Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Polio), NO-B, Temporary Appointment, Islamabad, Pakistan (364 days)

UNICEF Country Office Pakistan is seeking for a highly experienced, knowledgeable, and dynamic individual to take on the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the NOB level to join the Polio team on a Temporary Appointment.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, health!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

Job organizational context:

The M&E Officer position is based in Islamabad and support the Polio Eradication Programme, which is a component of the UNICEF Country Programme under Health Outcome. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is in its third year of implementation of Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026: Delivering on a Promise which remains focused on the dual emergency of interrupting wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan and Afghanistan and stopping polio outbreaks. Pakistan is one of the two remaining polio endemic countries globally. There is cautious optimism about the progress made toward stopping polio in both countries, with cases at their lowest levels in history. Epidemiology confirms the impact of polio eradication efforts. The proportion of children missed during immunization campaigns is decreasing, and overall population immunity is improving.

Working under the leadership of the Government, and through the One Team under One Roof approach,  UNICEF has been supporting the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Polio Eradication by  ensuring uninterrupted vaccine supply; increasing the number of children receiving polio vaccines in the most hard to reach districts through a communication Network (COMNet) which supports and prompts  evidence-based communication strategy that builds trust and increases demand of the communities to vaccination to reduce refusals. UNICEF polio team is also working closely with Nutrition, Health, WASH and SBC sections to deliver integrated essential services to the polio high risk areas to address community demand and need beyond polio vaccination.

Purpose for the job:

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Polio Eradication Programme reports to the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, She/He is expected to support the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) Monitoring and evaluation function, besides, the incumbent will be accountable for providing professional expertise and assistance in managing the Integrated Communication Information Management System and/data collection for the Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan; statistics and data analysis, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), preparation of reports, communication and partnership, and in implementing training programmes for national and sub-national data collection, monitoring, evaluation and research capacity building with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of primary stakeholders.

How can you make a difference? 

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Planning (IMEP)

Provide technical support to ensure that the Polio Eradication Programme use a well-prioritised and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme, including tracking and assessing UNICEF’s distinct contribution.

• Make professional contributions to and provide technical assistance for the planning and establishing the major research, monitoring and evaluation activities in multi-year and annual IMEPs, which is to be reflected in UNDAF M&E Plans.
• Participate in management studies and support/participate in thematic/strategic evaluations to improve development & organizational effectiveness.
• Support and contribute to effectively joint evaluations with developmental partners, including joint evaluation of UNICEF or of multi-partner programs.
• In close consultation with management and liaison with partners, make a professional contribution to formulation of the IMEPs from a sound results-based programming process and collaborative working relations with partners

2. Situation Monitoring and Assessment

Provide technical support to ensure that the Polio Programme and national partners have timely and accurate measurement of change in conditions in the country or region, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country’s wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies.

• Support management of available baseline information on national statistics and key indicators related to Polio through established databases (e.g., ICIMS/IDIMS, NEOC Dashboard) for easy access and use..
• Keep monitoring the situation of children’s and women’s rights with national partners and keep updated with the information of the quality research that address issues and challenges affecting children and their families.
• Coordinate with the Country Office and partners and provide assistance in their using up-to-date information in, inter alia, Situation Analysis, Common Country Assessment Early Warning Monitoring Systems Annual Reviews Mid-Term Reviews and Annual Reports or other progress reports Country Assessment, Early Warning Monitoring Systems, Annual Reviews, Mid Term Reviews, and Annual Reports or other progress reports.
• In humanitarian response situations, provide technical support for a rapid assessment (inter-agency or independently if necessary) to be carried out within the first 48-72 hours. Provide rapid and accurate information on emergency programme’s coverage, coordination and coherence
• Provide technical support to ensure that the CO has information necessary for UNICEF to effectively report on and advocate for children’s rights through the appropriate channels.
• Support the CO in collecting and interpreting existing early warning data effectively to guide the adjustment of programmes and operational approaches when and as country contexts deteriorate

3. Programme Performance Monitoring

Provide technical support to ensure that the Polio Programme has quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual workplans.

• Provide technical support as necessary to identifying and adjusting a set of programme performance indicators, in the context of National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP), the UNICEF multi-year and annual IMEPs, the Annual Management Plan and Annual Work Plans, as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Manual (especially, Chapter 6, section6: IMEP).
• Provide technical support to ensure that monitoring system are in place and that key annual programme indicators are tracked and analysed, and provided regularly to the Polio Programme  Team/ Senior Management Team to guide the programme and management decisions.
• Carry out data collection and analysis from field visits, standardising them across programmes, using the eTools, to feed into to programme performance monitoring;
• Keep tracking of follow-up action based on management decisions resulting from Country Office performance monitoring and evaluation.
• Compile monitoring and evaluation information/data, and make them available to programme/planning sections. Contribute to the preparation of management reports (e.g., relevant sections of the annual reports), drawing on monitoring and analysis of key management indicators. Assist in the preparation of reports on systemic issues, good practices or any other analysis or data related to programme implementation and/or evaluation, including programme’s performance, relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.
• Support management and maintenance of NEOC dashboard, and the Integrated Community Engagement Information Management System (ICIMS).
• Support management of third party contracts for data collection and information management system.

4. Evaluation

Provide technical support to ensure that a well-prioritised and strategic selection of evaluations at programme level is managed in order that each evaluation is designed and carried out with quality process and products and that evaluation results are useful to the intended audience.

• Provide support to ensure that the relevant Polio programme partners participate and formulate Evaluation Terms of Reference and design of high quality.
• Provide technical support to ensure that evaluation design and management meet quality standards as outlined in UNICEF Programme Policies and Procedures and related stand-alone Evaluation Technical Notes, when necessary seek expertise of knowledge institutions. Facilitate and take part in producing Evaluation Office’s responses on specific and substantive issues.
• Review and provide technical comments on draft evaluation reports. Contribute to the effective dissemination and sharing of knowledge, findings, conclusions, recommendations and lessons from evaluation to the intended audience as described in the Terms of Reference with a view to improving programme performance and contributing to wider learning. Specifically, assist in feeding evaluation results into key UNICEF programme planning processes including the Annual Reviews and the Mid-Term Reviews, and formulation of the Country Programme Document, the Country Programme Action Plan and the Annual Work Plans. Support effective participatory feedback, including to community and civil society stakeholders.
• Provide assistance in tracking to ensure that a management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation. Most specifically, ensure that evaluation recommendations are shared with the relevant sections to be submitted to the Country Management Team and follow-up actions recorded in CMT minutes.
• Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation

5. M&E Capacity Building

Provide technical support to ensure that the monitoring and evaluation capacities of the Polio programme national and provincial staff and national partners – government and civil society – are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead monitoring and evaluation processes.

• Contribute to the collaboration of an M&E capacity building strategy for national partners and institutions and corresponding activities for implementation in the context of the IMEP or UNDAF M&E plan. Provide technical support for implementation of capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of primary stakeholders.
• In close consultation with senior managers, contribute to formulation of staff capacity development strategy and plans, and exercise effective leadership in implementing them, ensuring that Country Office staffs have the basic knowledge and skills to fulfil their monitoring and evaluation responsibilities, and training is planned and carried out to fill identified gaps.
• Promote and provide support to ensure that Country Office staff and national partners are aware of and have access to UNICEF monitoring and evaluation learning resources.

6. Communication and Partnerships

Provide technical support to ensure that all of the above tasks are carried out and accomplished through effective communication and partnerships, as elaborated below:

• Work within the National Emergency Operation Centre, and with Polio Eradication partners to support goals for delivering valid and reliable information on the attainment of the Polio National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) goals.
• Facilitate or contribute to integrated planning of research, monitoring and evaluation activities within the Country Office, with the Polio programme national partners and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners.
• Facilitate or contribute to joint monitoring and evaluation activities with the NEOC and Polio partners wherever possible in the context of the above processes.
• Provide technical support to Polio programme staff and national partners on data collection, data management and data analysis for basic monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide synthesis of M&E results to the Polio Programme management, and key programme and operations staff.
• Ensure that evaluation recommendations are communicated to the relevant partners for implementation, with advice on the Implementation Plan and follow-up action for future programming.
• Facilitate learning from the results of monitoring and evaluation within the Polio Programme and more widely within UNICEF in the region and globally, as well as among national partners and other key stakeholders, engaging more expertise from knowledge institutions.
• Seek advanced or in-depth technical support on monitoring and evaluation from the Regional M&E Advisors and headquarters advisors on monitoring and evaluation as necessary.
• Collaborate with the Regional M & E Adviser to ensure the availability of current and accurate monitoring and evaluation data and results.
• Collaborate with Regional M&E Advisers and HQ Officers for overall coordination of priority research, monitoring and evaluation activities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A University degree in social sciences, development planning, planning, evaluation, survey implementation, advanced statistical research or anu relevant field. 
• Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in programme development and implementation including monitoring and evaluation activities. At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning. 
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. 

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.
• Knowledge of other local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Females are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.