UN CareersGlobal Opportunities
San Jose, Costa RicaUNHCR
8 days leftPosted Jun 11, 2026

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Assistant assists with the generation and use of rigorous, credible evidence on UNHCR’s results and the situation of the people we serve for the purposes of planning, results reporting and advocacy. S/he supports consistency in monitoring methodologies, assists coordination of evaluations and the use of assessment and monitoring data for decision-making.

The Senior M&E Assistant supports the Planning Coordinator and Results Managers and collaborates closely with Information Management colleagues in operations. S/he works closely with Monitoring colleagues and Evaluation colleagues in the Regional Bureau and Headquarters, as well as DIMA colleagues and Economists in the Regional Bureau. The incumbent works with the operation’s multi-functional team (MFT), ensuring support to and effective participation of relevant stakeholders during the Plan for, Get and Show phases of UNHCR’s results-based management cycle and operations’ multi-year strategy.

Externally, as directed by the supervisor, the incumbent engages with individuals with whom UNHCR works and represents UNHCR on M&E-related matters, e.g. UNCT Technical M&E working group, and counterparts in other organizations or at the working level in national governments, such as national statistics offices.

The incumbent reports to a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

  • Assist in the development of multi-year M&E plans as part of the multi-year strategy, leveraging integrated M&E tools and approaches.
  • Assist Results Managers in selecting and developing relevant indicators and related monitoring activities and support systematic documentation of methodology, calculation and use to enhance data-driven decision-making.
  • Assist in the coordination of key primary data collection exercises such as assessments, implementation monitoring and results monitoring activities including Results Monitoring Surveys (RMS).
  • Support participatory approaches to assessment, monitoring, evaluation and reporting and evaluation by promoting engagement of communities and partners.
  • Assist development of coherent M&E frameworks, tools and practices by coordinating with stakeholders across donor-driven and multi-partner initiatives.
  • Support preparation of advice to management on evaluation needs, and contribute to quality assurance of country-level evaluations, ensuring alignment with UNHCR’s Evaluation Policy.
  • Facilitate communication between country operations and regional or HQ evaluation teams during global or regional evaluations.
  • Compile, organize, and maintain an evidence base of primary and secondary data to support evaluations and reporting.
  • Assist preparation of joint review and analysis to translate data into actionable insights to support senior management and the MFT in effective data use for evidence-based programming, reporting, and advocacy.
  • Assist in design and delivery of M&E training and learning initiatives for UNHCR staff and partners.
Ensure that monitoring and evaluation processes comply with UNHCR’s policies (UNHCR Policy on Planning for, Getting and Showing Results, UNHCR/HCP/2023/05, and the UNHCR Evaluation Policy, UNHCR/HCP/2022/03), procedures and guidance (including the Programme Handbook), as well as ethical considerations, data protection standards, and applicable UN regulations and rules.
  • Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses

HCR Results_Based Management; Research and Evaluation Methods;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Essential

Experience in planning and implementing, monitoring systems and managing and/or conducting independent evaluation in United Nations system in international development and/or humanitarian contexts. Experience in setting up monitoring systems and rolling out M&E frameworks that form part of and align with corporate results-based management. Experience in cordinating a variety of internal and external stakeholders in a cross-cultural professional environment.

Desirable

Demonstrated experience in collaborating with UN development or humanitarian actors, frameworks and coordinating mechanisms. Experience in working with Government and institutions. Experience in data management and statistics, including surveys and indicator management. Experience with organisational change processes. Experience with UN programming. Experience in strategic planning processes and in coordinating and drafting strategies and plans, in particular on protection and solutions, advocacy, or partnership building.

Functional Skills

EL-Monitoring and Evaluation;
PG-Results-Based Management;
PG-UNHCR's Programmes;
EL-Evaluation design and methodologies;
PG-Surveying and data collection methodologies and practices;
DM-Data Collection and Analysis;
PG-RBM tools (theory of change, results frameworks);
PM-Project Monitoring;
TR-Facilitation - Virtual and face to face;
EL-Partnership with government and other partners in monitoring and evaluation projects;

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Not specified.

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking
Change Capability and Adaptability
Planning and Organizing

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

Functional Clearance

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)

Desired languages

Additional Qualifications

Skills
Education
Certifications

Work Experience

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Other information

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