Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Grant Support)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The 2030 Agenda for SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind reflect the interconnectedness of health and sustainable development, including widening economic and social inequalities, the climate crisis, rapid urbanization, the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis), the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and the emergence of health threats. The scope and scale of delivering health and well-being for all demands innovative partnerships and financing. As affirmed in the Political Declaration of the 2019 High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and others are critical partners for delivering on the health-related goals of the 2030 Agenda. 

UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund, in line with UNDP’s HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2022-2025: Connecting the Dots, makes a vital contribution to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind. 

Based on demand from Country Offices, and building on the relationships, expertise, systems, partnerships, including across the UN family, and comparative advantage established through the Global Fund partnership, the Global Fund Partnership/Health Systems Team (GFP-HST) is providing support to Country Offices through three overarching modalities: 1) the Global Fund portfolio, 2) health system strengthening  and 3) other health implementation support beyond the Global Fund, including Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), UNITAID and Smart Facilities. 

The GFP-HST provides its support through a country team approach to strengthen and integrate the different functional capacities (e.g., finance, monitoring and evaluation, procurement and supply management, programme, Sub-recipient management), leveraging technical and policy support from the HIV, Health and Development (HHD) Group and other UNDP units. The GFPHST has a Senior Management Group for the coordination and management of the portfolio, and the portfolio is reviewed annually by the OPG. 

Purpose of the position Under the overall supervision of Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist (Team Leader), the M&E Specialist (Grant Support) plays a key role in the provision of technical support to Country Offices, national entities and Global Fund Partnership Team and the Health Team more broadly, with a range of responsibilities related to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). 

The M&E Specialist (Grant Support) will strengthen the Global Fund Partnership Team’s analytical functions and support to the Country Offices implementing Global Fund’s grants, advising teams of Programme Management Units and GFP-HST Programme Specialists on performance trends and identifying opportunities and strategies to overcome implementation bottlenecks to maximize efficiencies and impact and build resilient and sustainable health systems. The role will promote a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules, policies, procedures, contributing to the country team approach and support to the integration of capacity building activities.

1. Provide M&E advisory support to Country Offices:

• Advise Country Offices in the development and revision of grant Performance Frameworks that are appropriate to the country’s epidemiological context and are in alignment with National Strategic Plans. 
• Advise and support Country Offices to develop site monitoring plans (including protocols for data verification and validation) for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and health systems strengthening grants in line with Global Fund rules, policies and procedures and provide guidance on implementation and monitoring. 
• Advise and support Country Offices in the preparation and quality assurance of the M&E sections of the Progress Updates/ Disbursement Requests (PUDR) reports to be submitted to the Global Fund.
• Facilitate deep-dive performance reviews with focus on underperforming indicators.
• Guide in the identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks and recommend appropriate strategies to address them.
• Advise and support Country Offices to prepare for OAI audits and to address audit findings in the area of monitoring and evaluation and support the implementation of the management actions.   
• Guide country offices in identifying and planning actions to improve data quality.
• Provide advisory support for strengthening health management information systems including DHIS2.

2. Provide top-level advice(s) on strategic initiatives:

• Contribute to strategic initiatives  aimed at improving the GFP-HST systems and processes for more effective support to Country Offices.
• Develop technical guidance and training activities in M&E in line with the latest Global Fund’s policies and tools.

3. Ensure effective results reporting and portfolio wide analysis:

• Undertake analysis of performance in different programmatic areas and support the GF-HIST Programme Specialists and Country Offices in catalyzing corrective actions. 
• Consolidate programmatic and policy results across UNDP’s Global Fund portfolio, analyze trends in performance and provide strategic advice on how to adapt approaches and improve performance. 
• Conduct review of data quality and support Country Offices in identifying and implementing measures for data quality improvements. 

4. Provide recruitment support and capacity strengthening:

• Provide technical inputs in developing terms of reference and sourcing technical experts
• Guide Country Offices in the preparation of job descriptions and conducting personnel selection processes.
• Guide and support strengthening M&E capacities of the Country Office staff, through preparation and delivery of M&E training sessions, one-to-one feedback and coaching sessions. 

5. Promote learning and knowledge sharing:

• Document the lessons learned on strengthening M&E capacities and grant implementation through effective M&E.   
• Contribute to organizing Knowledge Exchanges for Country Office staff through identifying pertinent topics, preparing material and identifying technical experts. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The M&E Specialist will report to the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist (Team Leader).

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create ‘win-win’ situations 

Business Direction and Strategy - Systems 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 Development - Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange 

Business Management - Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks 

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

Agenda 2030: People  : Health 

• Support to Global Fund and other Health Programmes 

• Extensive knowledge and experience of Global Fund monitoring and evaluation policies and processes. 

• Experience in building M&E capacity of national stakeholders in health and development programmes is an asset.
• Experience with data management and data visualization tools (PowerBI or other) is a clear advantage. 
• Experience with the Global Fund’s Data Quality Review methodology and tools is an asset. 
• Experience working in a challenging operating environment  is an asset. 
• Knowledge and experience of UN or UNDP operational processes and procedures is an asset.

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Knowledge of Portuguese is desired.

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