Job Description

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The Position:
The Programme Analyst, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Data is a member of the UNPFA South Africa Country Office and in particular the programmes team. S/he provides professional support for the effective design, implementation, and oversight of the UNFPA South Africa Country Office's for Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) framework. S/he plays a crucial role in strengthening the evidence base for UNFPA's programmes across the three Transformative Results (ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices) and the ICPD Programme of Action in South Africa. The Analyst ensures that data and results are systematically collected, analyzed, and utilized for adaptive management, accountability, and strategic decision-making.
S/he will work under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Country Representative.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 serves as a final push to achieve the goals of ICPD by 2030. It aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, placing the rights and choices of women, adolescents, and marginalized populations at the center of sustainable development. The plan focuses on four key, interconnected outcomes: accelerating progress on ending unmet need for family planning, preventing maternal deaths, eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices, and adapting to demographic change through evidence-based policies.
The transformational journey mapped out in the Strategic Plan leads to 2030 and the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and "how we work" is changing. To address global challenges and protect past gains, the plan strengthens UNFPA's leadership and operational capacity, particularly in fragile settings. It emphasizes working with partners through country-led strategies, sustainable financing, and evidence-based advocacy. In South Africa, UNFPA's work has transitioned from fund management to an engagement and solution center.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
This role is designed to embed robust PMEL practices throughout the programme cycle. This entails providing professional support for programme planning and design with measurable indicators, leading monitoring and reporting efforts to track performance, and managing evaluations to assess impact. The role is central to strengthening the evidence base for UNFPA's initiatives aimed at achieving the three Transformative Results and the goals of the ICPD Programme of Action in South Africa. The Analyst ensures that data and programme results are systematically collected, analyzed, and utilized to foster adaptive management, enhance accountability, and inform strategic decision-making at all levels.
Under the supervision of the Country Representative, the MEL and Data Programme Analyst is tasked with promoting a culture of learning by facilitating the dissemination of findings and best practices. A key aspect of the role also involves building the PMEL capacity of partners and country office staff, while actively engaging in partnerships to harmonize approaches and contribute to resource mobilization through evidence-based reporting.
Responsibilities:
The Programme Analyst, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Data has the following major Duties and Responsibilities
A. Programme Planning and Design

• Assist in the development and refinement of the Country Programme Document (CPD) and annual work plans, ensuring alignment with national priorities, UNFPA's strategic plan, and results-based management principles.
• Support the formulation of clear and measurable indicators, targets, and baselines for all programme components, in close collaboration with programme teams and implementing partners.
• Contribute to the design of robust logical frameworks and theories of change for new and ongoing projects, ensuring a clear causal pathway from inputs to desired outcomes and impacts.
• Provide technical input for the development of programme documents, proposals, and concept notes, ensuring that PMEL considerations are fully integrated from the outset.

B. Monitoring and Reporting

• Lead the implementation of the Country Office's monitoring plan, ensuring timely collection, aggregation, and analysis of programme data from various sources, including field visits, partner reports, and national statistics.
• Develop and maintain effective data management systems and tools to track programme progress against key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets.
• Prepare high-quality, results-based progress reports and annual reports for internal use, donors, and other stakeholders, highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to implementing partners, providing technical guidance and support to strengthen their monitoring capacities and data quality.
• Contribute to the preparation of analytical briefs and dashboards to provide management with timely and relevant information on programme performance

C. Evaluation and Learning

• Support the planning, coordination, and management of programme evaluations, including mid-term reviews and final evaluations, in line with UNFPA evaluation policies and standards.
• Contribute to the development of terms of reference for evaluations, selection of consultants, and review of evaluation reports, ensuring their quality and utility.
• Facilitate the dissemination and utilization of evaluation findings and recommendations to inform programme adjustments, policy dialogue, and future programming.
• Promote a culture of learning within the Country Office and among partners by organizing workshops, knowledge sharing events, and documenting best practices and lessons learned from PMEL activities.
• Support the integration of learning into programme design and implementation through adaptive management approaches.
• Support the planning and implementation of South-South and triangular cooperation strategies and initiatives

D. Capacity Building and Partnerships

• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to implementing partners and Country Office staff on PMEL methodologies, tools, and data management.
• Collaborate with national statistical offices and other data providers to strengthen national data systems relevant to UNFPA's mandate.
• Participate in relevant UN inter-agency PMEL groups and national coordination mechanisms to harmonize approaches, share experiences, and strengthen partnerships for evidence-based programming.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by providing robust PMEL components for proposals and donor reports

E. General Support

• Stand-in for other Programme team members on selected functions as may be required.
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Public Health, Development Studies, Economics, International Relations, Public Administration, or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience in planning, monitoring, and evaluation, preferably in the field of international development, population, or public health.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing PMEL frameworks, including logical frameworks, theories of change, and results matrices.
• Strong analytical skills, with proven ability to collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data and to produce high-quality reports.
• Familiarity with various data collection methodologies and tools, including surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews.
• Experience in conducting or supporting programme evaluations.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, STATA) and experience with data visualization tools is an asset.
• Familiarity with UN results-based management principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of the South African national context, particularly regarding development priorities and data landscape, is highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Professional working knowledge of one or more official South African languages is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of another UN Official Language is an asset.

Required Competencies:
Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Results-Based Management (RBM)
• Data Management and Analytics
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
• Strategic Planning
• Partnership Management
• Capacity Development
• Communication for Influence
• Knowledge Management
• Proficiency in current office software applications

Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

Skills Required