Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fill the abovementioned position in the Caribbean Community Secretariat with assigned duty station in Guyana.
2. FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The Senior Project Officer, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), is a member of the Programme Support Unit (PSU) and works under the supervision of the Programme Manager to ensure that the CCS’s Consolidated Work Programme monitoring plan is coordinated and monitored using the agreed CARICOM Results-Based Management (RBM) System and the Secretariat Strategic Plan 2022-2030.
The job will include systematic programme monitoring across the relevant Directorate(s) to assess programme delivery and compliance with the agreed programme approach, best practices, customized tools, and templates within the agreed programme scope, time, cost, and quality. The Senior Project Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation, will support the work of the PSU through the maintenance of a sound and rigorous MEAL system to inform and improve compliance, data collection, data analysis, and reporting.
Key Results for this role include:
– Coordinating and Monitoring consolidated Work Programme Monitoring Plan across Directorate/Programme areas, ensuring alignment with and achievement of the desired outcomes in accordance with the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan;
– Improving programme compliance with the monitoring and evaluation plans/ requirements at the Directorate(s) level, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection, analysis, and reporting; and
– Enhancing quarterly and annual results-focused reporting and learning at the Directorate(s)/Departmental level, ensuring the production of high-quality reports that facilitate learning, decision-making, and continuous programme improvement.
3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Policy, Strategic Management or Development Studies, plus at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience with proven successes in designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Systems for multi-stakeholder interventions and results.
In addition, candidates must possess specialised training in and good working knowledge in:
– Research Methods and Report Writing
– Strategic Planning and Analysis
– Results-Based Management
– Programme/project results-based monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning including building and refining Monitoring and Evaluation Plans, tools and systems, developing and selecting indicators and indicator reference sheets, target setting, performance and database management, collection and analysis of data and information, writing evidence-based, analytical progress reports for varied audiences.
The incumbent should also possess the following:
– Excellent writing and communication skills;
– Excellent Research skills;
– Sound analytical skills;
– Excellent inter-personal skills and the ability to work in a team;
– Computer proficiency in MS Office Suite and digital project management tools such as MS Project; and
– Ensures accountability and transparency.
4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Result 1: Coordinates and monitors consolidated Work Programme Monitoring Plan across Directorate/Programme areas, ensuring alignment with and achievement of the desired outcomes in accordance with the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan.
Activities
1.1 PROVIDES technical support to the Directorates for development/revision and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework based on key indicators, data collection methods, and reporting mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the consolidated Work Programme in alignment with the programme’s objectives and desired outcomes;
1.2 ASSISTS with the periodic revision and/or development of Monitoring & Evaluation tools and frameworks within the relevant Directorate(s);
1.3 SUPPORTS the effective implementation of the CARICOM Secretariat’s Results-Based Management Policy;
1.4 ASSISTS with establishing data-collection mechanisms for the indicators in the relevant performance measurement frameworks and COORDINATES the systematic collection of supporting data and information;
1.5 MONITORS the progress of the relevant Directorate(s) through regular progress review meetings with programme teams and stakeholders, assessing the status of each project within the consolidated Work Programme, with an eye on achievements, risks, challenges, and any necessary adjustments to the programme to meet the objectives set out in the Secretariat Strategic Plan;
1.6 ANALYZES and INTERPRETS monitoring data against the Work Programme’s progress and outcomes, identifying trends, patterns, and areas of improvement based on the data collected and its analysis to derive meaningful insights for decision-making and continuous improvement;
1.7 SUPPORTS, where relevant, existing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning approaches and Management Information Systems in Member States and Regional Institutions, and SUPPORTS required changes, towards implementation of a Results-Based Management Policy; and
1.8 SUPPORTS evaluations of the effectiveness, benefits and impact of programmes and projects emanating from the Consolidated Work Programme and AIDS the preparation and dissemination of monitoring reports, summarizing the progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the Work Programme.
Key Result 2: Improves programme compliance with the monitoring and evaluation plans/requirements at Directorate(s) level, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Activities
2.1 SUPPORTS the development and updating of the Quality Assurance Framework, procedures, and protocols to ensure consistent and high-quality technical assistance support, through the establishment of clear criteria and benchmarks for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the technical assistance support, in the areas of relevance, accuracy, clarity of the support materials, and the impact of the support on the recipients;
2.2 REVIEWS and EVALUATES the Technical Assistance Support to Directorates through a thorough assessment of all technical assistance provided with an eye on compliance with standards and guidelines, the identification of gaps or deficiencies in the technical assistance support and provision of recommendations for improvement;
2.3 MONITORS the Technical Assistance Activities regularly to ensure adherence to quality standards and guidelines through observation and inspections to verify and document the quality and effectiveness of the technical assistance support provided to address any issues or areas for improvement;
2.4 PROVIDES training and support to technical assistance providers to enhance their understanding of quality assurance standards and best practices, offering guidance and assistance to technical assistance providers in implementing quality improvement measures; and
2.5 PREPARES regular reports on the quality assurance activities, findings, and recommendations in keeping with MEAL standards, and MAINTAINS accurate and up-to-date documentation of quality assurance standards, including records of reviews, evaluations, and audits.
Key Result 3: Enhances quarterly and annual results-focused reporting and Learning at Directorate(s)/Departmental level, ensuring the production of high-quality reports that facilitate learning, decision-making, and continuous programme improvement.
Activity
3.1 SUPPORTS the collection of data for reporting from sources, inclusive of monitoring and evaluation reports, project documentation, audits and stakeholder feedback, and ANALYZES data to identify key findings, trends, and insights that will inform the reporting process;
3.2 PREPARES comprehensive quarterly and annual reports summarizing the progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the work programme and PROVIDES actionable recommendations for improving programme delivery and outcomes;
3.3 SUPPORTS knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate the findings from the reports and PROMOTES learning among relevant stakeholders; and
3.4 DEVELOPS case studies and success stories that highlight specific programme or initiatives within the Work Programme, with a focus on best practices, lessons learned, and the impact of the programme on beneficiaries or the Community.
In addition to the activities outlined above, the incumbent is expected to perform other related duties as assigned.
5. EMOLUMENTS AND BENEFITS
This is an S2 post. The salary range for this position is EC$8,382.00 to EC$10,657.00 per month. 6. EDUCATION GRANT
The Officer shall be eligible for the payment of an education grant in respect of children (including step-children and legally-adopted children) who require reasonable education facilities that are not available at the assigned duty station or whose education the Officer would not want to disrupt in relocating to take up this appointment.
The grant shall apply to children under the age of twenty-three (23) years and shall not exceed seventy-five per cent (75%) of the cost of tuition (including textbooks), room and board up to a maximum total of EC$16,200.00 per year per child for a maximum of two (2) children at any one time. The grant is payable for a maximum of five (5) years.
7. SETTLEMENT GRANT
On assumption of duty in Guyana, the Officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of the staff member, his or her spouse and each eligible child or other approved dependent. The number of dependents eligible for Settlement Grant shall not exceed six (6) persons.
8. RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT
Appointment may be on the permanent establishment or on secondment from a Public Service or a statutory body of a Member State or approved regional organisation. It will be subject to such staff rules and policies, rules, regulations, orders and instructions as exist and as may be introduced from time to time with respect to service with the Caribbean Community Secretariat.
An Officer recruited from outside the assigned duty station, on first appointment, will be provided economy class air passages by the most direct route for the Officer, spouse and children (provided they are below the age of eighteen (18) years, unmarried and dependent on the Officer) and for such other dependents not exceeding two as may be approved by the Secretary-General, provided that the number of children and other dependents does not exceed six (6) in all.
In addition to passages, the Officer will be granted the following transportation allowances:
(i) ocean freight charges, including insurance, for shipping personal and household effects to Guyana, not exceeding 45.3 cubic meters, plus a motor car (if the Officer already owns one);
(ii) the cost of transporting baggage, personal and household effects from the home of the Officer to the place of embarkation and from the port of disembarkation to the place of residence in Guyana; and
(iii) the cost of packing and crating personal and household effects.
9. LEAVE
The Officer will be eligible for the grant of vacation leave at the rate of twenty (20) working days a year and a leave grant after every twelve (12) months of service in respect of the Officer, spouse and up to two (2) dependent children.
10. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
The Officer will be granted the privileges and immunities extended to officials of the Caribbean Community in accordance with Article 8 of the Community’s Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Guyana.
11. GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Subject to your acceptance by the Secretariat’s insurance carrier, the Officer will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s group health, life and accident insurance schemes. With respect to the health insurance, the Officer will contribute fifty per cent (50%) of the premium. The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory.
12. SUPERANNUATION
An Officer appointed to this post will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s Defined Contribution Pension Plan and contribute 7 per cent of basic salary per month, while the Secretariat will contribute 13 percent of the Officer’s basic salary to the pension plan. Where the appointment is on secondment, the Secretariat will pay to the Officer’s substantive employer, over the period of secondment, a contribution not exceeding twenty-five per cent (25%) of the pensionable salary normally payable to the Officer by that employer so as to maintain the pensionable status of the Officer in the substantive employment.
13. APPLICATIONS
Applications in English Language with full curriculum vitae details, including the email addresses of three (3) referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), should be addressed to:
Adviser
Human Resource Management
Caribbean Community Secretariat
Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana
and sent via email to assistance@caricom.org – The title of the vacancy should be clearly identified in the subject line of the email.
14. The deadline for the submission of applications is 12 April 2024.
