The purpose of Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) Director is to lead the establishment and implementation of the MEAL system of anticipated USAID New Primary Education Activity (Project), including obtaining, analysing, organising, and interpreting project data and ensuring compliance with MEAL requirements as specified by USAID. The MEAL Director would also be responsible for the evaluation that will sum up the grant’s accomplishments in an accurate and objective way.
Oversee and execute M&E activities with particular focus on results and impacts as well as in lesson learned
Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed
Lead the development of the MEAL plan, including the identification of key performance indicators, MEAL standard operating procedures and MEAL tool of the project.
Lead the roll-out and implementation of the project's MEAL system, strategies, requirements and country-level activities; roll-out orientation/training sessions to MEAL and relevant program staff of World Vision Ethiopia and its implementing partners.
Maintain MEAL systems and tools used to track project implementation progress and analyze information on inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact of the project for learning and adaptive management.
Ensure data quality through the implementation of effective data verification mechanism and undertaking routine data quality assessments at all levels.
Undertake/coordinate periodic joint field supportive supervision to project implementation and implementing partners' sites.
Ensure a strong beneficiary feedback mechanism is implemented.
Contribute to GoE M&E system strengthening efforts at national and local level including supporting the use of data for decision making at all levels
Contribute to the development of national and local level ECDE indicators and SDG 4.2 tracking at national level including the use of early learning and development assessment data, data on classroom environment quality using tools such as IDELA or other GoE recommended tools
Utilise qualitative and quantitative methodologies, as appropriate and necessary.
Build a database system for managing project-related data and evidence.
Lead the implementation of Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) mechanism to ensure intentional learning, collaboration, and adaptive management.
Lead the research initiative of the project with other partners
Ensure that relevant project documentation is well organised and best practices, lessons, success stories, case studies, etc. are well captured, synthesised, packaged, produced and shared to relevant stakeholders using different technologies and methods.
Ensure MEAL evidence is available to management for decision making and continuous performance improvement.
Plan and manage any research-focused deliverables or other evaluations throughout the life of the program and oversee any MEAL-related consultancies.
Organise/facilitate regular project implementation and performance review sessions and learning events.
Define MEAL-related inputs required from partners and oversee the quality of deliverables
Design and implement a system to identify, analyse, document and disseminate lessons learned.
Identify MEAL capacity gaps and facilitate training opportunities for project staff.
Build the capacity of GoE and partner staff on effective learning in Emergencies (LiE) Activity M&E systems.
Check that monitoring data are discussed in the appropriate forum and in a timely fashion in terms of implications of future action. If necessary, create such discussion forums to fill any gaps.
Monitor the follow up on evaluation recommendations
Support project/program staff on ways to properly document, organise and capture program progress
Facilitate, act as resource person, and join, if required any external supervision and evaluation missions
Organise (and provide) refresher training in M&E for grants staff, implementing partners, local organisations and primary stakeholders with view of strengthening local M&E capacity
Network with external and WV internal partners to promote learning and achieve M&E excellence
Minimum of seven (7) years professional experience in a senior M&E position responsible for implementing M&E activities of international development projects.
Minimum of six (6) years of experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
At least five (5) years of experience with USAID grant experience, their history and their development; mastery of USAID regulations governing such programs.
Proven success in leading the design, implementation, monitoring and learning of project MEAL systems for USAID-funded projects in Ethiopia.
Ability to design and manage assessments, baselines, and evaluations including managing consultants to produce high quality reports on time and on budget.
Knowledge and demonstrated experience implementing USAID’s MEL and Collaborating, Learning, and Adaption (CLA) systems
Demonstrated high quality report writing, research, monitoring and evaluation skills
Experience developing reporting tools, including in Microsoft Excel
Proven experience creating and managing impact and reporting dashboards
Experience developing and refining data collection tools
Experience with data quality assessments and oversight
Experience managing and providing ongoing training to M&E field officers
Ability to facilitate and serve as a project liaison for externally managed evaluations
Fluency in English is required
Strong communication skills
Excellent analytical, planning, organising and management skills
Must be able manage multiple deadlines, fast paced environment and high demands
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion
Proven experience leading annual performance assessments, multi-faceted digital data collection systems including proven competence in Statistical package including but not limited to SPSS, STATA, ODK, etc
Familiarity with Early Childhood Development and Education in Emergencies sector
Strong data management and data quality assessment skills
Master’s degree in statistics, demographics, data science, public policy, international development, information systems, business administration, economics, or related field
Skills and training in data analytics, digital data platforms
Proven skills in MEAL frameworks
Conversant with USAID collaboration, learning and knowledge management requirements
Advanced MS Office skills (MS Excel, MS Word, Power Point, Microsoft Office, One Drive, Share Point, etc)
Previous experience with the culture and context of Ethiopia strongly preferred
An advanced certificate in M&E, statistics, or data analytics preferred
Work experience in international development and/or humanitarian assistance organisation preferred
Proficient project management skills preferred
Experience in managing inter-agency consortium preferred
Strong capacity building skills using different methodologies preferred
Facilitation skills, including in virtual settings preferred
Knowledge of various technologies that can be leveraged such as GIS, Mobile solutions in research, etc.
Ability to work in cross-cultural environments preferred
