Reports to: Chief of Party (COP)
Purpose: The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor (MEL) is responsible for enhancing the overall accountability and transparency of the program through the development of a robust monitoring, evaluation and learning framework and system, and leading the data management, documentation, reporting and impact assessment activities. He or she will provide strategic and technical support for the program planning, particularly in terms of setting clear and sound strategies, indicators, and targets, and identifying effective results (outputs, outcomes, and impacts). The job holder will establish and implement an effective MEL system to document and track all program activities, implemented by The American University in Cairo (AUC) or service providers, to monitor its performance, progress and impact throughout the lifetime of the program, ensuring compliance with USAID regulations and reporting requirements. He or she will develop and oversee the implementation of MEL strategies, instruments, and interventions throughout the life cycle of the program to generate sound and systematic evidence to support strategic and operational decision-making, foster learning for all stakeholders, and continuously enhance the achievement of planned results, targets, and impacts.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee the MEL function of the program, ensuring compliance with USAID contractual requirements and guidelines. Devise a robust and inclusive framework, alongside the necessary policies and procedures, to effectively support the monitoring and evaluation of program outcomes and the thorough assessment of its impacts
- Develop, implement and report on a unified monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework across all program components, setting out specific quantifiable performance indicators and targets for overall objectives and activities to measure project progress; and including identification of processes, outputs, outcomes, and sustainability indicators
- Develop and implement comprehensive capacity-building initiatives for partners and service providers, focusing on SMART indicators, data collection and dissemination protocols, data management and analysis, and optimal reporting and information dissemination practices
- Develop and manage a life-of-project MEL plan with baselines and targets to meet the demands for regularly scheduled and ad-hoc information and reports required by the sponsor
- Oversee annual updates, adjustments, of the MEL plan in accordance with the work plans; serve as a primary liaison with USAID's programs office and its MEL contractor
- Facilitate the annual work planning process among objectives and tasks leads, ensuring accountability to the project's contractual commitments
- Lead the implementation of the Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) activities and promote the CLA concepts to ensure that adaptive management is integrated within the program management cycle
- Engage and liaise with other project staff members and service providers to promote learning across sub-activities
- Manage and facilitate external evaluation interventions and data quality assessments conducted by USAID. Take charge of coordinating these activities, ensuring smooth collaboration and communication between the program and USAID during the evaluation process.
- Lead the implementation of training interventions to address the MEL needs of project staff respective to the components of the MEL system
- Oversee the development of the processes manuals, to foster accountability and transparency principles and practices
- Supervise the process of developing and implementation of a Management Information System (MIS) for collecting and managing project data. Provide training and capacity-building activities for the staff on the system
- Ensure appropriate baseline data availability or gathering, periodic monitoring, adequate performance reporting, and other activities to facilitate the implementation of evaluations
- Coordinate with COP and deputy chief of party (DCOP) to collect and monitor activity-related outputs and results in all aspects of programming
- Contribute MEL system description to Annual Work Plan and lead annual monitoring and learning planning, review, and update processes accordingly
- Plan and implement weekly project calls to review progress, attend relevant meetings, collect data, present findings on learning questions, and facilitate evidence-driven decision-making
- Supervise data management in local project locations (along with the local program site coordinators)
- Develop and manage the learning plan and agenda according to USAID's directives and requirements
- Manage data gathering for baselines and end-lines as well as recording and reporting on the project M&E system and USAID's Development Data Library (DLL)
- Maintain updated knowledge of Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 201, 205 and 579 and ensure their adoption across USAID Scholars cycle and data management activities
- Oversee and manage all data collection, analysis, data collection tools and storage as per the approved MEL.
- Manage the process of collecting beneficiaries feedback on behalf of the project, contributing to the annual assessment of the work plan and to the CLA Agenda at large
- Monitor the contextual change that may affect the theory of change or the design hypothesis of the project, proposing adjustment to the work plan or to the interventions design as needed
- Contribute to the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for the project's beneficiaries, complementing the skills and knowledge of the counterparts with the needed capacities and capacity building
- Support beneficiaries and partners efforts to develop strategies and associated performance management frameworks
- Develop and manage sustainability and impact plans and indicators needed for USAID's requirements
- Prepare documents and reports highlighting USAID Scholars Activity achievements and successes specifically those that contribute to USAID's areas of focus
- Manage the processes of Data Quality Assessment (DQA) and evaluations mandated by USAID and executed by USAID's MEL contractor
- Manage the performance of staff within the MEL team
- Perform any other additional duties as assigned
Requirements:
Minimum Education Requirements:
- Bachelor degree in any field
- Masters Degree is an asset
- Monitoring and Evaluation Certification is an asset
Experience:
- Minimum 12 years of experience, including eight years of experience in developing and supervising MEL plans in educational and/or scholarship management programs
- Previous experience in foreign-funded/USAID projects is required
Skills:
- Strong MEL skills, data analysis and report writing skills
- Resourceful through technology and research skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and relationship building
- Proficiency in Excel and other data management systems
- Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic
- Good attention to details with excellent follow up skills
- Demonstrated time management and multi-tasking skills
- Ability to manage teams and cross-teams
- Ability to work independently and take the initiative
- Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
- Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships with project constituents
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Results-oriented and able to work effectively within a team
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills
- Very good computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
Working Conditions:
- Flexible working hours
- Work as assigned on any AUC or grant program location
This position is open until July 9, 2024
Placement is based on the candidate's experience and skills. Only candidates who make it to the shortlist will be contacted
The American University in Cairo is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
We thank all individuals who have expressed interest in working at The American University in Cairo.
