Overview of Helvetas and the project

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is an independent development organization based in Switzerland and it has been operating for the last 65 years worldwide. HELVETAS is registered in Ethiopia as foreign organization with the Agency for Civil Society Organization to operate in the areas of Rural Infrastructure, Natural Resource Management, Support to CSO and Local Governments, Skill Development & Education and Emergency Response. See also. www.helvetas.org.

Under its Rural Infrastructure thematic area ‘Transformative Rural Access for Improved Livelihoods in Ethiopia (TRAIL)’ project (hereinafter called “the project”) aims to build the enabling environment to create first mile transport connectivity in rural Ethiopia. This will result in enhanced access to critical services and economic opportunities for remote communities. The project will develop capacities of actors within the rural access sector, institutionalize rural access for scale and build evidence and innovate for rural access development in the coming three years in Amhara, Oromia, Sidma, SNNPR, Somali and southwest Ethiopia regions.

There will be three regional teams i.e., one south- east team with a base in Addis Ababa covering Oromia and Somali, south - west with a base in Hawassa covering Sidma, SNNPR and Southwest regions and North team with the base in Bahir Dar and covering Amhara Region. All teams are provided guidance and strategic direction by the National Program Team in Addis Ababa.

Job Purposes

The purpose of the MEAL officer is to design and maintain the M&E system of the TRAIL project. Under the supervision of the Senior Expert-MEAL and Project Manager the officer will set up the MEAL System for the projects and will have ultimate responsibility in maintaining the system, strengthening the system over time and building capacity of project and government staff to utilize the system. This includes collecting, compiling and analyzing relevant data. The MEAL officer will contribute to document lessons learned as the project evolves and share key lessons within and outside the organization. The MEAL officer provides technical backstopping, organizing trainings in the areas of learning development and knowledge management. The position holder will work closely with other project staffs, country office staffs, staffs in other project offices to ensure the cross fertilization of learning, pulling information required, organize capacity building trainings to staff, take assignments as a teammate. The position holder can be assigned to multiple projects in her/his duty station when it is necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities

The MEAL officer will be responsible:

1. To setup and maintain the MEAL system for the projects

2. To follow progress of target outputs and outcome for Helvetas projects at the Field office.

3. To ensure quality project data collection, analysis and provision of real time data set to project managers and update the country office level database on quarterly basis.

4. To coordinate studies to establish performance values and demonstrate best practices for process and capture positive changes on the lives and livelihood of the project beneficiaries.

5. To encourage innovation, effective learning and knowledge management of projects for further scaling up and institutionalization.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Planning and Monitoring (30%)

• Develops standard formats for the planning of project activities;

• Ensures the communication of M&E concepts within the organization, with partners and other stakeholders;

• Support the project managers in consolidating periodic (quarterly, bi-annual and annual) plans for all projects;

• Leads the implementation of the M&E plan and develops analytical monitoring report and share with the project management including consortium members;

• Monitors the quality of project implementation at field level and provides feedback to the project team and management;

• Supports project managers with review of periodic reports.

2. Evaluation and Learning (30%)

• Plays a central role in supporting assessments and studies (baseline, mid-term and final evaluations) for projects;

• Following respective studies, develops summary for study findings and fact sheet for improved planning, decisions and sharing to relevant users;

• Promotes participatory learning with relevant actors including communities;

• Together with the country office Senior Expert: MEAL develops and implements at least two learning agenda on practices and befits of facilitation, partnership, collaboration for respective projects;

• Establish internal cross- learning platform for all project staff (program and support) in quarterly basis;

• Develops case stories and best practices for projects during different reporting periods.

3. Knowledge management and sharing (30%)

• Keeps paper based and/or digitalized essential documents (proposals, periodic performance and study reports for ongoing and completed projects as per organizational needs;

• Facilitates knowledge generating and sharing platforms for integration of learnings with in the Helvetas projects and other implementing partners and likeminded NGOs;

• Regularly generates and shares relevant updates on operating context, policy and new development strategies to relevant audience in the form of fact sheet and learning brief;

• Submits as required updated data set of projects and other national or global facts to validate Helvetas country strategy 2023 performance indicators.

4. Undertake any tasks assigned by supervisor as required (10%)

• The MEAL officer will carry out other reasonable duties as assigned by her/his supervisor;

• Coordinate MEAL of other regions as required.

Job Requirements

Qualifications and Competencies Required:

• BA Degree in Social Sciences or related field with at least 5 years’ relevant experience in development cooperation;

• Sound knowledge and experience in the concepts and application of theory of change, results measurement and monitoring systems;

• Coaching and mentoring of other professionals on monitoring and evaluation systems development;

• Proven experience in supporting learning programs and organizational dialogue;

• Proven ability in accountability towards external audiences and working with government and external support agencies on dissemination of development results;

• Strong conceptual thinker and coach with excellent reporting and writing skills (English);

• Result-oriented personality meeting deadlines with conceptual and analytical strength;

• Ability to work with data sets and information sources with pragmatism and able to work in teams as well as independently.

Guiding Principle:

In undertaking the work and carrying out the specific tasks and responsibilities, the employee will be abiding by the following guiding principles:

• Demonstrate a high level of integrity and ethics with due regard to organizational policies and procedures, working guidelines and the requirement of the job.

• Respect HELVETAS Ethiopia’s mission and values to serve economically poor and socially disadvantaged as well as have a high regard for the organization’s working culture.

• Adhere to the Country Program Strategy 2019-2023 (HELVETAS’ Gender and Social Equity Strategy and the Code of Conduct.

• Promulgate accountability, self-initiative and teamwork

• Be committed and determined to improve the livelihoods of the target communities

Working Conditions

This job will require field work in Oromia and Somali regions also in other operational regions of the project as required. Because of the remoteness of the field work incumbent will expected to regularly travel to remote trail bridge sites.

How to Apply

Submit your application and updated CV via email: HumanResources.ETH@helvetas.org or register using this LINK

Note: Make sure you write the position title in the subject line. Female applicates are encouraged to apply!