MEL Associate

Job Title: MEL Associate

Organization: UNDP

Job Identification: 12192

Location: New York, United States

Apply Before: 08/02/2023, 06:59 AM

Job Schedule: Full time

Grade: IPSA-8

Vacancy Type: International Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area: Innovation

Bureau: HQ

Contract Duration: 1 Year

Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree

Required Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Desired Languages: Working knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.

Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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. 

Countries around the world are facing increasingly complex and multifaceted development challenges, ranging from climate change and circular economy transitions to the coronavirus pandemic and the future of work. To help UNDP evolve and improve the relevance of its offers and support to governments and communities, UNDP’s Strategic Innovation Unit (SIU) is, through an Innovation Facility (IF), investing in efforts that seek to enable the organization to support partners in their “great transformations”. The efforts seek to help UNDP and partners rethink complex development issues, design dynamic adaptive portfolios to engage with these, and in this process developed new systems capabilities.

Through this work we have learned that using systems and portfolio approaches to tackle complex development challenges requires very different ways of doing monitoring, evaluation, and results measurement. This has led to the establishment of an M&E Sandbox.1 The Sandbox was originally intended as an internal space for experimentation to support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) innovations in UNDP, but due to great interest from external partners the Sandbox have become a global space for reinventing MEL. The Sandbox has members from over 100 different organizations, ranging from governments, bilateral aid agencies, and philanthropies to civil society organizations, private sector companies and research institutions. Geographically, Sandbox members come from all over Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. The Sandbox has attracted interest and investment from donors, including a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall objective of the assignment

Under the guidance of the Systems Transformation and MEL (ST-MEL) Specialist, and with a dotted reporting line to the SIU’s Portfolio Specialist, the primary function of the incumbent is to help nurture and manage a broad community of actors interested in rethinking MEL, support building an evidence base of ‘next practice’ MEL, and provide support to country offices as well as other stakeholders on the implementation of new MEL frameworks, methods and practices.

Duties and responsibilities

Identify and connect with latest MEL practices

• Scan for and identify innovations and other promising and useful practices and frameworks for systems and portfolio MEL with a focus on emerging practices underpinned by portfolio principles
• Conduct and/or support literature reviews and case studies on innovative MEL frameworks, methods and practices in collaboration with external partners, consultants and country office colleagues

Community nurturing

• Support the ST-MEL Specialist in identifying and engaging with leading innovation agencies, think tanks, funders, and experts that work on MEL frameworks and capabilities around systems and portfolios
• Help nurture, curate, and maintain the emerging community of actors interested in rethinking MEL under the M&E Sandbox
• Support conceptualization and delivery of systems and portfolio MEL related webinars, other events, case studies and pilots

Piloting and support to country offices and other stakeholders

• Support development and piloting of new MEL frameworks, methods, tools and practices, including as part of portfolio design and implementation efforts.
• Assist in provision of support to partners, COs and other business units in developing MEL frameworks, practices and capabilities that are aligned with complexity and systems approaches and that enable a project to portfolio shift.
• Support the corporate development of portfolio MEL frameworks, including help maintain the relationship with UNDP’s Independent Evaluation Office and the Effectiveness Group.

SIU MEL

• Ensure maintenance, implementation (incl. data collection and analysis), and iteration of the SIU’s own MEL framework and practices. This includes regular data collection and analysis.
• Liaise with Innovation Facility Management Associate on donor and corporate reporting (including annual report), quality assurance, and other project accountability activities.

Learning and dissemination

• Ensure continuous capture of learning from the above activities and ensure iteration and adaptation of MEL frameworks, methods, tools and, practices based on learning
• Plan and implement – with support from wider SIU team – regular learning activities such as 6-monthly sensemaking, peer to peer sessions among country offices and other teams, as well as webinars and deep dives with external partners around M&E and the portfolio practice
• Ensure that insights and learning from MEL activities prompts the SIU to learn and adapt. This includes generating learning nuggets for the SIU’s Unstuck website and authoring learning products such as blogs, policy briefs and guidance notes

Institutional Arrangement

The position will report to the Systems Transformation and MEL (ST-MEL) Specialist, Strategic Innovation Unit, the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support. The role will be based in New York.
Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality
• work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for
• Feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Technical Competencies:

• Existing experience working in the field of international development, monitoring, evaluation, and learning;
• Prior knowledge of established and emerging methods and approaches for MEL and adaptive management;
• Prior project management experience, including a ability to plan, organize, and manage a range of activities, resources, and dialogues;
• Strong communication and writing skills. Including a demonstrated ability to write to publication standard (guidance, blog posts and reports) in a succinct and engaging way
• Prior experience with the planning, management and facilitation of events (e.g. webinars, workshops, reflection sessions)
• Self-starter and ability to work independently as well as in a tea
• A curious, creative, and open mindset

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Extensive networks among individuals, groups and organizations working with innovative / agile forms of M&E and impact measurement is desirable;
• Experience engaging with a wide range of stakeholders across thematic and geographical areas and managing/supporting communities of practice is desirable;
• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries and fragile states is desirable;
• Prior experience working in UNDP or another UN Agency is desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in social sciences, international relations, economics or related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional working experience in relevant fields related to international development;
• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in the fields of MEL Experience with project management, MEL in the context of complexity an portfolios, and strategic innovation and systems change is an advantage

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.

Required skills

Corporate:

• Demonstrates commitment to the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the mission, vision and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly and with impartiality.

Technical:

• Existing experience working in the field of international development, monitoring, evaluation, and learning;
• Prior knowledge of established and emerging methods and approaches for MEL and adaptive management;
• Prior project management experience, including a ability to plan, organize, and manage a range of activities, resources, and dialogues;
• Strong communication and writing skills. Including a demonstrated ability to write to publication standard (guidance, blog posts and reports) in a succinct and engaging way
• Prior experience with the planning, management and facilitation of events (e.g. webinars, workshops, reflection sessions)
• Self-starter and ability to work independently as well as in a team
• A curious, creative, and open mindset

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Disclaimer 

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)  

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.  

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications. 

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. 

Non-discrimination 

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.   

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.  

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