Monitoring and Evaluation Associate

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

The country programme of UNFPA has three major components: (i) Improved comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service provision and uptake in all setting (ii) Adolescents and Youth Outcome Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (iii) Population Dynamic and Data collection and management

UNFPA in Ethiopia is led by a Country Representative accredited to the Government of Ethiopia. It has a programme team led by a Deputy Representative, International Humanitarian Coordinator, Assistant Representative and an Operations’ team led by an International Operations Manager as well as M&E team. UNFPA Ethiopia has presence in most part of the country including Benishangul Gumuz region.

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Associate will assist in setting up and implementing the M&E system for UNFPA Ethiopia’s new project, "Building Adaptive Resilience for People Affected by Conflict and Climate Crisis,” which is expected to commence in July 2025. This KOICA-funded initiative, focusing on youth in the Afar and South Ethiopia Regional State Regions, has a budget of approximately $10.8 million USD for the period 2025-2028.

Engaging a UNV, particularly one still in university is pivotal to integrating fresh, academically informed perspectives into our M&E practice while aligning it with global standards. The UNV will operate under the supervision of the M&E Specialist, who will ensure the M&E practices are well integrated and tailored to the specific needs of the local context in Ethiopia. This is also a unique opportunity for the KOICA UNV volunteer to understand how the UN agency implements the KOICA-funded project.

In addition, the M&E Associate will also support the broader UNFPA Ethiopia Country Office, the Monitoring and Evaluation unit. Under the guidance of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, he/she will work with all country office program officers and regional program officers on quality assurance, policy application, and effective and sound resource utilization.

The assignment aims to strengthen the coordination and operationalization of the upcoming 10th country program through results-based planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. Furthermore, it is intended to improve the quality and orientation of results in UNFPA-supported policy and program interventions by implementing the key interventions in an integrated and holistic manner. Moreover, it is purposed to ensure that the funds programs are aligned with the Home-Grown Economic Reform, ICPD plan of Action, SDGs and other international commitments while serving the needs of the under-served segments of the population.

Given the UNV's status as a university student with limited field experience, the supervisor will provide focused mentoring and coaching. This guidance will develop the UNV’s practical skills and deepen their understanding of international development programs. Under the supervision of the UNV, its involvement will contribute significantly to the success of the new KOICA project and develop its M&E expertise.

Under the direct supervision of the M&E Specialist, the UN University Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

● Assist in implementing an M&E system for the new KOICA-funded project in close consultation with KOICA and UNHCR, expected to commence in July 2025, ensuring accurate data collection and effective program monitoring.
● Assist the innovation team on the development and implementation of its M&E system.
● Assist in implementing an M&E system to ensure accurate data collection and effective program monitoring.
● Participate in field monitoring visits to collect and verify data, supporting the integrity and accuracy of M&E activities.
● Assist in quality assurance of work plans and project proposals.
● Support preparing periodic reports and documentation, learning to produce professional, high-quality reports aligned with donor and organizational standards.
● Support the proposal development with the program team and conduct quality assurance of proposals to ensure the sound application of results-based programming principles.
● Assist in the development and maintenance of necessary tools, procedures, and methodologies for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
● Provide M&E support in various other UNFPA projects across key areas such as Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), youth, and humanitarian interventions. This exposure will broaden the UNV's understanding of diverse development contexts and enhance their professional capabilities.