Project Monitoring / Implementation Support Officer

Job Description

Terms of Reference / Job Description

Project Monitoring / Implementation Support Officer

Building Resilience and Adapting to Climate Extremes and Disasters Programme (BRACED)

Background

BRACED is a flagship DFID programme under the International Climate Fund. BRACED aims to directly benefit up to 5 million vulnerable people, especially women and children, in developing countries by helping them become more resilient to climate extremes and disasters. Furthermore, through improved policies and institutions at the national level and better integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate adaptation and development programmes, BRACED aims to benefit many millions more.

BRACED has several components and a total budget of £140 million. Component A will work at scale through Implementing Partners (IPs) to directly build the resilience of people to cope with climate extremes in the Sahel. Component B will operate similarly through IPs in other DFID focal countries at high risk of climate events (See Annex 1).

The IPs are consortia composed of international and national or regional NGOs, which were selected through a competitive process. 15 selected IPs are receiving grants for the implementation of their proposals, initially for a three year period. The oversight and management of the DFID-funded grants is being undertaken by a consortium (the “Fund Manager”, FM), led by KPMG in association with Palladium (formerly GRM International) and GCAP. Palladium is providing technical support to the monitoring aspects of the BRACED FM role.

Another separate but linked component of BRACED - Component C - aims to build evidence and learning on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) across the first two components, and is managed by a separately commissioned “Knowledge Manager” (KM), led by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The Project Monitoring Officer and FM technical team are required to work closely together with the KM in support of the overall BRACED programme.

OUTLINE OF PROJECT MONITORING OFFICER ROLE

The Project Monitoring Officer will be part of the Technical Project Monitoring Team within the FM. You will work in a fast-paced professional consulting environment in central London.

The team’s role is to help ensure the successful delivery of the projects being implemented by the 15 IPs. The Project Monitoring Officer will be expected to develop an intimate knowledge of the BRACED project portfolio through regular communication and meetings with the IP project management teams, careful review of reports and project documentation submitted by IPs, and field monitoring visits to monitor progress on the ground. The Project Monitoring Officer will report on a daily basis to the BRACED FM Technical Director, or, in his/her absence, to the BRACED FM Team Leader.

The Project Monitoring Officer is contracted through Palladium, and should provide regular operational reports to the Palladium Operations Support team (including timesheets, financial expenditure, etc.).

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND TASKS

Technical oversight and monitoring of IP projects

• Take lead responsibility for the effective technical oversight and monitoring of around half of the BRACED portfolio of Implementing Partners (IP) projects (around 6-8 projects, with a value of around £40m), as agreed within the FM team. Responsibilities will include:
  • Developing and maintaining an intimate knowledge of all aspects of those projects, so that the FM has an good, up-to-date knowledge of progress, challenges, risks, issues and opportunities
  • Holding regular (monthly) discussions with assigned IPs to monitor progress, challenges, risks and opportunities. Ensuring all relevant members of the FM and IP teams are actively involved in those discussions
  • Leading at least one monitoring mission per year to each IP project assigned
  • Ensuring that the risk register for each IP project assigned is up to date
  • Advising the FM Team Leader on critical issues which may impact the ability of IPs to deliver or report against their projects

• Support the design, development and implementation of project monitoring and reporting systems, and contribute to programme management functions, such as the design and development of monitoring work plans, manuals, templates, guidelines and budgets, etc.

Field monitoring missions

The Project Monitoring Officer will be required to undertake short monitoring missions, typically of 1-2 weeks duration, to monitor and support IP projects in Africa and Asia. Between 7 – 10 weeks overseas travel may be required per year.

This will involve:

• Development of the scope of work, mission ToRs, agenda
• Early consultation with stakeholders on mission dates, objectives, preparatory requirements, and opportunities for collaboration, and VFM from the mission visits.
• Effective management of mission logistics (timings, schedules, duty of care and security provision, timely arrangements for visas, etc.)
• Feedback to IPs at the end of each mission, and the preparation of mission reports.
• Provide backstopping and advisory support to IPs on all aspects of project reporting

Reporting

• Contribute to FM progress reports to DFID on a quarterly and annual basis, which will detail:
  • Progress against FM and IP work plans, risk registers and milestones
  • An overview of IP budget expenditure provided by the Finance Team
  • Progress on work with the KM (i.e. key monitoring, evaluative monitoring, learning and knowledge management outputs)
  • Any issues for consideration by DFID
  • Any amendments to the risk matrix maintained by the KM
  • Any amendments to the BRACED Programme log frame

• Contribute to monthly “updates” sent to IPs, DFID and the KM

Coordination with other BRACED partners

• Work closely with the Knowledge Manager to ensure effective coordination between the KM and FM roles, and to minimize duplication of reporting requirements for IPs between the KM and FM
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation meetings, workshops, and events convened by the KM, in order to ensure that the integrity and practical relevance of monitoring is maintained
• Participate in regular (monthly) joint meetings between the KM, FM and DFID
• Participate in training, information and similar workshops for IPs, convened by the FM (or by the KM or DFID)
• Engage with wider stakeholders if and as required including:
  • other related DFID financed activities (e.g. in the Sahel, the Adaptive Social Protection Programme ; and a proposed humanitarian response fund)
  • other relevant initiatives and programmes, including the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN), and World Bank or UN-led global disaster reduction or climate change adaptation programmes

Other duties and requirements

• Deputise for, or represent, the M&E Technical Director as required
• Other activities as reasonably required

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Education: Master’s degree or equivalent diploma in a relevant area (international development, environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction)
• At least three years’ experience in development projects in Africa or Asia
• Excellent written, spoken and inter-personal communications skills
• Experience in project or programme implementation and management and/or monitoring or real-time evaluation

Strongly Preferred

• Experience in fast-paced, team-based, consulting environments
• Language: fluent written and spoken French
• Practical experience in development cooperation associated with vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, including DRR

Preferred

• A relevant combination of practical experience in:
  • Climate change adaptation, disaster resilience in developing countries
  • Project / programme implementation and management
  • Project / programme monitoring or real-time evaluation
• Experience and aptitude in facilitation (e.g. of workshops, review mission feedback sessions, process re-design or change management initiatives)
• Working experience in BRACED IP operating countries (see Annex 1), and/or experience in fragile and post-conflict countries

The position is based in London, at the KPMG offices in Canary Wharf.

About the Organization

Palladium develops and delivers solutions that create positive impact for communities, businesses, societies and economies. We transform lives and create enduring value by working with governments, corporations and non-profit organisations. Palladium is built on the idea that progress will be supported by four key pillars:

• International Development
• Strategy Execution Consulting
• Impact Investment
• Training and Events

We create positive impact through more than 100 current projects with more than 2000 employees

operating in over 90 countries.