Background UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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. Organizational Context Following the submission of the eligibility request on July 10, 2019, Cameroon was declared eligible for funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) by the United Nations Secretary General, in a letter addressed to President Biya, on July 29, 2019. Currently, the PBF portfolio amounts to $21,548,755.08, for 12 projects, 7 of which are active.
The Steering Committee – with its Technical Secretariat – formed on May 8, 2020, by an order of H.E. the Prime Minister of Cameroon, is co-chaired by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister, and is in charge of the strategic and political supervision of PBF projects.
The PBF Secretariat – and its coordinator – embedded within the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RCO) in Cameroon, supports the mobilization and ensures the proper functioning of the Steering Committee and the liaison between the Members of the Steering Committee and the implementing partners to ensure the proper coordination, sequencing, and monitoring and evaluation of approved projects, as well as the mobilization of additional funds.
As the UN governance mechanism of the PBF portfolio in Cameroon, the PBF Secretariat has two main functions: 1) , to co-coordinate the joint Technical Secretariat of the PBF Steering Committee; 2) to support and organize through the Technical Secretariat, the work of the PBF Steering Committee; 3) to coordinate and provide technical guidance for the work of UN PBF recipient agencies (RUNOs) and non-UN entities (NUNOs) in the program cycle (Design, Monitoring / Evaluation) and ensure collaboration between recipient agencies and the synergies of the PBF portfolio as well as the visibility of the programs, under the PBF Steering Committee guidance. The Secretariat therefore has a strategic role within the UN family and within the joint PBF Governance structure established in Cameroon, as it gives impetus to inclusive discussions around conflict prevention and consolidation in Cameroon. The PBF Secretariat will also fulfill the role of focal point for liaison with the Peacebuilding Commission in order to support Cameroon’s participation as appropriate.
Under the general supervision of the Resident Coordinator, the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the PBF Secretariat and the indirect supervision of PBSO, the Monitoring/Evaluation and Reporting Specialist will work in close collaboration with the M&E Officer of the RCO (Resident Coordinator Office) and will ensure the establishment and implementation of a monitoring-evaluation and reporting framework for PBF funded projects in Cameroon. He/she will participate in the capacity building of the Secretariat and the Steering Committee.
Job Purpose
Planning and monitoring of project performance; Provide technical assistance to implementing partners; Development and Dissemination of Knowledge.
Duties and Responsibilities 1) Planning and monitoring of project performance: Develop a joint monitoring and evaluation plan/framework for PBF project implementation based on the PBSO Performance Management Plan and in consultation with government partners, key stakeholders and UN agencies; Contribute to Monitoring the implementation of projects and evaluating their impact on peacebuilding including the logistical organization of field visits and joint monitoring and evaluation missions to project sites; Develop a monitoring system and results framework for PBF portfolio in Cameroon, in coordination with the RCO M&E Unit and the project monitoring teams of the portfolio; Establish mechanisms for collecting, analyzing and reporting project data and ensure the data collection and analysis to measure project indicators; Contribute to capacity building in project monitoring and evaluation. Organize and participate in the organization of evaluation exercises and ensure follow-up of their recommendations; Collaborate with implementing partners on qualitative monitoring and promote participatory planning and monitoring (perception surveys and Community-Based Monitoring); Track the implementation of work plans in real time, help identify obstacles to project implementation, report problems and contribute to their timely resolution, and advise the Steering Committee on actions to be taken; Work with the respective project implementation units to develop a joint annual review of action plans; Contribute to the quality control of reports; Prepare periodic briefings on project progress or performance indicators as needed; Prepare presentations for dissemination of project results to donors and the Government; Support the implementation of monitoring and reporting systems.
2) Provide technical assistance to implementing partners:
Support project planning, monitoring and evaluation activities; Support project teams in developing a monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance plan; Provide technical expertise in the area of M&E, including selection of indicators, setting targets and baselines, defining and setting targets and means of verification, etc; Assist in the collection, compilation, and analysis of project data, with an emphasis on good practices; Coordinate the preparation of periodic project reviews and monitor progress; Contribute to the preparation of semi-annual and annual project reports.
3) Development and Dissemination of Knowledge
Develop a database of interventions and actors involved in peacebuilding to facilitate synergy; Strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to monitor and evaluate results; Collect, document and disseminate good practices and lessons learned to improve project performance; Support the Steering Committee in setting up monitoring and reporting tools to ensure visibility of results. Coordinate with recipient agencies, implementing organizations and the PBF Communication Specialist on a strategy for disseminating results at the project level. Prepare with the PBF Secretariat staff (Coordinator and Communication Specialist) and in coordination with the RCO Communication Unit, a strategy for disseminating PBF portfolio level results and their impact. Competencies Core Competencies Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Ethics- UN policy knowledge – ethics Ethics: UN policy knowledge – ethics Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity Monitoring-Monitoring: 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 Evaluation-Evaluation: Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks – Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns. Effectiveness-Effectiveness: Quality assurance of corporate data Thematic evaluation management responses Decentralized evaluation Digital & Innovation-Developmental evaluation-Learning and adaptation focused: ability to promote and facilitate ongoing reflection and adaptation; aimed at UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework – Technical Competencies at informing learning and portfolio related decision making. Being comfortable with unknown unknowns, uncertainty and understand the traits and value of working with emergence. Being able to give direction rather than destination: monitor and learn about how we understand the present and our direction towards something better (general intent) – not measuring progress and milestones towards a specific pre-defined goal Being able to carry out evaluation thinking in complex systems and adapting evaluation strategies to changing realities. Being inclusive, collaborative and co-creative: being able to design and implement evaluation frameworks with the variety of stakeholders and beneficiaries involved. Being flexible and able to use of a mix of methods, having a high tolerance for ambiguity and can draw on a variety of qualitative and quantitative evidence, is open to unorthodox types of evidence. Ability to set up the structures, conditions, rituals to create a culture for curiosity, reflection and learning and promote evaluation results and insights from a learning perspective. Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.
Required Skills and Experience Education: Master’s degree in Political Sciences, International Relations, Social Sciences, Sociology, Economics, Project Management, or any other matter accompanied with relevant working experience. Experience: At least 2 years of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in Monitoring and Evaluation of development cooperation and/or humanitarian projects. Experience in preparation of strategic and result frameworks for Peacebuilding portfolios, programs and/or projects will be an asset. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages including filing systems and clouds, fling system standardization, good knowledge and experience in brief and speech writing. Working experience in a UN Secretariat in the field is an asset. Knowledge of conflict dynamics in Cameroon is an asset. Fluency in oral and written French and English. Other official language of the UN will be desirable. Disclaimer 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. Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.