Monitoring and Evaluation Lead at Action Against Hunger USA

About the position.

We are looking for a highly qualified Monitoring and Evaluation Lead to guide the building and strengthening of MEAL Systems and processes and promote adaptive and evidence-based program management.

Note: This position is contingent upon grant acquisition and donor approval of candidate.

About the job……

You’ll contribute to ending world hunger by …

Providing technical expertise and leadership to generate, analyze and communicate quality evidence and data through monitoring, assessments, and evaluations.

Key activities in your role will include:

Technical Leadership, Vision and Strategy

• Provide technical expertise and leadership to generate and analyze quality evidence and data through monitoring, assessments, and evaluations in a way to render it accessible and compelling.
• Build or strengthen triangulated monitoring systems, quantitative and qualitative analysis, survey and sample designs;
• Promote the effective application and use of MEAL data and findings in evidence-based program management.
• Identify and expand entry point across different audience to position a wide range of MEAL data for different purposes (donors, institutional stakeholders, community).

Program Management

• Manage the Logframe and ensure that all program activities are carried out as per the project Logframe and other relevant project documents.
• Coordinate and facilitate the validation of the Theory of Change and refinement of a logical framework and sector-specific indicators in food security and nutrition.
• Oversee implementation of all MEAL activities, including annual surveys, case studies, and program reviews.
• Guide data collection, management of the data, and display of the results including reporting and dissemination.
• Design and lead implementation of efficient and accurate data collection system that includes efficient processes and protocols for collecting data and ensuring data quality.
• Devise a data visualization strategy that can be supported and replicated by other MEAL resources across Action Against Hunger.
• Develop and maintain an up to date MEAL database, that ensures effective tracking of progress and trends, and generation of data for reporting and management decision making.
• Ensure all consortium members regularly update their program indicator information is submitted on time and updated in the program’s MEAL Database.
• Oversee strengthening of MEAL capacity of consortium members and local partner organizations.

Team/Staff Management

• Hire, orient, and directly manage MEAL staff in their day-to-day activities.
• Develop MEAL capacity and ways of working of the DFSA MEAL team and the MEAL Technical staff of consortium members.
• Work closely with the program, administration, technical and operations teams to ensure successful support for MEAL functions.
• Lead on review meetings with stakeholders to take decisions based on evidence throughout the implementation cycle.
• Experience of working in consortia consisting of local and international non-governmental agencies and in coordinating/building capacity to MEAL focal points across local partners.
• Coordinate with other MEAL resources across Action Against Hunger (UK network) to deliver the expected MEAL requirements.

About you……

• You have a master's degree in a quantitative field (nutrition, economics, agricultural/development economics, statistics, biostatistics; nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant subject) with significant training in quantitative methods plus eight years relevant experience, or a PhD in any of the stated field of study above, with at least six years relevant work experience an advanced degree (PhD or master’s) in the same areas of specialization, plus a minimum of three years’ relevant work experience.
• You have experience working in ASAL in Kenya or other parts of Eastern and Horn of Africa preferred.
• You have demonstrable experience in leading the MEAL of a large award, preferably as part of a USAID-funded program.

• You possess excellent knowledge about causal pathways framing (Theory of Change), logic models, food and nutrition security indicators, MEAL plans, data quality assurance, data utilization, and gender integration into MEAL.

• You are experience in coding languages required to process and visualize large amount of information (preference for Python or R).

• You have demonstrable experience in setting up and manage accountability mechanisms (feedbacks and complaints) both in terms of uptake and data management.

• You have experience and expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive evaluative monitoring plans in a way to enable adaptive programming.

• You possess excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture while keeping detail orientation and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.

• You have demonstrated ability to transform complex MEAL data into visual products that are accessible to multiple audiences, including managers, policy makers, practitioners and academics.

• You possess strong project management experience for complex multi-sectorial and integrated programming.

Our Core values.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate Action Against Hunger-USA’s five core competencies

Respect- we work with compassion and dedication, treating everyone the same way we expect them to treat us.

Integrity-: we believe that being honest and fair is integral to every aspect of our work. conducting our work with a spirit of sincerity, truthfulness and transparency is imperative.

Creativity-we encourage new ideas, embrace innovative solutions, and create opportunities for meaningful and exciting ways to do our jobs and provide solutions to address the needs of the populations we serve.

Excellence- we strive to provide services that meet and even exceed the expectations of our stakeholders (populations in need, staff, communities and donors).

Empowerment- we are committed to fostering an environment in which our staff, partners and communities where we work have the space to grow, develop and feel confident about participating.

Gender Equality Commitments

• Ability to foster an environment that reinforces values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect for all cultures.