Position: Beneficiary Services (Monitoring & Impact Measurement-MIM) Specialist
Reports to: Beneficiary Services/MIM Manager
Location: Bahir Dar, Amhara Region
MEDA’s Overview
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is an international non-governmental organization incorporated in Canada and registered in Ethiopia. MEDA is currently implementing the “EMERTA” project which stands for Ethiopians Motivating Enterprises to Rise in Trade and Agri-business and means ‘to leap to great heights’ in Amharic. The project is committed to increasing sustainable employment and income generation for women and men in Amhara Region of Ethiopia in rice, vegetables and gems sectors, with a focus on women.
Job Overview:
The Beneficiary Services/MIM Specialist will contribute to the monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities related to MEDA’s program in Ethiopia, specifically for the EMERTA project implemented in Amhara Region. In this role, the Beneficiary Services/MIM Specialist will ensure that monitoring, measuring and reporting the benefits of the project to beneficiaries will be met. A key aspect of the role is ensuring that beneficiaries of the project are directly benefitting from project activities and that the project is on track in meeting its stated objectives, all to the well-being of beneficiaries and partners.
The Beneficiary Services/MIM Specialist will provide technical assistance to the project team and its implementing partners in monitoring the performance of the project, documenting outcomes and results, support coordination of semi-annual portfolio reviews, consolidating and updating performance information for operational plans, validating and completing information for semi-annual donor reports (and other, similar reports), conducting site visits and preparing reports documenting performance and participating in technical reviews of new activities. The Beneficiary Services/MIM Specialist will collect, analyze and provide evidence of activities, technologies and approaches to understand how future project action can best serve beneficiaries. He/she will coordinate closely with MEDA’s Research and Knowledge Management Senior Specialist based in Bahir Dar.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
· Close follow up of EMERTA project implementation against annual and life of EMERTA project plans.
· Close coordination with the EMERTA program team to develop/improve monitoring and evaluation systems. Develop and update data collection systems and templates for better efficiency and alignment with project indicators.
· Work with MEDA teams to review/improve various reporting tools & systems. (Focus group discussions, surveys, interviews, GIS, electronic data reporting form, SPSS, etc.)
· In coordination with the Monitoring and Impact Measurement Manager, and in relation to the project’s approved Performance Measurement Framework, develop a monitoring plan and ensure data are collected and analyzed with appropriate recommendations being made available to the technical team. Ensure the plan is understood and adhered to by sub grantees and other partners, as appropriate.
· Develop data collection/monitoring tools and train others in their application.
· Lead surveys to be conducted annually and draft reports on results.
· Provide technical input in conducting baseline surveys, mid-terms and final evaluation, as appropriate.
· Conduct periodic field activity monitoring visits on project interventions along with program team members to capture lessons learned, document the lessons and promote continuous learning.
· In coordination with Research and Knowledge Management Specialist, support development of case studies and collect success stories on the current EMERTA program; Participate in planning workshops and provide technical support to ensure alignment of targets and activities with project indicators, outputs and objectives.
· Facilitate periodic reviews of program activities, plans and indicators, with all relevant stakeholders, identifying pertinent issues and recommending changes to work plan and/or methodology;
· Assist in identifying risks; analyse, track and monitor existing risks to ensure that they are understood and reported;
· Ensure that reporting, data quality and reporting systems of MEDA are standardized and harmonized with those of donors and partner implementers;
· Build the capacity of field staff in data collection and, in coordination with other MIM team members, routinely monitor project activities;
· Other tasks as needed and assigned.
Qualifications:
Essential:
· BA degree in Economics, Statistics, Health Sciences or other relevant discipline
· Five (5) years of strong experience in assessment, statistical analysis and reporting in the fields of economic and social development for major donor funded project
· Strong understanding of results-based management
· Excellent oral and written communication in English and Amharic, including report writing
· Computer skills: Microsoft Office Applications, specifically Excel, Word and Access, experience with applications such as SPSS or EpiInfo an asset
· Proven experience training and contributing to results as a team member
· Demonstrated experience in assessing economic, environmental and social indicators disaggregated by gender
Core Competencies:
· Results-oriented,
· Proven team player,
· Effective communicator in both writing and speaking
· Committed to building relations and promoting monitoring and evaluation principles, including continuous learning
· Demonstrated research and documentation skills