Myanmar: M&E Manager – Joint Peace Fund Technical Secretariat (JPFTS)

A. Background:

The Joint Peace Fund (JPF) is being established as a multi-donor trust fund to support national efforts to achieve a final and lasting settlement of ethnic armed conflict in Myanmar. In working towards this goal, the JPF will deliver coordinated international financial and technical assistance to the Myanmar peace process.

A Technical Secretariat is also being established to manage the JPF. The Technical Secretariat shall have overall responsibility for the JPF programme operations, and for providing analysis, advice and support to the JPF’s governance bodies (including a High Level Committee, a Fund Board and State-Level Working Groups). The primary responsibility of the Technical Secretariat will be to solicit, receive and support the development of project proposals within the JPF’s priority areas.

The Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS) has been contracted to manage the Technical Secretariat. NIS is a Norwegian-registered, non-profit foundation engaged in stabilisation and reconciliation initiatives in conflict and post-conflict areas. NIS’ primary areas of intervention are institutional development, public service delivery, and conflict resolution. In addition to project implementation, NIS is administering and providing technical support to the Peace Support Fund (PSF) in Myanmar.

B. Essential Functions:

The M&E Manager will join the inception team for the JPF. The inception team will establish the management, governance, operational, programme and human resource infrastructure for the Technical Secretariat of the JPF. For the M&E Manager, this entails leading the development of, and coordinating all monitoring and evaluation for, the JPF Technical Secretariat. This will include M&E for the overall programme and support functions and for projects being delivered by implementing partners. The M&E system should reflect international best practice approaches and contribute to the JPF becoming a learning organization, based on strong feedback mechanisms, to enable responsive and flexible programming in a dynamic transitional context. The Manager will also be responsible for ensuring efficient data management and effective communication of results, including in visual formats.

C. Main Responsibilities

• Lead on the development, establishment and documentation of M&E system and processes.

• Work closely with other members of the inception team to ensure the M&E system is integrated with strategic, project management, accounting and communications systems being established concurrently.

• Ensure that system development is undertaken in a timely, objective, fair and transparent manner, including the M&E responsibilities and administration of terms and awards.

• Ensure JPF is meeting or exceeding international best practice, by supervising and monitoring project implementation. Ensure that timely decisions on corrective actions are made and implemented.

• Mobilize relevant M&E technical assistance in a timely manner, with clearly demarcated responsibilities that are based on the participatory and equity principles of the project.

• Assure that all contractual obligations are adhered to and make all necessary efforts to ensure implementation targets are met.

• Establish the office structure for M&E coordination and appoint key M&E staff to the project and supervise their activities.

• Lead the establishment of administrative, accounting and project-component M&E systems.

• Ensure continuous improvement and oversee regular revision of the M&E strategy with key stakeholders to ensure an updated and shared understanding of the strategy and information needs.

• Ensure that an effective and participatory M&E system is established in as decentralized a manner as is possible.

• Support the submission of analytical reports on progress – including indications of planned actions and financial statements – on time and to the relevant bodies, with assistance from M&E staff.

• Encourage staff to report frankly on fieldwork, highlighting problems and possible solutions plus lessons learned. Reward innovation in critical reflection and learning.

• Ensure that participatory M&E and learning initiatives are specified in terms consistent with the direction and scope of the JPF.

D. Required qualifications:

· Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent.

· Minimum of 15 years professional experience in the field of program Monitoring & Evaluation in international organisation, donor agency or INGO.

· Minimum of 5 years specific experience in the field.

· Demonstrated experience in transitional environments.

· Strong understanding of best-practice approaches to monitoring, evaluating and reporting on peacebuilding initiatives and experience in responding to donor reporting requirements.

· Understanding of post-2015 goals, visual communication tools and online reporting.

· Must be executive and hands-on in establishing, documenting and deploying an M&E system adequate to the size and scope of the JPF.

· Must be an excellent team player, and ready to onboard at short notice.

· Exceptional communication and liaison skills.

· Excellent computer skills.

· Written and spoken fluency in English essential.

· Understanding of the Myanmar context well regarded. Suitably qualified national and international candidates are encouraged to apply.

Valid applications must be sent to ds@jointpeacefund.org, including the position name, as well as the reference MERH-009 in the subject line. Applications must also include CV, letter of intent and a minimum of 3 referees.