Job description
Overview:
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist is a member of ACDI/VOCA’s Home Office MERL Team. Among other responsibilities, the MEL Specialist provides support to field projects to strengthen organizational and staff capacity to design and implement robust monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning systems. The MEL Specialist will work closely with the MERL team to support projects to accurately capture data, analyze and publish results in dashboards on ACDI/VOCA’s Learning, Evaluation and Analysis Platform (LEAP) in accordance with established policies and procedures, and support learning efforts, adaptive management, and timely reporting.Responsibilities:
New Business Development
Since 1963 and in 148 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that designs and delivers technical and management solutions in agriculture, economic growth, and resilience to promote economic prosperity and social inclusion. Beyond our competitive compensation, full array of insurances, generous 401(k) plan, parental leave, commuter subsidy, career development, we also offer a vibrant, friendly, diverse, inclusive, passionate, and inspiring work environment.
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist is a member of ACDI/VOCA’s Home Office MERL Team. Among other responsibilities, the MEL Specialist provides support to field projects to strengthen organizational and staff capacity to design and implement robust monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning systems. The MEL Specialist will work closely with the MERL team to support projects to accurately capture data, analyze and publish results in dashboards on ACDI/VOCA’s Learning, Evaluation and Analysis Platform (LEAP) in accordance with established policies and procedures, and support learning efforts, adaptive management, and timely reporting.
Project Guidance and Support
- Assist country office teams in an ongoing manner, to develop and implement project M&E systems that meet ACDI/VOCA and donor standards.
- Support country offices to develop and implement Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plans.
- Support country offices to develop and implement data quality and data management plans
- Provide specific mentoring guidance throughout the project lifecycle, from startup (days 1-90), initial implementation (days 91-180), mid-term, through to final evaluations.
- Review all M&E related deliverables of assigned field projects and ensure timely performance
- Build staff capacity to ensure data quality, mitigate data risk, and help staff develop data quality standards, implement standard operating procedures, and conduct internal data quality audits of project M&E systems.
- Prepare project teams for external data quality audits.
- Maintain a rigorous quality assurance program through regular quality assessments and review of project quarterly, annual, and special reports and provide feedback and guidance to improve and elevate use of M&E data in narrative reports.
- Ensure that each assigned project has an effective and efficient evaluation system/approach in place that allows the project to determine outcome and impact level results in context and maximizes project learning.
- Coordinate and provide staff training to projects in a broad range of program monitoring and evaluation issues/methods/tools (training topics selected with your supervisor).
New Business Development
- Participate in M&E reconnaissance during capture trips and in specific proposal development.
- Contribute data for writing the monitoring and evaluation sections of proposals
- Propose appropriate standard and/or customized indicators that align with the technical proposal under consideration
- In collaboration with capture and proposal teams, develop a performance target for project proposals
- Propose a learning agenda, as required in solicitationsNew Business Development
ACDI/VOCA Global Participation
- Assist in developing global strategic direction for MERL at ACDI/VOCA.
- Assist in reviewing program M&E status (across countries) and provide feedback on needs, trends, best practices, and priorities to help establish effective support to address any identified gaps and challenges in a timely manner.
- Collaborate in preparation of ACDI/VOCA’s global research agenda and or case studies.
- Assist in the design and implementation of knowledge management systems that ensures up-to-date information on impact, effectiveness, outputs, and inputs to programs.
- Remain informed of new developments in M&E and in donor regulations regarding M&E
- May Represent ACDI/VOCA on external M&E-related working groups, task forces, conferences, publications, and panels.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing through the MERL Newsletter, webinars, and communities of practice.
Other
- Support and enhance the company's culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion and align with our corporate values by treating others with respect and congeniality.
- Ability to host or attend in person meetings when required.
- Other duties as assigned.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in the fields of M&E, social sciences, agriculture economics or another related field.
- Minimum of four years of experience monitoring and evaluating international development programs. Experience in Agriculture, Food for Peace, and or Feed the Future programs
- Experience in the design and implementation of M&E systems for development projects.
- Proficiency and demonstrated experience in designing surveys, data collection; statistical analysis; and reporting; including experience with computer-based statistical packages and relational databases (R, SQL, PowerBi, EXCEL, SPSS, etc.)
- Familiarity with USG publications on monitoring and evaluation of development assistance, as well as the OMB Guidance on collection of foreign assistance data.
- Experience working with international donors, as well as counterparts and beneficiaries (e.g., international, and local NGOs and government representatives).
- Excellent communications and coordination skills, and cultural sensibility.
- Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations preferred.
- Experience conducting field research preferred.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English required and working knowledge of French or Spanish will be an added advantage.
- Ability and willingness to travel is important, particularly on short-term assignments worldwide, where ACDI/VOCA has projects; must be fully vaccinated against covid 19.
- Must be available during core business hours; extended hours may be required.
- Flexibility to work in the office based on work demands.
- Must adhere to our company's Health Safety Code of Conduct, fully vaccinated against Covid 19 or receive approved exception
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