Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer
Kigali, Rwanda
JOB DETAIL
Description
Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
The Organization
Since 1944, Heifer International has supported more than 46 million Smallholder Farmer (SHF) families globally in lifting themselves out of hunger and poverty while caring for the earth, in partnership with the communities we serve, including youth and women. Heifer International is now accelerating its strategic approaches to closing the Sustainable Living Income (SLI) gap for 10 million additional SHF households globally by 2030.
In Rwanda, our aim is moving 300,000 smallholder farmers to achieve sustainable living income by 2030 against Heifer Africa target of 6.745 million. Heifer does this through the sustainable locally led Development approach.
Function
The MEL Officer will play a critical role in supporting the organization’s efforts to ensure that projects and programs achieve their desired outcomes. This role is integral to fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement. The MEL Officer will focus on developing and implementing robust systems for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the progress of projects, ensuring alignment with both internal strategies and donor requirements
S/he will also be supporting the collaboration and documentation of quality data, dissemination of lessons learnt, and producing best practices. The MEL officer will also be responsible for developing staff’s capacity to implement good quality, MEL processes which will provide a basis for decision making and promote accountability for resource use in Heifer Rwanda.
Essential Character Traits
Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, analytical ability, interpersonal skills and proactive problem solving.
RESPONSIBILITIEs & DELIVERABLES
A. Implement monitoring, evaluation, learning and systems for country specific projects. (30%)
- Develop and implement M&E frameworks for ongoing and upcoming projects, ensuring alignment with project goals, indicators, and outcomes.
- Design data collection tools (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups) and lead data collection efforts across all project areas.
- Conduct field visits to monitor project implementation and provide feedback to project teams and stakeholders.
- Manage data quality by ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and timeliness in reporting.
- Develop performance indicators and tracking systems to assess the efficiency, impact, and sustainability of programs.
- Prepare regular progress reports summarizing findings and recommendations, and ensure they are submitted to stakeholders and donors in a timely manner.
- Facilitate learning sessions and workshops with project teams to reflect on lessons learned and identify best practices.
- Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories to guide future programming and improve project design.
- Ensure knowledge sharing among project teams, partners, and other stakeholders to foster a culture of learning.
- Support the development of a learning agenda and ensure it is integrated into project cycles and organizational strategy.
- Collaborate closely with project teams to ensure M&E activities are aligned with overall program strategies.
- Work with external evaluators and consultants during special assessments.
- Represent the organization in M&E-related meetings and forums with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
B. Contribute to program effectiveness: design monitoring, evaluation, learning and systems for country specific projects. (20%)
- Design M&E plan incorporating core standard indicators defined by Heifer’s Project International and set targets for indicators.
- Support the development of project results framework and logical framework
- Design data collection tools, plans and processes for all required information, ensuring high quality and integrity of data.
- Review and adjust M&E plans and targets, tools and processes periodically as needed.
C. Data management, analysis and utilization for learning. (20%)
- Manage all data properly in clean form.
- Analyze project data to inform decision making, learning and meet all the reporting needs.
- Ensure timely data availability and reporting to stakeholders.
- Document lessons learned, successes, failures, and best practices via case studies.
- Ensure the availability and accessibility of data for all project stakeholders.
- Support the preparation of donor reports, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and timelines.
- Develop dashboards and visual tools to communicate M&E findings to various stakeholders.
D. Capacity Development: equip project team with skills to deliver MELS activities efficiently (20%)
- Train staff and partners on M&E methodologies, tools, and best practices.
- Provide technical support to project teams and partners to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting capacity.
- Build the capacity of project teams in adaptive management practices based on M&E findings.
E. May perform other duties as assigned. (10%)
- Support research and evaluation initiatives at the country office.
- Support the development of concept notes, project proposals, and submission to potential donors.
- Assist in networking with other development organizations, governments and other line agencies in promoting Heifer’s development model/initiatives, and potential collaborations.
- Perform other job-related duties as requested.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Rural Development Studies, Project management, Economics, Statistics, Social sciences or an equivalent
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in M&E or related fields, preferably in international development or humanitarian sectors.
- Experience in designing and implementing M&E systems for donor-funded projects.
- Strong experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
Preferred Requirements
- Demonstrate experience in coordinating and working with international donors and grantees on MEL systems.
- Experience in supporting and monitoring field-based programs.
- Experience in managing databases and coordinating evaluations, surveys and impact monitoring.
Most Critical Proficiencies
- Proven team leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff, including field staff in several locations.
- Experience with the NGO/private voluntary organizations approach, and knowledge of global sustainable development.
- Demonstrated ability to implement a logical framework approach or other strategic planning approaches.
- Ensure accuracy in data collection and analysis to drive evidence-based decision-making
- Ability to write clear and concise reports and to make effective oral presentations.
- A good understanding of and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty, hunger and the environment, and knowledge of the context in which non-profit organizations operate.
- Knowledge of youth workforce development issues, especially in rural communities of the East Africa region.
- Good understanding of the different value chains within the agricultural sector.
- Knowledge of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation.
- Excellent organizational skills, including strong attention to detail.
- Proven experience in building the capacity of “partner” institutions to document and disseminate industry information, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and advocate within the industry.
- Foster a collaborative working environment with colleagues and partners
- Demonstrated proficiency in English, both oral and written.
- Ability to work in a team.
- Proficiency in data collection and analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, STATA, Excel, Power BI).
- Familiarity with M&E frameworks such as logical frameworks, Theory of Change, and Results-Based Management.
- Knowledge of database management and data visualization software.
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands
- Ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
- Ability to understand, appreciate and implement Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development model.
- Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions.
- Quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluation and ability to communicate MEL concepts clearly with leadership, partners, and staff at all levels.
- Ability to assess project data results critically and present findings clearly.
- Strong problem-solving skills with an adaptive approach to changing program needs.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout Heifer project sites in Rwanda.
- May require constant sitting, working at a computer and focusing for extended periods of time and performing office environment activities while on the road and/or in remote conditions.
- Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
- Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting sometimes inflexible deadlines.
Key Behavioral Competencies
Accountability
- Professional Excellence
- Humility
- Customer Orientation
- Empathy
- Innovation
location
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