Specialist in Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation

Volunteering Admin

Overview

Monitor the implementation of the country strategic plan for WFP programs

You have:

• 3 years of experience in project/programme coordination, administrative support, and general monitoring activities.
• Experience in working with data collection, reporting, and supporting program implementation is desirable but not essential.
• Proficiency in basic office software such as MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge and experience in advanced data analysis and in monitoring the implementation of projects.
• Interpersonal communication and teamwork skills, including flexibility and open-mindedness.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Republic of Benin is a lower-middle-income country in West Africa, ranked 166th out of 191 countries in the 2021 Human Development Index report. The estimated population of 11.8 million is predominantly rural and youthful, with an average age of 21 years. The quality of education and the school environment is average, and in many rural districts, primary school enrollment rates remain below 50%, particularly for girls. The agricultural sector, mainly consisting of small, fragmented, low-productivity farms, employs about 70% of the population and contributes 33% to the national gross domestic product. On average, households spend 63% of their budget on food. Food insecurity primarily affects poor rural households, worsens during the lean season, and increases after natural disasters such as the severe floods that hit the country every rainy season. Benin is ranked by RISK INFORM as the 36th most vulnerable nation to climate change out of 191. In this context, WFP is committed to supporting the government's priorities in terms of food and nutritional security, education, emergency preparedness and response, and resilience to shocks through an integrated approach. WFP also supports the government's capacity-building efforts to manage its own programs contributing to the fight against hunger, particularly the National Integrated School Feeding Program. The school meals program is a flagship government program, and investments in this area have gradually increased over the years. The government's budget allocation to WFP for school feeding has increased from USD 473 million in 2017 to USD 849 million in 2021. For the next five years, the government has committed to supporting the school meals program with USD 270 million. From 620 initial schools, WFP received an additional 1,579 schools from the government in 2017 and currently covers 5,708 public primary schools in the 12 departments and 77 communes (75% of all public primary schools).

Beyond meals, WFP uses the platform offered by the school as an entry point for an integrated school meals approach, with the vision of combining an effective safety net for children, farmers, and communities with the potential to foster long-term development and well-being.

Given the importance of the National Integrated School Feeding Program, WFP is working on the quality and sustainability and transition of the program to the government. WFP and ANAN are currently ensuring the implementation of the roadmap related to the program's transfer to the government. These terms of reference have been developed to enable the country office to have more capacity to monitor the implementation of its strategic plan and produce evidence on the results achieved.

Under the direct supervision of the RAM Unit Manager, the United Nations Volunteer will perform the following tasks:

Monitoring the implementation of the country strategic plan • Provide support to the coordination of the implementation and/or update/strengthening of an effective monitoring and evaluation system. • Support the establishment or strengthening of systems and indicators, particularly qualitative ones, with particular attention to cross-cutting issues and complementary interventions as well as links and resilience approaches and ensure that systems are in place to collect the necessary data. • Provide support to ensure the monthly analysis of collected data, facilitate the production of analytical reports, and support the adjustment of planning. • Provide support for regular performance analyses on program implementation and support the organization of information-sharing sessions; • Monitor the implementation of the country strategic plan as it unfolds; • Contribute to the development of regular monitoring reports, including current data analysis with the status of results and implementation progress;

Contribution to the monitoring of UN joint programming and other partners and UN reform • Assist in coordinating WFP’s role in monitoring national development plans and Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). • Support WFP’s participation in inter-agency and multi-partner monitoring and evaluation activities, ensuring that WFP’s contributions are included in joint reports and reviews. Support the coordination of joint monitoring and reporting mecha-nisms within the framework of UN programs and other joint programs.

Evaluation • Support the coordination of the data analysis component in the various studies and analyses planned within the program framework. • Contribute to mid-term and thematic reviews and evaluations aimed at internal and external learning, as well as strategic and operational decision-making.

Expected results:

Monitoring the implementation of the country strategic plan • Support for the coordination of the implementation and/or update of an effective monitoring and evaluation system using innovative approaches is provided through the contribution of the UNV. • The establishment or strengthening of systems and indicators, particularly qualitative ones, with particular attention to cross-cutting issues and complementary interventions as well as links and resilience approaches, and ensuring that systems are in place to collect the necessary data is provided to the country office. • Support for ensuring the monthly analysis of collected data and producing analytical reports and supporting planning ad-justments is provided. • Regular performance analyses carried out on program implementation and support for organizing information-sharing ses-sions are conducted with the UNV's support. • The country strategic plan is monitored in its implementation. • Regular monitoring reports, including current data analysis with the status of results and implementation progress, are de-veloped. • The national office's monitoring systems and tools are used in accordance with corporate standards, including minimum monitoring requirements (MMR), standard operating procedures (SOP), and the establishment of baselines and targets in line with the updated corporate results framework (CRF).

Contribution to the monitoring of UN joint programming and multi-partners • WFP's contribution to national mechanisms for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals and development plans is en-sured; adequate indicators and systems are in place concerning Sustainable Development Goal 2. • Inter-agency UN tasks and other multi-partner monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are regularly monitored; WFP's con-tributions are provided and taken into account. • The coordination of joint monitoring and reporting mechanisms within the framework of UN programs and other joint pro-grams is ensured.

Evaluation • Coordination of the data analysis component in the various studies and analyses planned within the program framework is ensured. • Support for mid-term and thematic reviews and evaluations aimed at internal and external learning, as well as strategic and operational decision-making, is ensured.

• ☒ Responsibility • ☒ Adaptability and flexibility • ☒ Building trust • ☒ Client orientation • ☒ Commitment and motivation • ☒ Commitment to continuous learning • ☒ Communication • ☒ Creativity • ☒ Empowering others • ☒ Ethics and values • ☒ Integrity • ☒ Judgement and decision making • ☒ Knowledge sharing • ☒ Leadership • ☒ Performance management • ☒ Planning and organizing • ☒ Professionalism • ☒ Respect for diversity • ☒ Self-management • ☒ Technological awareness • ☒ Vision • ☒ Teamwork

3 years of experience in project/programme coordination, administrative support, and general monitoring activities. Experience in working with data collection, reporting, and supporting program implementation is desirable but not essential. Experience with data collection tools or systems is desirable but not essential. Familiarity with statistical or geographic in-formation management tools (e.g., SPSS, GIS) is a plus but not required.

IT Skills: Proficiency in basic office software such as MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) for data entry, reporting, and communication.

• Work Management Skills: Be able to take a systematic, well-structured and efficient approach to work tasks. Have analyti-cal, accuracy and consistency skills.

• Analysis: Knowledge and experience in advanced data analysis and in monitoring the implementation of projects and strategic plans

• Interpersonal communication and teamwork skills: The incumbent will need to be co-operative, flexible and open to working in an international environment. Tact, courtesy and loyalty are essential personal qualities. Negotiation skills with the government/partner to meet the general requirements of the functions or country offices.

The Republic of Benin is a country located on the west coast of Africa. Its immediate neighbors are Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Living conditions are relatively good. This mission is based in Cotonou, the country's capital. A significant portion of food is imported, but fresh food is readily available in the market. There are regular flights to/from Benin. The official language is French. An entry visa is required for anyone traveling with or without the United Nations laissez-passer and must be obtained before arrival in the country. Furnished or unfurnished houses are available for rent between USD 300 and 500 per month. The national currency is the CFA franc (1 USD = 560.118 FCFA). Commercial banks exist. VISA credit cards are accepted in some hotels and large stores. Benin has a high incidence of malaria. The use of mosquito nets is highly recommended. Vaccination against yellow fever is required. Other vaccines, such as meningitis and hepatitis B, are also recommended. Basic medicines are available in Cotonou, but it is advisable to bring your specialized medications. The current situation in Benin is relatively calm, with a minimum-security level (SLS 1) according to the United Nations. The UNV program will be based in Cotonou but will conduct field missions in WFP intervention areas across Benin. As the economic capital and largest city of Benin, Cotonou offers all the usual amenities of large cities (electricity, running water, clinics, hospitals, leisure activities, etc.).

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org