Closing date

09 April 2024

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist; UCA

 

 

Department: University of Central Asia (UCA), Office of Research and Development (50%)  |  Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Quality of Life Unit (QoL) (50%)

Reports to: Director of ORD  |  Director of QoL

Duty Station: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Duration: 1 year contract, renewal contingent on approved funding and work plan

Deadline: April 09, 2024

UCA Background:

The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 as a private, not for profit, secular university through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan; ratified by their respective parliaments, and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of the University and His Highness is the Chancellor. UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognised standard of higher education, and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future. UCA brings with it the broader commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information: www.ucentralasia.org

QoL Background:

The AKDN Quality of Life (QoL) Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) Support Unit conducts periodic assessments designed to provide an overview of how people’s lives are changing over time in core geographic areas of interest to AKDN. The main aim of these studies is to analyse and adjust AKDN’s interventions in light of the findings. The QoL Unit mandate also includes providing targeted support to strategic MER activities of AKDN agencies.

Description of the position:

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist role is a joint appointment between the University of Central Asia (UCA) and the AKDN Quality of Life (QoL) Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) Support Unit.

For UCA, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will work within the Office of Research and Development (ORD), which works to support project activities and funded research across the University. The Specialist’s work within ORD would be structured around the following components:

  • Provide expertise in MER planning and methodology to inform and strengthen project design, proposal submission and achievement of project goals;
  • Develop institutional data collection tools and systems to meet the University’s needs;
  •  Build internal data collection, impact monitoring and MER capacity;
  • Support the wider UCA institutional strategy through analysis of results and lessons learned from UCA’s wider project and research activities and their progress towards advancing the university’s strategic direction;
  • Support the University’s partnerships and public affairs activities through the provision of key data and findings; and
  • Act as the key MER point of contact within UCA to streamline data communications and enhance accuracy and consistency, while reducing duplication of effort.
  • Sit on the UCA University Town Development Steering Committee, recently formed to monitor the impact that UCA has on the life of Naryn town.

For the QoL Unit, the Specialist will work as part of the global QoL Unit with the goal to:

  • Support AKDN agencies' MER focal points in strengthening the quality of key and strategic research studies and evaluations, as well as results frameworks and MER inputs into strategic proposals;
  • Work with relevant technical MER staff across the Network to manage, archive and make accessible relevant AKDN data, as appropriate, and to extract high-quality information that is already collected and publicly available;
  • Support research processes related to AKDN’s periodic QoL assessments, where appropriate.
  • Help frame and integrate questions for research that are relevant to AKDN within UCA;
  • Provide targeted capacity building to AKDN agencies’ MER staff, as appropriate.

Skills, Qualifications and Requirements:

  • Advanced degree (MA, PhD or similar) in relevant social science discipline (e.g., economics, international relations, political science, public policy, sociology);
  • Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation planning and implementation;
  • Experience in designing and conducting social science research and/or preparing research output based on the analysis of secondary source data;
  • Good knowledge of English, both written and spoken;
  • Ability to diplomatically engage and seek consensus with people from different backgrounds and levels within the AKDN;
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills;
  • Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing;
  • Ability to work well independently, as well as part of diverse, collaborative global teams;
  • Experience in coaching, advising, mentoring, and/or teaching, an asset;
  • Ability and willingness to travel within country and regionally, as required;
  • Citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic or already possess the right to live and work in the Kyrgyz Republic.

How to Apply

Please submit your application (cover letter, CV and contact information of three references) on https://tinyurl.com/4kmxzynz by April 09, 2024.

Applications will be reviewed when received. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Review other job vacancies at: https://ucentralasia.org/career-opportunities.