CARE seeks Director - Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL Director) for the anticipated USAID-funded Madagascar Rural WASH Activity. This five-year $25-50M Activity aims to increase equitable and sustainable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, maximize the impact on human health and nutrition, and preserve the environment in rural regions of Madagascar.
Position Description:
The MEAL Director is responsible for overseeing and coordinating MEAL and programs quality improvement activities/components of the program consortium led by CARE. The MEAL Director will lead the design and implementation of the project's MEAL framework, systems, research activities, and processes in line with CARE's system and USAID requirements, including appropriate gender-sensitive indicators, data collection, and milestones to monitor and evaluate performance, and produce timely, accurate, and complete reporting. The MEAL Director will work closely with the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, and members of the Project team to ensure coordination of activities related to monitoring and evaluation, will demonstrate critical analytical skills, cultivate a culture of learning, and oversee a learning strategy, promote innovation and the use of appropriate technology, enable the effective and efficient operationalization of the monitoring and evaluation system, responding to program needs.
The MEAL Director will also ensure the collection of appropriate data from various sources, including using ICT4D tools, to lead the Activity in the effective analysis and use of data to continuously adjust programmatic approaches at the national and individual commune levels. This position will lead the Activity in implementing adaptive management, ensuring a feedback loop and direct connection between data and continuous program and strategic adjustments and improvements. Finally, the MEAL Director will manage and mentor the project's MEAL team, and research/survey partners and guide and build capacity in MEL and the program team in the related process.
This position will be based in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and is contingent upon award and donor approval. Malagasy individuals are encouraged to apply.
Primary responsibilities:
Technical Lead of Monitoring and Evaluation
· Lead the design and implementation of the program's MEAL framework and information system to track delivery against outputs, outcomes, and impacts, including providing management, guidance, and technical oversight to ensure high-quality and donor-compliant systems, tools, and procedures through the project cycle
· In collaboration with the Project technical team, provide technical advisory support to the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene team in revitalizing the WASH sector's Monitoring and Evaluation System (SESAM)
· Facilitate reflection on key issues and themes to identify knowledge gaps and improve decision-making, performance, and project impact.
Project management
· Ensure the alignment of MEAL activities with program goals and contribute to the development of annual work plans to identify project targets and ensure the inclusion of MEAL activities. Appropriately plan and budget for quality MEL activities.
· Provide technical oversight to the project to undertake periodic monitoring and evaluations such as baseline, mid-term reviews, end-line evaluations, operational research, and other research in coordination with the Ministry in charge of WASH.
· Develop and implement tools for data collection, processing, and analysis in line with CARE and USAID requirements in order to assess progress, knowledge gaps, and areas of improvement and generate learning and contribute to strategic planning and decisions
· Develop and implement learning and adaptive feedback and management systems (including adaptive analytics and ICT4D best practices) and promote knowledge-generating and sharing learning platforms. Facilitate dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned, representing the program at relevant events, and ensuring lessons learned are consistently applied across the consortium.
· Exchange MEAL data, information, and evidence with Government counterparts, civil society, media, and academic institutions to promote learning and support advocacy efforts.
· Ensure timely and accurate submission of project activities to the donor, including progress against targets set in the award agreement and annual work plan, quarterly and annual reports, and ensuring compliance with donor and agency MEL requirements.
· Serve as program focal point with the External Impact Evaluation team.
Accountability, research, and learning
· With the project's Technical Advisors and regional teams, lead the design and technical support for developing methodologies and operationalization, documentation, and dissemination
· Support regional and partner teams in managing feedback and complaint mechanisms and follow up on feedback processing.
· Generate robust evidence for project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making, and influence, ensuring the integration of innovations and best practices.
· Contribute to the documentation of project impact through statistics, case studies, and maps for partners, USAID, and other stakeholders.
· Share MEAL & ICT4D learning and experiences in broader regional discussions.
Personnel Management & Capacity Building
· Effectively manage and supervise the Project MEAL team, provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complement performance management with direct reports.
· Continuous support and capacity development on MEAL of the Project team and partners in the proper functioning of the monitoring and evaluation system and procedures at their level
· Lead training and orientate on the use of ICT materials for data collection and analysis
Qualifications:
· Postgraduate Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g., statistics, M&E, research methods, public health, rural development, water, sanitation, and hygiene, etc.)
· At least 8 years of experience with research, monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management of USAID-funded programs from project inception through close-out, demonstrating progressively increasing level of responsibility.
· Experience in social norms change measurement and proven experience in developing indicators to measure the success of the program.
· Knowledge of statistical software (such as SPSS, STATA, and SAS with GIS), adaptive analytics, and ICT4D materials in the process of data and information collection, analysis, and reporting
· Advanced skills with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access
· Experience with DHIS2 desired. Certification on PD Pro/MEAL DPro desired.
· Demonstrated experience in implementation and design of quantitative and qualitative research as well as use and programmatic application of research for quality assurance and program improvement.
· Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth, and breadth of management expertise and experience; previous experience supervising and mentoring staff and ability to build MEL capacity of staff.
· Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage a multicultural team, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
· Experience implementing adaptive management, ensuring feedback loop and direct connection
between data and continuous program and strategic adjustments and improvements.
· Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity and Diversity and PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse).
· Strong oral and written proficiency in English and French required. Fluency in Malagasy is desired.
· Ability to travel to project sites as required.
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This vacancy is archived.