Position: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor
Location:London or Nairobi (with ability to travel)
About RI:Relief International (RI) is a leading global change organization and home to teams of humanitarian activist-professionals committed to transforming adversity into renewal for the world’s most vulnerable populations. By partnering with beneficiaries and communities on the front-lines, RI innovatively bridges the gap between immediate relief and long-term community development.
Position Summary:
Relief International (RI) is looking for a senior level MEL technical specialist, with particular expertise in education. The MEL Advisor will be responsible for ensuring rigorous monitoring and evaluation in key strategic projects, establishing standards, quality assurance mechanisms, guidelines and tools where needed and extracting learning for both an internal and external audience. RI is committed to establishing innovative and sophisticated approaches to MEL including an increased emphasis on measuring change at the output, outcome and impact level.
The MEL Advisor would spend half their time supporting a girls’ education project in Somalia. The project is part of the Girls’ Education Challenge, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). There is a significant emphasis on close monitoring and evaluation in the programme which includes an extensive study where a large sample of households is surveyed annually to evaluate the effectiveness of the project’s Theory of Change. The MEL Advisor will also be supporting other regions to provide project level MEL support where specialist technical advice is needed. This is likely to include supporting, overseeing and possibly carrying out project evaluations; advising the organisation on MEL best practice; developing quantitative and qualitative evaluation tools, approaches; and training materials to build the capacity of country teams.
Responsibilities & Duties:
- Lead the development of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks that allow capturing and dissemination of high quality evidence on programme progress for internal learning and external reporting as well as beneficiary accountability
- Review and refine existing MEL frameworks and tools to ensure they are fit for purpose in terms of measuring progress against logframe indicators
- Coordinate the implementation of MEL frameworks, partly remotely, and lead on the in-house quality assurance measures to ensure adequate and timely roll out of project MEL, detect bottle necks and other quality issues, and identify management responses to address these MEL challenges.
- Build the capacity of MEL and Programme staff within RI and within partner organisations to ensure MEL is delivering high quality data on programme progress for both internal and external reporting and learning. Capacity building will involve the entire cycle from data collection, data entry, data analysis, to computer assisted data collection
- Lead on developing appropriate education evaluation methodologies, mixed methods, for projects, develop corresponding ToRs for external evaluators, and manage the relationship with external evaluator to ensure timely delivery and quality of products to be delivered
- Conduct data quality assessments to determine the validity, reliability, and integrity of performance data gathered to monitor programme performance
- Provide oversight and collaborate with MEL and programmes staff internationally, particularly in Somalia, to ensure the MEL framework is fully and accurately implemented
- Conduct data quality assessments to determine the validity, reliability, and integrity of performance data gathered to monitor programme performance
- Liaise with external project stakeholders including donors, evaluation managers in all matters concerning MEL
Qualifications & Requirements:
- A master’s degree or equivalent experience in evaluation research, statistics, or a related field in an international setting (advanced degree preferred)
- Specific specialism in evaluating methods in relation to education programmes preferred
- Practical and theoretical expertise in designing and managing rigorous evaluations, preferably in the education sector;
- At least 7 years of relevant experience in an MEL specialist role in an NGO or evaluation consultancy
- Experience in designing qualitative and quantitative MEL tools, such as pre/post training questionnaires; household surveys; FGD guidance tools; questions for one-to-one interviews; key informant interviews, and standardized learning assessments to measure learning outcomes.
- Proficiency in Data Analysis and Statistical Software such as STATA
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to analyse qualitative information, and familiarity with a range of statistical analysis methods such as randomisation, counterfactual methods and difference-in-difference evaluations
- Experience in conflict, post-conflict, or transitional state environments highly desirable
- Excellent oral and written English and communication skills
- Strong organisational skills and resourcefulness
- Experience in a diverse and fast-paced work environment
- Willingness and ability to travel, including to Somalia
- Right to live and work in UK or Kenya (Nairobi)
The deadline to apply for this position is September 25, 2015. However, this position is very important to Relief International and we are eager to fill it. As such, we will be processing resumes as they come in.
We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence.
We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.
We value:
- Inclusiveness
- Transparency and Accountability
- Agility and Innovation
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
HOW TO APPLY:
