Creative Overview:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.  

Program Overview:

The five-year READ II project, funded by USAID, will boost the quality of literacy instruction and student support, reaching out to children at risk of failure and dropout caused by cognitive, emotional and physical effects of hunger, violence, and displacement. READ II seeks to better equip teachers with effective early grade reading instruction techniques and materials in seven mother-tongue languages and English, while simultaneously building a culture of reading in the school, home and community.

Position Purpose:

The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Director will ensure that performance monitoring, research, and evaluations are consistent with program outcomes and track progress of activities in achieving goals and outcomes. The Director will manage and coordinate field monitoring and assessments, and any other personnel or consultant responsible for any other measurement work, including monitoring performance, monitoring, and collecting data and reports. The Director shall ensure that the project collects, cleans, stores, and uses high-quality data for reporting on project progress, effectiveness, and results, consistent with the overall project design and with the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP). Key areas to be measured include project effects on access, retention, reading and learning outcomes, school safety, and community involvement. The Director will ensure that data on gender and inclusion, including disabilities, and conflict-sensitive measures, are consistently and systematically monitored and reported.

Reporting & Supervision:

The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Director will report to the Chief of Party and supervise a team of M&E specialists.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee and lead the M&E team both in Addis Ababa and in the regions (in collaboration with regional directors) Use READ II’s AMELP, including its results framework, indicators, relevant and applicable baseline data collection strategies and methodologies, and the financial and human resources needed to successfully implement the M & E strategy;
• Develop approaches, tools, and protocols for data collection, cleaning, analysis, and use;
• Develop an advanced data management system, with the support of the M&E team;
• Analyze ongoing quantitative / qualitative data at different points in the program leading to the specific program / contract results;
• Work with national education partners (MOE and NEAEA) and other researchers on the coordination of research studies
• Design and lead project CLA and LEMA efforts;
• Conduct field visits, as necessary, to develop and carry out monitoring and performance management plans with READ II technical teams and field-based M&E teams;
• Supervise technical assistance and training to regional and woreda levels of education to support increased use of education data for decision-making;
• Regularly review READ II work plans to ensure the timely achievement of results related to USAID M&E;
• Design and write annual READ II M & E plans as well as budgets for corresponding activities;
• Supervise and help build the capacity of project M & E staff at the regional level to carry out READ II activities;
• Ensure regular communication of M & E activities to all key stakeholders and contribute to the quarterly and annual reports and project reporting to USAID, with the support of the Communications Officer;
• Collaborate with the technical teams 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 M & E processes and understand how these processes relate to the project's technical work, and to promote M & E-related training as needed;
• Manage M & E resources and ensure that M & E information and resources are up-to-date, available to staff and widely disseminated;
• Enter and keep all READ II data up to date in Creative’s system – MEDAL;
• Liaise and coordinate publishing of data (dashboards data visualizations) and articles with Knowledge Management (KM);
• Liaise and coordinate M&E efforts with ED Division M&E Specialist;
• Work with COP to streamline regular reporting to USAID; and
• Other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree is required. An advanced (master's/doctoral) degree in education or research is preferred.
• Training in qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• At least eight years of work experience, specifically to improve evidence-based initial reading programming for rural, ethnolinguistic, and underserved populations.
• Proven success and experience in monitoring results and indicators of access and quality of education, learning outcomes and community involvement.
• Must have five years of experience in developing and implementing reading materials for evidence-based initial classes, training programs, classroom monitoring protocols and tests / assessments including EGRA.
• Previous experience in USAID-funded programs, 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.