Senior MEL Advisor 77 views0 applications

Position: Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor 

Reports to:  Senior Director of Learning, Monitoring, and Training

Project:  USAID/Ethiopia Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Service (EPMES) Activity

Duration:  Full time consultant (until the end of EPMES Activity)

Who we are:

Social Impact (SI) is an international development management consulting firm based in the United States, Washington DC. SI’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of international development programs in improving people’s lives. We provide a full range of management consulting, technical assistance, and training services to strengthen international development programs, organizations, and policies. We provide services globally in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, project and program design, organizational capacity building, and gender and social analysis. SI services cross-cut all development sectors including democracy and governance, health, education, the environment, and economic growth. SI’s clients include US government agencies such as USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the US Department of State, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and non-profits.

Project Objectives:

The six-year, $16.6 million Ethiopia Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Service (EPMES) Activity aims to provide USAID/Ethiopia with project/activity external evaluation, performance monitoring, and performance management support services in alignment with the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS) and Evaluation Policy. The contract assists USAID/Ethiopia and its partners to generate and use evidence to advance USAID/Ethiopia’s Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). Specific services provided under this contract include:

·        Objective 1. Implementation of external evaluations, assessments, and special studies

·        Objective 2. Provide monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) technical capacity building for implementing partners (IPs); support design and implementation of adaptation-focused evidence, including through monitoirng and evalutaion; support USAID/Ethiopia and partners on data collection, analysis, and quality assurance practices; provide geographic information systems (GIS) analysis and training

·        Objective 3. Provide technical assistance and support for collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) behaviors that enable adaptive management, including knowledge management.

The expected results of this contract are to build internal and external MEL and adaptive management capacities of USAID staff and USAID Implementing Partners to improve accountability and the use of empirical evidence for programming, learning, and adapting at every stage of the project cycle.

Position Description:

This is a cross-cutting position that will work across EPMES activity objectives but primarily serving as the lead for Objective 2 focused on MEL support and capacity building to USAID/Ethiopia and its partners. The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor will lead EPMES tasks related to:

·        Guiding MEL planning, system set-up, and implementation support for USAID/Ethiopia and Implementing Partners with an eye towards utilization-focused learning. This includes determining MEL priorities; indicator selection; preparing indicator reference sheets; selecting appropriate, innovative monitoring approaches, and; advising on system set-up and documentation in line with USAID’s ADS 201 and Mission guidelines (such as data management, staff training, and other tasks).

·        Providing mentorship to USAID/Ethiopia staff and Implementing Partners regarding MEL tasks and evidence use

·        Developing monitoring tools and systems to address Mission and Activity learning needs

·        Preparing and delivering relevant training to USAID/Ethiopia and implementing partners on MEL topics, including but not limited to performance monitoring and data quality assessments

·        Supporting USAID/Ethiopia and Implementing Partners with inputting and assuring the quality of data in USAID’s knowledge and data management system, the Development Information Solution (DIS), including providing on-demand support

·        Conducting data analysis, including meta-analysis, and learning activities to assess and improve the quality of EPMES’ MEL services

·        Managing the EPMES MEL Plan

The Senior MEL Advisor will also support other EPMES objectives and contract-wide efforts, such as reporting and continuous learning and improvement.

Position requirements:

·        Master’s degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Economics or other related field

·        At least 12 years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning or related roles with international NGOs and development firms

·        At least 5 years of experience supporting USAID/Ethiopia, or USAID/Ethiopia implementing partners, on MEL planning and implementation such as:

o   MEL plan and system development with an orientation towards learning

o   Indicator selection, including drafting indicator reference sheets

o   Preparing monitoring tools

o   Conducting MEL trainings

o   MEL and indicator data management (such as a performance indicator tracking table and/or databases)

o   Data quality assurance and conducting data quality assessments

·        Deep knowledge and experience using  USAID’s program cycle, policies, regulations, and monitoring and evaluation methodologies and reporting requirements, particularly ADS 201

·        Experience assessing MEL training needs, preparing or revising training materials to fit those needs, delivering training, and assessing the effectiveness of training efforts

·        Demonstrable experience in selecting and applying innovative monitoring approaches to support learning, including linking to evaluation and research

·        Experience mentoring others (such as staff, partners, or others) on implementing quality MEL practices with an eye towards capacity development

·        Experience with implementing and/or managing third-party monitoring a significant plus

·        Excellent program management capabilities, including experience with direct client interface for task planning and implementation

·        Proven experience and ability to effectively manage a varied workload, focused on detail-orientation, meeting tight deadlines and contracted deliverable schedules

·        Exemplary writing skills in English on varied types of products (reports, briefs, slide decks etc.), and strong speaking skills (including public speaking and training)

·        Good interpersonal communication and strong team player attitude

·        Excellent computer and software skills in SPSS or STATA, Survey Monkey, data visualization, Microsoft office applications, are required

·        Experience designing and facilitating learning efforts, such as applying USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) framework, is a significant plus

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.