National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

General

Description of assignment title: National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning officer

Assignment country: Papua New Guinea

Duty stations: Port Moresby

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 07/01/2026

Duration: 12 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal: 10. Reduced inequalities

Host entity: UNFPA Papua New Guinea

Modality: Onsite

Type: National

Volunteer category: Expert UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Papua New Guinea works to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. In partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea, development partners, civil society organizations, and communities, UNFPA supports efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote gender equality, empower young people, and strengthen the use of population data for sustainable development.
• UNFPA Papua New Guinea contributes to national development priorities through the following objectives:
• -Improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for women, adolescents, young people, and vulnerable populations in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
• -Reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by strengthening maternal and newborn health services and increasing access to skilled birth attendance.
• -Expand access to modern family planning information, commodities, and services to address the country's high unmet need for contraception and support informed reproductive choices.
• -Empower adolescents and young people through youth-friendly health services, life-skills education, and meaningful participation in development processes.
• -Prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including family and sexual violence and sorcery accusation-related violence, through survivor-centred services, advocacy, and community engagement.
• -Promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by addressing harmful social norms and strengthening protective policies and systems.
• -Strengthen preparedness and response to humanitarian emergencies by ensuring access to reproductive health services and dignity supplies during disasters and crises.
• -Support the collection, analysis, and use of population and demographic data, including census and survey data, to inform evidence-based planning, policy development, and resource allocation.
• -Strengthen national capacities for monitoring, evaluation, and results-based management to improve programme effectiveness and accountability.
• These objectives contribute directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the principle of leaving no one behind.

Context:

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations agency dedicated to ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA works in more than 150 countries to improve sexual and reproductive health, promote gender equality, and support population and development initiatives.
• Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces significant demographic and development challenges. Approximately 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 25, resulting in a rapidly growing youth and working-age population. Despite this demographic potential, PNG continues to experience poor reproductive health outcomes. The country has a maternal mortality ratio of 171 deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest in the region, a contraceptive prevalence rate of only 24.1 per cent, and an unmet need for family planning of approximately 30 per cent. Access to skilled birth attendance remains limited, while the HIV prevalence rate stands at 0.8 per cent.
• Gender-based violence (GBV) is also a critical concern in PNG. According to the 2016 PNG Demographic and Health Survey, 63.9 per cent of women have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence by an intimate partner, and 57 per cent of those women reported sustaining injuries as a result. Social and economic pressures, including those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, have further exacerbated violence against women and girls, including sorcery accusation-related violence in some communities.
• To address these challenges, UNFPA has committed to achieving its three transformative results by 2030:
• 1. Ending preventable maternal deaths.
• 2.Ending unmet need for family planning.
• 3.Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls, including child marriage.
• Following the completion of its Sixth Country Programme (2018-2023), UNFPA PNG has launched its Seventh Country Programme (2024-2028), which aligns with PNG's Medium-Term Development Plan IV, the UNFPA Strategic Plan (2022-2025), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024-2028.
• To support effective implementation and monitoring of the Seventh Country Programme and the UNSDCF, UNFPA PNG plans to engage a National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme. The M&E Officer contributes to the development of the Theory of Change, Results and Resources Framework, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan. The role also supports the establishment and strengthening of a comprehensive M&E system within the UNFPA PNG Country Office to ensure evidence-based decision-making, accountability, programme effectiveness, and progress toward national and global development goals.

Task description:

• Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Country Representative and Deputy Representative, the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer will support the implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the UNFPA Papua New Guinea Country Programme (2024-2028) and contribute to strengthening the Country Office's results-based management systems.
• The incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:
• -Support the monitoring and implementation of the Seventh Country Programme Document (CPD) Operational Plan and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan, as well as contribute to UNFPA reporting requirements under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024-2028.
• -Coordinate and promote results-oriented, rights-based, and gender-responsive planning, budgeting, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes across UNFPA-supported programmes and projects.
• -Review and analyse quarterly work plan progress reports against approved indicators, targets, and budgets in the Strategic Information System (SIS) and Quantum, ensuring timely identification of implementation challenges and corrective actions.
• -Strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and results orientation of UNFPA-supported policy advocacy, capacity development, and programme interventions, while supporting the development of national and sub-national monitoring and evaluation capacities.
• -Establish, maintain, and continuously improve results-based management systems, monitoring tools, and performance tracking mechanisms to support delivery of the Country Programme and humanitarian response activities.
• -Coordinate and support programme and project evaluations, assessments, reviews, and learning exercises, ensuring compliance with UNFPA evaluation policies and standards.
• -Work closely with Output Leads, programme and operations staff, field-based personnel, implementing partners, and government counterparts to ensure effective integration and application of monitoring, evaluation, and learning principles across all programme areas.
• Participate actively in inter-agency monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, results groups, and joint programming processes established under the UNSDCF.
• Support the Senior Management Team in setting annual targets, monitoring quarterly milestones, tracking programme performance, and preparing accurate and evidence-based annual and end-of-cycle results reports.
• -Promote knowledge management, learning, and the use of evidence for programme improvement, strategic decision-making, and organizational accountability.
• -Perform any other duties as assigned by the Country Representative or, in his/her absence, the Deputy Representative.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 7 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 5 years

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level:

• Master's degree in social sciences, Demography, Economics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Public Health, Population, Management, Development Studies, Gender Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration or Law with experience on monitoring and evaluation, research, data collection and analysis of data, with three (3) years of relevant professional M&E/Results-Based Management (RBM) experience, preferably with an international organization or Government; or
• â— Bachelor's degree in a relevant field mentioned above combined with five (5) years of relevant professional M&E/RBM experience, preferably with an international organization

Competencies and values:

• Values:
• â— Exemplifying integrity
• â— Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• â— Embracing cultural diversity
• â— Embracing change
• Core Competencies:
• â— Achieving results
• â— Being accountable
• â— Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
• â— Thinking analytically and strategically
• â— Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• â— Communicating for impact

Skills and experience:

• â— Required years of work experience (as stipulated above) in Monitoring & Evaluation and results-based management of programmes/projects on health, gender, youth and/or population and development is an advantage
• â— Familiarity with UN/UNFPA policies, procedures and tools for M&E/RBM is and prior experience working with the UN/UNFPA will be an asset;
• â— Must be able to remain focused under pressure, with a commitment to working hard and long hours; and
• â— Must be meticulous - have a keen eye for details, looking for excellence/perfection
• â— in all technical matters.
• Other Skills:
• â— A high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, and MS PowerPoint) is required.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Development programmes, Community development, Communication

Driving license:

• -

Other information