Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of children worldwide. With a mission to ensure that every child has the opportunity to survive, develop, and thrive, UNICEF operates in over 150 countries, focusing on the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families. The organization emphasizes equity, aiming to address the disparities that violate children's rights and hinder their potential. UNICEF's work encompasses various sectors, including health, education, and protection, and is guided by the principles outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Job Overview:
The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will play a crucial role in overseeing the Gavi Health Systems Strengthening (HSS-3) grant, which aims to enhance routine immunization and primary health care in India. This position involves maintaining a comprehensive monitoring framework that links grant results with workplan targets and budget allocations across multiple states and districts. The specialist will be responsible for tracking financial utilization, programmatic achievements, and ensuring data quality through rigorous monitoring protocols. The role requires collaboration with various teams within UNICEF and external partners to ensure effective reporting and management decision-making. The position offers a unique opportunity to engage with large-scale immunization programs and digital health innovations, contributing to the overall mission of improving health outcomes for children in India.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain and update a consolidated monitoring framework for the Gavi HSS-3 grant, ensuring alignment with workplan targets and budget allocations across all operational areas.
• Track financial utilization against allocations, preparing reports for donors and government stakeholders, and analyzing financial data to inform management decisions.
• Monitor programmatic achievements, consolidating data from field offices on immunization roll-out and community engagement efforts.
• Implement data quality assurance protocols to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data submitted by partners.
• Prepare comprehensive reports for donors and government entities, including narrative analyses and risk assessments.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to monitor compliance with program deliverables and assess partner performance.
• Document lessons learned and best practices to inform future programming and resource mobilization efforts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong analytical skills, with a proven ability to manage complex data sets and generate actionable insights. Proficiency in financial tracking and reporting is essential, along with experience in monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Strong communication skills are required to effectively convey findings to diverse stakeholders. Familiarity with immunization programs and health systems strengthening initiatives will be advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to UNICEF's mission and values, particularly in promoting equity and addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in public health, social sciences, or a related field is required. A master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred and may enhance the candidate's competitiveness for the role. Additional certifications in monitoring and evaluation or project management would be beneficial.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 3-5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, preferably within the health sector or international development context. Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, or UN organizations will be an asset. Familiarity with grant management and reporting processes is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, both written and spoken. Proficiency in Hindi or other regional languages would be considered an advantage, as it would facilitate communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This is a national UN Volunteer position based in New Delhi, India. The assignment duration is subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance, with no expectation of contract renewal. The selected candidate will be responsible for arranging their own housing and living essentials. The position offers a monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA) of INR 70,158, along with health and life insurance coverage. Additional benefits include an entry lump sum payment, relocation costs, and an exit allowance based on the duration of service. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adapt to the local environment.