Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Coordinator 135 views0 applications

The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children seeks a Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for the Lishe Endelevu  Activity, which is a USAID-funded Multi-sectoral Nutrition Activity in Tanzania; to be responsible coordinating  Activity monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, supporting targeted evaluations, supporting information systems management, ensuring data quality and provision of capacity building. Working closely with the MEL Advisor, the incumbent will provide advice, guidance, and coordination to SCI and consortium partners and government authorities, at the regional and district level.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Save the Children has been operational in Tanzania since 1986 providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered in support of Government of Tanzania priorities and policies both directly and through local partners.  Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, nutrition, Health and emergency response. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined programmes of SCUK, SCUS, SC Sweden to create a single operation in Tanzania.  We currently have an operational presence in Dodoma, Shinyanga, Zanzibar, Songwe, Kigoma and Dar es Salaam and we work through partners in other parts of the country. We employ more than 100 staff and have an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million.

Together with the  MEL Advisor and in collaboration with the Lishe Endelevu Programme Manager and partners, the  MEL Coordinator will be responsible for establishing and promoting the use of  MEL systems to ensure that the  Lishe Endelevu  Activity  team  and partners:

• Are informed on the extent to which the Lishe Endelevu development interventions are affecting the lives of the targeted beneficiaries.
• Receives regular, timely and context specific, meaningful feedback from Lishe Endelevu program beneficiaries, partners and  Lishe Endelevu Activity staff. The feedback should effectively inform and signal areas where strategic attention and improvement is required.
• Generate evidence-based knowledge on the positive and negative impacts the Lishe Endelevu programme interventions are realized over the communities supported by the programme.

Program Monitoring, Assessments, Evaluations and Reporting

• In collaboration with the Lishe Endelevu Programme Manager and  MEL Advisor establish and ensure implementation of a strong  MEL system for the Lishe Endelevu programme (MEL plans, indicators, performance tracking tables, monitoring tools, benchmarks etc.)
• Support Lishe Endelevu programme baseline studies, formative assessments, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations and other research studies as well as learning events as part of annual Detailed Implementation Plans.
• In collaboration with Lishe Endelevu Programme Manager and MEL Advisor, develop Quality Benchmarks and regularly review progress on indicators/achievement of targets.
• Review Lishe Endelevu MEL reports to highlight key Activity  strengths and areas of improvement, and use learning from monitoring reports for Activity  planning and implementation.
• Review accountability to Lishe Endelevu program beneficiaries’ data and reports and provide technical support to implementation team using key learning from accountability system for program development, planning, improvement and implementation.
• Identify Lishe Endelevu programme staff MEL capacity needs and inform Lishe Endelevu Program Manager and MEL Advisor and set aside MEL capacity building plan for programme staff and partners.
• Provide technical support  to the  Lishe Endelevu field office staff in measuring achievement and progress toward program objectives and results as well as development of MEL systems for Lishe Endelevu programme
• Develop and maintain the Indicator Performance Tracking Tool for Lishe Endelevu programme that will guide preparation of  programme progress updates on a monthly basis
• Lead roll out of Lishe Endelevu programme MEL systems and processes to measure achievement and progress towards achieving Activity  objectives/outcomes and results/outputs against indicators (indicator performance tracker tables, quality checklists, etc.).
• Lead monitoring of program quality using quality bench marks and ensure that findings are shared with relevant stakeholders and explicitly fed back into programme decision making, incorporating accountability and learning.
• Lead compilation of data and reporting on Lishe Endelevu program in relation to SCI global indicators and total beneficiaries reach reports

Partner Management

• Contribute to identify the capacity of present and potential partners in quality programming and ensure that MEL support is provided;
• Ensure that MEL aspects of Lishe Endelevu programme implemented by existing partners are enforced.
• Ensure Lishe Endelevu programme staff and partners’ staff MEL capacity building plan is implemented.

Accountability and Organisational Learning

• In collaboration with Lishe Endelevu Programme Manager facilitate with learning activities like planning for Lishe Endelevu program review workshops, prepare lessons learnt reports, etc.
• Ensure participation of beneficiaries and children in monitoring and evaluating Save the Children development programmes, specifically, Lishe Endelevu programme.
• Ensure accountability systems are established engaging beneficiaries and stakeholders in evaluations, impact assessments and research.

Representation and Advocacy

• Ensure that Save the Children’s work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and government, advocating for the specific needs of children.
• Ensure that Save the Children’s work is coordinated in collaboration with other SC sector teams to strengthen programming and impact for children.
• Provide appropriate information of Lishe Endelevu programme to facilitate the effective engagement with donor and Tanzania government officials at all required levels as required to ensure Save the Children is considered a preferred and active partner in Tanzania and in the Songwe Region specifically.

Child Safeguarding

All staff have an obligation to ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and related policies. They must conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

All staff must ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk).

Applying Technical and Professional Expertise:

• Makes decisions based on professional expertise and experience without deferring unnecessarily to others
• Shares knowledge and best practice on technical solutions so that others can make best use of that expertise
• Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within the team

Developing self and others:

• Gives regular positive and constructive feedback to others
• Identifies clear development needs and development
• plans through regular constructive reviews of their own performance (and their team’s where appropriate)
• Creates space for others to learn and provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments when people are ready for them
• Coaches others to learn from their experiences on the job and to use the resources available to them

Problem Solving and Decision Making:

• Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions
• Knows when to involve others in a decision
• Demonstrates awareness of the wider external influences that impact on decision making
• Analyses and exercises judgment in challenging situations in the absence of specific guidance or knowledge of the full facts
• Evaluates the opportunities and risks of each idea and solution to make informed strategic decisions

Working effectively with others

• Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of those they work with
• Proactively supports team members and trusts their capabilities
• Demonstrates understanding of their skills and how they complement those of others within diverse teams and groups
• Clarifies their role and responsibilities within the team to maximise impact

Delivering Results

• Delivers timely and appropriate results using available resources
• Takes responsibility for their work and its impact on others
• Plans, prioritises and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision
• Understands the link between their work and the organization’s objectives

• A degree in an area of social development or equivalent. Master’s degree is an added advantage
• Minimum  5-7 years practical experience in M&E system coordination/implementation in a large international non-governmental organisation or other international development body;
• Demonstrable track-record in data tracking and evaluation, with the ability to support staff and partners on M&E methodology and analyse and disseminate complex information to a range of stakeholder audiences;
• Well-developed research, analytical (qualitative and quantitative), documentation and  report-writing and skills, with particular competency in participatory research methods;
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and Activity reports. A high level of written and spoken English
• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, Statistical Packages and PowerPoint;
• Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English, with experience working in multicultural, multi-location, values driven teams;
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours and work with diverse community beneficiaries
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children International’s aims, values and principles
• Information Communication Technology literate