Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor at Farm Africa

REPORTS TO: Head of MEL

LOCATION: Nairobi or Addis Ababa with frequent (approx. 50%) international travel
DURATION & HOURS: Fixed term with probation period of 6 months

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and delivery of standard approaches, indicators, tools and templates, in line with the organisational learning framework and minimum MEL standards.
• Provide capacity development and training to country office MEL leads, project staff and implementing partners in; the organisational learning framework, minimum MEL standards and effective utilisation and deployment of the standard approaches, indicators, tools and templates.
• Review existing project MEL systems to provide practical recommendations to strengthen the quality and use of evidence.
• With country office MEL leads, provide targeted start-up support to ensure all new project teams have appropriate MEL plans, tools and skills to gather and use results data for effective results-based programming and wider organisational learning.
• With the country office MEL leads, guide the development of knowledge, learning and research components of consortium and flagship projects, developing core learning questions and multi-partner knowledge management strategies to ensure robust systems and approaches are in place to deliver consolidated project learning.
• Provide remote support, mentoring and backstopping to strengthen the availability and use of evidence, including, but not limited to; conducting ad-hoc analysis of project monitoring data, and providing technical support and quality assurance to project evaluation processes (ToRs, inception reports, data collection tools, data analysis, results and reports).
• Lead the bi-annual, cross-country MEL performance review processes, ensuring learning from these are captured and disseminated across the organisation.
• Support the achievement of organisational IT and digital data collection ambitions, supporting the utilisation and roll out of systems to streamline and standardise data collection and strengthen organisational learning.
• Provide timely analysis of multi-country data. Deliver strategic learning pieces, bringing together cross-project learning, in line with the organisational learning framework. Other ad hoc tasks as required

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• Post-graduate degree in numerate discipline (e.g. economics, statistics, applied social sciences)
• Academic training in applied econometrics/ statistical analysis
• Demonstrable understanding of quantitative data collection methods and best practice
• Applied knowledge of qualitative data collection/ social research methods
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable

Knowledge and demonstrable interest in International Development

Experience

Essential

• Experience supporting the design and delivery of monitoring, evaluation, learning and research frameworks at an organisational level, for complex project portfolios
• Demonstrable understanding of monitoring and evaluation tools, principles and best practices
• Experience of providing remote support and line management to teams
• Significant experience in drafting clear written reports/ briefings for technical and non-technical audiences
• Fluency in Microsoft Office tools, particularly MS Excel
• Experience working with individuals or institutions operating across multiple countries

Desirable

Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Skills & abilities

Essential

• Highly numerate, confident in synthesising data (both quantitative and qualitative) to draw and explain evidence-based conclusions
• Highly driven and able to work with minimal supervision at times. Confident, flexible and initiative-taking, with the ability to be proactive in working with others
• Ability to build strong working relationships across cultures and to provide feedback in a sensitive and constructive manner
• Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure, with a methodical approach and attention to detail.
• Experience of training or mentoring others
• Willingness to take strategic direction
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Farm Africa

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, external partners and supporters.
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Our Values

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

• EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.
• GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.
• IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.
• BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.

The deadline for applications is 9:00 am EAT on Monday, 7 September 2020.

Farm Africa is an equal opportunity employer and promotes gender equity. We also do not charge a fee at any stage of our recruitment process.