Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

Company Overview:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits. 

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives. 

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. 

Project Overview and Role:

CATALYZE is a $250 million 5 to 8-year program, designed to catalyze $2 billion in private capital, especially to underfinanced social sectors (such as education) and higher risk countries (especially low-income and post-conflict countries) around the globe, complemented by a cross-cutting inclusion of gender-lens investing. CATALYZE will provide services to many missions and bureaus that “buy in” to tap the CATALYZE investment and pay-for-results project management expertise. Our aim is for investors to explore and find commercially viable opportunities and approaches to creating jobs, developing sustainable social services, tightening and rationalizing supply chains, and advancing inclusive growth. 

CATALYZE: Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) will drive private enterprise expansion to catalyze Ethiopia’s future economic growth and prosperity. MS4G intends to foster enterprise-driven growth, especially among private enterprises that have high growth potential and the capacity to catalyze job creation throughout market systems. MS4G will address systemic challenges, including building business development services capacity, creating a more conducive business environment, building the financial sector infrastructure and capability within private finance providers, and expanding the digital economy. MS4G will catalyze private sector growth by improving access to finance and facilitating transactions through targeted interventions across market systems (demand, supply, and enabling environment).  Expanded access to finance will also drive change across the market system by increasing business revenue and necessitating job creation.  The program has an estimated life of project funding of $55-$70 million, and is expected to operate for five years. 

While focus sectors will be finalized in collaboration with USAID during the inception phase, it is anticipated that they could include agribusiness, light manufacturing, and telecommunications & ICT (including fintech). Across all initiatives, there will be a cross-cutting focus on women and youth, as well as a focus on ensuring that disparate ethnic groups and regions equitably benefit from the interventions.  

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor will report to the CATALYZE: MS4G Team Lead, with dotted line reporting to the Washington DC-based MEL Senior Manager, CATALYZE. S/he, working closely with the technical team, will develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for this activity and monitor progress against the framework indicators. 

• Extract lessons and learning from events such as workshops and forums, research and studies, and reviews of policy design and implementation at national level; 
• Support the development of a framework for the activity’s monitoring and evaluation plan within the CATALYZE framework 
• Support project activities involving the collection and analysis of data for the execution of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan 
• Assist in the implementation, dissemination and use of evaluations, assessments and monitoring data in program development, adjustment or review 
• Provide data visualization and analysis for project communications materials for internal, client, and stakeholders. 
• Contribute to learning through supporting specific analysis, lessons learned and reports 
• Any other tasks as assigned. 

Required Qualifications:

• Effective communication skills, an ability to write effectively and to provide guidance and editorial support for staff from non-English speaking backgrounds 
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office applications such as Excel 
• Proficiency in the use of statistical software to support the conduct of statistical analysis 
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation work, preferably the MEL approaches employed by USAID 
• Excellent writing skills and demonstrated ability to produce high quality reports and program technical deliverables in a timely manner; 
• Demonstrated proficiency in client management and coordination with multiple stakeholders and ability to engage in a sensitive and political astute manner. 
• Demonstrated ability to establish good working relationships with key stakeholders at national and sub-national levels 
• Analytical, attention to detail, results focused 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, as required 
• Fluency in English. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Degree in economics, statistics, international development, public policy, or related field with 8 years relevant work in data analysis and monitoring and evaluation activities, including 4 years experience supporting a large donor-funded project.