Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning Specialist [Open to internal and external applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP has been working with national and international partners in the Philippines on the issue of the Circular Economy (CE). UNDP is working with the European Union (EU) in implementing the EU Philippines Green Economy Programme (The Programme). The Programme has the purpose of supporting the Philippines' transition towards a green economy, including circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment to support climate change mitigation. The Programme acknowledges that the transition to circular economy will have other added benefits such as reduction of the use of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, improve biodiversity and natural capital, decreased pollution levels, and climate change adaptation.

The Programme addresses three main levels:

• Establishing a Policy Dialogue Platform at the central government level to mobilize EU expertise to facilitate policy formulation, improve city-to-city collaboration through supporting the development of a National Circular Economy Strategy and Roadmap, extend the dialogue to promote renewable energy/energy efficiency, and to apply the dialogue's outcomes;
• Working with local government units (LGUs) where EU expertise will support to define and implement circular economy, climate change, and energy policies with a human rights and gender-responsive perspective, outreach and support of local business and civil society, and support less advanced LGUs;
• Enhancing engagement of the private and financial sectors into the circular waste economy creating better conditions for private sector investment by supporting business-driven waste reduction strategies and circular solutions in the production process.

The Programme has 4 specific objectives:

• S01: Improved circular economy and climate change policies and reduced GHG emissions 
• S02: Enhanced practices of the circular economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and civil society sector, with a focus on youth and gender equality
• SO3: Enhanced engagement of the private and financial sectors in circular, waste-reduction economy
• SO4: Increased energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment

UNDP is responsible for the implementation and execution of SO2 with the purpose of enhancing the capacities and practices of Local Government Units (LGUs) on circular waste economy in collaboration with private and civil society organizations (CSOs), with focus on youth and gender equality.

Key results expected at the end of the Project include:

• Reduced volume of waste generated and sent to landfills in partner LGUs
• Greenhouse gas emissions reduced and avoided (tonnes of CO2eq) from reduced waste and implementation of circular economy initiatives
• At least 20 LGUs have established circular economy models, including introduction of source separation and collection systems for wastes recycling, diversion, repurposing and other CE initiatives
• Additional number of organizations applying CE and sustainable consumption and production practices in partner LGUs
• Additional jobs (including green jobs) created across the circular economy value chain, disaggregated by gender and groups
• At least 10 LGUs in which nationally defined green procurement criteria have been applied
• About 15 LGUs that feed their NDC reporting with improved gender and youth sensitive data on co-benefits of CE

The above results shall be achieved through the following Outputs:

• Output 1: Improved capacities of LGUs and stakeholders to design, implement and monitor resilient and inclusive circular economy strategies
• Output 2: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSl)-responsive local policies and regulations designed and applied to enable circular and green growth opportunities and practices
• Output 3: Public and private financing effectively mobilized to implement gender responsive and inclusive CE strategies and programmes
• Output 4: Enhanced community innovation and demonstration projects applied to address priority CE solutions in partner LGUs
• Output 5: Enhanced CE behavior and practices of LGUs, private sector, communities and local stakeholders
• Output 6: Informal sector, grassroots, civil society organizations, women, youth, and marginalized sector capacitated and integrated into the CE value chain
• Output 7: CE-related knowledge management, MERL, GEDSI and safeguards in place to strengthen and replicate CE uptake in the Philippines

The Project shall be implemented in partnership with LGUs. A total of 20 Tier 1 LGUs will be supported directly, while 40 LGUs will be supported with targeted assistance on a demand-driven basis. Out of Tier 1 LGUs, 10 LGUs have been identified:

• Baguio City
• Pasig City
• Caloocan City
• Quezon City
• lloilo City/Metro lloilo
• Ormoc City
• Del Carmen Municipality/Siargao Islands
• Island Garden City of SamaI
• Davao City
• Puerto Princesa City/Palawan

The remaining Tier 1 cities will be identified during the first year of implementation.

UNDP Philippines takes overall responsibility and accountability for the delivery of the project outputs. It will be accountable for managing the project, including the monitoring and evaluation of project interventions, achieving project results, and for the effective use of resources, in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures. These include relevant requirements on fiduciary, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, and other performance standards.

The day-to-day implementation of the project will be led by a Project Manager within a Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible for ensuring that the project achieves the expected targets to the required quality standards and within the specified time and budget allocations. The Project Manager will be supported by a Deputy Project Manager, Project Assistants, technical staff and a pool of contractors and consultants to carry out the deliverables of the project.

UNDP is seeking a MERL Specialist to lead the monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning activities of S02: enhanced practices of the circular waste economy by the LGUs in collaboration with the private sector and the civil society sector, with focus on youth and gender equality. The MERL Specialist will work with a team of UNDP specifically assigned to work on this programme, including the Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, project team, consultants, LGU Hub Coordinators, CO Communication team, and others partners such as the EU, GIZ, IFC, Expertise France, LGUs, and relevant CSO and private sector organizations.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, the MERL Specialist is responsible for the successful management and implementation of the project through regular monitoring of progress, identification of issues needing attention and corrective actions, and undertaking baseline and evaluation studies.

The duty station for the MERL Specialist will be in the PMU/Philippines Country Office, following working hours and weekends. Movements for meetings, consultations, and field missions will be coordinated by the Project, UNDP. The MERL Specialist will at all times observe the UN security rules and regulations and advisories in the Philippines.

Duties and Responsibilities

The MERL Specialist has overall responsibility for the monitoring, evaluation, learning and results reporting activities for the project based on the final approved project work plan, to include:

1. Overall guidance and support to Project Management Unit on MERL institutionalization:

• Set up and maintain a database and dashboard for the management of the indicator framework and online archiving of MOVs/evidences. In collaboration with data providers, identify data sourcing methods, develop monitoring tools, and agree on all aspects of budget, frequency, reporting, etc.;
• Lead the collection and documentation of baseline information and provide monitoring data to key project management processes;
• Customize internal and external systems for team and partners to systematically and efficiently capture MERL data and information, including meta data and verifiable supporting documentation, in line with MERL requirements;
• Guide project staff in the reporting of project activities and undertake quality assurance of project activities.
• As required, support the development by each assembly of their own performance management/monitoring systems in accordance with their strategic and operational plans;
• Lead the preparation of timely and quality corporate and regular reports to donor, Project Management Unit, overall GEPP programme and other partners as may be required;
• In close coordination with the UNDP Communications Team and the Results and Quality Team, systematically document and disseminate project results and lessons.

2. Development of Project MERL Plan based on MERL Framework:

• Produce the project's MERL Plan in accordance with the project's MERL Framework;
• Guide and coordinate the review and analysis of the project results table including:
  • Provide technical advice for the revision/updating of performance indicators.
  • Ensure realistic intermediate and end-of-project targets are defined and collected.
  • Identify sources of data, collection methods, who collects data, frequency, and cost of collection
  • Establish a standardized MERL system with a common platform for use of team and partners in submitting/sharing data on activities and outputs.
• Ensure gender equality, disability rights, and social inclusion (GEDSI) is integrated in the MERL framework and in results reporting;
• Leading and coordinating project evaluations, including baseline survey, mid-term, and end-of-program evaluations to assess program impact and effectiveness, prepare terms of reference, and support contract management;
• Contribute to the development of Annual Work Plans, set annual targets, update project risks, and prepare a detailed MERL budget and calendar of MERL activities.

3. Implementation of Project MERL framework:

• Oversee and execute MERL activities as per the Annual Work Plan, with particular focus on results and impacts as well as on lesson learning;
• Prepare a quarterly results tracker with key activities, indicators, baseline and targets under four result areas to obtain quarterly progress towards attainment of the annual results;
• Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of MERL and to identify where adaptations might be needed;
• Prepare draft TORs and evaluation questions for reviews and evaluations and support the monitoring and follow-through of evaluation recommendations, in accordance with UNDP guidance;
• Ensure that project's results are well captured in the UNDP's corporate platforms: Integrated Work Plan, ROAR, Annual Business Plan, Strategic Plan reporting, Quantum Results Module, Transparency Dashboard, etc.

4. Facilitate Capacity Development

• Provide advice, support and recommend assistance to project management in regard to monitoring and evaluation, performance management/ monitoring and results reporting;
• Organize and provide training in MERL for project and counterpart staff and primary stakeholders with a view to developing local MERL capacity;
• Recommend and develop strategies to measure the performance of the Project Team and support them to implement mechanisms for the collection and verification of performance data.

5. Ensure knowledge management and lessons learning

• Work with the Project Manager and the Deputy Project Manager to support the design and implementation of a system to identify, analyze, document, and disseminate lessons learned;
• Document lessons learned by the project with a focus on results, impact, and outcomes, and present these at least every six months;
• In coordination with the Communications Officer, collect case studies to illustrate challenges, progress, and innovation in the project’s work with the Project Team. These should include a GEDSI perspective.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management

• Monitoring & Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and
  reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming; Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and
  other appropriate channels.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness

• Effectiveness: Performance analysis on programming

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to conduct problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Business or Public Administration, or related fields, is required OR:
• A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master's degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years (with master's degree) or seven (7) years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant professional experience in international development projects or programmes, preferably in the field of environmental science, circular economy, innovation, waste management, climate change including at least three years in managing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) (preferably MERL) systems.

Required skills:

• Demonstrated experience coordinating with government agencies, local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations, private sector partners, and development partners in the collection, validation, and reporting of monitoring and evaluation data;
• Demonstrated experience in results-based management, including work planning, direct engagement in indicator tracking, risk monitoring, and performance/results reporting for development projects and programmes.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in planning, design and implementation of quantitative and qualitative M&E (including MERL) systems in international development cooperations projects;
• Experience in devising and delivering training in MERL development and implementation and/or facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of MERL data with multiple stakeholders;
• Experience in environmental management, circular economy, waste management issues and GEDSI concepts and approaches in MERL in LGU contexts;
• Experience in applying digital and other tools for operationalizing M&E systems, and for data analytics;
• Experience with UN M&E systems.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English and Filipino is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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