The MEL Manager will report to the Deputy Chief of Party in activity implementation and management and will collaborate with technical staff.  The MEL Manager will lead the development and execution of MEL activities, working alongside partners to tailor the MEL system to the project’s needs and training technical staff on capturing and analyzing data.  This position will be responsible for sectoral leadership in monitoring, knowledge management and related capacity development.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Program Monitoring and Evaluation

• Liaise with USAID AFFORD lead award to integrate and collaborate with the wider program’s MEL
• Establish systems for gathering and analyzing performance data, and reporting in compliance with USAID, TechnoServe and USAID AFFORD’s guidelines and best practices.
• Monitor progress against targets and contribute to quality reports; such as annual work plans and performance monitoring reports.
• Create a learning agenda and implement a system designed to capture learnings, best practices, and case studies.
• Document best practices and lessons learned and use data and regular learning sessions to drive program design, adaptation, and decision-making, working closely with the project leadership team.
• Undertake regular visits to the field to support the implementation of MEL activities.
• Work with the HQ Impact Team to identify and integrate corporate impact indicators.

Compliance Oversight

• Maintain high levels of confidentiality in relation to sensitive and confidential program implementation data and information.

Data Management and Analysis

• Oversee and manage a program tracking database, regularly review data collection processes and conduct routine data quality assurance checks.
• Implement systems to safeguard the collection, management, and quality control of program data.
• Run ad-hoc analyses and produce graphics and reports.
• Lead Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) activities, i.e., pause-and-reflect sessions and external learning events to ensure that data and evidence is shared, discussed and used for adaptive management.
• Support technical team in making timely adaptations

Staff Capacity Building

• Provide orientation to project staff on the Activity’s MEL Plan.
• Build capacity of project staff and partners on data collection and data use for learning.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree + 7 years relevant experience OR Master’s Degree + 5 years relevant experience
• Direct experience working on MEL for fortification, food security, nutrition, and/or resilience programs
• Knowledge of USAID, specifically Feed the Future, or other international development donor reporting requirements.
• 5 years of experience with MEL methods and approaches in an international development context, including designing, planning, and implementing MEL systems, analyzing, and reporting using a logical framework, and other strategic planning approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to lead design and implementation of monitoring systems, databases, and data collection tools.

Required Languages

• Fluency in English

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on MEL in alignment with the U.S. Feed the Future monitoring requirements
• Demonstrated ability to inform programming based on third party evaluations;
• Demonstrated progressive experience in program monitoring, capacity building in M&E of host government, and reporting on large-scale project progress
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-sectoral stakeholders, including development partners and national governments
• Competence in managing and analyzing large datasets
• Advanced proficiency with relevant software packages, including Microsoft Office (with advanced knowledge of Excel), Google Suite (including Looker Studio), Salesforce, or Power BI

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines, methods, and approaches for MEL
• Adherence to the highest standards of ethics and integrity
• Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports
• Strong analytical, program management, and analytical skills