The Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) was established on 20 October 2021 as a pooled funding instrument to help address basic human needs across Afghanistan, in complementarity to the ongoing humanitarian assistance. The Fund ultimately seeks to support vulnerable Afghan communities withstand, in a sustainable manner, the multiple crises that arose from the new operating environment that came into place after the powershift of August 2021.  The Trust Fund Management Unit (TFMU) is the Fund Secretariat for STFA: it is the entity responsible for the operational functioning of the Fund and provides technical and management support to the STFA’s Steering Committee (SC). TFMU works under the direction of, and reports directly to, the STFA SC and its Chair, the UN Resident Coordinator; UNDP CO Afghanistan provides operational and logistical support to the unit for its day-to-day administration.

STFA constitutes an important vehicle to enable the operationalization of the recently launched UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), 2023-2025, through joint, inter-agency, ‘Delivering as One’ (DaO) initiatives.  Programmatic activities under the UNSFA, undertaken alongside the humanitarian response, aim to mitigate, and hopefully avert, the immediate impact of the crises on lives and livelihoods of vulnerable Afghans. The Fund serves as also enables multiple contributing partners to channel their resources and coordinate their support for the implementation of the UNSFA and the UN joint programmes developed under it. The three outcome areas under UNSFA (on services, livelihoods and rights) remain key programmatic priorities under the scope of STFA’s Terms of Reference.

Under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, housed in the TFMU, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist is responsible for design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, systems, and tools, including conducting programme quality assurance; lead coordination of and support to monitoring, reporting, evaluation and results-based management of joint programmes and projects; facilitate knowledge building and sharing on monitoring, evaluation, and results-based management. The M&E Specialist also works in close collaboration with the Programme Management, Finance and Communications teams in the TFMU as well as with the M&E focal points of the Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs).

The M&E Specialist works under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the international M&E Specialist.

Development of planning, M&E tools and systems:

• Contribute to programme design, oversight and evaluation, by providing analytical work to better understand the expected results and priorities and advising on results framework formulation as well as on applicable guidance.
• Assist in the planning, prioritizing and sequencing of STFA activities for strategic and optimal result-oriented programming.
• Draft evaluation plans and lead on development of terms of reference/scope of work for assigned evaluations.
• Provide technical advice and quality assurance to staff of Participating UN Organizations on programme evaluations, including through review of terms of reference, evaluation methodology and draft reports.
• Advise on the preparation of work plans, progress reports, presentations and other programme related documents and correspondence as may be required.
• Prepare high quality documentation for dissemination to the relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and implement innovative M&E tools as well as establish systems and metrics for data collection and analysis, and production of routine reports.
• Develop and set-up effective standard operating procedures for commissioning evaluations, reviews and exercise quality assurance role when applicable.

Coordination of and support to monitoring reporting, evaluation and results-based management of joint programmes and projects:

• Oversee implementation and application of efficient and evidence-based results monitoring, and as applicable, quality assurance work for programme and project development and delivery using integrated portfolio approach.
• Ensure timely identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks and advise the management and programme/project teams on strategies/corrective measures to address them.
• Ensure donor reports are timely prepared in line with established requirements. Prepare analysis of results of projects, and other periodic information and reports for the Fund, donor community and other key stakeholders. Advise on data use and interpretation to assess country programme results, improve programme quality, identify trends, and inform future decision-making processes.
• Ensure consistent maintenance and monitoring of relevant scorecards and quality assurance tools such as the Social and Environmental Safeguards. Provide support to the management and coordination of third-party monitoring and/or any other data collection interventions in the Fund.
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to review and assimilate data related on programmes funded by the Trust Fund. Collect and report accurate, reliable and coherent data, achieving the right balance of qualitative and quantitative evidence.
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation-related events, products, and technical assistance needs.Extract and analyze critical lessons learned and good practices from evaluation, audit and monitoring reports.

Provide substantive contributions to facilitate knowledge building and sharing on monitoring, evaluation, and results-based management:

• Participate in preparing knowledge packages on RBM, monitoring and evaluation, data collection/survey methods, gender mainstreaming and portfolio approach for programme and project teams and key stakeholders.
• Support the identification, synthesis, documentation, and dissemination of key lessons learned and good practices derived from monitoring and evaluation activities on what works, what does not work, and/or revised theories of change to identify innovative ideas for their scaling or replication.
•  Provide sound contributions to local and global networks, communities of practice, and other knowledge management mechanisms. Proactively participate in fora on relevant thematic areas (including engaging in thematic discussions, contributing with analytical papers, etc.).
• Advise staff on evidence-based programming, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance methodologies and processes with special focus to corporate policies and tools.

Evaluation Management:

• Effectively manage and contribute to the evaluation stages including a) evaluability assessment b) preparation; c) implementation and management; and d) use of the evaluation. This includes serving as Evaluation Manager for assigned evaluation exercises.
• Provide accurate and timely guidance on draft terms of reference for evaluation, reviewing evaluation reports, management responses, lessons learned, and other relevant information within the specified time frame.
• Participate in the selection/recruitment of external evaluators and ensure safeguarding the independence of evaluations.
• Ensure provision of technical and administrative support and required data and documentation. This includes review and comment on inception reports including evaluation questions and methodologies, circulating draft and final evaluation reports; collecting and consolidating comments on draft evaluation reports and sharing with the evaluation team for finalization of the evaluation report.
• Contribute to the development of management responses and key actions to all recommendations from evaluations. Facilitate, monitor and report on status of management responses and key actions.
• Advise TMFU and other stakeholders regarding results of evaluations and any lessons or management/operational issues that should be addressed.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Business Management

• Monitoring and Evaluation. Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to 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.
• Portfolio Management . Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
• Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Results based management. Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation. Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

• Effectiveness. Programming (PPM) policies and procedures

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking. 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

Required languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is required.