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Vacancy announcement

POSITION INFORMATION

Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor
Location: Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
 

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
MONITORING AND EVALUATION ADVISOR
 

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is seeking expertise to support the implementation and maintenance of a National Monitoring and Evaluation System.

Background
To stimulate sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction, Lesotho has prepared the following development plans:
• Vision 2020- which articulates the long-term development aspirations for Lesotho for the year 2020;
• Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) - which is a medium term framework for equity based growth and poverty reduction.
 

Development of these two plans followed a participatory approach of nationwide consultations involving the community, Government Ministries, NGOs, the private sector and development partners. Lesotho is also a signatory of the Millennium Development goals (MDGs). The three above are the main development frameworks, which should drive the planning and budgeting processes.
 

Monitoring, evaluation and analysis is essential in the pursuit of policy, programme and project effectiveness. The Government plans to establish a National Monitoring and Evaluation system that will monitor and evaluate implementation of the National Vision, MDGs and the PRS. This system is intended to ensure evidenced based decision making, accountability and transparency in the allocation of resources. The system will also evaluate the impact of Government activities on economic growth and poverty reduction.

The four levels to be monitored by the system are as follows:

• Inputs: resources used by Government to buy inputs, such as personnel, goods and services and capital assets. The objective is to quantify financial expenditure on specific activities;
• Outputs: the quantity and quality of goods and services actually produced by Government through utilisation of the inputs. Monitoring should assist in measuring the efficiency with which agencies convert inputs into outputs.
• Outcomes: the effects on the recipients of outputs, in terms of both quantity and quality, of the delivery and uptake of programmes; and
• Impacts: the effects on welfare indicators such as income, employment, consumption and poverty. Although these indicators are influenced by the outputs and outcomes, there will be a significant time lag and they will also be affected by many external factors (such as trends in international trade).

The monitoring and evaluation system should have certain important components and characteristics:
• it will entail the collection, processing, validation, analysis and interpretation of a range of relevant qualitative and quantitative economic growth and poverty data;
• data should be timely, reliable, credible and user-friendly; the system should be comprehensive, inclusive, transparent and sustainable;
• it should monitor inputs, outputs and outcomes and evaluate the impact of specific public policies or programmes through indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound;
• there should be adequate institutional structures and resources to support and sustain the system, with continuous attention being given to capacity building;
• in addition to conventional monitoring based on administrative data and surveys, the system should integrate qualitative approaches (participatory methods) as a complementary tool for monitoring poverty reduction efforts at national, district and community levels, building on the methodology used during the nationwide consultations for the Vision 2020 and the PRS and drawing significantly on the knowledge and resources of stakeholders, namely civil society, the private sector and government;
• it should build on, strengthen and integrate with existing mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating government services and activities.

Institutional Arrangements for Monitoring and Evaluation
The institutions currently involved in data collection, analysis and management include: the Bureau of Statistics (BOS); the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL); the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP); line ministries; consultants; the National University of Lesotho (NUL); parastatals and non-governmental organisations. Each of these organisations collects their own data using different methods and reference points. Data is often unreliable and become available late, making access difficult for those who need to use this information in making decisions for national planning and development. Consequently, many policies are made with inadequate information and analysis.

Since Lesotho requires evidence-based policy-making to make the best use of scarce resources, it is imperative that information is co-ordinated and supported centrally to improve data reliability. In order to achieve this, a national monitoring and evaluation system will be established in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The Ministry will monitor the implementation of Vision 2020, MDGs and PRS, as well as the progress made in economic growth and the reduction of poverty. Specific tasks will include:

• setting up a national monitoring and evaluation system;
• maintaining the national monitoring and evaluation system and ensuring that relevant input, output, outcome and impact data are obtained from the various data producers;
• commissioning special studies and research to augment the available database;
• undertaking budget and expenditure tracking for poverty reduction;
• analysing poverty patterns and trends;
• establishing an oversight database for decision-making and policy formulation;
• using information and analysis to facilitate pro-growth and pro-poor policy advocacy;
• producing routine and annual reports for dissemination of poverty-related information to stakeholders.

Functions and Responsibilities of the International Monitoring and Evaluation System Advisor
The adviser will report to the Chief Executive- Department of Development Planning) of the MFDP. The responsibilities of the adviser will include but not limited to:
• advise on policy design and analysis;
• advise and assist in the establishment of a national multifaceted monitoring and evaluation system in consultation with all key actors and stakeholders, looking at all key elements of the system;
• contribute to the preparation and dissemination of analytical reports on poverty and social trends in Lesotho;
• work closely with, and advise line ministries in mainstreaming and strengthening their capacity in taking aboard Vision 2020, MDGs and poverty reduction strategy in their work programs and improving their capacity to monitor and evaluate poverty reduction programmes and strategies;
• assist the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) in developing and maintaining a comprehensive database containing time series data of social and economic indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of national poverty reduction programs;
• provide on-the–job training to the key actors and stakeholders in different aspects of monitoring and evaluation;
• Advise and coordinate relevant training for all stakeholders in M&E skills including participatory aspects;
• Support GoL to harmonise the PRS with the Vision, MDGs, National goals and objectives, and other key initiatives, as well as to link them with the budget process.

Location and Duration of Assignment
The position will be based in Maseru in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, under the supervision of the Chief Executive – Department of Development Planning. The Advisor is not expected to be based full time in Maseru, but is expected to be here for four man months per year. The Advisor will need to be easily contactable and available to provide remote support when not in Maseru.


Qualification and Experience
The successful candidate (s) should have:
• Master’s degree(s) or higher in Economics and or Statistics or any Social Sciences;
• At least ten years of working experience in international development, policy analysis and national development monitoring and evaluation;
• Strong analytical skills and experience in analysing quantitative/qualitative data and surveys and policies;
• Good computer skills and familiarity with statistical packages;
• Excellent communication and writing skills, fluency in English;
• Hands-on knowledge and experience in Africa;
• Good contextual knowledge of local issues, community priorities, social and cultural constraints and realities will be an added advantage.

Competencies
• Skilled in research and M&E;
• Well-developed ability to synthesize information from different sources, identify key themes and issues;
• Good command of M&E methodologies including frameworks, tools and best practices;
• Ability to organize and train staff;
• Ability to work in teams. Cooperates and works effectively with others in pursuit of common goals;
• Should have a drive to implement tasks to accomplish goals and objectives, ensuring that end-results are delivered effectively.


Applications with detailed C.V.s including names and telephone contacts of three referees plus a summary of the applicant’s experience and qualifications should be clearly marked the position name at the corner of the envelop and submitted with to:

The Human Resources Department
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
3rd Floor, UN house
P. O. Box 301
Maseru 100
Or
E-mail to: Registry.ls@undp.org
Copy to: Reabetsoe.khomari@undp.org

Closing date for applications: 01st August, 2008 at 15.00 HRS

- Only shortlisted candidates will be responded to
 

Closing date for applications: 1st August 2008