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United Nations University is Recruiting for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Analyst Position

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Closing Date: 11 August 2024

United Nations University is Recruiting for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Analyst Position

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge, furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. UNU’s mission is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

UNU-WIDER is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics think tank. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all.

Responsibilities

The role of the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Analyst contributes to i) UNU-WIDER’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning capabilities and ii) UNU-WIDER’s broader transformation to a more performance, results, and impact-driven organization. This (MEL) Analyst role seeks to develop and refine UNU-WIDER’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Framework, support project teams to integrate MEL across their work, and further develop existing and new processes and tools to regularly report on and learn from UNU-WIDER’s results and impacts. Strategically, the role will help ensure that UNU-WIDER remains focused on impact, learning, and continuous improvement, while strengthening the systematisation of project management.

Working under the supervision of the Head of Partnership & Programme Unit, the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Analyst will execute the following duties:

1. Provide substantive support to the strategic direction of UNU-WIDER

Provide substantive support to the monitoring and further refinement of UNU-WIDER’s Theory of Change (ToC), in close collaboration with UNU-WIDER management, and the institutionalization of the ToC across the entire Institute.
Lead on the development and further refinement of Results Frameworks and Key Performance Indicators in line with the ToC.
Provide substantive input to large earmarked funded programme/project proposals, in particular on results frameworks, and Theory of Change approaches.

2. Provide substantive support to the institutionalization of monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities across UNU-WIDER

Lead on the implementation of UNU-WIDER’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Strategy and its further development and refinement in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
Keep abreast with latest developments and innovations around international best practices in research uptake and policy impact measurements with a focus on their application on UNU-WIDER’s work programme.

Provide quality assurance on MEL activities, support the implementation of the MEL Strategy and promote consistency and effectiveness in MEL reporting across UNU-WIDER and all project teams.
Provide expertise into the further development of MEL systems, tools, processes, and databases to facilitate harmonisation and consistency of quantitative MEL data and provide support in clarifying and improving workflows around these systems and databases.
Advise the project teams in all stages of MEL and support them in implementing established and newly developed MEL processes, tools, and methodologies.

Lead on after action reviews, consistently collecting feedback across UNU-WIDER’s activities, and other institutional learning opportunities.
Develop training material and train internal stakeholders in the application and implementation of MEL methodologies and workflows.
Supports institutional planning and development processes based on the priorities set by the UNU-WIDER management team.

3. Provide substantive support to institutional reporting around key metrics and impact

Draft UNU-WIDER’s annual reports to its key stakeholders, including institutional funders and the Institute’s Advisory Board, and provide key institutional metrics and reporting to external parties, including UNU Headquarters.
Work closely with the UNU-WIDER management team in identifying emerging outcomes/impact across UNU-WIDER’s programme portfolio.

Provide methodological inputs and guidance to project teams on documenting and reporting of results and outcomes.
Support the collection of research uptake evidence and outcome/impact stories stemming from UNU-WIDER activities and engagements and draft those outcome/impact stories in close collaboration with the project teams for internal and external audiences.
Provide regular analysis and tracking of key institutional metrics to the UNU-WIDER management team and feed such information to various institutional reports.

Collaborate with the Institute’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit (KMU) on the public presentation of key institutional metrics (e.g. dashboards, infographics) and outcome/impact stories.
Identifies problems and issues to be addressed around key institutional metrics and recommends corrective actions to the Head of Partnerships & Programme Unit and UNU-WIDER management team more broadly where relevant.

4. Provide substantive support to systematisation of project management within UNU-WIDER and the development and utilization of related project management systems

Support the refinement of UNU-WIDER project management systems by coordinating related initiatives among internal stakeholders with a view of systematizing project monitoring and impact tracking across the Institute’s projects.
Support systematization of knowledge transfers and information sharing between different UNU-WIDER units and teams around project activities with a view of strengthening institutional planning.

5. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Key performance indicators

Quality and timely support provided to the development and further refinement of the Theory of Change.
MEL Strategy and its methodologies further institutionalized and applied coherently across all UNU-WIDER projects.
Quality and timely input provided to institutional reporting around key performance indicators and outcome stories.

Quality inputs and support provided to new project proposals.
Quality inputs and support to the systematisation of project management.
Effective collaboration and communication with key stakeholders and ability to influence people and processes to achieve results.

Competencies

Values:

Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.

Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Behaviours:

Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN.
Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action.
Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves.

Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others.
Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways.

Qualifications

1) Education and certification

Master’s degree in international development, economics, social sciences, data sciences or a related field.

2) Required skills and experience

Experience in management of data (retrieving, cleaning, and analyzing as well as experience with results reporting (compiling, coordination, and quality assuring) is desirable.

Working experience in Monitoring and Evaluation in the interface of research, capacity development, and policy engagement and around research uptake more generally is a strong asset.
Experience with the United Nations system or similar international organization and with relevant policies, guidelines and procedures is an asset.
Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent team player with strong leadership and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

3) Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required

Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under an international PSA contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary of EUR 58,300.66, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health insurance scheme.

UNU-WIDER will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services.