Background
The Global Disability Fund (GDF) (formerly UNPRPD) is a multi-partner trust fund dedicated to advancing disability-inclusive development globally. It supports the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of Persons withย Disabilities (CRPD)[DF1]ย ย and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by providing technical assistance, policy guidance, and financial support to governments, UN agencies, civil society, and businesses.
The GDF is hosted within the UNDP Governance team in the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support (BPPS). The GDF Secretariat operates in accordance with its own Strategic Plan and agreed annual work plan approved by its Steering Committee. As GDF expands its strategic reach and portfolio, it is essential to ensure that its impact, effectiveness, and accountability are continuously monitored and evaluated.ย
As the GDF expands its strategic reach and portfolio, it is essential to ensure that its impact, effectiveness, and accountability are continuously monitored and evaluated. The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will play a pivotal role in developing and overseeing the Fundโs performance measurement framework, ensuring that evidence-based insights drive decision-making and enhance programmatic impact.
UNDP provides integrated programmatic, policy and financing solutions to realise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ย In this context, UNDP has created a Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) are the two anchor Bureaux of the GPN.ย
The Bureau for Programme and Policy Support (BPPS) plays a central role in developing relevant policies and guidance to support the results of UNDPโs Strategic Plan. BPPS designs and implements global projects and provides technical expertise and advisory services to countries and engage in global policy processes across a wide range of thematic and cross-cutting issues, including poverty and inequality, governance, climate change, environment, energy, sustainable finance while ensuring that human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion as central to its approach. ย
The Crisis Bureau (CB) spearheads UNDPโs efforts to support countries on a key challenge: how to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from fragility and crisis. CB addresses the risks that precipitate crises, prevent early exit from them, and perpetuate long-term dependency on humanitarian assistance. ย Guided by UNDPโs Crisis Offer (2022), CB works within the GPN and with Regional Bureaux (RBx) and Country Offices (COs) to implement solutions across prevention, response and recovery that help break the cycle of protracted fragility and crisis.ย
Position Purpose
The Global Disability Fund (GDF) is seeking a highly qualified Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist to lead its impact measurement, learning frameworks, and evaluation processes. This role ensures effective monitoring, reporting, and evidence generation in alignment with the 2025โ2030 GDF Strategy, which advances disability-inclusive development and global partnerships.
The Specialist will oversee the design and implementation of performance frameworks, data collection systems, and evaluation methodologies, ensuring alignment with Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) and donor requirements. This role will lead progress tracking, program evaluations, risk monitoring, and knowledge-sharing, strengthening accountability and continuous learning across GDFโs portfolio.
The ideal candidate brings expertise in monitoring and evaluation, results-based management, and impact assessment within international development, pooled funding, and disability inclusion initiatives. They should demonstrate leadership in framework development, data-driven decision-making, and fostering learning cultures in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
This position requires a strategic and analytical professional adept at leveraging data insights to enhance program effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making. The Specialist will collaborate with Technical, Partnerships, and Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) teams to ensure GDFโs MEL systems drive impact and support systemic change.
The MEL Specialist reports to the Technical Hub Coordinator.ย
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across ย interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, ย teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Overall advice and support to GDF secretariat in monitoring and evaluation
Lead the development and implementation of the GDF performance indicators, log frames, results frameworks, M&E plans, and tools in line with the 2025-2030 strategyโs theory of change Develop the Results framework for the Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub (RICH) and set up the M&E systemsย Oversee and ensure the implementation of the Fundโs M&E plan, including periodic appraisal of the results framework with reference to actual and potential Fundโs progress and results Ensure the Fund M&E framework meets the requirements of the MPTF and the donors Facilitate the mid-term process evaluation of the Fund, including data collection, multi-stakeholder consultations Establish systems for the Fundโs impact-focused evaluation to assess the achievements of the 2025-2030 strategyโs contribution to accelerating progress towards CRPD implementation Support the Fundโs engagement in the system-wide evaluations or audits and the broader evaluations of the Agenda 2030 Serve as the Fundโs evaluation focal point, and participate in evaluation community remaining abreast of latest development and professional norms, standards, tools and methodologies Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk register to identify, assess, and monitor strategic, operational, financial, and programmatic risks.2.ย Supporting joint Programme M&E activities including programme design, reporting and final evaluations
Support joint Programmes, including RICH hub initiatives, in developing logframes and M&E strategies aligned with the new results framework for 2025-2030 Establish effective mechanisms for monitoring the joint Programme implementation including mid-term reviews and annual reporting Develop and deliver on-line training on results based management (RBM) principles, tools and methodologies for planning, monitoring and reporting of GDF joint programmes Update joint reporting tools in relation to M&E and methodology to be in line with the new strategy Review progress reports submitted by partners and provide feedback to improve the quality and timeliness of reporting in line with the quality assurance framework Coordinate and manage joint programme end line/ thematic evaluationsย Undertake programme monitoring visits when required to appraise programme progress on the ground and validate written progress reports (troubleshooting as needed).3.ย Advise on Data Analysis, Reporting, and Dashboard Maintenance/Update
With external support, establish internal systems for effective and efficient programme and project monitoring and reporting, both internal UNDP and for Implementing Partners Maintain the M&E dashboard to increase and strengthen the quality and availability of country and programmatic data Support GDF secretariat team in extracting data from the dashboard as required for donor or partner reporting.ย4. Support the Fundโs Global Progress Report
Contribute to the Fundโs annual report in terms of context and data gathering Interact and follow up with partners to solicit case studies, lessons learned, success stories, and best practices for the annual report Prepare annual progress against the Fundโs key indicators to include in the Annual Reportย Ensure data on progress on indicators is uploaded in new MPTF gateway.ย5. Facilitate Evidence Generation and Lessons Learned
Identify and synthesise lessons learnt and best practices emerging from the joint Programmes, especially lessons learned from evaluations and studies to be integrated into broader GDF knowledge management Facilitate on-going sharing of experiences across GDF projects Support the RICH secretariat to guide programme partners on undertaking lessons learned analysis and document impact stories, especially on inclusive innovative solutionsย Support the preparation of success stories and knowledge products from RICH programme for both internal and external communication.ย Facilitate and coordinate cross country learning workshops to foster knowledge exchangeยThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning ofย the Office and the Organization
Core Competencies
Achieve Results:
Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.Think Innovatively:
Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.Learn Continuously:
Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.Adapt with Agility:
Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.Act with Determination:
Engage and Partner:
Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย
Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking:ย ย ย ย
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.Business Management - Portfolio Management:
Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return oninvestment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
Business Management - Monitoring & Evaluation:
Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a viewto make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting
on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management
and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and
benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Digitalย - Developmental evaluation:
Learning and adaptation focused: ability to promote and facilitate ongoing reflection and adaptation; aimed at informing learning and portfolio related decision making. Being comfortable with unknown unknowns, uncertainty and understand the traits and value of working with emergence. Being able to give direction rather than destination: monitor and learn about how we understand the present and our direction towards something better (general intent) โ not measuring progress and milestones towards a specific pre- defined goal. Being able to carry out evaluation thinking in complex systems and adapting evaluation strategies to changing realities. Being inclusive, collaborative and co-creative: being able to design and implement evaluation frameworks with the variety of stakeholders and beneficiaries involved. Being flexible and able to use of a mix of methods, having a high tolerance for ambiguity and can draw on a variety of qualitative and quantitative evidence, is open to unorthodox types of evidence. Ability to set up the structures, conditions, rituals to create a culture for curiosity, reflection and learning and promote evaluation results and insights from a learning perspective. Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.Required Skills and Experience
Required:
Education:
Advanced university degree (Masterโs Degree) preferably in Public Health, Political or Social Science, Economics, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Management or other related field is required. ย OR The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning ofย the Office and the Organization.Experience:
Minimum of ย 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of progressively responsible experience working in reporting and evaluation including experience of working within Funds Extensive hands-on experience on designing and implementing impact-focused reporting and evaluation methodologies based on LogFrame / Results framework matrices is required. Familiarity with disability rights and inclusion of disability in projects and programmes, as well as a foundational understanding of the CRPD and other international instruments and relevant frameworks is required.ย Experience on disability inclusion indicators is required. Proven analytical capability and strengths in aggregating data from diverse sources into consolidated, synthetized documents is required. Proven track record of excellent communication and inter-personal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships in a multi-cultural environment and different stakeholders at country level and head office is required.Language:
Fluency in English is required.Desirable:
Proven skills of programme management in the field as well as head office levelย Solid understanding of the Human Rights Agenda Experience of incorporating the engagement of affected populations Experience of setting up systems for new/ start up initiatives Knowledge of other UN languages Experience in a UN system organizationLanguage:
Knowledge of other UN languages.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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