Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Data Specialist - DHE- (Home based) [Open to internal and external applicants]

UNDP•New York, NY

23h•Remote

About The Position

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organisation for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts. BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. The UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The UNDP Climate Hub hosts the Secretariat of the Decarbonizing Humanitarian Energy (DHE) Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). The DHE MPTF seeks to support the humanitarian sector transition to sustainable and efficient energy solutions in order to reduce reliance on costly diesel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate energy access for displaced and host communities in humanitarian settings. The DHE is administered by the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF-O) and governed by a Steering Committee which acts as the main decision-making body. The Secretariat supports the DHE’s Steering Committee to set the Fund’s strategic direction, make resource allocation decisions, and ensure progress towards its intended impact. The Secretariat is notably responsible for the Fund’s overall operations, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, risk management, and resource mobilization, and other relevant functions. The Secretariat operates in accordance with UNDP’s financial and staff regulations and rules governing all administrative policies and procedures. As host, UNDP provides the Secretariat with reliable and timely operations management and oversight services within the UN system, covering finance, human resources, procurement, and administration. UNDP is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Data Specialist to work within the core team of the DHE MPTF’s Secretariat under the direct supervision of the Head of Secretariat. The post will be home-based. The MEL and Data Specialist supports the Secretariat of DHE MPTF to lead, develop and implement fund-level strategies, guidelines and processes to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning practices are in place to assess the performance, impact, and outcomes of the DHE, enable results-based management and evidence-based learning. The primary elements of this support include the development and implementation of the Fund’s Theory of Change (ToC), MEL Framework, results-based reporting and management systems, data collection methodologies and evaluation processes in alignment with the requirements of the MPTF and DHE donor(s). The role is required to demonstrate expertise in framework development, data-driven analysis, and fostering learning cultures in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, International Development, or other related field is required, or A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the afore mentioned fields in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience relating to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) at an international level in the humanitarian, international development, and/or sustainable energy sectors including at least three years with direct responsibility for managing MEL systems is required.
Proven experience in results-based management, monitoring and evaluation of complex projects and multi-country programme implementation is required.
Proven experience in designing and implementing MEL systems for large programme portfolios or joint programmes is required.
Ability to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, balancing long-term activities with the urgency of immediate demands is required.
Fluency in English, with exceptional writing, presentation, and communication skills is required.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated expertise in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) methodologies and approaches, including the planning, design and implementation of MEL systems for complex, large-scale development, humanitarian, or energy access programmes, is highly desirable.
Experience in supporting and coordinating third party monitoring and evaluation exercises is highly desirable.
Experience in the usage of database, data analytics and data visualisation packages is desirable
Experience working in a multi-stakeholder partnership initiative is highly desirable.
Experience working within the United Nations system or in comparable international, multilateral, or bilateral development organizations is desirable.
Knowledge of other UN working languages is desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of the DHE’s fund-level monitoring, evaluation and learning activities
Develop and implement of the key MEL elements of the DHE MPTF including the ToC, MEL Framework, performance indicators, log frames, and any associated processes.
Establish standardised templates and tools for use across the DHE MPTF where appropriate to support fund-level data collection, analysis and reporting.
Lead the periodic review, validation and adaptation of the Fund’s Theory of Change, ensuring its continued relevance, alignment with strategic priorities, and integration of lessons learned from implementation.
Establish an effective a MEL Framework for the DHE to integrate project-level outcomes and outputs into a consolidated fund-level framework to monitor and evaluate contributions to the Fund’s overall impact, including links to SDG outcomes, ensuring that the MEL Framework meets the requirements of the MPTF Office and the DHE’s donor(s).
Establish the Fund’s performance indicators with baselines, targets and means of verification to monitor and report on the performance of the DHE MPTF, consolidating results from projects delivered by Participating Organizations with a focus on transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. These indicators will be used to provide fund- and project-level transparency through the reporting of all relevant MPTF documents on the public Gateway, including narrative and financial reports.
Develop and implement a MEL work plan and reporting schedule to effectively manage fund-level MEL activities.
Define roles and responsibilities for the DHE’s MEL activities including timelines, format, content, frequency, source(s) of data.
Contribute to the production of summary information for presentation to the Fund’s Steering Committee to provide clear and concise updates on the Fund’s overall progress and provide insight for effective decision making and corrective actions.
Design and oversee evaluation and research assignments, including preparation of Terms of Reference, participation in the selection of consultants and evaluation teams, and provision of quality assurance and budget oversight for MEL activities.
Serve as the DHE MPTF’s MEL focal point, remaining abreast of latest development and professional norms, standards, tools and methodologies.
Support to DHE Participating Organizations’ MEL activities during the full programming cycle, including project design, implementation, reporting and evaluation
Provide technical guidance to Participating Organizations at the proposal stage and during project design to ensure alignment with the Fund’s Theory of Change (ToC) and MEL Framework, and to strengthen project-level results frameworks.
Establish effective mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating DHE project implementation from a fund perspective including periodic reviews, annual and end-of-project reporting, and regular reporting for programme management purposes. This includes provision of evaluation feedback into project design and follow up on implementation of evaluation recommendations.
Synthesize and analyze project results and prepare high-quality periodic reports and knowledge products for the Fund, donors, and other stakeholders. Provide evidence-based advice on data use and interpretation to strengthen project quality, identify trends, and inform strategic decision-making.
Develop and deliver training on the DHE’s MEL systems, tools and methodologies for Participating Organizations’ projects, where required.
Coordinate and support Participating Organizations with the annual and final reporting process and lead the production of the Fund’s consolidated reports.
Advise on Data Management and Analysis
Design and institutionalize effective tools to enhance the quality, accessibility, and availability of Fund and project data, and provide technical guidance on data analysis and visualization to support stakeholder engagement and informed decision-making.
Ensure that systems are in place so that meaningful and verifiable data is collected and managed for the monitoring, evaluation, and learning needs of the Fund.
Contribute to the DHE MPTF Secretariat team in extracting, analysing and presenting data as required for donor or partner reporting.
Facilitate Evidence Generation and Lessons Learned
Develop and implement processes to identify and synthesise lessons learnt and best practices emerging from the across the DHE to be integrated into broader DHE knowledge management.
Facilitate continuous exchange of lessons learned and best practices across DHE partners and projects to promote cross-learning and adaptive management.
Support the Secretariat and DHE Participating Organizations on undertaking lessons learned analysis and documenting impact stories, especially on innovative solutions,
Facilitate and coordinate cross-fund learning activities to foster knowledge exchange where required.
Collaborate and coordinate with other UN agencies, governments, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders on MEL issues.
Provide sound contributions to local and global networks, communities of practice, and other knowledge management mechanisms. Proactively participate in fora on relevant thematic areas (including engaging in thematic discussions, contributing with analytical papers, etc.).
Evaluation Management:
Effectively manage and contribute to the all DHE evaluation stages including a) evaluability assessment b) preparation; c) implementation and management; and d) use of the evaluation. This includes serving as Evaluation Manager for assigned evaluation exercises.
Provide technical quality assurance on evaluation deliverables, including draft Terms of Reference, evaluation reports, management responses, and lessons learned, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with UNEG and UNDP evaluation standards.
Participate in the selection/recruitment of external evaluators and ensure safeguarding the independence of evaluations.
Coordinate provision of technical inputs, data and documentation to evaluation teams, review inception reports (including evaluation questions and methodologies), consolidate stakeholder feedback on draft evaluation reports, and ensure timely finalization of evaluation deliverables.
Contribute to the development of management responses and key actions to all recommendations from evaluations. Facilitate, monitor and report on status of management responses and key actions.
Advise the Secretariat, Steering Committee and other stakeholders regarding results of evaluations and any lessons or management/operational issues that should be addressed.
Contribute to the effective delivery of general Secretariat functions
Contribute to the performance of the Secretariat’s core duties, including the Fund’s day-to-day operations, partner coordination, management of the programming cycle, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, risk management, and other relevant functions.
Contribute to the preparation of reports, briefings, and other documentation as required.
Support the continuous improvement of Secretariat processes and tools in line with the Fund’s development and emerging priorities.
Monitor implementation of the DHE SES framework and Gender Action Plan.
The MEL and Data Specialist performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the DHE MPTF and the Secretariat.