International M&E Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and territories, employing approximately 4,000 staff members. The organization is dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. The organization is committed to addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to health services and rights, while also promoting ethical standards and human rights.

Job Overview:
The International M&E Consultant will lead the mid-term review of the DFAT-funded TUSIP programme on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Asia, which is implemented jointly by UNFPA and UNICEF. The consultant's role includes supporting the amendment of the monitoring and results framework and work plan based on the review findings. The consultant will also assist with other monitoring tasks as required. The position is crucial in assessing the progress of the programme, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring that the programme aligns with the evolving regional and country contexts. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including UNFPA, UNICEF, and DFAT, to gather insights and recommendations that will inform future planning and implementation of the programme. This role is vital in addressing the systemic issues surrounding FGM in Asia, which affects millions of women and girls and is often overlooked in global discussions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Submitting an inception report that outlines key questions, methodological approaches, tools, sampling of stakeholders, and interview guides for the mid-term review.
• Conducting online key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions with UNFPA, UNICEF, key partners, and TUSIP partners.
• Drafting a Mid-Term Review report that presents key findings, lessons learned, and conclusions based on agreed review criteria such as relevance, effectiveness, coherence, coordination, and sustainability.
• Reviewing programme activity logs and identifying areas of strong performance, bottlenecks, and implementation risks.
• Presenting findings at an online validation meeting with stakeholders.
• Developing an updated version of the MERL framework to integrate two new countries (Maldives and Sri Lanka) and revisions based on the MTR.
• Submitting a six-month progress narrative report for the TUSIP FGM programme.
• Contributing to the DFAT TUSIP and PHR mid-term reviews.
• Reviewing M&E documents from other projects as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of ten years of experience in monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and learning. Experience working with UNFPA on gender-based violence (GBV), youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), or harmful practices is desirable. Applicants should demonstrate a strong background in conducting high-quality reviews and evaluations of programmes related to GBV and harmful practices. Additionally, candidates should have experience developing a rigorous Theory of Change for harmful practices, identifying social and behavioral changes in norms, and working with various types of data. Proficiency in developing user-friendly monitoring and reporting tools and activity logs is essential. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are mandatory.

Educational Background:
A relevant advanced degree in social sciences, public health, international development, or a related field is required. Candidates with additional certifications in monitoring and evaluation or related disciplines will be considered favorably.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, particularly in the context of gender-based violence and harmful practices. Experience working with UN agencies or similar organizations is highly desirable, as is a proven track record of conducting evaluations and developing monitoring frameworks.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, both written and spoken. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the target countries (such as Bahasa Indonesia, Tamil, or Sinhala) would be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based and will span a total of 50 working days from April 20 to October 10, 202

• The selected consultant will develop a monthly work plan in consultation with the GBV team. Payments will be made in two installments based on the acceptance of deliverables by the GBV Technical Specialist at UNFPA APRO. The consultancy is expected to be full-time, and travel is not anticipated. UNFPA promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities.