Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNOPS, which stands for the United Nations Office for Project Services. Established to support the implementation of sustainable development solutions, UNOPS operates in over 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. The organization focuses on providing agile, client-focused service delivery across various sectors such as infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management. UNOPS aims to ensure high performance and operational excellence while aligning with organizational goals. The Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC), a dedicated unit within UNOPS, was established in 2018 to manage health-related grants and improve health outcomes in the region, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Job Overview:
The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist position is crucial for driving programme excellence through strategic monitoring and evaluation, robust performance oversight, data quality assurance, and evidence-based decision-making for Global Fund-supported health programmes. The role involves supporting the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems for these programmes. The specialist will ensure timely collection, validation, analysis, and reporting of programme performance data, while also strengthening data quality and partner monitoring capacities. The position requires collaboration with programme teams and key stakeholders to contribute to evidence-based programme management, donor reporting, performance improvement, and the achievement of grant objectives, all while ensuring compliance with Global Fund, UNOPS, and national monitoring and evaluation requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including:

• Providing technical and technological inputs into the design, implementation, and improvement of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation systems, policies, tools, and processes.
• Coordinating the implementation and continuous improvement of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems that support effective programme management and comply with Global Fund, UNOPS, and national requirements.
• Developing and maintaining programme monitoring plans, performance frameworks, indicator reference guides, reporting tools, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensuring timely collection, consolidation, validation, and submission of programmatic data and reports from various stakeholders.
• Conducting routine data quality assessments, data verification exercises, and field monitoring visits to validate programme performance.
• Providing technical guidance to National Programmes, Co-PRs, SRs, and implementing partners on monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
• Promoting the use of advanced data analytics to assess programme trajectories and inform corrective actions.
• Developing and implementing capacity-building plans in collaboration with programme teams and relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinating closely with various partners to ensure harmonized programme monitoring and reporting. 1
• Ensuring compliance with Global Fund requirements and contributing to audits and evaluations.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Medical & Health Sciences, public health, epidemiology, health economics, health management, health social science, social science, or a related discipline, along with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in the aforementioned fields combined with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree. Candidates should have experience in monitoring and evaluation, including the development, design, and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems for public health programmes. Familiarity with DHIS2 or similar integrated public health databases is essential, and candidates should be willing to undertake field visits in challenging conditions. Experience with international donors and in the UN system is desirable, as is knowledge of the political, economic, and social situation in Myanmar.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Medical & Health Sciences, public health, epidemiology, health economics, health management, health social science, or social science. A Bachelor’s degree in these areas, combined with additional relevant experience, may also be considered. The educational background should provide a strong foundation for understanding health systems and the complexities of public health programme management.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation is required. This includes experience in the development, design, and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems specifically for public health programmes. Candidates should also have familiarity with data analysis software such as Stata, SPSS, R, or Python, and experience with mobile data collection tools like KoBoToolbox, ODK, or CommCare. Previous work in the UN system or with international donors is an asset, as is knowledge of the socio-political context in Myanmar.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Burmese is required for this position. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in both languages to effectively communicate with stakeholders and partners involved in the health programmes.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as mid-level with an ICS level of 10 and is offered under an ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular contract type. The contract duration is ongoing, subject to satisfactory performance, organizational requirements, and budget availability. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from a wide range of candidates, including women and individuals from underrepresented groups. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, and background checks are conducted for all final candidates. Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.