Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (MES) NPPP III (Open for Nepalese nationals only) NEX project

Background

The goal of the Microenterprise Development Programme (MEDEP) is to contribute to the poverty reduction and employment generation efforts of the Government of Nepal (GoN) through micro-entrepreneurship development. This approach is in line with the strategy of the GoN’s Five Years Strategic Plan of Micro Enterprise Development Programme for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA). During the fourth phase of MEDEP, 73,000 new micro entrepreneurs will be created with particular focus on supporting households that are living below the national poverty line, women and the socially excluded, by strengthening the national system to support the establishment of micro-enterprise start-ups. This will be achieved by building the capacities of government at central and local levels to develop and implement policies for the support of micro-entrepreneurship, as well as by strengthening access to markets, finance and business development services. Building on its experience of 18 years of providing support to micro-entrepreneurs in Nepal, MEDEP will create micro-enterprises indirectly, by mentoring, supporting and strengthening the MEDPA. The programme will be implemented in partnership with central and local government institutions, as well as by supporting non-government and private sector organisations. MEDEP’s outcome therefore will not be limited to just creating new entrepreneurs. Its main contribution will instead be to endow Govt. with a sustainable institutional setup for the delivery and support of entrepreneurship even after the phase out of the programme. MEDEP will also support peace and stability in Nepal, by significantly contributing to addressing poverty and social exclusion, which are among the root causes of conflict in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:            Under the overall supervision of the National Project Director (NPD) and National Project Manager (NPM), the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will report to NPM focusing on the development and implementation of MEDEP’s monitoring and evaluation framework guided by a well-developed impact chain, and supporting its continuous improvement. S/he will be specifically responsible for the following:  Providing leadership and support for MEDEP’s own M&E: Preparing the M&E and Result measurement framework and indicators in relation to objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities as defined in Results and Resource Framework and the log-frame; Periodically (thematic, monthly, quarterly, half yearly, annual and final) monitor the progress of MEDEP IV as guided by the M&E framework and plan; Providing technical advice and in depth analysis to NPM to develop and update the programme overall strategic framework, impact chains and intervention logics; Carrying out programme analysis, both at impact level and outcome level, in order to capture lessons learned and ensure that risks are properly monitored; Supporting NPM in preparing the MEDEP progress reports and various analysis and other reports as required. Providing advice on the development and implementation of an improved M&E system of MEDPA in regard to: Oversight MEDEP’s support in the development (including simplification), internalization and institutionalization of the MEDPA M&E system/framework and plan; Oversight timely data transfer into the MIS maintaining data quality at an acceptable level; Support and guide the MEDPA M&E Specialist and relevant MEDPA staff in Piloting, testing, verifying, improving, introducing and expanding an improved M&E system relevant for the MED Model; this includes identifying roles and responsibilities for data collection, data flow, data accumulation and data access from the M&E system; Support and guide MEDPA in measuring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and coordinating for monitoring progress. Support and guide the analysis and proposing appropriate layouts for collecting MEDPA data; Carrying out frequent field visits, in conjunction with MEDEP’s Intervention Coordinators and relevant implementing partners to determine progress of M&E activities in the districts. Facilitating the establishment and improvement of processes of continuous improvement: Providing relevant information on the effectiveness and efficiency of the 6-step implementation in a timely and cost-effective manner, on which MEDPA can act; Support the MEDPA M&E Specialist to help MEDPA ensure that the information collected from MEDPA’s monitoring system is constantly analysed and used to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of MEDPA; Facilitating an orientation towards continuous improvement in all MEDEP and MEDPA activities; Facilitating the establishment and implementation of feed-back processes between MEDPA and partner entities that lead to continuous improvement. Facilitating sustainable capacity building of MEDPA actors concerned with M&E: Providing advice on roles and responsibilities of MEDPA actors concerned with M&E; Focusing on expanding the skills of relevant MEDPA actors in using M&E, especially the improved M&E system; Identifying public or private training institutions or similar actors that could, in the future, have the capacity and interest to provide training and coaching to newly recruited MEDPA staff concerned with data analysis; Ensure relevant MEDEP staff at the centre and the districts, have the capacity and understand MEDEP’s approach to support MEDPA in institutionalizing M&E; Support and guide MEDPA M&E Specialist and Intervention Coordinator-Governance, provide technical support to MEDPA to hold periodic review meetings. Cross-cutting and other responsibilities: Working closely with the MEDPA M&E Specialist assisting on to produce central as well as district level trimester and annual progress reports against the strategies of MEDPA document; Ensuring that M&E activities are planned and implemented in a gender sensitive and inclusive manner and that all implementing partners are sensitized and trained in gender and social inclusion.

Competencies

Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued personal learning and development; Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues; Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects; Builds  strong relationships  with all partner, focuses on impact and results and responds positively to critical feedback; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Remains  calm, in control and good humored even under pressure; Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education Completion of Master’s Degree in Social Science, Management or relevant field. Experience 7 years’ experience in developing monitoring and evaluation (preferably in the field of enterprise and/or poverty reduction programme), result measurement systems; Experience in Results Based Management tools and processes; Experience in communicating and producing quality reports and should be able to disseminate information to different levels of stakeholders with the application of participatory tools. Computer skills Proficient use and knowledge of office computer applications (e.g. MSWord, Excel etc.) and database management Language Fluency in both spoken and written Nepali and English languages is required.