Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.

PROJECT SUMMARY: The Market Transitions to Enable New Growth Opportunities (MTENGO) project is a five year (2022-2027), USDA-funded project implemented by Winrock International in the Northern and Central regions of Malawi. MTENGO uses a farmer-first approach grounded in market incentives to increase resource-efficient, reliable production from Malawian agriculture in the face of climate unpredictability. MTENGO’s approach will enable farmers to: Diversify and achieve stable returns from their farming portfolio through climate smart farming by responding to market demands with diversified production; Increase access to water for productive purposes through improved water management practices; Make ecosystem services work for farmers by improving farmer access to, and collective management of, water, soil, and forest products; and Increase access to markets and finance so farmers can make climate smart investments. MTENGO seeks a highly motivated and technically strong Mzuzu-based MEL Data Officer to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities including managing the Management Information System (MIS) for the project. Note that all finalist candidates will undergo MIS and MEL Skills Testing.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Data Management / Management Information System (MIS): Co-lead in developing and maintaining MIS (MS-SQL server and MS-Access) and dashboards (Microsoft Power BI). Ensure routine data is entered into the project’s in-house Management Information System (i.e., Winrock MIS) each month including ensuring that field officers upload data, correct errors/duplicate entries Share monitoring progress via Power BI dashboards during monthly MEL updates.

Train and mentor field officers to properly fill out data collection forms and review, verify, and validate the results reported. Support the MEL Manager to ensure output level indicator data and associated disaggregates are populated in the MIS, indicator tracking tables accurately reflect progress, and data is available for semi-annual reporting to USDA.

Validate routine data from field officers, partners, and staff through field monitoring visits and internal data quality checks. Provide logistical and field data collection coordination support to contracted firms during MTENGO’s annual survey effort and midterm/final evaluations. MEL

System Support: Under the MEL Manager’s guidance, support the maintenance of the project’s MEL plan and systems, ensuring compliance with USDA requirements and Winrock’s MEL standards; Support the design and enhancements to mobile data collection tools (using KoboToolBox) and processes for routine monitoring (e.g., tools to report on the number of individuals trained, the number of individuals participating in village savings and loans programs, etc.) Strengthen the capacity of MTENGO field officers, project staff, and grantees to collect relevant indicator data in accordance with the MEL Plan and MTENGO targets. Collaborating, Learning & Adapting: Highlight progress towards annual and life of project indicator targets and promote use of dashboards across technical staff and field officers via monthly team meetings.

Support MTENGO’s Learning Agenda and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) activities including the project’s tailored Learning Agenda via development of mobile data tools in KoboToolBox, piloting/testing of tools, and data collection and analysis efforts. Support the MEL Manager to ensure planned interventions deliver far-reaching results in line with funder expectations and MTENGO’s performance indicator targets. Develop and disseminate short 1-pager tips documents to highlight data entry best practices and common data entry shortcomings.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field including, Management Information Systems (MIS), Data Management, Computer Science, IT or related field. Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience designing and rolling out mobile data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, etc.) and providing basic input into the design of Management Information Systems (MIS) for data management and visualization. Experience managing MEL databases (exposure to SQL Server and MS Access a plus). Proven record of supporting field officers, consultants, and sub-contracted MEL staff to collect routine monitoring data under time constraints. Excellent time management and organizational skills are required. Strong computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases) are required. Experience with intermediate data analysis and visualization (using Excel, etc.) data management of large datasets, and data visualization (e.g., Power BI, etc.) skills are required. Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with fluency in English is required. Experience with agriculture and/or food security projects preferred. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a track record of the following traits: flexibility, responsiveness, honesty, dedication, responsibility, objectivity, proactivity, initiative, and ability to work under pressure under tight deadlines.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation. Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization