Viva Bord Question for Monitoring and Evaluation Associate" position (NPSA-6) with the ERRD-CHT Project at UNDP Bangladesh

 

1. Project Knowledge and UNDP Framework

• Q: How do you think gender and diversity considerations should be integrated into the ERRD-CHT Project?

  • A: Gender and diversity are essential to achieving sustainable outcomes in development projects. For the ERRD-CHT Project, I would ensure that all planning, monitoring, and evaluation stages incorporate gender and diversity indicators. This would involve identifying the unique needs and challenges faced by women, indigenous groups, and marginalized communities in CHT. Additionally, I would aim to disaggregate data by gender and ethnicity to highlight different impacts and support targeted interventions.

• Q: What strategies would you use to ensure the project’s impact is inclusive of women, marginalized communities, and ethnic minorities in CHT?

  • A: I would work with local stakeholders and representatives from different community groups to develop culturally appropriate strategies that encourage active participation. This may involve setting up focus group discussions specifically for women and minority groups, providing gender-sensitive training for field staff, and using tools that ensure our outreach materials are accessible in local languages.

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2. Technical M&E Skills and Tools

• Q: How would you design indicators to monitor gender and diversity-related outcomes in the project?

  • A: I would include indicators such as the percentage of women and ethnic minority beneficiaries, level of participation in project activities, and outcomes on household well-being disaggregated by gender and ethnicity. Indicators could also measure changes in women’s empowerment, community cohesion, and the accessibility of project resources for marginalized groups.

• Q: Describe your experience with gender-sensitive and culturally responsive M&E tools. How have you applied these in past projects?

  • A: In a previous project, I used gender-sensitive M&E tools to track the economic impact on women participants. We developed focus groups and surveys tailored to women’s schedules and comfort levels, and we ensured facilitators were trained on gender and cultural sensitivity. This allowed us to capture more authentic insights and adjust interventions to better meet women’s needs.

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3. Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

• Q: How would you ensure your data collection methods account for the experiences of both women and men, as well as ethnic and cultural diversity in the CHT?

  • A: To address this, I would employ mixed data collection methods, such as gender-segregated focus groups and individual interviews. Using culturally appropriate language, ensuring female and male data collectors for sensitive topics, and making certain that all communities feel comfortable participating are crucial steps to ensure inclusivity and representation.

• Q: How would you handle reporting sensitive findings related to gender inequalities or discrimination?

  • A: I would present sensitive findings objectively and respectfully, emphasizing the importance of addressing these inequalities within a development framework. When reporting, I would ensure that all data is anonymized to protect participants’ identities, and I would highlight any recommendations for addressing the identified inequalities.

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4. Understanding the CHT Context and Cultural Sensitivity

• Q: What challenges do you anticipate in gathering data on gender and social issues within the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and how would you address them?

  • A: I anticipate challenges like cultural resistance to discussing gender roles and potential language barriers. To overcome this, I would engage community leaders to gain trust and work closely with local facilitators to ensure the community feels respected and comfortable with the process.

• Q: How would you approach M&E in a way that respects the cultural diversity and gender norms specific to CHT communities?

  • A: I would first seek a thorough understanding of the local cultural norms through consultations with community representatives. M&E activities would then be adapted to respect these norms—such as having female enumerators interview women and using local languages for data collection tools to improve both understanding and comfort.

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5. Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building

• Q: How would you train local partners and staff on incorporating gender and diversity considerations into M&E?

  • A: I would organize training sessions focused on gender-sensitive and inclusive M&E practices. This would include workshops on designing gender- and diversity-inclusive indicators, culturally sensitive data collection methods, and ethics in handling sensitive data. Practical case studies and role-play exercises can also help staff understand how to apply these concepts in real-life situations.

• Q: Describe an example where you engaged stakeholders in a way that promoted gender and cultural inclusivity.

  • A: In a past project, I engaged both male and female community leaders from indigenous groups to ensure our outreach respected cultural norms. This approach promoted buy-in from the whole community and encouraged broader participation, as it reassured the community that we respected their unique cultural values.

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6. Problem Solving and Adaptability

• Q: Can you share an example of adapting your M&E approach to overcome barriers in accessing data on marginalized groups?

  • A: In one project, I faced difficulties gathering data from remote communities. I adapted our approach by training local enumerators to reach those areas and adjusted our data collection tools to be simpler and more culturally appropriate. This improved both the response rate and data quality from these groups.

• Q: If you find that the project is not reaching women or other vulnerable groups as intended, how would you address this?

  • A: I would assess the barriers by conducting discussions with community members and reviewing project outreach methods. If needed, I would propose targeted strategies such as creating safe spaces for women to participate and ensuring representation from these groups in planning meetings to make the project more accessible.

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7. Ethics, Integrity, and Inclusion in M&E

• Q: How would you handle a situation where cultural norms in the field conflict with gender equality goals in M&E?

  • A: I would first engage with community leaders to discuss the project’s goals and address any concerns. Rather than imposing views, I would promote dialogue and find ways to align project objectives with cultural respect, seeking compromises that foster incremental progress toward gender equality without alienating the community.

• Q: How do you ensure confidentiality and respect when collecting sensitive gender and diversity-related information?

  • A: I ensure that all personal data is securely stored and anonymized to protect participants. For sensitive topics, I make sure participants understand that their information will be confidential and used solely for the purpose of improving project outcomes.