The MEL Specialist will be responsible for developing and managing M&E activities for a highquality results-oriented “MSME Financing program”. The MEL Specialist will supervise and oversee the implementation of the program’s M&E activities and data reporting requirements and on M&E matters and any external evaluation contractors throughout the life of the project. The MEL Specialist will have overall responsibility for assuring that all M&E requirements are fulfilled to achieve the best results.

The MEL Specialist will provide strategic and technical direction and oversight to policy and action-oriented monitoring and learning by project staff, grantees, and international partners to strengthen local capacity to inform policy around the AMIR program. The MEL Specialist will lead the project learning agenda, design and implement evidence-based policy advocacy and global learning. The MEL Specialist will provide oversight for the development of the MEL system to ensure data quality and collaborative learning and adaptation throughout implementation, sharing learning and providing evidence to drive the project forward to achieve meaningful and sustainable impact.

The MEL Specialist’s role will be done in project implementation Districts in the country.

Responsibilities:

Monitoring and Evaluation

Develop and steer the implementation of the AMIR program monitoring and evaluation plan;

Design monitoring and evaluation tools and processes

• Ensure timely collection, verification and analysis of data for all program indicators and their timely delivery for quarterly and other required reports
• Monitor project progress toward results
• Supervise timely and accurate reporting of quantitative and qualitative data by program implementing partners, in cooperation with program staff
• Validate data from program partners and staff, including through field monitoring visits
• Prepare interpretation tools (e.g. tables and charts) of data extracted from the project database and MIS platform as needed
• Design/update data collection instruments, schedules, analysis methods and applied technologies
• Develop capacity of implementing partners to institute appropriate M&E systems within their organizations
• Identify, document and share learnings acquired as a result of M&E to inform program planning
• Lead the collection and finalization of the AMIR program baseline survey
• Provide technical advice to program managers to identify learning gaps and learning needs and develop an associated learning plan
• Contribute to the development of a strategic action research plan
• Lead the development and implementation of the MIS platform ensuring maximum benefit for project learning

Learning and Data information:

• Ensure relevant data, best practices and lessons learned from other projects and other country-level initiatives to ensure that information and learning is informing Learning and programming
• Oversee on data integrated approach within the project liaising with government, and private sectors partners
• Ensure teams and stakeholders are trained on installation and operation of MIS system in given Model;
• Ensure monitoring, evaluation and follow-up of the use and results of MIS system at all levels
• Ensure development of MIS Database User Manual and disseminate;
• Ensure to date on information related to program objectives such as online data, publications, research, etc. and ensure the project team is informed.

Team collaboration coordination:

• Build the capacity of staff and partners to assist in data collection and M&E reporting Supervise team members to complete projects within deadlines.
• Collaborate with other project staff, stakeholders to deliver far-reaching results and impact in line with program expectations
• Provide technical support on program activities to ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all activities.
• Ensure program staff, and partners on activities related to monitoring and evaluation, assessments, and evidence gathering.
• Capacity building to teams on effectively executing the desired outcome.

Internal coordination and collaboration:

• Coordinate and leverage AMIR program results with other initiatives.
• Ensure quarterly and annual reports to donors;
• Coordinate and collaborate closely with the Program Team, home office, and field office. Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Required experiences and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, Applied Mathematics, economics, or a related field, specialized training/certification in monitoring & evaluation preferred.
• At least five years of related M&E experience, including experience and/or technical knowledge in the design and management of development projects.
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Word, Advanced Excel, and PowerPoint, preferred skills in Python, SPSS, STATA
• Experience working with at least one ODK-based platform (such as Kobo, Survey CTO, ODK)
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to represent the project in public forums
• Strong management, communication, and negotiation skills and the ability to collect data among a number of partners
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English