with the FMU hosted by the CDRI Secretariat, with occasional international travel. The Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist will work under the direct supervision of UNDP Head of the Administrative Unit, the overall guidance of the Head of the Technical Unit/Head of CDRI programmes and in close collaboration with CDRI Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fund Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist is primarily supporting the Fund Management Unit (managed by UNDP) – Administrative Unit to monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes by programmatic funding windows against the Fund Results and Resource Framework indicators and targets and establish strong Fund management monitoring systems working closely with the CDRI MEL team. The incumbent will be primarily responsible for supporting the monitoring and evaluation of results and impact at Fund level in accordance with the Multi Partner Trust Fund policies and the IRAF Fund Manual of Operations, rules and regulations and in synergy with CDRI MEL strategy and action plan.
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP Head of Fund Management Unit, and the overall guidance of the Head of the Technical Unit/Head of CDRI programmes, the incumbent provides support to the functions of the Fund Management Unit as needed and has the responsibility for i) Programme Monitoring at Fund level; Programme Evaluation at Fund level; and Capacity building on programme and project management as required. The incumbent will also provide periodic updates to the Senior Advisor and Team Leader, ACE Unit of UNDP India as needed.

The key responsibilities will be around:

Programme Monitoring at Fund level

Prepare a Fund Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning policy guideline that articulates relevant Fund level principles and processes to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning practices to assess the Fund performance and impact, and inform decision-making, improve programme effectiveness, and facilitate learning and knowledge sharing among Implementing Organizations involved in the Fund initiatives. Such policy guideline will become part of the Fund Operations Manual and will supplement the CDRI MEL strategy.
Design and maintain a results-based management system for the fund, including a performance dashboard for reporting to the Trust fund Management Committee, with quality assurance criteria, that complements the CDRI MEL framework.
Prepare an annual Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning plan for the approval of the Trust fund Management Committee that shall include lessons learnt / reviews as of year 2 of operations of the Fund.
When required, prepare TORs for a lessons learnt / review exercise that could be either thematic (e.g. social inclusion), or at outcome / output level, or for a specific programmatic funding window.
Ensure the maintenance and updating of the Fund Management Platform.
Ensure that projects comply with Fund reporting requirements in the Fund Management Platform and UNEX.
When required, participate in the technical review of projects submitted in response to a Call for Proposals including the quality of results-based management and budgeting working closely with the Technical Unit.
Participate and represent FMU Administrative Unit in quarterly project review meetings including inputs to the review of project inception reports, and quarterly and annual project progress reports, working closely with the FMU Technical Unit teams.
Prepare and participate in project monitoring visits including travel and facilitate the participation of Trust Fund Management Committee representatives in field monitoring visits.
Prepare inputs to the Fund bi-annual narrative reports (July, January) for FMU clearance and submission to the Trust Fund Management Committee against the Fund Results Framework including the consolidation of project-level narrative reports available from implementing organizations on the Fund Management Platform – ensuring adherence with established standards for reporting both on key performance indicators as well as programmatic risks.
Work closely with the Fund Communications Specialist and Fund Operations Specialist to support the drafting, consolidation and sign-off of the Fund Annual Report (30th January) for posting on the CDRI and MPTFO websites.
Support the Fund’s knowledge management, including collecting data and sharing good practice, and develop analytics and visuals.
Prepare an annual review of Fund results, risks and lessons learnt (February) for FMU to convene a dialogue with the Trust Fund Management Committee co-chairs, CDRI senior management and MPTFO to propose adjustments as needed, to ensure continued relevance of the Fund and application of lessons learned.
Contributes to the implementation of the Fund Communications Strategy working closely with the Fund Communications Specialist including identification of impactful project stories and inputs to story writing.
Contributes to the implementation of the Fund Risk Management Strategy on programmatic matters working closely with the Fund Operations Specialist including identification of programmatic risks and implementation issues at project level that could jeopardize the Fund achievement of results and reputation.

Programme Evaluation at Fund level

Prepare and facilitate the external (independent) evaluation on the overall performance of the Fund at mid- term (2025) to assess whether the IRAF Programme is on track to deliver expected outputs and outcomes with respect to the timeframe and budget (e.g. prepare TOR, gathers documentation for the evaluation, assists with organizing consultations). It will enable the Trust Fund Management Committee to make any changes required in the Fund approach, strategy and Results Framework.
Monitor the implementation of the recommendations from the Fund mid-term evaluation and update the Trust Fund Management Committee accordingly.
Prepare and facilitate the final evaluation on the overall performance of the Fund at the operational closure of the Fund for learning and impact assessment purposes.
Support and facilitate any additional evaluation activity as instructed by the Trust Fund Management Committee.

Capacity building on programme and project management as required

Provide technical guidance and support to Implementing Organizations on monitoring and evaluation requirements as required.
Review Implementing Organizations risk assessment reports including the UN Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) micro assessment reports to identify areas for improvement in programme management and provide capacity building support as required.
Participate in CDRI quarterly learning meetings on project and programme lessons learnt, and when required support the MEL team in the preparation of the CDRI half yearly review and annual review.
Support eligible organizations with technical questions on the proposal development, including through providing examples of suitable project design, working closely with the Technical Unit teams.
Support the organization of information events and trainings for eligible organizations and develop guidance and learning events on the Calls for proposals criteria, and guidance to applicants on digital project proposal creation, prodoc revision and signing; bi-annual on-line financial reporting, on-line reporting on progress, risks and issues.
When required, support the implementation of the Fund capacity building plan / CDRI Learning Plan working closely with CDRI MEL team in designing and delivering training and mentoring on programme and project management with a focus on monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in business management, international affairs and development cooperation, law or relevant related field is required, OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in programme management/Monitoring and Evaluation with large programmes or relevant related field is required
Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), and in handling web-based management systems such as ERP is required
Proven ability to work independently and under pressure.
Relevant experience in Communication.
Willingness to travel.
Demonstrated extensive experience in applying results-based management principles to project design and implementation, including project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance.
Demonstrated experience in documentation of lessons learnt and/or participating in project evaluation processes.
Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing capacity building and mentoring approaches.
Demonstrated experience of working with UN organisations/multi- lateral organisations, with state/central government

Language Requirement: