Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Action (MELA) Officer at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-006

Duties

• Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

Technical management:

• Set the overall program direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve set objectives, in close coordination with the Country Manager.
• Facilitate the development of annual business plans, strategic work-plans for the country program.
• Monitor adherence to contractual agreement, HarvestPlus policies and procedures, and relevant external rules and regulations.
• Ensure program activities align with donor and HarvestPlus standard policies and procedures.
• Support the finance teams to ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics for program activities.
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with contractual and collaborating partners, and other implementers.
• Represent HarvestPlus at government, donor meetings, national and international workshops, and other relevant events.

M&E System design and calibration:

• Design and implement a gender-sensitive and results based MELA system and strategy
• Develop and regularly review country programme’s Theory of Change (ToC) to ensure alignment with programme delivery strategy and changing realities
• Develop country specific MELA system instruments including MELA operational manual, MELA plan, monitoring survey protocol, data quality assessment guidelines, reporting templates, technical data collection tools
• Work with program specialists and unit Heads to align M&E with program objectives, develop monitoring tools and integrate M&E in work plans and across all program components
• Develop guidance materials that clearly indicate staff responsible for specific M&E products, orienting programme staff to their M&E roles and responsibilities as necessary
• Lead the design, development and operationalisation of the country programme databases and mobile data collection applications.

Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

• Coordinate the implementation of M&E activities across the program life cycle and ensure minimum standards are adhered to
• Conduct baseline studies to establish baseline values for selected indicators
• Lead in the design and implementation of outcome monitoring sample surveys
• Facilitate the execution of impact assessments and evaluations; oversee the scope of work, deliverables and overall quality of work of other external led operational research and studies
• Coordinate data collection activities across the various functions and implementing partners, analyze and share results within the country program to increase learning and for global reporting
• Organize quarterly M&E technical meetings to ensure regular program planning across consortium partners, review progress, and document lessons/address challenges encountered
• Undertake regular field visits to all project sites to support the implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed
• Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated, this will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights
• Adapt and implement global M&E data quality guidelines to ensure that data generated in-country meets the required data quality criteria
• Ensure program data and analysis is used for learning by facilitating progress review and lesson learning reflection platforms with program partners

Management Information Systems and Reporting:

• Advance the use of innovative ICT tools to simplify data collection and transmission to HARVEST and global program database
• Create a program beneficiary tracking database, allowing for monitoring of stakeholders
• Prepare consolidated progress and periodic reports to meet management and donor reporting requirements by approved reporting formats and timing
• Document achievements/impact of innovative program components produce written reports on activities, capturing the impacts of activities
• Ensure that team members collectively focus on assisting the program to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing analysis and decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level

Capacity and Team Building:

• Strengthen staff and partners capacity in the use of data collection and office/work tools through comprehensive and continuous training and coaching
• Provide on-going guidance to team members and partners in the implementation and review of their reports and statistics
• Adapt and implement global M&E capacity-building strategy at country staff and implementing partner level
• Promote a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Lead country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes
• Support the recruitment, orientation, professional development and ongoing training of staff to ensure the successful implementation of activities
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Country Manager.

Qualification

• Master's degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Statistics or Social Sciences with a minimum of eight (8) years’ working experience in monitoring and evaluation.

Competencies:

• Technical expertise in managing and developing M&E systems; theoretical and practical background in M&E
• Knowledge of biofortification value chains, programming and results chains
• Experience in the use of mobile data collection platforms including CSPro and CAPI tools
• Excellent quantitative skills, including advanced proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel, and at least one statistical data analysis software
• Ability to effectively convey program goals, enlist partnerships, and work with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• High degree of motivation, initiative, independence, reliability, adaptability, and professional maturity
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical, and innovative problem-solving ability
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to mentor colleagues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Working experience with DFID, BMGF, and USAID funded programs.

Remuneration

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.