MEL Advisor - Nigeria at Palladium Group

Ref No: req11166

Role Overview

• CFYE requires in-country Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisors in Nigeria and Egypt to work with Implementing Partners (IPs) during their Inception Phase to support them in developing and refining their project MEL Frameworks, identify potential data quality risks and develop mitigation plans, and assist in conducting baseline research into jobs and employers.
• There is potential to extend the role into Project Implementation phase, supporting IPs on a more long-term basis to improve the MEL systems, processes and tools. The CFYE will likely fund five projects in Egypt and eight projects in Nigeria.

Roles and Responsibilities

• The in-country MEL Advisor is responsible for supporting the day-to-day MEL-related activities during IPs’ inception period, and thereafter to support with IPs’ data collection and reporting.
• The role requires a candidate with substantial experience providing hands-on, in-depth support and coaching to partners, building their capacity to create and maintain a high-quality project MEL Framework and appropriate data collection processes and tools.
• The main output / deliverable that the MEL Advisor will be responsible for delivering is the IP MEL Templates. This involves supporting IPs to define Results Chain and Results Measurement Frameworks, setting Targets against KPIs, collecting baseline data, and determining project-specific job decency definitions.
• The MEL Advisor will also be expected to work with the IPs on identifying data quality risks for the data being reported into project KPIs, and develop effective mitigation strategies (e.g., through more long-term MEL TA support during project implementation) for any flagged risks. 

Inception Activities and Deliverables:

• Support CFYE MEL team in the planning and running of the MEL Kick-Off Workshop for all Implementing Partners in Nigeria/Egypt, introducing partners to Fund-level Results Framework, project reporting requirements and MEL-related inception activities.
• Conduct 1:1 MEL strategy workshops with all IPs, co-defining the logical causal pathways to the job outcomes, based on a thorough understanding of the project delivery approach.
• Provide on-demand follow-up support to IPs as necessary, continuing to refine the MEL Framework, interrogate the underlying assumptions, define/develop data collection approaches, and respond to IP MEL-related issues as needed.
• Review CFYE’s baseline collection tools, and adapt to create bespoke, IP-specific versions to accommodate the project context of each IP. Conduct jobs/employer baseline survey with each IP using the tailored tools.
• Work with the IPs to establish project-specific decent work parameters for the jobs to be counted (e.g., minimum income thresholds), including developing research questions and methods if needed. Work with the CFYE Decent Work team to triangulate findings and ensure alignment with the final IP MEL frameworks (e.g., defining minimum income threshold in the results framework, refining indicators based on the research findings etc.)
• Work with the central Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Youth Engagement, Empowerment and Resilience (YEER) teams to ensure these aspects are covered in the IP MEL Frameworks.
• Attend Data Quality Assessment (DQA) methodology training, run by CFYE MEL team. Work with the CFYE MEL team to refine CFYE’s methodology for Data Quality Assessment (as needed) to make it fit-for-purpose with the IPs in the country portfolio.
• Conduct Data Quality Assessment (DQA) with each IP in the country portfolio, based on existing understanding of the project data quality risks (gleaned through consistent coaching and strategizing with IPs throughout inception), and supplemented by an additional site visit as required.
• Complete full analysis and write-up of data quality risks identified over the inception period and through the DQA site visit, and propose appropriate mitigation strategies. Present the findings back to the CFYE MEL team and to each IP, and contribute to the IPs’ TA Plans with prioritised MEL support needs.
• Liaise with the CFYE MEL team on shaping and developing the IPs’ Knowledge Agendas, drawing out relevant, high-quality learning from the country portfolio.

Level of Efforts:

• - 75-100% during 3 month inception phase, then to be determined on demand/needs-driven basis for provision of MEL TA to implementing partners over the course of their project delivery.

Reporting:

• The MEL Advisor will report directly to the Country Relationship Manager with technical oversight from the MEL central team. The MEL Advisor will work closely on a day-to-day basis with the Relationship Manager.

Required Qualifications

• Expertise in MEL, including experience developing and refining Results Chains / Theories of Change and Results Frameworks, indicator selection, baseline assessments, and setting targets.
• Demonstrable experience supporting programme partners to develop and apply suitable MEL processes and tools, including creating an overall MEL strategy and plan to operationalise it.
• Experience working on job creation programmes and knowledge of the key data quality risks in job creation programmes preferable.
• Working knowledge of key issues and opportunities related to decent work in Nigeria, and how these should be captured and applied in results measurement plans (e.g., establishing and measuring decent income) preferable.
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships across teams and organisations.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities often within a required timeframe.
• Experience using both qualitative and quantitative data collection/research techniques, and advising programme partners on the use of appropriate research techniques.
• Familiarity with the DCED Standard of Results Measurement preferable.
• Previous experience advising or working with private sector preferable.
• Fluency in written and spoken English compulsory.