Programme support and MEL expert

Result of Service

A functional, integrated and programme-wide Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system is strengthened and maintained for the Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain Solutions (SCCCS) programme, enabling coherent monitoring, reporting, learning and adaptive management across UNEP and SCCCS delivery partners, including ACES as the programme's first Regional Centre of Excellence, ACTS as the lead implementing partner for the Kenya SCCCS SPOKE, other SPOKE initiatives, and partner institutions across the programme.

Work Location

Kenya

Expected duration

6 months (with possible extension)

Duties and Responsibilities

Implemented by UNEP, the Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain Solutions (SCCCS) programme, funded by Defra and complemented by the Denmark-funded Kenya SCCCS SPOKE project, delivers impact through the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), the programme's first Regional Centre of Excellence, and a growing network of community-based support, learning and engagement initiatives (SPOKEs), including the Kenya SCCCS SPOKEs led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). Together, these partnerships accelerate the adoption and scaling of sustainable cooling and cold-chain solutions by strengthening research, innovation, capacity development, policy support and access to finance, while contributing to food systems transformation, poverty reduction, climate resilience and sustainable economic development.

UNEP requires the services of a Programme Support and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Expert to support programme-wide MEL coordination, implementation oversight, evidence management, reporting, learning and adaptive management across the Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain Solutions (SCCCS) Programme. The consultant will support MEL strengthening, programme performance tracking, delivery partner coordination, reporting, evaluability improvement, and knowledge management across SCCCS programme components, including Centres of Excellence (CoEs), SPOKE initiatives, technical assistance activities, policy and regulatory workstreams, and associated programme partners.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the consultant will work as part of UNEP's SCCCS team, collaborating closely with the SCCCS Strategic and Partnerships Lead, and report directly the Head of the Policy and Planning Unit, Mitigation Branch, Climate Change Division.

The consultant will work closely with UNEP, ACES, ACTS, and other SCCCS partners to strengthen programme-wide MEL systems and processes. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting implementation of the recommendations of the SCCCS MEL System Review and Evaluability Assessment, including development of a phased MEL strengthening plan, refinement of the programme Theory of Change and Logframe, and strengthening GEDSI and safeguarding systems and practices across the programme.

The consultant will undertake the following activities:

Activity 1. Programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Support strengthening, implementation and periodic updating of the SCCCS programme Theory of Change, results framework and MEL system to ensure alignment with programme priorities, partner contributions and reporting requirements, including indicators, targets, milestones and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate the collection, consolidation and quality assurance of MEL data and periodic reports from ACES, ACTS, SPOKE initiatives and other programme partners.
• Maintain programme results, indicator and implementation trackers, identifying risks, gaps, delays and emerging issues requiring management attention.
• Compile, analyse and synthesise quantitative and qualitative information, and prepare dashboards, monitoring summaries and inputs to programme, donor and management reports.
• Support monitoring and reporting of programme outcomes, including the adoption of sustainable cooling solutions, capacity development, policy influence, livelihoods, climate resilience, inclusion and other agreed programme indicators.

Activity 2. Partnership management and coordination

• Support the development, review and amendment of partnership agreements, grants and other implementation arrangements from a programme performance and MEL perspective, ensuring clarity of results, deliverables, indicators, reporting requirements and accountability mechanisms.
• Monitor partner performance and compliance with agreed reporting obligations and proactively follow up on outstanding submissions.
• Ensure the timely and complete provision of technical, financial and MEL information required for programme management and donor reporting.
• Support coordination and communication among UNEP, ACES, ACTS, SPOKE initiatives and other programme partners.

Activity 3. Data management, learning and knowledge management

• Support the development and implementation of a phased SCCCS MEL strengthening plan based on recommendations from the SCCCS MEL System Review and Evaluability Assessment.
• Maintain programme databases, evidence repositories and supporting documentation to strengthen reporting, learning, accountability and evaluation readiness.
• Support the development and refinement of monitoring tools, reporting templates, surveys and partner reporting systems in accordance with data protection and ethical standards.
• Support programme learning and adaptive management by maintaining lessons learned records, facilitating reflection and learning events, and documenting actions arising from evidence and recommendations.
• Support the integration of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) considerations within programme monitoring, reporting and learning processes – including facilitation of GEDSI and safeguarding workshops and contribute to the development and monitoring of related action plans.

Activity 4. MEL system strengthening and programme support

• Support implementation and monitoring of recommendations arising from the SCCCS MEL System Review and Evaluability Assessment, including MEL governance, reporting, learning systems, GEDSI and safeguarding integration, and evaluation readiness.
• Support programme planning, reviews, work planning processes, stakeholder consultations, workshops, missions and other programme management activities as required.
• Contribute to strengthening programme-wide MEL systems, processes and practices to support evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management.
• Perform other related MEL and programme-support tasks as required by the supervisor to support the effective delivery of the SCCCS programme.

Qualifications/special skills

A first-level university degree (Bachelor degree or equivalent) in monitoring and evaluation, development studies, economics, statistics/data science, environmental studies, agriculture/agricultural economics, project or programme management, social sciences, public policy or a closely related field is required. An advanced university degree in a relevant field is desirable. A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, programme/project management, data management, development programming or a related area is required. Experience collecting, managing, analysing and presenting quantitative and/or qualitative data, and supporting programme reports, workplans or monitoring processes is required. Experience with development, climate, agriculture, food systems, energy, cooling/cold chain or rural livelihoods programmes; Kenya/county-level stakeholders; donor-funded programmes; or UN organizations is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Swahili is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.