USAID/Ethiopia Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Activity Platform
Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist
Overview:
USAID/Ethiopia Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Activity Platform is designed to ensure USAID’s activities in Ethiopia achieve their intended results through monitoring and evaluation, strategic assessments, an upgraded and holistic data management system (DIS), and USAID’s CLA approach . The Mitchell Group, Inc. (TMG), a global consulting firm based in Washington DC, will help USAID/Ethiopia create a dynamic learning environment among development actors, focusing on innovation, quality, and knowledge sharing. The TMG approach will provide USAID/Ethiopia with high-quality monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) services across its portfolio, facilitate collaboration and learning among USAID/Ethiopia and stakeholders, the Government of Ethiopia (GOE), and implementing partners, and ensure USAID/Ethiopia programs fully incorporate local participation. The MEL team will also promote program sustainability by building the technical and institutional capacity of stakeholders and implementing partners.
The Senior MEL Specialist is a full-time contract position based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is expected to be a 5-year project. This position may be an Ethiopian citizen, resident, or expatriate. The salary will be competitive, and women are encouraged to apply. This individual will report to the Deputy Chief of Party, who reports to the Chief of Party (COP). (S)he will manage a team of technical MEL specialists, a gender/inclusion advisor, and performance monitoring expert.
** Please note that this position with TMG is contingent upon award and funding.**
Responsibilities:
The Senior MEL Specialist will have the following roles and responsibilities, including, but not limited to:
· Serving as the primary person for facilitating the implementation of the USAID Mission’s performance monitoring plan (PMP).
· Designing and supervising the implementation of performance and impact evaluations, cross-sector evaluations, whole-of-project evaluations, and any assessments across USAID’s portfolio.
· Developing MEL plans, defining project indicators, and collecting and reviewing monitoring data and contribute to performance and impact evaluations through input into quantitative and qualitative methodology.
· Developing capacity building/training sessions to improve data literacy among Mission staff, implementing partners, GOE partners and relevant stakeholders that contribute to the data management system.
· Supervising data quality assessments, participatory data collection methods and protocols, and data quality verification.
· Under his/her direction, the MEL team will be responsible for strengthening the MEL capacity of all USAID program staff, stakeholders, relevant GOE agencies, and MEL service providers.
· Under his/her direction, the MEL team will assist the Mission to develop reporting and general performance monitoring approaches, practices and tools.
· The Senior MEL specialist will direct the evaluation and assessment process. (S)he will work closely with the technical MEL specialist to assist the Mission to develop scopes of work for evaluations and assessment SOWs, contract a team to implement the evaluation, and (S) he will review the final products for quality and accuracy.
· The MEL team, led by the Senior MEL Specialist, also cooperates closely with the USAID CLA Platform on the technical level, ensuring that indicators and information are reported in a timely manner and accurately to USAID/Ethiopia.
· The Senior MEL Specialist will be responsible for mobilizing surge capacity to support evaluations and assessments with specific technical expertise, as needed.
Required Qualifications:
· Substantial technical experience in monitoring and evaluation of international development projects, preferably for USAID.
· Strong data analysis skills including good command of statistics, sampling methodologies, and statistical analysis software such as Tableau, SPSS, STATA, etc. with R and Python preferred.
· Working knowledge of infographics and data presentation techniques.
· Knowledge and understanding of USAID Evaluation Policy and ADS regulations.
· Prior experience working on USAID-funded programs in Ethiopia or East Africa preferred.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with native Amharic language skills preferred.
How to Apply:
Required Application Materials:
· CV in English
· 1420 Biodata form (dated & signed)
· Three (3) professional references
Please send relevant CV/resumes, 1420 Biodata form, and application materials to recruitment@the-mitchellgroup.com. The 1420 Biodata form can be found here: https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17. In the subject line, please indicate “USAID Ethiopia CLA Activity Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist/ (Last Name)”. CV/resumes will be reviewed as they are received, early application is encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Mitchell Group, Inc. (TMG) is a global solutions leader providing meaningful impact and sustainable solutions to development efforts affecting the lives of ordinary people. We are a veteran-owned business with over 30 years of international development program experience. TMG has performed highly successful, long-term contracts for US government clients such as USAID and National Institutes of Health (NIH) in supporting their various projects in multiple countries on 6 continents throughout the world. Many of those projects have been in Africa, where TMG has worked in 38 of its countries and currently has offices in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and Ethiopia. Through these projects, TMG has gained broad, multi-sector experience in managing more than 100 US government contracts. We work with a large group of highly qualified experts whose specialized skills provide expertise to perform services in various technical areas, logistical management, financial management, administration, project management, MIS services, capacity building, training, and other sectors.
TMG has been a leading contractor in assisting the US National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and other domestic and international agencies with their important international biomedical research efforts to find cures for such human scourges as Malaria, AIDS and Ebola. TMG has also assisted USAID in successfully performing major contracts implementing its international development programs in such functional areas as Monitoring and Evaluation, Education and Training, Health Services, Countering Violent Extremism, Disaster Management, Agriculture and Food Security, and Outreach and Communications.
