Type of assignment: Intern (Monitoring and Evaluation)
Duration: minimum of 3 and up to 6 months
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Preferred starting date: beginning of November 2008
Host agency: Cambodia UNAIDS Country Office
Application deadline: 15 September 2008
Background
The UNAIDS Country Office (UCO) in Cambodia provides technical support to assist in the implementation of the National Multisectoral Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS (NSP II) (2006-2010).
The NSP II emphasizes among other the need to increase the availability and use of information for policy makers and programme planners through monitoring, evaluation and research. It also stresses the need to establish an effective resource tracking system in order to ensure increased, sustainable and efficiently allocated resources for the national response to HIV and AIDS.
The UCO provides technical support in a range of areas including monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, costing and resource flow tracking. Particular assistance is granted by the UCO to the National AIDS Authority (NAA) who is mandated with the coordination and the monitoring of the national multisectoral response to HIV and AIDS. The mandate of the NAA involves the tracking of financial resources that support the implementation of the national response to the epidemic.
A national financing and spending assessment was conducted in Cambodia for the first time at the end of last year to gather information needed for Cambodia’s 2008 Country Progress Report regarding the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS endorsed at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session in 2001. The assessment was conducted under the leadership of the NAA and with technical support from the UCO. The assessment focused on the year 2006.
Financing and spending assessments will be repeated in the future on a regular basis to collect data needed to track resource flows and to inform resource mobilization and allocation efforts. The next financing and spending assessment is planned at the end of this year and will cover 2007 and 2008. Preparations have already started with the development of a practical manual to guide the work of staff involved with the assessment and translation of the manual into Khmer language.
The UCO is committed to providing technical support to the NAA with the organization and implementation of the upcoming assessment. However, additional human resources will be required to meet this commitment and therefore the UCO seeks to identify a suitable candidate who can assist with carrying out the financing and spending assessment on the one hand, and with more general HIV/AIDS monitoring and evaluation tasks, on the other hand.
This assignment represents a good opportunity for the incumbent to share knowledge and experience as well as to learn from others and from practical work in the field. The assignment could be undertaken as part of university studies or training courses at a graduate level.
The Intern will be based at the UCO and work under a UNDP internship contract. S/he must either be fully self-financed or all costs related to the assignment (e.g., travel, accommodation, living expenses) must be born under a scholarship or other financing secured directly by the Intern.
Description of Duties
Under the direct supervision of the UNAIDS M&E Advisor the incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
- Work in close collaboration with NAA staff to plan and implement the financing and spending assessment. This includes but is not limited to providing assistance with the following tasks:
§ Organize and facilitate meetings, presentations and trainings on the assessment;
§ Refine survey instruments and update directories of respondents including government institutions, non-governmental organisations, bi- and multilateral organizations;
§ Monitor sending and reception of survey instruments to/by respondents;
§ Respond to queries and provide clarifications to respondents;
§ Verify and cross check information received and revert to respondents for complementary information or to request corrections if required;
§ Prepare data entry spreadsheets, enter all the data and cross-check and clean the data;
§ Analyse and interpret the data and develop graphic presentations; and
§ Draft report with assessment results and other documents and presentations.
It is essential that the above tasks be conducted in a participatory manner with the aim of strengthening the capacity and skills of relevant staff at NAA and in partner institutions.
- Work closely with M&E staff at the UCO and at NAA to support the following activities:
§ Annual multi-stakeholder review of Cambodia’s National Strategic Plan for a Comprehensive and Multisectoral Response to HIV/AIDS;
§ Preparation of reports and publications including the Annual Report on the National Response to HIV/AIDS and Cambodia’s Interim Universal Access Report;
§ Planning and implementation of NAA’s Country Response Information System (national database capturing multisectoral data and information from various sources);
§ Technical and programmatic support to the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC) in implementing their M&E activities, especially the project ‘Strengthening Strategic Information from Civil Society to Promote Universal Access’; and
§ Participation in relevant meetings, workshops and conference as required.
- Work with staff at the UCO to assist with more general tasks:
§ Production of a report on Cambodia’s Joint UN Team on HIV/AIDS activities in 2008 based on the UN Joint Support Programme’s Operational Plan and Budget; and
§ Coordination and monitoring of Programme Acceleration Fund initiatives including preparation of narrative and financial reports and no-cost extension letters from executing agencies to receiving entities such as the Chair of the UN Theme Group and Regional Support Team in Bangkok.
- Other tasks assigned by the UNAIDS M&E Advisor and/or Country Coordinator.
Expected Results/Outputs
- Financing and spending assessment (2007/08) successfully completed and report produced.
- Timely and meaningful inputs and effective support to the above-mentioned tasks and functions.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- University degree (preferably Masters degree or enrolled in Masters Programme) in Economics, Social Sciences or Public Health with a solid training in Economics or in Accounting;
- Good knowledge and skills in surveys, preferably with financial or economic surveys/assessments;
- Proven quantitative and qualitative data collection, processing, analysis and interpretation skills;
- Practical work or research experience in developing countries a major asset;
- Excellent oral and written proficiency in English and experience in report writing; and
- Good understanding and/or genuine interest in HIV and AIDS issues.
Competencies:
- Computer skills: Strong computer knowledge and skills, especially in Excel
- Language skills: Fluency in English (knowledge of French or Khmer is an asset)
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Very good interpersonal and communications skills;
- Experience in interacting with people from different cultures and backgrounds;
- Excellent organization, communication and presentation skills; and
- Pro-active and independent individual who takes initiative and is an outstanding team player.
Living Conditions:
The climate of Cambodia is tropical, monsoonal and is characterised by heat and humidity. The rainy season lasts from May to October and the hot, dry season from November until April.
Houses and apartments are available to suit most budgets and preferences. House hunting is not difficult in Phnom Penh. The usual means of locating suitable accommodation is through estate agents/realtors.
There are few taxi operators in Phnom Penh, so for daily transportation the cheapest, fastest and most frequent mode of travel is by moto-dup (you sit behind a driver of a motorbike). You are strictly recommended to wear seatbelts in cars and helmets when travelling on moto-dups or bicycles.
In terms of health, common diseases in Cambodia are those which exist in other tropical countries like diarrhoea, dengue fever and malaria. Most of the serious cases have been reported contracted in hilly, rural and densely forested areas of the country. City dwellers like in Phnom Penh can also be at risk due to poor disposal of waste. Generally in cities, people use purified water for drinking and cooking. The recommended vaccinations are those against typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Tuberculosis and Japanese Encephalitis. While medical facilities in Cambodia are sufficient for the treatment of most routine ailments and minor accidents, illnesses and accidents of more serious nature require medical evacuation, usually to Bangkok or Singapore.
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, through sending a cover letter and updated CV under the subject line ‘M&E Intern’ to Cambodia@unaids.org by 15 September 2008. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and references will be required before appointment.
