Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (ME)

II. Assignment Objectives
The ME specialist must have expertise in strategic planning and implementation of projects with various stakeholders under a tight deadline.

III. Duties and Responsibilities
The ME Specialist will provide technical leadership and support in three major areas:

• Long-term strategic plans and implementation with a view toward ME requirements.
• Monitoring and evaluation progress against stated results for country ME plans.
• Analysis of Work Plan implementation and objectives, including activities linking planning with regular progress reviews and resource allocations.

IV. Specific Tasks to be Undertaken

• In coordination with stakeholders, draft/prepare ME plans and associated ME templates.
• Identify possibilities for joint evaluations and monitoring.
• Provide technical support to regional ME Unit and sector initiatives.
• In coordination with Information Officer, collate and provide analysis of data and information, producing substantive analytical and informative reports.
• Follow-up and analyze reform processes and implications.
• Prepare briefs/papers as necessary.
• Develop accurate, realistic and measurable baselines, indicators and targets at the sector level.
• Develop ME mechanisms at sector level, as well as relevant field-friendly tools, modes and systems for data collection, and subsequent analysis.
• Create, implement and provide training on necessary monitoring and evaluation templates and databases.
• Develop reports and dashboards using M&E tools/software such as Power BI, Tablo, etc.
• Install sound monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure proper implementation of sector interventions.
• Guide the documentation processes for the best practices and lessons learnt based on program approaches pertinent to implementation of sector interventions.
• Assist in establishing baselines, design of database of socio-economic data for planning, implementation and follow up of sector development plans and strategies.
• Coordinate with Sector Leaders, and relevant stakeholders to ensure required monitoring tools are employed properly and utilized regularly.
• Liaise with Heads of Agencies (HoA) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure realistic inputs into annual plan and target setting exercises, and on implementation of coordinated monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Facilitate inter-sectoral planning and integration of cross-cutting issues into Work Plan progress, and provide advice on enhancing the strategic vision of the annual process and working documents.
• Provide ongoing support on new monitoring and evaluation methodologies, providing training to ME Unit staff, and facilitating learning sessions for other stakeholders.
• Provide mentoring as needed to colleagues (e.g., on baseline/indicator/target/results concepts)

V. Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity with high values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the client.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

VI. Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience working with results frameworks and performance monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in working with global, regional and country partners and other agencies, experts and host country staff in planning of monitoring activities.
• Statistical skills for analyzing data and ensuring program design has statistical rigor.
• Ability to organize and lead project-wide activities.
• Willingness to learn from and consult with colleagues for inputs and information sharing.
• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian and recovery/development issues.
• Ability to advocate and provide advice.
• Demonstrated experience in negotiating technical priorities and developing tools to define and focus on priority outcomes.
• Knowledge and understanding of Lebanon situation and its complexity is preferred but not an absolute requirement.

VII. Management and Leadership

• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (monitoring and evaluation area), and affect attitudinal change.
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Proactive approach to work, good follow-up and follow-through.

VIII. Required Skills and Experience

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in a development-related field, i.e., International Relations, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Social Sciences or Public Administration.
• A minimum of 7 years directly applicable experience, of which at least 5 is at the international level, in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design of monitoring and evaluation tools at the systemic level in development contexts.
• Knowledge of and experience in planning.
• Proven experience with statistical applications and data analysis; familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative information analysis tools.
• Excellent interpersonal, consensus building and negotiating skills essential.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation concepts, with the ability to explain them with clarity, knowledge of corporate frameworks an asset.
• Strong knowledge of the Lebanon situation: the political, cultural and socio-economic context, and their historical precedents that continue to affect the present situation, preferred but not required.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Arabic are required.