I. JOB SUMMARY:
The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Unit was established to support PACT and its partners to demonstrate project progress and impact and to use data collected to make informed and timely decisions related to project implementation. The MERL Director position is responsible for overall management and output of this unit. This includes the provision of direct line management support to project staff within the unit. S/he is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of an effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting system that reflects PACTs strategic direction and priorities. S/he coordinates technical MERL support to individual projects, platforms and assists in demonstrating progress against strategic objectives at the Country level. This support extends to a wide range of NGO and CSO partners. The post holder is also responsible for ensuring the generation of regular and ad hoc reports for internal and external purposes.
II. RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
Job Responsibility #1 Staff Management
§ Provide regular support and supervision to staff under direct line management. This includes the formulation of individual work plans (with agreed indicators of achievement) based on unit work plans and/or job descriptions. It also includes regularly scheduled supervision and performance management meetings
§ Build the technical and managerial capacity of staff under direct line management and delegate tasks for the efficient performance of activities
§ Coordinate travel of all staff within unit to project regions to provide and organize implementation of planned M&E activities to provide technical assistance to NGOs/CSOs as per plan
Job Responsibility #2: Technical M&E Support
§ Ensure active participation of unit staff in NBD activities as and when required/requested
§ Ensure that all Pact projects have a PMP in place with essential components
§ Lead discussions on partner level development of PMPs and ensure understanding of data quality requirements
§ Support platform directors and their teams to develop effective results frameworks and subsequent indicators at project and partner level(s)
§ Support project staff and partners to ensure effective systems are in place for process and impact monitoring (this includes baseline and evaluation requirements)
§ Responsible for ensuring the development and/ or updating of monitoring and evaluation guidelines, tools and systems for use by PACT and its partners
§ Lead the Identification of support requirements in coordination with platform directors to formulate a unit work plan and ensure agreed levels of effort are being met
§ In collaboration with platform directors and grants unit, monitor quality of data collected and reports produced and agree on actions required (building on DQM plans)
Job Responsibility #3: Coordination
§ Coordinate the request and subsequent provision of technical support from the MERL unit across the PACT Country programme inclusive of Pact’s field offices
§ Responsible for the compilation and distribution of the Donor reporting schedule and monitoring of progress against schedule
§ Responsible for quarterly plan for joint M&E field visits with Directors and the F&G Dept.
§ Lead regular scheduled meetings with unit members, participates in wider coordination meetings (as per the agreed organisational meeting schedule) and ensures dissemination of minutes to appropriate departments and or staff in AA and field offices
§ Promote effective communication and coordination across the organisational structure and country programme, with a specific aim to strengthen links to finance, grants and programming (across the various strategic platforms)
§ Works closely with ICT Senior Manager to ensure fulfilment of MERL specific systems support and database utilisation
Job Responsibility #4: Reporting
§ Ensure program staff has access to database and are regularly following upon action points generated by database encoders. More specifically work closely with the ICT Senior manager to ensure access and utilisation of Pact’s database.
§ Support Country programme in identification of higher level indicators to assess progress and overall impact against the strategic plan
§ Responsible for the provision of data deemed important for concept paper or proposal development
§ In collaboration with the CD coordinate and produce regular quarterly reports against the CHSA annual plan and an annual report
§ Provide information in response to ad hoc internal and external requests
§ Leads compilation of regular monitoring reports prepared by different Projects along with evaluation recommendations
§ Ensures compilation of quarterly, biannual and annual tabular and narrative reports
§ Lead preparation of reports against global indicators selected
Job Responsibility #5: Capacity Building
§ Works closely with the admin and HR unit and the capacity development unit to provide regular MERL module I & II training for Pact and partner staff
§ Organize periodic ongoing evaluation and progress monitoring events by involving partners
Job Responsibility #6: Information Management and Reporting
§ Ensure that the database of Pact is well designed and maintained electronically and that it is made accessible to all project staff. Ensures the backup filing is established to ensure continuity of the database in case of failures of the system
§ Update Program database on a quarterly basis
Job Responsibility #7: Learning and networking
§ Attend relevant government and partners’ meetings to further develop collaboration and to obtain new methods and ideas in the area of responsibility
§ Liaise with all stakeholders and represent Pact in policy forums and workshops on M&E issues
§ Provide statistical information for users within and outside Pact
§ Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples within the country and internationally, and ensure ongoing personal development and learning
§ Ensure active participation in Pact global COP for MERL (documenting and sharing Pact Ethiopia experience)
§ Lead communication around MERL related changes at a global level and ensure understanding of changes amongst key actors within the Pact Ethiopia program
§ Lead documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and best practice for MERL
Job Responsibility #8: Perform other duties as assigned by CD.
I. PERSON SPECIFICATION
A) EDUCATION/TRAINING:
Required:
§ MA/BA degree in Economics, statistics other social sciences.
Desired:
§ Knowledge of statistical software.
B) EXPERIENCE:
§ 10/12 years of relevant work experience in monitoring and evaluation and planning activity
C). Technical and other skills:
Required:
§ Proven human management experience;
§ Strong coordination, planning and communication skills
§ Strong analytical skills
§ Highly organized, attention to detail and analytical skill;
§ Computer skill particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point;
§ Strong written and communication skill in English;
Desired:
§ Utilizing programming and statistical software (such as SPSS) to compile data and information for various systems, and knowledge of basic PM&E and research tools;