Statement of Duties to be Performed:
a. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:
Employing extensive experience and technical knowledge, the Senior Development Program Specialist (MEL) will provide intellectual leadership, policy guidance, and programming direction to USAID MENA OUs in the area of MEL. This includes but is not limited to reporting to and advising Program Office Directors, Deputy Mission Directors, and/or Mission Directors on MEL strategy conception and implementation as well as providing guidance to staff as The job holder manages the implementation of individual assistance activities.
The Senior Development Program Specialist (MEL) will provide expert advice and technical assistance to USAID partners to support MEL implementation. The Senior Development Program Specialist (MEL) will provide technical and management oversight to USAID’s MEL investments in the region including developing activity design processes, participating in Technical Evaluation Committees, and providing strategic guidance to IPs on MEL implementation approaches.
The Senior Development Program Specialist (MEL) will develop innovative and cross-cutting monitoring tools, including Data Quality Assessment and Improvement (DQA/I) tools in coordination with other MENA Program Offices and MEL contractors/grantees. The job holder will track and maintain multiple sets of key indicators, common indicators related to standard components in all USAID programs/projects/activities, indicators at the strategic objective level, and detailed indicators at the activity level.
The job holder will provide expert technical leadership to C/AORs and IPs to ensure activity work plans and monitoring plans include relevant and effective performance measures, which together provide greater results and more accurate measurements.
The job holder leads, designs and performs assessments/studies/research requiring independent analysis and interpretation, on a regular and recurring basis and ensures studies and research are cross-cutting and include substantive topics. The job holder briefs MERP and MENA Mission leaders on findings and makes recommendations to impact strategic, operational and programmatic direction. The job holder provides expert guidance to MERP and MENA technical staff on defining measurable indicators and targets for desired results addressed by their program/project/activity, and edits quarterly, semi-annual, and annual performance reports. In collaboration with MENA Mission Program Offices, The job holder leads compilation and reporting on the annual Performance Plan and Report (PPR) and ensures all required indicators have appropriate targets and results, and that data are collected and reported on by IPs in accordance with Agency requirements.
The job holder regularly reviews and coordinates the updates to the Mission Performance Management Plan (PMP). The job holder provides advice on developing and selecting indicators and assuring data quality for all sectoral interventions. The job holder guides the MENA Mission staff in Program Cycle implementation, including developing project and/or activity MEL plans.
b. Activity Management and AOR/COR Duties:
To ensure that supported Missions have access to the full range of MEL services, The job holder designs and manages umbrella MEL services contracts, as well as individually procured evaluations and assessments. As such, the job holder is responsible for understanding and having knowledge of USAID-wide MEL services contracting options.
Additionally, the job holder serves as the A/COR on MEL Platform Contracts and related activities; oversees and enforces the agreement/contract elements in accordance with the A/COR delegation authorities stipulated in the A/COR designation letter.
The job holder demonstrates flexibility and the capacity to adapt to and operate in environments of uncertainty pivoting MEL support services as needed.
The job holder manages individual evaluations, assessments, and MEL activities procured through central mechanisms as activity manager or AOR/COR.
c. Regional Training and Capacity Building for the MENA Region:
The Senior Development Program Specialist (MEL) builds the capacity of the USAID MERP and MENA staff on Agency and mission MEL functions so that staff on each technical team are prepared to take the lead within their sector. The job holder develops and conducts training, workshops, facilitated learning conversations, and other capacity-building opportunities around MEL/CLA. The job holder provides or arranges for individual and group training to ensure greater understanding and full compliance with Mission and Agency requirements. The job holder plans and executes regional learning and capacity building events/workshops for implementing partners and other external partners.
The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITIONEducation: A Bachelor’s Degree in a field related to political science, international affairs, public policy, economics, social sciences, technical sciences, or development studies or related field is required.
Prior Work Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning functions (evaluation, knowledge in the subject). At least two years of this experience in a development-oriented workplace, or a related field, for other donor agencies, cooperating country organizations, or private-sector institutions, and which included project design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data, is required.
Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) in English speaking, reading, and writing ability required.
CLOSING DATE: JULY 25, 2024
