Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Adviser G7 at British High Commission Nairobi

Main purpose of the job

• The postholder will be responsible for driving forward the results, monitoring, evaluation and learning agenda across British Embassy Mogadishu Somalia to help achieve the greatest impact in Somalia with UK resources. This includes supporting teams with logframes, Theories of Change and MEL systems (developing Terms Of References, reviewing bids, and quality assuring products throughout the programme cycle), as well as capacity building across the network. The postholder will lead the portfolio wide results, evidence and evaluation agendas that will feed into monitoring and evaluating progress against the Country Plan.
• The postholder will be the Senior Responsible Officer for the Somalia Monitoring Programme 3 (SMP3). This programme covers Somalia’s Third-Party Monitoring and Learning (TPML). FCDO staff are unable to access the field in Somalia and thus we rely on third-party monitors to be our eyes and ears on the ground, to verify that out activities are being implemented as intended, and to ensure that they are appropriate, relevant, and set us on the right course to achieving our outcomes. The programme also delivers on the Statistical Capacity-Building work, which involves close working with the Somali Administration and the UNFPA to plan for the first Census since 1975.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Ensuring the Somalia Monitoring Programme 3 (SMP3) is delivered effectively, and efficiently by:

• Managing the TPML Supplier: quality assuring and approving verification plans and learning reports, convening learning and dissemination events, and ensuring that the products are high-quality and respond to FCDO needs.
• Managing the MOU with UNFPA which stipulates how UNFPA will use FCDO funds to support the generation and use of statistics in Somalia. As part of this, you will represent the UK’s interests and needs with regards to data generation and reporting. This will involve working politically and strategically with the Somali Administration and other donors to ensure the successful delivery of surveys and statistical products.
• Work closely with the UK’S ONS (including the local line management of an embedded G7 MEL/Stats Advisor) to ensure alignment of the technical support being provided to the Somali Administration with the FCDO’s data needs.

Improving M&E at the programme and country/portfolio levels by:

• Supporting teams with, and quality assurance of programme M&E including logframes, theories of change, evaluations, and M&E systems.
• Providing timely quality assurance for annual reviews, project completion reviews, concept notes and business cases ensuring a consistent approach to project scoring underpinned by sufficient evidence, and adherence to guidance and transparency requirements.
• Timely reporting on British Embassy Mogadishu contributions to centralised results commissions.
• Contributing to reporting to the Portfolio Board and Country Board of progress against the Somalia Country Plan, including quality assuring and collating data for KPIs.
• Supporting Campaign Goals in identifying theories of change and cross office themes, and suporting broader portfolio-level MEL 
• Building M&E capacity across the network (e.g., by delivering trainings and clinics)
• Encouraging and supporting the application of evaluation recommendations and findings. 

Sharing statistical/evaluation expertise across the Statistics/Evaluation cadres and contributing to the cross FCDO statistical/evaluation work by:

• Actively engaging in Statistics/Evaluation cadres and knowledge sharing activities including regular attendance at cadre meetings and discussion groups.
• Proactively contribute 10% to the development of the Statistics/Evaluation cadres.
• Continued Professional Development undertaken as per the Government Social Research, Evaluation Cadre and/or Government Statistical Service requirements.

Line Management

• Of an EO Programme Manager and local objective management of Grade 7 ONS Stats/MEL advisor.  
• Candidates who secure a role that is considered specialist/technical, may be required to affiliate to the relevant specialist network, if not already a member
• Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

Technical competencies:

• At least 5 years experience in leading, managing and/or commissioning evaluations.
• Masters degree in economics, evaluation, social sciences, political sciences, statistics or a related field.
• Strong technical proficiency in a range of evaluation methods, both qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience of applying evaluation methods and approaches in international contexts.
• An understanding of the challenges of working in a fragile and conflict affected setting, and ability to adapt to this quickly is essential although it is not essential that the postholder has already done a posting in this setting.
• Experience providing technical assistance, capacity development and/or enhancing learning for evaluation or other types of research.

Other skills

• Experience of engaging internationally – often on complex and sensitive matters.
• Experience of working across and engaging diverse teams, including other donors and partner governments. Being flexible and able to adjust.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Experience of working on Third-Party Monitoring Contracts
• Experience in supporting the production and use of Statistics/Statistical Capacity Building
• Experience in measuring diplomatic influence. 

Required behaviours  

• Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others, Seeing the Big Picture