Background
The Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Activity is designed
to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment too,
from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s
flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and
accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United
States.
Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches
to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally
coordinated technical and institutional support activities and a large,
flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract facility
designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the
private sector identify.
Summary of Primary Duties
The MEL Manager is responsible for managing ATI’s MEL
systems, and the Buy-in MEL function, developing MEL plans, and conducting data
analysis for the respective ATI and buy-in needs. They will directly support
and manage the ATI database ensuring that ATI data and information needs are
consistently provided and organized. They are responsible for the overall
availability and consistent performance and optimizations of the database
solutions. The MEL Manager will work with stakeholders to identify and
implement the policies, tools, and processes for data management across ATI and
shall take a lead in facilitating learning across the board. The MEL manager
shall work closely with the MEL Director to design systems, track results, and
provide strategic leadership to the ATI learning agenda. He/She is responsible
for all activities related to the development and implementation of the ATI MEL
and knowledge management strategy and systems, including operationalizing the
Performance Management Plan and MEL system. The MEL Manager supervises the MEL
Specialists, MEL Associates and Database Associates.
Overall Responsibilities
Support the MEL Director in setting the direction of the ATI
MEL function and lead its management, enabling the program to develop the
robust intelligence and analysis needed to develop, adapt, and improve its
program strategy on an ongoing basis. To achieve this the MEL manager will be
responsible specifically for the following:
• Provides
MEL expertise on the design, review, and implementation of the project, as well
as the modification of MEL information management systems in particular the MEL
Database and DIS platforms.
- Ensuring
that data on the ATI database as well as other platforms such as Salesforce and
DIS is captured well and properly reported.
- Managing
the overall security of the ATI MEL data and ensuring that all data is kept in
data with data protection standards.
- With the
support of the database associate develop guidelines for database and systems
use, including training staff on any new upgrades.
- Provide
day-to-day remote assistance and support to activity teams and project staff.
- Manages
the data quality and assurance standards.
• Is
responsible for ongoing support to the USAID reporting platforms such as
Salesforce and DIS and shall ensure that all reports and data needs are
provided as per Mission requirements and Performance monitoring plans.
• Leads ATI
MEL data analysis including providing support to ATI Dashboards, and USAID
reporting requirements, and effectively supports the Communications team with
data analytics for reporting to different USAID requirements.
• Provide
leadership to ATI Data Quality Assurance Processes. This includes setting up
DQA assessments and ensuring all data in ATI MEL systems meets the USAID Data
Quality Assurance standards.
• Liaise
and coordinates with various buy-in mission to tailor strategic MEL support to
meet individual mission buy-in objectives.
• Manages
the indicator performance reporting and target setting for the USAID Missions’
quarterly and annual reporting and baselines for reporting progress and
maintains reporting procedures and guidelines in compliance with USAID
guidelines.
• Lead in
the development of specialized monitoring and evaluation tools and data
collection protocols to ensure accurate collection and verification.
• Lead the
learning function and work closely with the MEL director to effectively
implement the ATI learning agenda. The MEL manager tracks the ATI progress and
evaluates its impact in an integrated manner allowing for ongoing learning and
program adjustments.
• Coordinates,
oversees and participates in project evaluation activities to assess the
outcomes and impacts of the ATI activities.
• Provides
training and mentoring to staff on MEL, including teams across the continent as
well as in the US.
• Working
closely with the ATI MEL Director, Coordinate annual performance reviews at
Buy-in, Regional as well and Africa-wide levels.
• Support
Buy-in MEL implementation including providing Prosper Africa Direct MEL
support.
• Maintains
an extensive and detailed technical body of knowledge of the latest MEL
techniques, applications, and methodologies for use by staff and partners.
• Tracks
performance progress and captures results, with a strong emphasis on bringing
both quantitative and qualitative research methods to bear upon cross-cutting
development objectives.
• Conduct
regular and ad-hoc data analysis and work closely with the Communications team
to develop reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) to demonstrate progress and
facilitate continuous learning and project management.
The MEL Manager works independently to perform the duties
and responsibilities of MEL-related work and is assigned to other
program-related duties as needed upon the direction of the Director. The MEL
Manager is expected to perform autonomously to execute the MEL responsibilities
as outlined in this SOW. The MEL Manager is expected to develop his/her work
schedule, and procedures for accomplishing tasks and independently resolve
problems that may arise during the accomplishment of these objectives in
compliance with the ATI and DAI’s procedures and regulations.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s
degree in a related field is required.
• At least
ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience, developing,
implementing, and managing M&E and knowledge management of development
projects.
• Professional
work experience on M&E systems for trade and investment, agricultural
development, market systems approach, or other similar development areas is
strongly preferred.
• Experience
in supervising is required.
• Demonstrated
ability to implement, operationalize, and manage information collection and
analysis systems.
• Demonstrated
experience leading and building the capacity of teams of MEL associates, and
officers, including remote, field-based staff, to meet program needs and
deliverables.
• Excellent
verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong
background and training in field research methodologies, including some
knowledge of statistical analysis programs.
• A
master’s degree in evaluation, social sciences, or other relevant fields is
preferred.
Skills
• Excellent
technical skills in quantitative and qualitative monitoring and results
measurement (MRM) methods.
• Strong
analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex and conflicting
information, generate ideas, and establish means of effectively testing them.
• Strong
strategic thinking skills and good judgment – the ability to reflect on the
variety of likely impacts or outcomes from an activity and to determine
pragmatic approaches to getting results.
• Strong
written and verbal communication skills in English and the ability to
communicate complex issues with clarity and structure, and to deliver documents
to the highest level of professionalism.
• Ability
to think strategically and critically, and to bring imagination to solving
problems with substantial complexity and ambiguity.
• Excellent
interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence: a genuine team player with
strong listening, negotiating, and persuasive skills.
• Ability
to identify the key internal and external customers of the services provided by
the MEL function, understand their requirements, and deliver services that they
value within appropriate timescales.
• The
ability to gain the trust and confidence of external and internal stakeholders
at all levels.
• Genuine
interest in business fundamentals and commercial analysis.
• Results-focused,
consistent, and accurate with a strong commitment to data integrity.
• Able to
plan and deliver work according to timescales and required milestones.
• Able to
engage and work with a range of expert consultants and senior and middle
management staff.
• Able to
work with people of different professional, national, and cultural backgrounds.
• Able to
work independently, analyze and solve problems, and prioritize issues.
Reporting
The MEL Manager will report to the MEL Director or designee.
APPLICATION LINK:
https://fs25.formsite.com/DupOTo/67on6umpbe/index
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Select the position in which you are interested in applying,
fill out the required information, and upload your CV. Please indicate what
location you are applying for. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as
possible as interviews will be conducted soon. Please note, due to the volume
of applications that we receive and the urgency to fill up positions, only
shortlisted applicants will receive notification on the next steps.
Interested candidates should submit their applicatio no later than December 27, 2024.
