Monitoring and Reporting Consultant

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

South Sudan is endowed with vast natural resources and economic potential that has not translated into improved standards of living for the citizens. This is primarily due to ongoing conflicts which have roots in political contestation for power and are fueled by poverty, high unemployment and absence of economic opportunities for the predominantly youthful population. The few small-scale, and potentially labour-absorbing enterprises at the state levels are unable to utilize the local labour force due to skills mismatch. The skills deficits, attributed to decades of conflict which deprived the population opportunities to acquire employable, entrepreneurial and vocational skills are also exacerbated by absence of training institutions.

UNDP South Sudan had its Country Programme Document (2019-2021) approved by the Executive Board in September 2018. The Country Programme Document (CPD) is aligned with the United Nations Country Team’s Cooperation Framework (2019-2021) and the UNDP Strategic Plan (2018-2021). The programme seeks to contribute to eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, keeping people out of poverty, building resilience to crises and shocks and safeguarding development gains through its strategic focus on three interlinked and mutually reinforcing pillars: (a) strengthened peace infrastructures and accountable governance; (b) inclusive, risk-informed economic development; and (c) strengthened institutional and community resilience.

Implemented under the CPD is the Youth Employment and Empowerment through Private Sector and Value Chain Development Project. The said project aims to empower youth in five targeted locations of Bor, Jubek, Rumbek, Torit and Yambio through nurturing their entrepreneurial culture and market-linked skills and enhance their employability and productive engagement in economic activities. The project also seeks to increase the productivity and labour-absorptive capacities of agriculture and natural resource-linked value chains and private sector enterprises with a focus on young men and women.

UNDP is opening an opportunity for a Monitoring and Reporting Consultant to be based in the UNDP Juba Country Office to coordinate and support the implementation of activities in the said areas. Under the direction of the Project Coordinator and benefiting from the guidance and oversight of the Team Leader of the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (STARR), the Senior Programme Advisor (STARR), and the Programme and Management Support and Communications units, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with country office programme colleagues and partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Monitoring and Reporting Consultant, together with the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (STARR) team, is expected to deliver the following:

• Integrated and gender sensitive Monitoring and Reporting plans are established and implemented;
• Implementing partner capacity is built to monitor and document progress of the programme components that they implement in a timely manner and aligned with format and template required;
• Monitoring visits conducted and monitoring reports which entail progress, identify weaknesses and concrete recommendations are prepared;
• Donor reports and corporate progress reports are completed on time and meeting the quality standards;
• Specifically, the Monitoring and Reporting Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

Planning and Monitoring

• Set-up a monitoring system to track results, including identifying indicators, targets, means of verification and reporting tools to measure the performance of the project at the outputs and outcomes levels, capture lessons and risks, analyze these to determine impact, identify bottlenecks, delays and other challenges and advise on lines of action;

• Build the monitoring and reporting capacity of implementing partners through training and providing technical support on the basic principle and practices of data collection and monitoring;

• Lead in the collection and consolidation of baseline and end-line data to monitor change of beneficiary targeted and project progress and achievements;

• Support the coordination of the implementation of the overall M & E framework of the project and of the STARR unit.
• Work closely with the Partnerships and Management Support Unit in its programme assurance, corporate compliance, planning and reporting functions

Reporting and Evaluation

• Lead the donor reporting and corporate reporting process for the project, including consolidation and submission of narrative reports and coordinating the monitoring of annual targets;
• Ensure that partners’ progress reports are in line with the project M&E framework, and ensure effective project monitoring focusing on the achievement of the results for reporting these achievements;
• Prepare quarterly progress report and annual report, to monitor the completion of the annual work plan (AWP), assess the results achieved towards the target indicators.
• Contribute to the preparation of corporate results reports including but not limited to results oriented annual report, integrated work plan updates and programme-wide progress updates

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent critical reasoning and problem solving skills.
• Excellent skills in the use of computer software packages (InDesign, Photoshop, MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Development and Operational Effectiveness;

• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• High degree of self-motivation and initiative;
• Willingness to learn and apply new analytical approaches.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

· A Bachelor degree in Communications, Journalism, Rural Development, Economics, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, or related fields. Advanced/Masters degree would be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years solid experience in monitoring and reporting and communication.
• Experience in recovery and stabilization of conflict/disaster-affected populations and areas, livelihoods development, and TecVoc training, is highly desirable.
• UN/UNDP, INGO experience an advantage.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English - written and spoken is required.

Availabilityand duration:

• Availability: Immediate
• Duration: Two months.

Working Arrangement:

• The Consultant is expected to be based in the UNDP CO premises in Juba, South Sudan

Other:

• 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. Females are encouraged to apply