National Expert Research and M&E

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

UNDP Bangladesh has been a key facilitator in Bangladesh’s remarkable development story since it first arrived in 1972. To help the people of Bangladesh reach these ambitious targets. UNDP Bangladesh is focusing on three priorities: (a) Ensuring economic growth is inclusive and supports economic opportunities, particularly for women; (b) Improving social policies and programmes, with a focus on good governance and structural inequalities; and
(c) Building resilience and improving environmental sustainability.

In support of these priorities, The Social Protection Policy Support (SPPS) Programme responds to a need to reconfigure the existing social protection system. The programme will provide technical assistance, bring global expertise and meet major investment requirements to enable the GoB to roll out a fully functional system in line with the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) and its Action Plan. It will draw on the NSSS, which provides a functional entry point for effecting changes in the wider social protection system via better governance and oversight of the system.

The first component of the Programme is Better Governance of Social Protection, with the purpose of the DOA to provide wider guidelines to the Research Associate to provide support in the formulation of the NSSS Action Plan (Phase 2) and also support the tracking of the implementation of activities against the milestones set out in the action plan through coordination, data collection and documentation. One of the main responsibilities of the National Expert Research and M&E will be supporting the SPPS programme in data collection, sorting and analyzing as required by the research team of the programme and the Cabinet Division. In addition, the National Expert Research and M&E will coordinate with Cabinet Division and other social protection implementing ministries/divisions to provide support in the development of the digitized dashboard through coordination, data collection, data entry, and documentation of relevant data on the implementation of social protection programmes. The National Expert Research and M&E will support policy formulation, analysis, evaluation, design, and assessment related to vulnerable and marginalized communities in Bangladesh. In addition, he or she will also provide support in continual development and upgrade of social protection website of the Cabinet Division; assist SPPS Programme in developing, packaging, and implementing various knowledge products and materials on social protection; prepare infographics on social protection activities; assist in posting social media contents of the project; assist in preparing and disseminating e-Newsletter and support in diagnosing and troubleshooting hardware and software issues faced by the project staff. Additionally, the National Expert Research and M&E will analyze the extent to which project contributions achieved outcomes in the Project Document and make observations/idea on programmatic or operations of the project, if the project were to continue from 2023-2025.

Under the direct supervision of SPPS Project Manager the NUNV will work to support the SPPS project on key coordination, logistical, and deliverable objectives being carried out by various members of the SPPS team. The deliverables by the National Expert Research and M&E are time-bound and related to specific tasks that need to be completed in support of priority objectives under which the project is working toward. The National Expert Research and M&E will work closely with the other members of the technical team including Research Associate, Cabinet Division and GED to ensure programmatic supports as per requirements. He/she will have to support and participate in conducting in-depth research and analysis of primary and secondary data (either collect data/information through web search and/or visits key focal points of social protection programmes implementing ministries) and assist in preparing policy presentation and briefs.

In collaboration with colleagues, the National Expert Research and M&E will support critical research, data analysis, facilitating monitoring and results framework development and policy development objectives under the policy exploration phase of developing a disaster risk insurance scheme, facilitating national social insurance scheme/researching the viability through piloting on universal old age and persons with disability allowance, and support critical economic and coronavirus social protection research. In collaboration with team members, he/she will study of project documents to become familiar with the operations and implementation strategies of relevant interventions including deployment of resources, digital protocol, leadership and partnership to solve the cause that the interventions intend to address. He/she will understand the traditional practices that prompt the project to undertake the intervention, and understand the result framework of each of the interventions.

The National Expert Research and M&E will identify what made the interventions effective over the traditional ones including the extent to which the innovations cater to inclusive solutions and address exclusion of marginalized communities. The National Expert Research and M&E will identify research issues from the understandings of project interventions and provide appropriate rationale.

Specific duties to include:

Working closely with the government counterpart in Cabinet Division and other social protection implementing ministries/divisions, provide data collection, research, documentation support, evaluation support and technical support in the development process of Cabinet Division’s digitized M&E dashboard on social security and subsequent progress tracking of the implementation of the Action Plan:

1. Support implementation of NSSS Action Plan and monitor its implementation progress • Coordinating with the implementing ministries/divisions, update the database with progress tracking information • Analyze project reports to funders and funder responses, analyze institutional support provided by the project to the Government including Coordination, Committees, Logistical, Policy, and Advocacy • Analysis on project’s contribution overall to the NSSS including policy reforms, political economy, and strategic components, Identification of key achievements, if any • Analyze to what extent did the project contribute to advancing the GoB’s NSSS reform agenda • Analyze the project’s efficiency, Value for money in achievement of any results, if any, • Analyze to what extent did the project used its resources (human, technical and financial) to achieve its planned results, • Analysis of program management to ensure timely delivery • Analyze the extent to which the project makes a difference to gender equality • Assist in gathering evidence of gender analysis undertaken • Identify what has worked and what has not, focusing on assessing the relative effectiveness of different types of interventions (which interventions were most effective) • Making comment on the role and value-add of UNDP as a change agent within government systems • Oversight observations related to the project design and M&E, management and operation of SPPS, and the extent to which they supported the achievement and reporting of results, timely delivery, and management of challenges and risks. • Generate idea on programmatic or operations of the project, if the project were to continue from 2023-2025. • Assist to develop an evaluation of SPPS programme report. • Assist in preparing work plans for the thematic and evaluation research/assessment of SPPS interventions. • Assist in preparation of meetings/workshops’ notices, minutes, and other documents • Maintain and regularly update a database of social security focal points of implementing ministries/division • Assist in any other related matters as deemed required. • Develop ToRs for hiring of consultants/firms to conduct research on certain issue/interventions with sound portrayal of the background, objectives, scopes of works, research methods, qualifications, deliverables, competencies, etc. • Liaise with procurement and HR unit for floating of advertisement and hiring consultants/firms as per organizational rule • Facilitate an evaluation of submitted proposals as per protocol and rules; • Ensured on-boarding of a consultant/firm after completion of the selection process; • Facilitate necessary administrative and financial supports and ensure circulation of the ToR in relevant mediums and teams.

2. Provide technical support in the development process of Cabinet Division’s digitized dashboard on social security: • Support the dashboard development process through coordination, data collection, data entry and other relevant tasks • Provide support through research, and documentation. • Ensure administrative and logistical support for the consultant/firms for the execution of the research also engage of relevant stakeholders. • Identify the applications of sound evaluation methodology and qualitative and quantitative tools and techniques for the exploration and execution of research and propose budget for their execution; • Facilitate the evaluation of the proposals submitted by consultants/firms; • Make internal and external communications with consultants/firms for the implementation of research, evaluations, impact studies and baselines; • Ensured the review of the M & E dashboard/report prepared/submitted by the consultant/firm and provide necessary feedback and also engaged relevant teams in the review process; • Review research, evaluation, impact and reports and provide necessary feedback to the consultants/firms; • By coordinating with the Communication Officer and other project staff, provide technical and editorial support for contents for social media • Prepare policy briefs and design flyers or other communication materials based on the findings of research, evaluation and impact studies; • Support NSSS M&E committee • Coordinate and support any research related works in the SPPS programme. • Any other relevant tasks as assigned by the Project Manager time to time.

Results/Expected Outputs:

The NUNV work will be critical in supporting a wide range of various policy research and policy development objectives being carried out by various members of the SPPS project team. Quality research, key multi-agency coordination on priority NSSS issues, M&E dashboard, Results Framework, Disaster Risk Insurance Scheme/National Social Insurance in social protection, Government reporting, and critical background support on policy development will be the core impact of this assignment

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

programme Support, digitization, development issues, data analysis, drafting development contents, policy briefs. • At least 3 years of professional experience in doing qualitative and quantitative research/evaluation research at any national or international organization
• Minimum 1 year of experience in conducting social insurance/disaster risk insurance research. • Minimum 1 year of Work experience with INGO/International Organisation • Have professional training on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and gender • Have at least one journal publication/ book. • Good statistical software related knowledge with proven skills. • Knowledge and understanding of the social security policies and concept of disaster risk insurance/social risk insurance along with the socio-economic context Bangladesh • Experience in working with urban slums/disaster affected group • Experience in socio-economic assessments of climate related projects/climate induced disaster affected urban population • Excellent oral and written communication skills is required in both English and Bangla. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with stringent deadlines; • Solid overall computer literacy and training in M&E dashboard preparation, post graduate diploma in M&E, experience in preparing result management framework, training data collection using KOBO toolbox, analysis, and communication with relevant stakeholders. • Ability to coordinate and collaborate with project team including field level staff members;

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh along the Buriganga River. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental services, and educational centres are available for internationals. Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another.

Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March).

Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.