Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adoles-cents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and terri-tories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures. UNICEF Office was established in Guinea in 1986. The main office is based in Conakry and three (3) zone offices are located in Kankan, Labé, and Nzérékoré. The main area of intervention is: Health, Nutrition, Water/Hygiene / Sanitation, Education , protection and social inclusion. UNICEF Guinea started in 2018 the current programming cycle (CPD) covering the period from 2018 to 2022. The main pillars of this program of cooperation signed between the Government of Guinea and UNICEF are: (i) good governance for sustained development of human capital; (ii) sustained economic growth and inclusive; (iii) inclusive development of human capital; and (iv) sustainable de-velopment natural resources. The programme is aligned to the national development plan and the UN cooperation framework in Guinea.

Guinea is a lower-middle-income country facing significant challenges in child development and deprivation. According to the latest Human Development Index (HDI) report, Guinea has a Human Development Index of 0.480, ranking 178th out of 191 countries in 2023, reflecting its ongoing struggle with poverty and social development challenges. Since 1984, UNICEF has worked with the government and various partners, including UN agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to improve conditions for children. The population of Guinea is projected to be around 15.2 million in 2025, with 63.4% living in rural areas and women comprising approximately 50.3% of the population. The annual growth rate remains steady at about 2.8%. Children under the age of 18 account for roughly 51% of the population, underscoring the critical need for child-focused interventions in areas such as health, education, and protection (World Population Review). The vision of the 2024-2028 country program is: "A Guinea where children, especially adolescent girls and children from the most vulnerable families in the most disadvantaged geographical areas, have equitable opportunities for sustainable access to essential social services and quality social protection, and can reach their full potential, including in a context of climate-related vulnerabilities and emergencies". Currently, Guinea faces regularly natural disasters, such as flooding, which displace populations, damage infrastructure, and exacerbate the already challenging humanitarian conditions. These ongoing challenges necessitate continued support and local resilience building measures to mitigate their impact on the population. The UNICEF Guinea office is looking for committed and creative professionals to make a lasting difference for Guinean children.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Planning Monitoring and Evaluation specialist and in close collaboration with all Programme Sections, the National PME Specialist will support the following tasks: Provide technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, in the context of the multi-year and annual IMEPs (Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Plan), the Annual Management Plan and Annual Work Plans, as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Manual). - Coordinate with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across programmes to feed into to programme performance monitoring, with special attention to humanitarian response. - Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key program performance and management indicators, provide professional input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports. - Coordinate with programme sections and relevant partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across programmes to feed into to programme performance monitoring, (including during humanitarian response if necessary). - Monitor and ensure the quality of the field work and data management during the implementation phase, and the quality of the analysis and ease of understanding during the report writing phase. - Disseminate reporting findings and recommendations to the intended audiences in user-friendly methods. In particular, to ensure that effective participatory feedback is provided to community and civil society stakeholders. - Monitor and ensure that a management response to the findings and recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation. Most specifically, ensure that evaluation recommendations are submitted to the Country Management Team and follow-up actions recorded in CMT minutes. Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation. - In close collaboration with partners, ensure that capacity building strategy for UNICEF/UN staff national partners and institutions exists in the context of the IMEP, or UNSDCF (United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework) / PM&R plan (Planning, Monitoring and Research Plan). Pay particular attention so the capacity needs of national partners such as professional evaluation associations will be strengthened by involvement in evaluation processes and possibly through specific capacity building initiatives. - Collaborate to implement capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners. Utilize a range of appropriate skills building strategies including self-learning, seminars and workshops and practical experience in order that UNICEF and UN staff have the basic knowledge and skills in understanding and applying new PM&R policies, tools, methods to fulfil their responsibilities. Similarly, design and implement strategies suited to the skills needs of national partners.