Monitoring, Evaluations and Learning Officer – Inclusion at Sightsavers

Job purpose

Sightsavers are looking for a motivated and experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) professional to join the dynamic, global MEL Team as the MEL Officer- Inclusion. The post holder will provide MEL support to a portfolio of inclusive health, education and economic empowerment projects implemented globally.

The MEL Officer will support the country offices in implementing the project’s MEL plans focusing on analysing programme data; facilitating and documenting learning reviews; coordinating, commissioning, and quality-assuring project evaluations; and supporting projects to use learnings to inform adaptations.

Principal accountabilities:

Monitoring and Coordinating 

• Support the development and implementation of monitoring tools, methodologies, and templates for projects in line with project and thematic objectives.
• Support the implementation of ethical data collection practices and procedures such as development of research protocols, informed consent forms and training on ethical data collection.
• Provide MEL-focused technical support to country teams and consortium partners in quality assurance and contribution to the results framework and narrative reporting.
• Identify opportunities for inclusion of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and people with disabilities into MEL activities and practises.

Evaluation:

• Support the commissioning of external evaluation and / or learning consultants, to ensure good value for money and high standards including observance of Sightsavers’ policies on safeguarding, data protection and ethics.
• Coordinate the externally commissioned evaluations including scheduling, logistics, contracting and quality assurance of deliverables.

Learning:

• Participate in project team meetings and steering committees and contribute to the discussions from a MEL perspective (learning and adaptation)
• With MEL colleagues, support the development, integration and learning from approaches to inclusive data, especially disability data, in line with the Inclusive Data Charter to which Sightsavers is a signatory.
• Build the evaluation and learning capacity of staff in the project teams, Country Offices and partners and enhance their capacity to utilise evidence from programme data, reviews, and evaluations.
• Support the development of learning reports following quarterly meetings and learning reviews and dissemination of learning and evidence products.

The principal accountabilities are not meant to be an exhaustive list of tasks. The need for flexibility is required and the job holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

This is a highly varied and involved role and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details. 

Travel to countries where the programme is running will be an essential part of the role. There may be expectation to travel up to eight weeks a year locally and internationally. 

Jobholder requirements

Essential

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant social science subject (international development/relations, sociology, monitoring and evaluation, public policy, gender studies or education).
• Experience working with qualitative social techniques and using analysis software such as Nvivo and data collection software such as CommCare and Kobo tools.
• Experience in managing and conducting Data Quality Audits/ Assessments (DQAs) including data verification and implementation of DQA improvement plans and corrective actions.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning in multi-country, multicultural teams and multi-stakeholder development projects in the international development context.
• Experience in conducting learning reviews and promoting learning within teams.

Desirable 

• A Master’s degree in relevant field
• Experience of working in Economic Empowerment and disability inclusion programmes.
• Experience of using the Washington Group questions.
• Experience of undertaking MEL approaches suitable for adaptive management.