Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst.

BACKGROUND

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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 in Kazakhstan is contributing to the country’s development through the following programmatic priorities outlined in the Country Programme Document 2026-2030 (CPD): 1) addressing social vulnerabilities and inequalities, 2) effective and accountable institutions, 3) climate and disaster resilience and low-carbon growth, and 4) diversified and knowledge-based economic growth. The CPD is implemented by the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Kazakhstan, located primarily in Astana, with a limited presence in Almaty and other project-based locations.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Management Analyst, the Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst plays a crucial role in enhancing organizational effectiveness and achieving strategic objectives. This position supports the management team in building partnerships and strategically mobilizing resources, while also supporting on finance and budget management, focusing on monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, and risk management.

Position Purpose:

Under the strategic guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Programme Management Analyst, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Analyst promotes results-based management and a programme effectiveness approach by leading the implementation of innovative and effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks, systems and tools. The M&E Analyst provides technical support on M&E and  reporting practices to programme and project teams. Where relevant the M&E Analyst will also support programme quality assurance and developing relevant systems. The M&E Analyst promotes a collaborative, efficient, client-focused, evidence-based, and portfolio management approach.

The M&E Analyst collaborates closely with Programme, Operations and project teams in the Country Office, Regional Hub, UNDP HQ staff, programme staff in other UN agencies, programmes and funds, Government officials and donors on programme/project implementation and monitoring and evaluation issues and practices.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

1.) Implement and participate in design of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, systems, and tools, and as applicable, conduct programme quality assurance in keeping with corporate policies.

•  Support CO programme and project managers in designing the results-based management, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and plans in line with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) with appropriate tracking tools. Help in ensuring the application of UNDP social and environmental safeguards as applicable.
•  Serve as the UNDP Country Office focal point for the provision of overall technical and policy advisory support on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and results-based management (RBM) requirements and activities to CO programme and project managers, UNDP CO staff concerned with monitoring and evaluation, and consultants and/or members of evaluation teams.
•  Ensure compliance with UN/UNDP policy positions on monitoring and evaluation, results-based management, and quality assurance, as applicable, and ensure their mainstreaming into all aspects of the COs programme interventions. Provide guidance on the systematized, effective application of RBM, M&E and quality assurance tools throughout the full programme/ project cycle from the design to implementation, reporting and during the timely closure of projects.
•  Support the mapping of business processes and elaboration of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in programme and project oversight. Act as custodian for evaluation quality assurance checklist to ensure quality check from the TOR formulation to final evaluation  report and timely implementation of the recommendations.
•  Provide input to CO’s annual planning processes that includes the Integrate Work Plan and CO Annual Business Plan; and participate in defining targets and indicators to ensure consistency with approved country programme and project documents and with UNDP POPPs.
•  Ensure gender equality, disability inclusion, and Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principles are an integral part of UNDP programmes and operations and that these considerations are fully mainstreamed into programming and reflected in programme/ project design, monitoring, reporting and evaluations in line with the UNDP Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion Strategies, UNSDG Operational Guide for Country Teams on LNOB, and available regional guidance.
•  Contribute to joint UN planning and reporting processes, by coordinating UNDP’s adherence to agreed standards in the UNSDCF.

2.) Ensure coordination and efficient support to monitoring, reporting, evaluation and results-based management of Country Office programmes and projects.

•  Coordinate implementation and application of efficient and evidence-based results monitoring and, as applicable, quality assurance work for CO programme and project development and delivery using an integrated portfolio management approach. Advise the senior management team on delivery implementation challenges and provide support in resolving obstacles and bottlenecks.
•  Develop templates for project and work plan monitoring and quality assurance visits. Collect reliable and coherent data to assess country programme progress and results. Provide regular updates to programme and project teams using latest M&E and IT tracking tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the monitoring processes.
•  Prepare  reports analyzing progress and results of projects. Advise programme teams on financial reporting requirements for cooperating partners, donors, Government stakeholders and UN counterparts to ensure transparency relative to committed resources and timetables and to highlight transformational changes.
•  Ensure consistent maintenance and monitoring of relevant scorecards and quality assurance tools such as the Social and Environmental Safeguards. Provide support to the management and coordination of third-party monitoring and/or any other data collection interventions in the country office.
•  Ensure regular and timely updating of the Evaluation Resource Centre (ERC).
•  Analyze requirements and synthesize proposals for the planning, preparation, and management of specific thematic, country programme/project evaluations and other types of evaluations. Draft and revise Terms of Reference (TOR) for specific project/thematic/sectoral monitoring and evaluation missions and/or desk evaluations/reviews. Participate in consultant and evaluation team selection and provide technical feedback on evaluation inception reports and draft evaluations and budget oversight. Draft and review management responses to the evaluations.
•  Consolidate evaluation findings, lessons learned and recommendations to be disseminated in learning events and channeled into decision-making processes. Analyze and synthesize monitoring and evaluation reports and other data sources to assess the effectiveness and impact of UNDP CO programmes. Follow up on implementation of audit and evaluation recommendations by CO and project teams.
•  Contribute to the establishment of statistics database and dashboards.

3.) Support capacity building and facilitate knowledge building and sharing on monitoring, evaluation and results-based management in CO.

•  Organize learning, training, and capacity building activities on monitoring and evaluation, RBM, data collection and survey methods, gender mainstreaming and portfolio approach for CO staff and programme and project teams. In close collaboration with relevant teams in the BRH and HQ, and local Learning Committee contribute to development and delivery of training packages to strengthen CO partners’ capacities in programme and project monitoring and oversight.
•  Support the identification, synthesis, documentation, and dissemination of key lessons learned and good practices derived from monitoring and evaluation activities on what works, what does not work, revised theories of change to identify innovative ideas for their scaling or replication.
•  Provide sound contributions to local and global knowledge networks, communities of practice, and other knowledge management mechanisms. Proactively participate in UNDP regional and international fora on relevant thematic areas (including engaging in thematic discussions, contributing with analytical papers, etc.).
•  Contribute to the implementation of Evaluation Knowledge Management and Learning Strategy by providing, onboarding, on the job trainings for personnel, as well as to national partners, where and if it’s needed.
•  The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Core Competencies

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•  Achieve Results-LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
•  Think Innovatively-LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
•  Learn Continuously-LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
•  Adapt with Agility-LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
•  Act with Determination-LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
•  Engage and Partner-LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
•  Enable Diversity and Inclusion-LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in  decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy Strategic Thinking-Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Management 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.

Business Management Results-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.

Partnership Management-Relationship Management-Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness-Effectiveness-Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness-Effectiveness-Project Quality Assurance

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

•  Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Economics, Statistics, Sociology, Business Administration/Management, Public Administration, Environment, Social Policy/Sciences, International Relations, Law or 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, Knowledge, and Skills:

•  Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
•  Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in M&E, programme and/or administration, working with quality assurance instruments, results-based management models, and multiple stakeholders is required.
•  Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation systems and development projects or integrated portfolios at the national and international experience is required.
•  Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and web-based management systems, and up-to-date, advanced knowledge of data management tools and database packages is required. Basic skills in ERP is an asset.
•  Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge of the results-based management cycle and monitoring and evaluation is desired.
•  Ability to work with quantitative and qualitative data, and appropriately use qualitative data /information collection tools in innovative ways is desired.
•  Experience in designing, implementing and/or managing assessments and/or data collection exercises/processes is desired.
•  Experience conducting applied research projects and reporting on findings is desired.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in English and Kazakh and/or Russian is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and  educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

•  UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
•  UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.

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