Project Summary:

The Youth Connect activity is one of several activities supporting USAID’s Bridge project, devoted to addressing the development challenges at the nexus of countering violent extremism and resilience. The goal of the activity is to equip vulnerable young women and men in Niger with technical and life skills, networks, and capital for increased strategic economic opportunities. This objective supports the overall Bridge project purpose, which is to address critical unmet needs that are the main drivers of violent extremist recruitment in the Sahel: poor governance, lack of economic opportunity, and perceived exclusion from the benefits and services provided and facilitated by governments in the region.

Position Summary:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing an effective system to monitor progress, impacts, and successes of project activities and performance at all levels. S/he will gather, analyze, and process complex information related to all aspects of program activity implementation. S/he will conduct impact assessments, baseline studies, surveys and need assessments to identify necessary changes and future project opportunities. The MERL Director will ensure that the project complies with USAID performance reporting requirements.

Reporting & Supervision:

The MERL Director will report to the Chief of Party and work closely with the Creative’s MERL team in the Washington, D.C. office.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and update the Youth Connect Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (PMEP), including review of its theory of change, results framework, identify indicators, relevant and applicable baseline data collection strategies and methodologies, and the financial and human resources needed to successfully implement the MERL strategy;
• Design and lead Youth Connect’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) and Complexity-Aware monitoring (CAM) efforts;
• Develop tools for data collection and protocols for performance monitoring as well as baseline, midline and end line and other assessments as needed;
• Ensure data collected are uploaded to Creative web-based platform;
• Analyze ongoing quantitative / qualitative data at different points in the program leading to the specific program / contract results;
• Conduct field visits, as necessary, to develop monitoring / performance management plans with and train Youth Connect technical teams;
• Regularly review Youth Connect work plans to ensure the timely achievement of results related to USAID MEL;
• Elaborate annual Youth Connect plans related to the MEL component as well as budgets for relevant activities;
• Ensure regular communication of MEL activities to all key stakeholders and contribute to the quarterly, annual report and project reporting to USAID, with the support of the Communication Officer;
• Collaborate with the technical team to monitor the progress of the program in terms of the compliance requirements of USAID results and indicators;
• Work closely with technical staff and institutional partners to explain MEL processes and understand how these processes relate to the project’s technical work, and to promote MEL-related training as needed;
• Manage MEL resources and ensure that Monitoring and Evaluation information and resources are up-to-date, available to staff and widely disseminated; and
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, social science, economics, or related field is required; is required. Master’s degree is preferred;
• Experience in designing and leading CLA and CAM activities;
• At least five (5) years of experience in designing, managing and implementing results-based MEL activities for Economic Growth, livelihoods, Positive Youth Development, or Countering Violent Extremism activities;
• Experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative data;
• Experience working with an international development organization and knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines and tools for monitoring and evaluation, especially impact evaluation and a strong knowledge of USAID reporting requirements is an advantage;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork;
• Effective communication skills, able to make formal and informal presentations both orally and in writing and produce professional and analytical reports and program documents;
• Previous experience working with USAID desired; and
• Fluency in spoken and written French and English.

Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Position contingent upon donor funding.