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Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
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BACKGROUND
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was founded in 1948 and brings together over 1,100 members (States, government agencies, NGOs and affiliates) and some 11,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN has approximately 1,000 staff, most of whom are located in its regional and country offices, and at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. IUCN is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from qualified women and men.
The IUCN’s Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is seeking candidates for a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for an USAID-funded five year project entitled “Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project” for $14 million. The Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project will focus on three binational areas of the Central American Northern (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador)—Miskito Coast (Nicaragua-Honduras), Motagua River (Honduras-Guatemala), and Paz River (El Salvador-Guatemala)—to pilot coastal-marine biodiversity conservation strategies which can then be scaled up to the national and regional levels. The project will strive to use biodiversity conservation as a means to enhance regional economic integration – with strong emphasis on investments, leverage funding and synergies with the private sector-, security, stability, and governance.
The USAID’s Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project will contribute to conserving biodiversity in coastal-marine ecosystems and their associated upland ecosystems in Central America in order to provide human wellbeing benefits for current and future generations. The overarching program objective will be achieved through four cross-cutting strategies: better science, climate-smart biocommerce, improved governance mechanisms, and adaptation-based mitigation to global climate change. The project will reduce threats to mangroves and other coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, and coral reefs by reducing: overexploitation of fisheries (Result 1), habitat change primarily focused on mangrove conversion (Result 2) and land-based pollution (Result 3), and global climate change (Result 4).
The program will be run from San Salvador and will have the support from IUCN national offices in Guatemala and Honduras, as well as from IUCN and GOAL regional offices (San Jose, Costa Rica and Tegucigalpa respectively). The project will have field operating offices in Puerto Barrios (Guatemala), Puerto Lempira (Honduras) and San Francisco Menendez (El Salvador).
The members of the RCBP consortium include International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, prime recipient), GOAL, Coastal Resources Center of University of Rhode Island (CRC/URI), Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development of the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (IREMADES/URACCAN, Nicaragua), Agency for the Development of the Mosquitia (MOPAWI, Honduras), Regional Environmental Documentation and Interpretation Center (CREDIA, Honduras), Defenders of Nature Foundation (FDN, Guatemala), Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association (ARCAS, Guatemala), and Salvadoran Ecological Unit (UNES, El Salvador).
The IUCN’s Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is seeking candidates for a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for an USAID-funded five year project entitled “Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project” for $14 million. The Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project will focus on three binational areas of the Central American Northern (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador)—Miskito Coast (Nicaragua-Honduras), Motagua River (Honduras-Guatemala), and Paz River (El Salvador-Guatemala)—to pilot coastal-marine biodiversity conservation strategies which can then be scaled up to the national and regional levels. The project will strive to use biodiversity conservation as a means to enhance regional economic integration – with strong emphasis on investments, leverage funding and synergies with the private sector-, security, stability, and governance.
The USAID’s Regional Coastal Biodiversity Project will contribute to conserving biodiversity in coastal-marine ecosystems and their associated upland ecosystems in Central America in order to provide human wellbeing benefits for current and future generations. The overarching program objective will be achieved through four cross-cutting strategies: better science, climate-smart biocommerce, improved governance mechanisms, and adaptation-based mitigation to global climate change. The project will reduce threats to mangroves and other coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, and coral reefs by reducing: overexploitation of fisheries (Result 1), habitat change primarily focused on mangrove conversion (Result 2) and land-based pollution (Result 3), and global climate change (Result 4).
The program will be run from San Salvador and will have the support from IUCN national offices in Guatemala and Honduras, as well as from IUCN and GOAL regional offices (San Jose, Costa Rica and Tegucigalpa respectively). The project will have field operating offices in Puerto Barrios (Guatemala), Puerto Lempira (Honduras) and San Francisco Menendez (El Salvador).
The members of the RCBP consortium include International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, prime recipient), GOAL, Coastal Resources Center of University of Rhode Island (CRC/URI), Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development of the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (IREMADES/URACCAN, Nicaragua), Agency for the Development of the Mosquitia (MOPAWI, Honduras), Regional Environmental Documentation and Interpretation Center (CREDIA, Honduras), Defenders of Nature Foundation (FDN, Guatemala), Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association (ARCAS, Guatemala), and Salvadoran Ecological Unit (UNES, El Salvador).
JOB DESCRIPTION
She/he will be in charge and oversee all monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, analyses and assessments, including data collection efforts and the design, and implementation of qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies and participatory data collection methods and protocols. The M&E Specialist will be responsible for the reporting and quantifying of direct and indirect program results, monitoring and reporting of pertinent indicators as well as for maintaining a database of M&E data to include milestones and targeted results. S/he will also be responsible for the design, quality development and use or disclosure of data and project information; and will contribute to the systematization of experiences supporting and working closely with the Communication and Outreach Specialist as well as with the rest of project team. S/he will contribute to the project impact assessment, providing sound and timely information to an independent impact assessment team contracted by USAID
RESPONSABILITIES
1.Design and implementation of M&E system for each result and for the overall project, including updating and monitoring progress of the results chains and theory of change
2.Train and orient implementing partners and the Project team in all aspects of M&E
3.Production of all evaluations reports, assessments and surveys as needed.
4.Lead and orient the team in annual work planning and internal progress reviews design and follow up; this includes close coordination with the Administrative/Financial Officer -in charge of budget planning- to ensure technical and budgetary planning and monitoring.
5.Guide the RCBP partners in setting-up M&E plans and agree on the processes to conduct baseline data surveys and initial stock-taking;
6.Design and implement systematically monitoring data collection, methods, tools and practices, especially for field activities and field studies with a gender sensitive focus.
7.Oversee the monitoring, review and maintenance of the implementation Plan and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (MEL),
8.Ensure periodic partner inputs and anticipating issues related to quantifying performance plan targets in order to take timely and appropriate actions to ensure that the project meets its reporting objectives.
9.Support and coordinate with the Communication and Outreach Specialist the systematization processes and the dissemination of the project results.
10.Support the project team (including partners and the specialized backstopping staff) as well as IUCN at Regional and national level, in planning, monitoring and evaluation issues as requested.
11.To provide timely and in an accurate manner results, achievements milestones and challenges from the analysis of the project monitoring system for decision-making
12.Responsible of the support to external evaluation teams as requested.
RESPONSABILITIES
1.Design and implementation of M&E system for each result and for the overall project, including updating and monitoring progress of the results chains and theory of change
2.Train and orient implementing partners and the Project team in all aspects of M&E
3.Production of all evaluations reports, assessments and surveys as needed.
4.Lead and orient the team in annual work planning and internal progress reviews design and follow up; this includes close coordination with the Administrative/Financial Officer -in charge of budget planning- to ensure technical and budgetary planning and monitoring.
5.Guide the RCBP partners in setting-up M&E plans and agree on the processes to conduct baseline data surveys and initial stock-taking;
6.Design and implement systematically monitoring data collection, methods, tools and practices, especially for field activities and field studies with a gender sensitive focus.
7.Oversee the monitoring, review and maintenance of the implementation Plan and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (MEL),
8.Ensure periodic partner inputs and anticipating issues related to quantifying performance plan targets in order to take timely and appropriate actions to ensure that the project meets its reporting objectives.
9.Support and coordinate with the Communication and Outreach Specialist the systematization processes and the dissemination of the project results.
10.Support the project team (including partners and the specialized backstopping staff) as well as IUCN at Regional and national level, in planning, monitoring and evaluation issues as requested.
11.To provide timely and in an accurate manner results, achievements milestones and challenges from the analysis of the project monitoring system for decision-making
12.Responsible of the support to external evaluation teams as requested.
REQUIREMENTS
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• Graduate degree (Master’s Degree) in business administration, economics, natural resource management, social sciences, project management, international relations, sustainable development or a similar field. • At least 4 years of experience in the design and implementation (planning, implementation, supervising indicators, and data collection) of monitoring and evaluation systems of projects and programmes in rural areas of Central America, including equity gender and youth considerations. (Preferred) experience in the design of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan according to USAID rules and methodology. • Experience in monitoring and evaluation of grant facility for grassroots and community organizations • Proven experience in reporting to USAID (preferred) or similar international donor support programs in Central America with skills in analytical interpretation and synthesis of information for decision-making. • Experience monitoring and evaluating projects focused on biodiversity, related impacts of biocommerce activities on social, economic and biodiversity issues, sustainable development or similar. • Good knowledge of Central America and its key conservation and development issues related to coastal areas management, Ridge to Reef' (R2R) management, protected areas, biodiversity, economic and social development, research and learning activities. • Experience facilitating in a participatory manner planning, monitoring and evaluation activities with a wide range and levels of organizations and stakeholders (community organizations, governments, NGOs, private sector, research institutions • Ability to work under pressure and to deal tactfully with sensitive political issues • Fluency in English and Spanish (both verbal and written communication skills) • Willingness to travel frequently to project sites and countries (Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador) • Excellent word processing, spreadsheet and computer skills (including smartsheet) • Proven skills in writing, problem solving, creativity, collaboration and willingness to innovate |
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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