Technical Advisor I MEAL Manager

Job Summary:

You will lead and provide strategic direction of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability systems for the Climate Asset Management (CAM) for Restoring Landscapes and Livelihoods in Malawi Program of the Global Evergreening Alliance (GEA), of which CRS is a member. CRS Malawi serves as the Lead Implementation Organization (LIO) for the CAM in Malawi in partnership with World Vison International Malawi, CARE International Malawi, Self Help Africa, Total Land Care, Organization for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development Initiative (OSSEDI), Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), and The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).

You will be responsible for coordinating and supervising MEAL activities, working closely with CRS program teams and partner staff to develop and implement high-quality monitoring systems and tools that address indicators in the initiative’s logical framework. The MEAL Manager will directly supervise one MEAL Officer.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide input into the design and strategic direction of the overall MEAL system of the consortium at the regional level  including performance monitoring plans (PMP), performance indicator reference sheets (PIR), indicator performance tracking table (IPTT), data collection instruments, data and reporting flow maps, feedback and response mechanisms (FRM), and detailed implementation plan (DIP) and lead the development and adaptation of the Malawi-specific MEAL system as well as the larger MEAL system led by GEA.
• Support the project team and MEAL team in the design and implementation of vulnerability assessments, stakeholder mapping and analysis, gender analyses, and other pre-program data collection and analysis.
• Ensure the consistency of indicators and tools across all partners.
• Collect and analyze lessons learned and best practices from previous and ongoing programs capturing the impact of carbon sequestration activities to ensure they feed into program strategies as appropriate.
• Leverage lessons learned, best practices, program data, evaluations and other information to generate donor communication pieces, success stories, case studies and other high-quality, results-based documentation.
• Work with the senior management team to identify and pursue strategic opportunities for program expansion.
• Lead mandated evaluations, needs assessments, annual surveys, case studies and other research efforts.
• Develop tailored MEAL operating manual to ensure complete, up-to-date, high quality MEAL system, containing essential data collection tools, data flow maps and analysis plans to address need-to-know information for program quality and donor reporting.
• Contribute to donor reports through high quality project data interpretation and report inputs.
• Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze data to promote adaptive management and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation.
• Ensure MEAL and program teams regularly review and adjust MEAL plans and tools as needed by the project context.
• Ensure that transparent high-quality accountability mechanisms, including beneficiary feedback and response mechanisms, are in place and are regularly discussed at the appropriate level with necessary responses and feedback documented.
• Collaborate with other CRS country programs that are implementing Land Restoration Initiative activities to share learning, resources, and support across offices.
• Work with MEAL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of ICT4D in MEAL initiatives including CommCare is highly desirable.
• Provide training, mentoring, and ongoing technical assistance to implementing partners to ensure effective implementation of MEAL methodologies and tools and high-quality data.
• Support partners to incorporate participatory methods into community-level MEAL systems and tools.
• Conduct field monitoring visits events frequently with project teams and implementing partners.
• Conduct periodic data quality audits and provide technical assistance to address any issues identified.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None 

Key Working Relationships:

Internal Country Representative, Head of Programs; Chief of Party, Head of Operations, Senior Management Team, HQ and Regional Technical Advisors

External: Global Evergreening Alliance (GEA) Program Coordination Unit; implementing partners, government and sector stakeholders

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in statistics, biostatistics, economics, agriculture, environmental sciences or other relevant subject with strong quantitative background. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Three years’ experience working in a development setting preferably with an international NGO, with experience of progressively increasing MEAL responsibility in international development projects particularly in Landscape Management and Restoration, Climate Smart Agriculture or Sustainable Agriculture Practices or other relevant areas.
• At least two years of supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in MEAL General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
• Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

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