MONITORING AND EVALUATION ANALYST at United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA

Background

The Nigeria Country Programme is monitored through the Country Office in Abuja and the two decentralized offices in Cross River and Kaduna with a Liaison Office in Lagos (LLO). The Lagos Liaison Office is covering Lagos and Ogun state including other projects and satellite activities of the Organization in the South-West geo-political zone. The LLO works with Implementing Partners to support Maternal Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health (includes ASRH), Gender based violence programmes, and data collection and use in humanitarian context. The LLO plays the coordination role in the zone including oversight functions and supports the Abuja Office in resource mobilization, strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation.

The Organization is improving its focus on result based management and quality delivery of programme results.  To strengthen this process and for UNFPA to keep its leadership role in the area of reproductive health and youth issues and data management and use at the sub-national levels, the country office is looking for a Programme Analyst, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for its Lagos Liaison Office.

The  Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) position will be based in the Lagos Liaison Office and would report to the Programme Specialist/Head of the LLO with technical oversight by the National Programme Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation based in the Country Office, Abuja.

Job Purpose

The M&E Analyst provides overall technical support for monitoring and evaluation and data management across the full range of the work of the LLO.

S/he analyses and assesses relevant political, social and economic trends and provides substantive inputs to project formulation, monitoring and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and State development frameworks. The NPPP guides and facilitates the delivery of UNFPA’s programmes by monitoring results achieved during implementation.

S/he guides the development of methodologies as well as capacity development in monitoring and evaluation principles and practices to ensure relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact of the work of the UNFPA.  S/he works in close collaboration with the Country Office to ensure compliance with technical norms in line with international best practices and the rules and regulations of the United Nations.

S/he supports States to build capacity in data generation and use.

Duties and Responsibilities

• In collaboration with State Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, contributes substantively to the formulation and design of the country programme and its component projects in line with State Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures. Ensures quality of programme / project design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems.
•  Analyzes and interprets the political, social and economic environment relevant to population and development, reproductive health and gender, and identifies opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. Keeps abreast of new policy developments and strategies analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, State plans and development frameworks, and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination, and development frameworks.
• Expedites project monitoring by establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts, State government counterparts and other UN agencies facilitating timely and efficient monitoring of project inputs and addressing training needs of project personnel.
• Helps create and document knowledge about current and emerging population development trends, RH and gender issues, by analyzing programme, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
•  Assists advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by preparing relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in donor meetings and public information events.
•  Assume the direct responsibility for overseeing  the Monitoring and Evaluation functions of the LLO.
• In conjunction with other technical staff at the LLO, provide support and guidance to on program planning, monitoring and evaluation activities including state level  planning and reviews of AWP activities.
• Prepare consolidated quarterly and annual reports on program implementation and financial status and provide technical support in the preparation of the Annual Work Plans (AWPs) for all the states supported by the LLO.
• Document lessons learned from program design and implementation at the LLO with a view to contributing to relevant bulletins for the Country Office
• Monitor the development of Action Plans and the implementation of the recommendations of missions and field visits by the LLO including missions or similar visits to the LLO by the Abuja Office or other higher UNFPA Offices
• Assess training needs relevant to monitoring, evaluation and management information systems and provide, if required, training to LLO and IP staff.
• Operationalize the Country Office arrangements for collecting, analyzing and reporting programme data to ensure the availability of data to measure indicators for evidence based programming at the LLO.
• Work with the Country Office M&E team in the process of updating and adjusting (whenever relevant) the CO Results Framework and the Monitoring and Evaluation Calendar in conjunction with other technical staff and relevant partners.
• Follow-up on the operationalization of evaluation recommendations as it pertains to the LLO and work with other staff to ensure that the recommendations are used to improve programming and decision making.
• Work with other technical staff to develop the Program mid and end of year report for the LLO with a view to contributing to the Country Office wide mid-year and annual reports
• Provide technical and multi-sectoral support to the LLO in M&E and support all  data related issues in the humanitarian program of the Office as the need arises
• Work with the state HMIS Officers in the states ministries of health to ensure routine NHMIS data transmission from the PHC through the LGAs to the national level using information technology packages as necessary
• Support the State HMIS officers and the LGA M&E Officers to coordinate the periodic LGA M&E meetings to strengthen the data management and use processes at these levels.
• S/He would perform any other additional tasks assigned by the UNFPA Representative

Work Relations

Within the LLO, the M&E Analyst supports the Head of the LLO to facilitate the work of consultants,  and experts hired to support the Office, establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies including the civil society to address emerging issues.  S/he would effectively influence counterparts from diverse backgrounds to jointly contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate. The M & E Analyst is a substantive contributor to the programme team in the Office.
Internal contacts include the Representative, Deputy Representative, Assistant Representatives, and M&E Specialist in the Abuja Office, the Decentralized Offices in Kaduna and Cross River, and other CO’s programme and finance team members. External contacts include other UN agencies in-country, and counterparts and partners in Country programme activities, including international NGOs, the Academia, amongst others.

Core competences:

• Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles;
• Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management;
• Team Work/Communication/Self-Management
• Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision Making;
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning

Functional Competencies:

• Results-based programme development and management approaches.
• Innovation and marketing of new
• Leveraging the resources of partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Advocacy/ advancing a policy oriented agenda
• Resource mobilization

Required Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate must be a Nigerian National and should.

• Have a Master’s degree in public health, population, demography and/or other related social science field, with specific training in principles and practice of monitoring and evaluation including in humanitarian settings.  A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Have a minimum of  three years post graduate professional experience in monitoring and evaluation of Population and Reproductive Health programs.
• Have experience in data collection, management information system, and database management;
• Have experience working with Government and the Civil Society would be an added advantage
• Have working experience in the monitoring and evaluation of programme for development will be an added advantage
• Excellent organizational skills coupled with an ability to reach consensus;
• Leverage to work with government officials and ability to maintain neutrality and impartiality  among all stakeholders
• Fluency in spoken and written English Language is required.