Senior Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L) Readvertisement – AWARD

AWARD is looking for a:

Senior Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L)

The Senior Manager Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L) will be a compelling leader and leading expert in the field of evaluation, able to foster and steer high quality initiatives at AWARD. He/she shall oversee the monitoring, progress review and assessment of Outcomes for AWARD interventions and activities. He/she will work closely with the Programs, Training and Communications Units at AWARD to provide technical support on knowledge generation and dissemination of best practices. The Senior Manager ME&L will develop and manage ME&L plans, shape the learning agenda, design frameworks, tools, and/or toolkits and coordinate the implementation of ME&L systems to track progress on the achievement of outcomes and impact. He/she will also advise on the program/project’s overall approach and support the design, planning, implementation and reporting on various projects/programs while also supporting the development of strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director AWARD, the Senior Manager ME&L will lead the generation, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of evidence and knowledge to increase AWARD’s visibility in the agricultural development space and AWARD’s influence of the social, gender-responsive and economic agenda in Africa’s agriculture.

More specifically, the Senior Manager, ME&L will:

• Lead the development, management and updating of AWARD ME&L tools, strategy/frameworks and systems;
• Coordinate the design, implementation and reporting of ME&L activities under the different AWARD initiatives and programs to track outcomes and impact;
• Integrate gender into AWARD ME&L systems and ensure the application of gender-responsive data collection and analysis methods;
• Provide technical backstopping for project/program’s progress tracking;
• Review and advise on project/program’s overall approach and adjustments, and prepare regular and ad hoc updates;
• Lead the development of gender-responsive indicators and ensure sex and age -disaggregated data is regularly generated, compiled, analysed and adequate recommendations are formulated;
• Support the implementation of quality assurance and control protocols and ensure internal consistency and validity of project/program’s monitoring checks to enable improved capturing and narration of programmatic results and impact;
• Contribute to technical donor reporting using appropriate formats;
• Contribute to proposal development and grants’ negotiations including design of high quality ME&L inputs, to ensure successful proposals;
• Contribute to the review of existing grants’ overall performance and indicators against achieved cumulative results and make useful recommendations for performance improvement;
• Facilitate inclusive and gender-responsive MEL and research approaches, processes, data and findings through capacity development of AWARD staff, and periodic meetings with partners and stakeholders;
• Coordinate the dissemination of findings/lessons learnt/best practices internally and externally through seminars, international conferences and other relevant forums;
• Supervise and coordinate unit staff members and consultants, including coaching and mentoring others in the unit and overall team;
• Serve as a member of the Senior management and support the strategy design, identification of strategic partnerships in the agricultural research and development sectors;
• Perform any other tasks as assigned.

Person specification

The ideal candidate for the role of Senior Manager ME&L (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) should demonstrate the following qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience:

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related disciplines.

Knowledge and experience

• Relevant work experience in international agricultural sector of at least 10 years, with not less than 5 years in a management role for ME&L;
• Experience working in various countries on the African continent in the development/agricultural sector.
• Extensive knowledge of gender and social inclusion analysis frameworks and in integrating gender into ME&L systems, including the identification of indicators to track gender specific outcomes and results;
• Demonstrated understanding of gender considerations in agriculture, social and policy-related issues, and opportunities for Africa’s agricultural development;
• Sound expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting of international donor-funded programs/initiatives;
• Extensive knowledge of gender-responsive ME&L concepts/systems/approaches, research design, data management, quality assurance and control procedures;
• Experience in developing different project/program logic tools such as the Theory of Change, Logical framework and Results framework
• Ability to establish goals and priorities, to plan, coordinate and effectively monitor tasks, milestones and target achievements;
• Sound experience in technical/donor reporting, knowledge management, capacity building and facilitation;
• Track record of published ME&L studies/reports and information products and dissemination to various audiences;
• Ability to forge and maintain effective working relationships with staff members, partners and stakeholders;
• Excellent command of the English Language, knowledge of French language is an added advantage;
• Ability to work independently and proactively as a team member; and
• Ability to understand expectations, work with competing deadlines and strong commitment to personal and organizational accountability.

Personal skills and competencies

• Highly developed skills for leadership, communication and accountability;
• Excellent conceptual, analytical and innovative problem-solving skills;
• Proactive, creative, self-motivator, detail-oriented and results-driven;
• Time management skills, flexibility and agility;
• Strong organisational and relational skills;
• Digitally savvy with a demonstrated affinity for electronic systems, analytical software packages and other online tools;
• Sound ability for staff management and support, coaching and mentoring;
• Excellent interpersonal skills including listening, maturity and energy;
• Good work ethics and sensitivity to different socio-cultural backgrounds; and
• Excellent written and verbal skills as well as the ability to learn from and teach others.

Terms and conditions

• This is a Globally Recruited Staff (GRS) position. ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in USD currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
• The appointment will be for a period of 2 years, inclusive of a 6-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
• Previous applicants need not apply as we have your application in our database
• The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya.