Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
Location: Juba
Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
Communication and Public Information
Monitoring and Evaluation
Closing Date: 2024-10-10
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.
Since the outbreak of the civil war in December 2013, recurring violence and conflict have continued to affect the South Sudanese people. The country continues to face significant economic challenges, climate change vulnerability as well as inadequate basic service delivery, unemployment, high levels of gender-based violence and increased criminality. Cattle raiding and land disputes between pastoralists and farmers are also causes of conflict in many parts of the country. Pressing safety and security challenges include ineffective law enforcement and justice delivery at state and local levels; the spread of small arms and light weapons; land and border disputes; extensive gender-based violence; limited gender equality and a tendency towards the breakdown of social cohesion.
Since the signing of the 2018 R-ARCSS, significant progress towards sustaining peace has been made with considerable reduction in political-related violence in most parts of the country. The transitional government of national unity has been formed and has embarked on implementing general commitments made by the peace agreement in the six (6) substantive chapters namely, (i) governance, (ii) security, (iii) humanitarian assistance and reconstruction, (iv) resources, economic and financial management, (v) transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation, and healing, and (vi) permanent constitution making.
In May 2021, the UN Secretary-General renewed the eligibility of South Sudan to the Peacebuilding Fund for a period of five years. During this period, in line with the request of the Government of South Sudan and in support of the implementation of the R-ARCSS, PBF support will focus on supporting three main priorities: i) strengthening national democratization, justice and accountability processes; ii) addressing conflict resulting from and around displacement and iii) reducing the impact of localized conflict by strengthening local peace mechanisms and local conflict prevention.
The UNCT works closely with the Ministry of Peacebuilding on capacity building and technical assistance, a key national partner for peacebuilding. The UNCT supports the Ministry’s Technical Capacity to developing national Peacebuilding Strategic Framework and Policy Documents and to lead the country’s engagement with the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. Continued institutional capacity building of the ministry is required to enhance political commitment and leadership for implementation.
The PBF portfolio in South Sudan currently has an active portfolio of $31.3 million across 11 projects. The portfolio is aligned with the overarching policy frameworks for South Sudan, including the Revised National Development Strategy (R-NDS 2021-2024), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2023-2025), and the PBF Strategic Results Framework.
The PBF Secretariat at the Resident Coordinator’s Office supports to the RC’s strategic direction of PBF engagement in the country; provides quality-control and coordination support for the portfolio of PBF-funded projects and helps leverage synergies and partnerships with other peacebuilding actors in the country. The PBF Secretariat project works closely with the Ministry of Peace Building as well as the recipient organizations and their implementation partners in achieving results through the projects. The Secretariat also support the UNCT, for the selection, development, and implementation of PBF projects. In this regard, the Secretariat liaises with key dialogue institutions/platforms to ensure successful strategic results for the PBF engagement in the country: UNSDCF mechanisms, coordination group coordination groups and other entities working in PBF related areas.
The PBF Secretariat includes the PBF Coordination Team – Coordination Specialist (P4), Finance and Admin Associate (NPSA), M&E and Communications Expert (P2), Program Management and Analysis Officer (P2) and a Driver (G3). The PBF Secretariat supports implementing agencies and government counterparts, specifically the Ministry of Peace Building, CSOs, and NGOs to ensure the cohesion of the PBF portfolio in South Sudan.
Position Purpose
The M&E and Communications Analyst will oversee development of a joint integrated M&E system for PBF projects (including gender and youth promotion initiative projects) aligned with the PBF Strategic Results Framework to promote synergies between projects. He/she will ensure formulation of common results and indicators at the macro level to help measure achievements and impact based on priorities defined in the eligibility application.
He/she will be responsible for the collection, treatment, and analysis of PBF interventions-related data and will define the appropriate baseline for each project results. In collaboration with project teams, he/she will ensure results of different projects are documented, monitored, evaluated, analyzed, and built upon. He/she will contribute to specific activities (perception surveys, etc.), maintain mapping of activities updated, develop, and implement reporting strategy in close collaboration with the PBF Secretariat PBF Coordination Specialist and the team. He/she will also be focal point for semi-annual and annual reports. He/she will work closely with the RCO M&E Officer, RCO Communications Officer, project managers and recipient agencies and their implementing partners.
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:
Under the overall supervision of the Head of RCO, reporting directly to the PBF Coordination Specialist and indirectly to PBSO, the M&E and Communications Expert of the PBF Secretariat will work in close collaboration with the RCO M&E Officer and RCO Communications Officer to oversee development and implementation of a M&E and reporting framework and communications strategy funded by the PBF in South Sudan. He/she will contribute to strengthening the capacities of PBF program teams and government counterparts as well as facilitating the quality control function of the PBF Secretariat and strategic role of the PBF Joint Steering Committee.
1.) Ensure Projects performance monitoring:
Contribute to the development and implementation of a cross-fund M&E strategy in collaboration with M&E counterparts at the Reconciliation, Stabilization and Recovery Trust Fund, South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, CERF, Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund.
Lead or participate in annual and ongoing joint context and conflict analysis to inform investment decisions, in collaboration with M&E counterparts from the Reconciliation, Stabilization and Recovery Trust Fund, South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, CERF, Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund.
Collaborate with implementing partners on quality monitoring, organize joint field monitoring visits (including with the Ministry of Peacebuilding) promote planning and adaptive programming.
Participate in M&E technical project working groups, follow workplans in real time and help identify challenges to project implementation, bring attention to problems and contribute to solving them in a timely manner.
Create a database of interventions and stakeholders involved in peacebuilding to promote synergies.
Contribute to project data collection, compilation, and analysis, focusing on best practices
2.) Provide technical assistance to implementing partners:
Provide technical expertise and guidance in M&E throughout the project cycle, including developing theories of change, select and measure indicators, define and set objectives and verification processes, etc.
Coordinate preparation of periodical project reviews and monitor progress.
Ensure quality control including through technical review of project progress reports and providing pre-reporting guidance to PBF project teams.
3.) Ensure Effective Communications:
Prepare PBF Secretariat reports
Prepare briefing to communicate project results and impact to the UNCT, Joint Steering Committee, donors and Government and other key stakeholders.
Undertake field visits, attend events and prepare communications products, including photos, newsletters, evidence-based articles and/or stories on the PBF projects and portfolio, including sustainability, catalytic effect, risk tolerance, achievements, national ownership and localization.
Assist the Ministry of Peace Building to produce and disseminate objective, accurate innovative community-focused messaging, user-friendly content and messaging on peace initiatives.
Plan and support production of a documentary through film and pictures to document the implementation of the UN PBF projects in South Sudan.
4.) Support capacity building and facilitate knowledge building and sharing on monitoring, evaluation and results-based management
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, 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
5.) The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None
Education:
Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, International Development, Economics, Social Sciences, Strategic Communications or related area is required. OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated 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 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in project monitoring, evaluation and results-based communication is required
Experience with monitoring, evaluation and communications for peacebuilding, human rights and governance programs is desired.
Experience developing and sustaining partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders including government counterparts is desired.
Extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research; primary and secondary data collection and analysis; and research report writing is desired.
Strong experience with providing targeted and ongoing capacity building support to UN and non-UN program teams including on results frameworks, communications, reporting, monitoring and evaluation is desired.
Extensive experience preparing communication and visibility materials including articles, press releases, human interest stories, tweets, banners etc. to inform diverse audiences and illustrate the evidence and impact of PBF interventions – excellent drafting skills is desired.
Experience planning and managing program evaluations is desired.
Languages
Fluency in in English is required.
Working knowledge of another UN language is desired
Competencies
Core Competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Communications & Online Fundraising appeals: Ability to plan and use online and mobile technology and software to engage audiences and raise funds
Business Management & Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
2030 Agenda Partnerships & SDG Finance: Mobilization and coordination of support for post-crisis recovery and reconstruction processes (incl. international conferences)
Business Management & Monitoring and Evaluation:
Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks
Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
External Relations and Advocacy/Communications & Advocacy Strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change
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.
Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
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.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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 description, 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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