Title:  Monitoring & Evaluation Expert

 ​​Requisition ID: 6277 
Grade: P3 (Specialist) 
Country: Zambia 
Duty Station: Lusaka 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 5 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 16-Sep-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

     PROJECT CONTEXT

     ID 240108 - Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme – COMESA

The EU-funded Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, a Sub-Saharan African initiative aims at sustainably increasing intra-African and EU-Africa trade. In addition to a continental component, the programme comprises five regional components in the ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC, ECCAS and EAC regions, building on existing or previous regional programmes (WACOMP in West Africa, MARKUP in East Africa, PIQAC in Central Africa, RECAMP and SIPS in Southern Africa).  

The overall focus of this four-year ATCMA COMESA Programme is to address market access challenges faced by selected value chains in the easter and southern African region, through two pillars:

1. The programme will spearhead the identification of trade barriers, being those tariffs, non-tariff barriers, as well as regulatory constraints, and support COMESA and its Member States in formulating and implementing targeted strategies to address these challenges. Further it will enhance the regional and national quality infrastructure systems by defining quality-related policies and good governance strategies and strengthening selected quality infrastructure institutions at the national and regional levels. As success hinges on complementing the overall governance with a robust value chain approach, the programme will focus on ensuring market access for specific target value chains to be selected through a consultative process.

2. The programme will prioritize the enhancement of export competitiveness as a crucial enabler towards trade development, anchoring its interventions around the strengthening of MSMEs capacities and ensuring their compliance with regulatory frameworks. A pivotal role will be played by the private sector and business associations that will facilitate the implementation of services aimed at enhancing export competitiveness and maximizing opportunities for MSMEs. Forward looking and innovative practices will be at the core of the programme’s approach. Moreover, the intervention will support the development of sustainable (green, blue, circular and climate-neutral) policies, strategies and actions for the target value chains. It will promote the development of clusters and consortia fostering resilient business alliances and reliable institutional networks, and support MSMEs access to innovative financing and investment solutions.

The programme is thematically structured into five components leading to 5 outputs as follows:

In relation to Specific Objective 1:

Output 1.1: Market access barriers identified and reduced

Output 1.2: Strengthened quality compliance and standards

Output 1.3: Value-chain revision mechanism facilitated

In relation to Specific Objective 2:

Output 2.1: Enhanced value addition and diversification

Output 2.2: Enhanced SME capacities and opportunities for business and export

While UNIDO is in charge of implementing output 1.2 and 2.1., ITC is responsible for the implementation of output 1.1, 1.3 and 2.2.

To ensure an overall coherent umbrella ATCMA framework, coordination and complementarity between the Continental component and sub-regional components will be ensured throughout the overall programme implementation. 

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The International Monitoring & Evaluation Expert works under the overall guidance of the UNIDO Industrial Development Officer responsible for the project (Lead Programme Manager), Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) at UNIDO HQ, in close collaboration with the Industrial Development Expert(s) at UNIDO HQ, the Regional Programme Manager in Lusaka, and the UNIDO-ITC project teams in Lusaka and HQs.

MAIN DUTIES

Overall Monitoring and Evaluation

• Development and Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Design a monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with program objectives, EU OPSYS requirements and the specific M&E frameworks of UNIDO and ITC. This will include key performance indicators (KPIs), data sources, and collection methodologies, and develop data collection tools, tracking forms, and methodology guides adapted to the different types of data required (quantitative and qualitative).
• Data Collection and Analysis: Develop a dashboard and digital interface and prepare monthly reports summarizing ongoing activities, results achieved, and gaps in relation to objectives. Identify potential obstacles and propose recommendations. Conduct in-depth analysis of semi-annual performance in relation to set goals. Include comparative analysis and identify trends.
• Support to Planning and Information Management: Create and maintain centralized digital database for the storage of means of verification and tracking of key indicators, facilitating access to and analysis of collected information. Provide analytical support for the development of operational plans based on monitoring data and evaluation results.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions for team members and local partners on monitoring and evaluation practices and tools.
• Support regular update and reporting on the status of the achievement of the indicators of the logical framework of the programme and provide inputs to the progress reports.
• When required, assist project teams in conducting internal mid-term reviews of the programme in line with EU’s Results-Oriented Monitoring (ROM) in order to evaluate overall performance and progress and submit a report including findings, shortcomings and recommendations for corrective measures/actions and improvement of the projects’ interventions.
• Monitor, where relevant, the implementation of recommendations of ROM missions and provide guidance on M&E related recommendations and adjusted project activities.
• Provide inputs to the programme team for briefing project partners, donor, government and relevant stakeholders based on project highlights and experiences such as regional and country factsheets.
• In collaboration with the Regional Outreach & Advocacy Expert, provide inputs for programme narratives on impact for the beneficiaries.
• Prepare a final report covering the activities and the results of assignment.
• Carry out any other assignment as requested.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in International Development, Management, Business administration, Economics or other relevant discipline.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years practical experience in the area of Monitoring and Evaluation of trade capacity building;
• Knowledge on trade competitiveness, market access and value chains is required;
• Understanding of developing countries needs and priorities is of paramount importance;
• Exposure to implementation and/or monitoring of international cooperation projects are important assets;
• Knowledge of EU and/or UNIDO/ITC evaluation and monitoring frameworks is a key asset;
• Proven computer skills, particularly in the use of office applications, with training in the use of Microsoft Excel, Power BI and other digital project management tools, including data collection;
• Ability to work with in multicultural teams and maintain good and stimulating working relationships;
• Good organizational and management skills;
• Experience in African countries, particularly Eastern or Southern Africa, is an important advantage.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency or working knowledge of another official language of the United Nations, particularly French is an asset.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level. 

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org