NEPAD - Senior Monitoring And Evaluation Officer

Senior Monitoring And Evaluation Officer (Sustainable Land And Water Management) NO.VA/NPCA/12/05

The African Union (AU) established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is a programme of the African Union adopted in 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia, aimed primarily at poverty alleviation and promotion of economic growth and sustainable development in Africa. As a consequence of the integration of NEPAD into the structures and processes of the African Union, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) has been established by the Decision of the 14th AU Assembly of February 2010 as the technical body of the African Union, in replacement of the NEPAD Secretariat.

The mandate of the NEPAD Agency is to:
i. Facilitate and coordinate the implementation of continental and regional priority programmes and projects;
ii. Mobilise resources and partners in support of the implementation of Africa’s priority programmes and projects;
iii. Conduct and coordinate research and knowledge management;
iv. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and projects; and
v. Advocate on the AU and NEPAD vision, mission and core principles/values.
The offices of the NEPAD Agency are located in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Based on the Host Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the African Union for NEPAD to serve as the interim AU Office Operating Outside the African Union Headquarters, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency invites applicants who are citizens of African Union Member States for the post of Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Sustainable Land and Water Management)

A. Post
Job Title: Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Sustainable Land and Water Management)

Position Level: P3 2

Duty Station: NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Supervisor: Principal Officer, Sustainable Land Use Management Specialist

B. Key Performance Areas
General scope
1. The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer SLWM is responsible for guiding the overall monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategy and implementation of related activities within the project and via the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), plus providing timely and relevant information to the project management and stakeholders. This entails close communication with all involved in M&E design and coordination.
2. Critical tasks for the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer SLWM are setting up the M&E system and ensuring it is implemented effectively by the RECs and the countries. This is undertaken through the joint development of a shared M&E system that is based on existing formal and informal mechanisms and systems among key stakeholders. This needs to be supported and facilitated by the RECs and countries.

Setting up the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System
3. Develop or facilitate the development of the overall M&E framework for the project including annual project reviews, participatory impact assessments, process monitoring, operations monitoring and lessons-learned workshops.
4. Guide the process for identifying and designing the key indicators for each project component, record and report progress against the key indicators as well as steer the process for designing the format of such progress reports.
5. Guide the process of identifying the key performance questions and parameters for monitoring project performance and comparing it to targets. Design the format for such performance reports.
6. Clarify the core information needs of the project management, the steering committee, funding agencies and the cooperating institutions.
7. In collaboration with stakeholders, set out the framework and procedures for the evaluation of project activities.
8. Review the quality of existing social and economic data in the project area, the methods of collecting it and the degree to which it will provide good baseline statistics for impact evaluation.
9. Based on the review of existing data on the area of Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM), draw up the terms of reference (TOR) for design and cost out a baseline survey and a needs assessment survey.
10. In collaboration with the RECs, review their existing approaches and management information systems and agree on any required changes, support and resources.
11. Participate in the recruitment, guidance and supervision of consultants that are contracted to implement special surveys and studies required for evaluating project effects and impacts.
12. Ensure that all service provider contracts include specifications for the internal monitoring required of them, the reporting systems and the penalties for failure to report as specified.
13. Develop a plan for project-related capacity-building on M&E and for any computer-based support that may be required.
14. Organise and undertake training with stakeholders, including primary stakeholders, in M&E skills, including participatory aspects.
15. Guide the RECs and implementing partners in preparing their progress reports. Together, analyse these reports in terms of problems and actions needed. Prepare consolidated progress reports for project management to submit to the relevant bodies, in accordance with approved reporting formats and timing.
16. Review monitoring reports, analyse them for impact evaluation and to identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation.
17. Collaborate with the RECs and implementing partners on qualitative monitoring to provide relevant information for ongoing evaluation of project activities, effects and impacts.
18. Foster participatory planning and monitoring by training and involving the countries in the M&E of activities.
19. Identify the need and draw up the TORs for specific project studies.
20. Ensure that, in general, project monitoring arrangements comply with the project grant agreement and, in particular, the provisions of this agreement are fully observed in the design of M&E systems by the RECs.
21. Inform and join external supervision and evaluation missions by screening and analysing monitoring reports as well as by furnishing direct personal knowledge of the field situation.
22. Organise and provide refresher training in M&E for project and implementing partner staff, RECs and countries.
23. Plan for regular opportunities to identify lessons learned and implications for the project’s next steps.

Communication
1. Coordinate and oversee the finalization process of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) manual and toolkit and provide technical input and guidance.
2. Ensure compliance of project implementation with the United Nations Environmental Programme Global Environmental Facility (UNEP-GEF) procedures.
3. Prepare project progress reports as required by UNEP/GEF and based on the M&E framework.
4. Provide support to field missions by United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) staff as well as to mid-term and final external evaluations.
5. Carry out visits to the RECs, other project stakeholders as part of the overall supervision of project implementation and prepare visit reports.
6. Ensure adequate inter-institutional coordination with the GEF Implementing and executing agencies, Strategic Investment Programme (SIP) pilot countries and other stakeholder and participation mechanisms during project implementation.
7. Prepare the project’s visibility plan and ensure adequate dissemination of project results and lessons learned.
8. Prepare annual work plans and budgets and activity reports and submit them for approval of NEPAD, SIP Steering Committee and UNEP.
9. Perform other related duties as may be assigned.

C. Job requirements

Required Skills and Competencies
i. Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building.
ii. Excellent communication, writing, editing skills in English and French.
iii. Excellent understanding of the issues related to SLWM at the regional level.
iv. Good knowledge of the SLWM sector at the country level, including its main actors.
v. Excellent management and interpersonal skills, high flexibility and capacity to work under pressure.
vi. Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft office, design software, web based tools, web programming) essential.
vii. Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-national environment.

Key Competencies Required
Knowledge
i. The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer SLWM must have excellent technical knowledge in communications and advocacy to be able to engage meaningfully with staff, peers and partners.
ii. S/he must have a deeper and wider understanding of the African development agenda including the challenges to development, and the strategies to overcome them.

Skills
i. S/he must have strong analytical skills to be able write a synthetic and concise M&E report.

Attitude
i. To be successful, the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer SLWM will need to be personally and totally committed to the African development agenda.
ii. S/he has to believe in African solutions to African problems taking advantage of Africa’s resources and the resourcefulness of the African people.

Attributes that will add to the successful execution of the job

i. To succeed, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer SLWM will need to have excellent strategic visioning, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluations and reporting skills.
ii. S/he should have a good knowledge of regional and international policy frameworks and strategies on the African developmental agenda will be advantageous.
iii. In addition, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer SLWM should have working knowledge of research, policy development and analysis, programme development and management and project management.

D. Education and Experience: Candidates must have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Land and Water Management, Agricultural/Environmental Sciences, Development Economics, International or Environmental Public Policy, International or Environmental Public Policy and a minimum of five (5) years of progressively relevant working experience in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation in SLWM and with regional and international organisations. A relevant first level University degree with eight (8) years experience in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation in SLWM and a proven record in national, regional and international development and / or development institutions may be accepted in lieu of an advanced University degree.

E. Other relevant skills
i. Working knowledge of development, programme and/or project management & implementation, monitoring & evaluation.
ii. Technically competent, knowledgeable, with experience in development issues and administrative management.
F. Language requirement: Excellent English and / or French (spoken and written) and fluency in any other AU language would be an added advantage.

G. Age requirement: Candidates should preferably be between 21 and 50 years old.

H. Tenure of Appointment: The appointment will be made on an AU short-term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period.

I. Gender Mainstreaming: The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency is an equal opportunity employer and qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

J. Application: To apply, please submit the following:
1. A letter stating reasons for seeking employment with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency


2. A detailed and updated Curriculum Vitae (CV), indicating your nationality, age and gender.
3. Names and contact details (including e-mail address) of three references.
4. Certified copies of degrees and diplomas.

K. Remuneration: Indicative basic salary of $37,717 per annum plus other entitlements e.g. Post Adjustment (57% of basic salary), Housing allowance ($21,196.80 per annum), gratuity (15% of gross salary) in conformity with the rules and procedures applicable to internationally recruited staff of the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency.

L. Applications must be received not later than 19 March 2012 and should be addressed to:

Head of Human Resources
NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency
P O Box 1234
Halfway House
Midrand, 1685

Email: hr@nepad.org; musam@nepad.org

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is a vision and strategic framework for Africa’s renewal that is based on a shared understanding that it is imperative to eradicate poverty and position African countries on the road to sustained economic growth and development.
NEPAD works closely with the African Union Commission (AUC), regional economic communities, national governments, research institutions and civil society organisations in its attempts to eradicate poverty in Africa whilst also voicing Africa´s concerns at the global level. For

more information go to: www.nepad.org