MERL Director, Ethiopia SAGCE

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Program Delivery (PDEL) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.

Pact seeks an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research (MERL) Director for the anticipated upcoming USAID/Ethiopia Strengthening Accountable Governance and Civic Engagement (SAGCE) Activity. Under this anticipated Activity, USAID/Ethiopia seeks to strategically use its convening power and limited resources to support Ethiopian stakeholders from government, civil society and the private sector in applying locally-led, problem-driven, adaptive approaches to enhance citizen-responsive governance. SAGCE will strengthen sub-national government ability to meet citizen needs and enhance citizen engagement in governance. This is anticipated to be a five-year activity. More information can be found here on grants.gov. This position is contingent upon award.

The MERL Director provides strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring, evaluation and learning of the program. This individual also supervises MERL staff and ensures the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and USAID. The MERL Director oversees all MEL activities, provides technical direction and support, ensures the accurate and compelling reporting of results for program activities, and ensures the program aligns with Pact’s quality standards for MERL in close coordination with Pact’s US-based Results and Measurement (R&M) Team.

 

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:

• Lead the design and implementation of the project’s MERL system in collaboration with Pact’s R&M Team to develop key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.
• Design and manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of research studies with Pact’s R&M Team.
• Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation ToR and selection of firm, in alignment with award.
• Develop and disseminate relevant M&E tools, formats and lead the provision of M&E specific technical training
• Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy
• Train, supervise, and mentor a team of M&E staff and oversee consortium partners’ compliance with MEL system.
• Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MELP
• Work closely with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management
• Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.
• Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA); ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive project database and ensure accurate and timely storage of electronic files.
• Responsible for calculation and reporting of Pact’s Global Indicators through imPact, Pact’s instance of DHIS2, and calculation and reporting of project data into imPact
• Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.
• Commitment to applied learning and adaptation based on data: Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaption, using USAID collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approaches, tools and strategies.
• Create a learning agenda and implement a system designed to identify lessons learned and disseminate timely information
• Produce learning products and thought leadership pieces relevant to the project intervention; present in local conferences or on webinars regarding project’s MERL successes
• Liaise with USAID MERL staff and with counterparts at international, government, non-government agencies involved in related activities and collaborate in promoting high quality results and complementary efforts.

• Master’s degree in any of the following or related fields: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities, with preference given to democracy and governance activities.
• At least five years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings
• Ability to work well on a team and with various government officials, civil society leaders, community leaders, and program beneficiaries.
• Progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation of democracy and governance programs.
• Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and measures
• Extensive knowledge of reporting procedures, preferably for USAID, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation and learning, including impact evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in synthesizing and analyzing various data sources for learning and recommendations for programming adaptations.
• Experience training other organizations in MEL topics and methods.
• Effective writing, data visualization and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc., and the ability to use various commercially available statistical software programs.
• Excellent organizational as well as English oral and written communication skills

• Fluency in Amharic (oral, writing, and reading)
• Ethiopian nationals are encouraged to apply.
• Experience with DHIS2 platform and mobile data collection software.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with complexity-aware measurement approaches, such as Outcome Harvesting, Outcome Mapping and Most Significant Change