Back Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist

PROJECT SUMMARY

FHI 360’s Alive & Thrive (A&T) initiative in Ethiopia supports the Government of Ethiopia to strengthen multisectoral food systems and nutrition governance in line with the Food and Nutrition Strategy (FNS), Seqota Declaration (SD), and the Ethiopian Food Systems Transformation (EFST) Roadmap. The project focuses on institutionalizing government-led coordination, strengthening data use and accountability, and improving planning, implementation, monitoring, and learning across sectors and administrative levels. At regional level, Food System and Nutrition Coordination Offices (FSNCOs) serve as secretariats for Food System and Nutrition Councils and Technical Committees. Strengthening routine monitoring, reporting, and learning within these structures is essential to ensure evidence-based decision-making, performance management, and sustainability of multisectoral actions.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Regional President Advisor, the MEL Advisor will provide technical and operational support to the Regional Food System and Nutrition Coordination Office (FSNCO) to strengthen routine monitoring, evaluation, and learning for the implementation of EFST, FNS, and Seqota Declaration at regional, zonal, and woreda levels. The position focuses on day-to-day MEL system functionality, including routine data compilation, quality assurance, reporting, and support to multisectoral performance review and coordination platforms. The MEL Advisor will work closely with sector bureaus, FSNCO staff, and implementing partners, and will receive technical guidance from senior MEL Consultant Country office level as needed. This is a mid-level technical role (Band K / KK) designed to support implementation, data use, and capacity strengthening within government-led coordination structures.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as the primary regional focal point for the collection, management, and quality assurance of routine multisectoral food systems and nutrition monitoring data. Receive, compile, clean, validate, and analyze data from sector bureaus, zones, woredas, and implementing partners using standardized tools and reporting formats.
• Ensure data quality through routine checks on completeness, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency, and proactively follow up with responsible units to address reporting gaps.
• Maintain organized electronic databases, ensure regular data backup and documentation, and apply FHI 360 data management and confidentiality standards to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide technical support to regional multisectoral coordination and governance platforms, including FSNC, FSNTC, and related technical committees. Support the rollout, routine use, and institutionalization of multisectoral monitoring tools such as UNIS, multisectoral scorecards, dashboards, and performance tracking systems.
• Prepare concise data summaries, tables, and visualizations to inform coordination, planning, and performance review meetings. Support alignment and harmonization of sector-specific indicators with national and program frameworks, including the Food and Nutrition Strategy (FNS), Seqota Declaration (SD), and EFST, consistent with FHI360 /Alive & Thrive’s systems-strengthening approach.
• Support the preparation of timely, accurate, and high-quality monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports for regional coordination platforms, donor and project reporting, and leadership briefings. Synthesize multisectoral data to assess progress against agreed targets, milestones, and work plans.
• Document meeting proceedings, resolutions, action points, and follow-up matrices from coordination and performance review meetings. Systematically track implementation of agreed corrective actions and report progress, risks, and bottlenecks to the Regional President Advisor to strengthen accountability and adaptive management.
• Participate in joint supportive supervision, monitoring, and learning visits to zones and woredas in collaboration with sector bureaus, FSNCO teams, and implementing partners. Verify reported data against source documents, registers, and field observations to assess data quality and implementation fidelity.
• Document key findings, implementation gaps, good practices, and lessons learned, and prepare concise supervision and monitoring summaries to inform management decisions, targeted technical assistance, and continuous program improvement.
• Provide hands-on technical assistance and on-the-job mentoring to sector MEL focal persons, FSNCO staff, and partners to strengthen routine data collection, reporting, analysis, and use at all administrative levels.
• Support the design and delivery of basic MEL capacity-building activities, including training and coaching on indicators, reporting tools, dashboards, scorecards, and data use for decision-making. Contribute to strengthening institutional MEL capacity in line with FHI 360 and Alive & Thrive quality standards.
• Contribute to FHI360 Alive & Thrive’s learning agenda by systematically documenting best practices, lessons learned, and emerging trends in multisectoral food systems and nutrition programming. Support preparation of learning briefs, presentations, and summary reports for internal use, regional platforms, and technical forums.
• Support dissemination of results and learning through coordination meetings, review forums, and technical exchanges, promoting evidence-based dialogue, learning, and adaptation across sectors and stakeholders.
• Support the development and periodic review of annual FSNCO work plans and budgets, with particular attention to MEL-related activities, indicators, supervision plans, and learning priorities. Assist with tracking implementation progress against approved plans and identifying areas requiring adjustment.
• Perform other MEL-related and coordination support duties as assigned by the Regional President Advisor, consistent with FHI 360 and Alive & Thrive operational policies and procedures.

  Applied Knowledge & Skills:

  • In-depth knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures with providing technical support for research studies.
  • Development of scope of work and deliverables for partners, consultants, etc.
  • Broader knowledge of quality standards
  • Proficiency with database management software and on-line search tools required.
  • Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
  • Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff.
  • Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English.
  • Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
  • Excellent and demonstrated project management skills.
  • Ability to influence and collaborate with others.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required.
  • Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports.
  • Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed.

    Competencies:

    There are 31 FHI 360 development competencies, of greatest focus for this particular job will be:

    • Project Management (Planning and Time Management) - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resource efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.
    • People Management (Making Others Great) – Facilitate professional development of staff by providing challenging, learning assignments and opportunities. Shares and solicits feedback monthly at the very least. Helps establish compelling development plans. Assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks/decisions. Monitors process, progress, and results. Creates a climate in which people want to do their best.
    • Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.
    • Employees are expected to possess or have high potential for development of these three fundamental competencies.

      Problem Solving & Impact:

      • Works on problems of moderate to complex scope that require review of various factors.
      • Exercises good judgment with selecting methods and techniques to determine appropriate action.
      • Decisions may cause delays and affect a work unit or area within a department.
      • Identifies and raises issues to senior technical staff
      • Networks with key internal and external personnel.
      • Decision may cause delays or failure to achieve results that impact departmental goals.

        Supervision Given/Received:

        • Determines methods and procedures on new projects and assignments.
        • Serves as team lead and may mentor other lower-level personnel.
        • May supervisor junior level staff.
        • Typically reports to an Associate Director/ Director.

          Education: **

          • Master’s Degree or its International Equivalent in Civil Society, Communication and Social Marketing, Economic Development, Education, the Environment, Gender, Health, Nutrition, Research, Technology and Youth or a Related Field.
          • Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

            Experience: **

            • Typically requires 5+ years of relevant experience managing data collection and technical assistance experience.
            • Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.
            • International or Domestic Program Development or Program management experience preferred.

              Typical Physical Demands:

              • Typical office environment.
              • Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
              • Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

                Technology to be Used:

                • Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

                  Travel Requirements:

                  • 10% - 25%

                    Date Revised: 09/13/2021

                    📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

                    ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

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