Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Organizational Context
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) aims to foster job creation and sustainable economic growth in developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries. It achieves this by deploying financial instruments and advisory services, often in partnership with other UN entities and development partners. UNCDF focuses on mobilizing capital for impactful investments in high-risk markets, contributing to systemic change and paving the way for commercial finance. The Pro-Congo project, a joint initiative with UNEP and CAFI, targets sustainable enterprises in the Congo Basin.
Job Purpose
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist will lead M&E activities for the Pro-Congo project, a joint initiative by UNCDF and UNEP in partnership with CAFI. This project aims to mobilize private sector investment for sustainable enterprises in the Congo Basin, focusing on agriculture, forestry, and energy sectors. The specialist will be responsible for operationalizing the project's M&E framework, ensuring systematic tracking of activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. They will also coordinate evaluations, manage data, provide technical support, and ensure compliance with UNCDF and CAFI standards, contributing to adaptive programme management and knowledge sharing.
Responsibilities
The M&E Specialist will operationalize the project's multi-year M&E framework and methodological guide, updating the Results Framework with baselines and data. They will monitor implementation, develop data collection tools, and ensure systematic tracking of programme activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, leveraging GIS verification systems. This includes overseeing the collection, management, analysis, and reporting of qualitative, quantitative, and georeferenced spatial data. The specialist will coordinate periodic independent verifications and evaluations, liaise with UNEP for reporting, and support the Project Manager in drafting progress reports. They will also provide technical input for adaptive management, offer training and technical assistance in M&E methodologies, and establish a secure data management system. Ensuring compliance with donor and UNCDF standards, environmental and social safeguards, and fiduciary transparency is crucial.
Work Experience
Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience with a Master's degree, or 5 years with a Bachelor's degree. Experience should include designing and implementing monitoring systems, digital data collection platforms, GIS data management, and statistical analysis. Professional experience within UN, research, or international development institutions is required. Experience working in developing countries in Africa, with carbon projects, UNCDF/UNDP rules, CAFI/REDD+, or with private sector actors is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, integrity, teamwork, respect for diversity, commitment to continuous learning, planning and organizing, and strong communication skills are essential. The role requires discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy, good judgment, and the ability to liaise and coordinate with various actors. Adaptability to work in potentially challenging conditions and a genuine commitment to voluntary engagement principles and UNCDF's mission are also important. Expertise in community development, economics, poverty reduction, and livelihoods is beneficial.