The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s leading conservation membership union established over 70 years ago, and composed of over 1,400 member- organizations of both government and civil society organizations with the input of more than 18,000 experts. IUCN’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
IUCN ROWA is currently implementing several projects in Jordan and the ROWA region that include gender and social inclusion components in addition to gender mainstreaming across project components in alignment with donor requirements and the IUCN’s program.
Jordan Integrated Landscape Management Initiative (JILMI) is a GCF-funded project that is
executed by 1) IUCN as the lead executing entity with a consortium of technical partners; 2) Ministry of Environment, Government of Jordan, while United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the accredited entity of the project. Spanning along 8 years, the project has a total grant budget of $44.9 million (GCF) and another $15.6 million as in-kind contribution (co-finance). The project focuses on three target watersheds of the northern Jordan Valley – the Yarmouk, King Talal Dam and Kafrain watersheds.
The objective of this position is to ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and learning across the project outputs and activities, in compliance with GCF requirements, IUCN policies and the project M&E plan. This includes establishing baselines, developing and maintaining the M&E system, coordinating data collection and verification, producing progress reports, and supporting evaluations and stakeholder consultations. The incumbent will be reporting to the Programme Manager – Water and Climate Change, with a functional reporting line to the JILMI Project Coordinator.
JOB DESCRIPTION
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
IUCN–ROWA is seeking the support of an M&E Officer with proven experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning for environmental and conservation projects, to ensure effective and successful delivery of the project(s) in line with GCF requirements and IUCN policies. The position involves regular interaction and coordination with project team members, and technical partners on technically complex issues.
Key tasks:
Under the supervision of the Water and Climate Change Programme Manager, and in close coordination with the project coordinator, senior GCF/GEF specialist, and programme staff, the M&E Officer will carry out the tasks below.
1- Lead Implementation of the Project M&E plan
The M&E plan outlines the work required for monitoring the project’s progress towards the objectives set in the project results framework. The M&E officer will lead and coordinate the implementation of this plan, starting with the development of baseline data and continuing with regular tracking, analysis and reporting of results throughout the project cycle.
2- M&E baseline development
To establish a foundation for monitoring progress against the project results framework, the M&E officer will determine the data-gathering methodology to measure progress against project indicator targets across various GCF outcome levels, project-specific indicators, and project co-benefit indicators. Key activities of the baseline assessment are listed below.
• Develop the methodology for establishing baseline values for all outcome and output indicators in the project strategy.
• Design the survey tools to assess benchmark levels of stakeholder capacity and document the sampling strategy to be adopted.
• Collect baseline data through: 1) interviews with project beneficiaries, stakeholders and vendors; 2) visual inspections — supported by digital photos and videos; and 3) most recent satellite imagery.
• Document the logical framework with baseline values established and a recommended monitoring protocol and methodology for each indicator and target, annexing the record of stakeholder consultations, images and maps.
3- Develop a performance monitoring framework
At the start of project implementation, the M&E officer will design and operationalise a performance monitoring framework to track the project’s progress towards achieving its targets. This will include: i) Measuring performance against the project indicators to evaluate the progress of the project; ii) Reporting the project’s performance.
4- Establish and operationalise MEAL system
• Establishment and operationalization of a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system, ensuring systematic data collection, adaptive management, and continuous learning within the project and among partners, covering all activities and maintenance measures based on the baseline values established, monitoring protocol and methodology for each indicator and target, in alignment with the project’s result frameworks, M&E plan, IUCN requirements, and the project document, clearly identifying the tools and verification means.
• Coordinate, guide, and advise on tracking all indicators regularly against the project results framework.
• Analyse, review, and verify reported data and various verification means.
• Develop appropriate data collection tools for conducting both qualitative and quantitative surveys and training staff in the use of the tools.
• Build the capacity of the project team and technical partners in project monitoring and data collection against set indicators
• Analyse project data and provide timely feedback to the project team and technical partners on projects’ performance based on monitoring data
• Ensure regular reviews of lessons learnt
5- Progress Reporting
• Review the submitted reports by technical partners and advise on required modifications in alignment with M&E requirements, GCF reporting requirements and IUCN’s internal requirements.
• Develop project progress reports in alignment with GCF reporting requirements and IUCN’s policies and procedures.
• Develop internal reports in alignment with IUCN internal requirements.
6- Archiving of Records
• Develop and manage a project archiving system to host all documentation and keep accurate and up-to-date records.
• Coordinate and follow up on robust documentation means.
7- Support in stakeholder engagements
• Support in the stakeholders’ consultation engagements and provide M&E relevant guidance and advice.
• Coordinate validation engagements and carry out all required documentation means as per the project document.
8- Evaluation
• Coordinate and support the counterparts in the annual evaluation cycles.
• Provide all needed data and documentation.
9- Coordination with the project’s ESMS and the Gender officers
The M&E officer will closely coordinate with the ESMS and Gender Officers on the implementation of project interventions in line with the project’s Environmental and Social Management Plan and Gender Action Plan, including:
• Monitoring the application of gender-disaggregated indicators and ensuring that all gender targets are met.
• Ensuring the M&E process includes adequate review of environmental and social risks identified during project preparation and implementation.
• Supporting the development and operation of the grievance redress mechanism.
10- Contributing to site and beneficiary selection methodologies and identification of associated baselines
Surveys will need to be conducted at site selection level to ensure that the approach follows the beneficiary targeting rules.
11- Implementation, monitoring and reporting
• Coordinate the conducting of performance and accountability activities in a timely and efficient manner.
• Support the implementation of monitoring tools and processes to ensure that activities are on track and contributing to the achievement of stated performance objectives, results, the IUCN Programme, and contractual obligations.
• Ensure that the performance measurement framework enables accurate and effective quantitative and qualitative measurement of progress and delivery of the project, through the development of baseline measurements, time-bound milestones and targets, and clear indicators for measuring progress and results.
12- Capacity building
• Build the capacity of project team staff, partners and Members on MEL through ongoing training and coaching.
• This should optimally cover all developed tools and M&E reporting mechanisms.
13- Other tasks
• Performing any other duties as requested by the line manager.