Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist (MEL Specialist)

Job Description

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist (MEL Specialist)

Company Name: Virginia Tech IPMA (Integrated Pest Management Activity)

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Job Context:
∎ Feed the Future Bangladesh Integrated Pest Management Activity (FTFBIPMA)
∎ Terms of Reference (TOR)
∎ Project : Feed the Future Bangladesh Integrated Pest Management Activity (FTFBIPMA)
∎ Work Site : Dhaka city and travel to project sites in Dhaka, Khulna and Barisal divisions, Cox`s Bazar, and Bandarban
∎ Report to : Country Program Manager
∎ Supervising: N/A
∎ Project Background: Feed the Future Bangladesh Integrated Pest Management Activity (FEFBIPMA) aims to address current and emerging pest threats in Bangladesh; capacity building of agricultural stakeholders such as academia, financial institutions, government, judiciary, media, civil society, and value chain projects; and implementing and scaling up of IPM packages for rice, maize, groundnut, sesame, mung bean, mustard, sunflower, lentil, eggplant, mango, banana, potato, and coconut.
∎ Job Summary: The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist (MEL Specialist) will report to the Country Program Manager (CPM) and Deputy Program Manager (DPM). The main responsibilities of the MEL Specialist are to ensure relevant, timely, and accurate M&E data collection, analysis, and reporting, as well as leading and documenting reflective exercises to promote project learning. The MEL Specialist will coordinate learning activities with the Gender Specialist and Communications Specialist.
∎ The MEL Specialist will maintain an indicator database and enter the required data online in the FTFMS data management system. The MEL Specialist will work with project partners to assure punctual data collection, management and analysis, and routine presentation of accurate information in quarterly and annual reports.
∎ The MEL Specialist will manage a set of FTFBIPMA monitoring forms used by project team members during the implementation of their field activities. The MEL Specialist is also responsible for training project team members in the use of these forms and for their adaptation in collaboration with additional MEL Specialists from FTFBIPM project partners. The MEL Specialist collects data and analyzes performance information monthly; results from these analyses and documentation from reflective sessions help to determine annual workplan adjustments.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Provide technical leadership, learning support, and assistance across FTFBIPMA to promote quality MEL, planning, and implementation.
∎ Support the development of appropriate technical standards, guidelines and curricula for MEL, and research within FTFBIPMA program.
∎ Responsible for designing and executing different assessments and operational research projects.
∎ Promote capacity development and exchange of skills in MEL for staff within FTFBIPMA.
∎ Lead and document reflective exercises to promote project learning.
∎ Supervise/support the development of appropriate systems to collect, store, and analyze data generated across all FTFBIPMA activities.
∎ Support the design, protocol development, and implementation of large surveys including protocol development, sampling, data requirements, questionnaire development, data management, data analyses, and report preparation.
∎ Support periodic reviews and data analyses to describe the achievements and impact of FTFBIPMA across different technical areas and geographic areas and disseminate the reports as appropriate.
∎ Responsible for all aspects of program activities, including routine data collection, data quality assurance, analysis, and reporting.
∎ Establish and maintain professional contacts in other organizations concerning MEL practices, tools, and technical approaches. Monitor new donor and technical trends and issues, and recommend FTFBIPMA project responses, as appropriate.
∎ Contribute to the development of strategies and multi-year and annual workplans to identify and meet the technical needs of FTFBIPMA project activities in MEL.
∎ Contribute to the development of FTFBIPMA MEL Strategy; oversee the implementation of this Strategy building on the communications plans of other projects working in the sector.
∎ Support the preparation of Performance Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plans.
∎ Assist the CPM/DPM for the development and management of the annual workplan, including the identification of opportunities for strategic studies, evaluations, and operations research. Ensure that MEL and communications management work is integrated.
∎ Oversee and enhance an effective system to support project design, technical review, work planning, program monitoring, evaluation, and routine reporting to USAID.
∎ Provide support in producing reports, papers, manuals, and training materials. Oversee the preparation, finalization, and dissemination of periodic technical reports to USAID, the public sector, and other project stakeholders.
∎ Assist in the preparation of USAID progress reports, including but not limited to monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
∎ Attend meetings as directed by the CPM/DPM, taking minutes, and reporting back to the CPM/CPM.
∎ Coordinate with MEL staff at USAID.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Advanced degree in relevant social sciences and/or a minimum of 7 years work experience in areas relevant to this position, specifically programmatic MEL, strategic communications, operations or applied research, and capacity building in MEL within a developing country context.
∎ Demonstrated experience with knowledge management and diffusion of knowledge, new approaches, and tools.
∎ Demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams in geographically dispersed locations and to produce results within specific timeframes to meet deadlines.
∎ Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. Proven successful experience working in a "centralized/headquarter environment."
∎ Extensive experience with the use of measurement methods required for monitoring, evaluation and learning of education in agricultural/rural development programs.
∎ Highly developed English-language writing and presentation skills.
∎ Experience using statistical software packages for data analysis and modeling.
∎ Strong scientific and technical writing skills.
∎ Experience with USAID reporting requirements and report writing.
∎ Familiarity with ArGIS software, QGIS, or an alternate open-source GIS software package.
∎ Demonstrated experience in areas related to leadership and management or organizational development.
∎ Experience working with USAID's FTFMS system and GFSS or Feed the Future Indicators.
∎ Experience using mobile data collection applications and tools.

Salary: Negotiable

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 12 Feb 2023

Company Information:
∎ 5 Feb 2023
∎ Virginia Tech IPMA (Integrated Pest Management Activity)

Category: NGO/Development

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