Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) / Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Director

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Start date: Contingent upon award, anticipated May 2021

Job Description

DevWorks International (DevWorks) is recruiting for a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) / Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Manager for the anticipated USAID-funded Rwanda THRIVE Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Activity. The project will work to (1) improve the capacity of district governments to plan for, monitor, and regulate water services; (2) expand and professionalize rural water services; and (3) scale-up market-based solutions for household sanitation and hygiene. This is a 5-year project with an anticipated award size of $19-21 million.

The MEL/CLA Director will be in charge of the monitoring, evaluation, and learning/ collaborating, learning, and adaptation components of the project. S/he will develop monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems and research. The MEL system will include appropriate indicators, baseline data, and implementation results. The MEL/CLA Director will be responsible for designing the M&E system in alignment with the USAID results framework, lead the project data collection, data analysis to inform the project implementation, and to produce timely, accurate, and complete reporting. S/he will be responsible for the overall management of monitoring and evaluation and research system for the project.

S/he will ensure the smooth operation and quality performance of technical efforts and field activities by coordinating and overseeing quality programmatic reporting, quality of data management, and strategic information. S/he is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a plan to monitor progress, evaluate effectiveness, and disseminate results, as well as overseeing operations research and other data-based analysis to facilitate evidence-based improvements in project performance and expand understanding and lessons learned. S/he will ensure adherence to the monitoring of project activities using developed tools and indicators. S/he will also be responsible for building the capacity of project staff, local partners, and other stakeholders in the collection, utilization, and dissemination of data as well as ensuring that all monitoring and data collection activities are harmonized, and information is shared. S/he will also assist the GOR to monitor programs and assess the robustness of implementing organizations’ data collection and M&E mechanisms. This involves strategic collaboration, systematic and continuous learning, and adaptive management.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Provide in-country technical leadership and support for monitoring and evaluation.
2. Ensure the integration of M&E activities into all project components.
3. Lead the design and implementation of operational research.
4. Collect and analyze information and report on project activities.
5. Conduct a gender assessment and ensure that where possible collect, compile gender-disaggregated data.
6. Assist the Chief of Party (COP), senior management team, and other implementing partners to use data for decision-making and program adjustments.
7. Ensure that the project responds to new information generated by the M&E system.
8. Design and implement strategies to collect data on key affected and vulnerable populations
9. Ensure timely and complete reporting from in-country implementing partners in accordance with approved reporting formats, especially supported WASH stakeholders reporting into the program database and reporting into USAID reporting formats
10. Monitor and evaluate progress towards annual work plans, expected outputs, including selecting and monitoring progress in meeting indicators.
11. Assist the COP in the preparation of work plans/selection of indicators and annual implementation plans in line with the project’s M&E requirements.
12. Coordinate the preparation of all quarterly progress reports, annual project reports, inception reports, ad-hoc technical reports, and success stories for USAID funding in line with the required formats.
13. Collect data for the annual M&E plan and use those data to improve project performance.
14. Adapt and implement tools and techniques to improve the quality and use of data for decision-making.
15. Assist the COP with decision-making on resource allocation based on project priorities and performance.
16. Participate on behalf of the project in appropriate technical meetings and conferences.
17. Provide support to institutional and human capacity building activities at the national, district, and community levels.
18. Lead the write up of operation research finding and routine M&E data for peer-reviewed journals publication
19. Support project communications, especially as they relate to success stories and achievements
20. Carry out any such duties as may be assigned by the COP.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (statistics, quantitative/qualitative data analysis, management, public health).
• 10 years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation activities and special studies for international development programs in developing countries.
• 5 years’ experience collecting, analyzing, and managing donor-funded project data of health projects.
• Knowledge of implementing water supply, sanitation, and/or hygiene programs desirable.
• Excellent analytic skills coupled with proven ability in using visuals like graphs, charts, maps, and GIS.
• Excellent ability in using data systems such as EPI-Info, SPSS, SAS, DHIS2, or other software for reporting or analysis.
• Must have extensive knowledge in collaboration, learning, and adapting concepts to international development projects.
• Demonstrated decision-making ability operating in a management culture built on consensus and results. Ability to work as part of a team and as an individual.
• Experience working in USG supported projects preferred. Knowledge of USAID MEL/CLA indicators and processes highly desired.
• Knowledge of and experience in training and capacity building.
• Experience establishing data quality assurance systems.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and demonstrated capacity to effectively communicate and document, including the writing of quality reports and detailed analysis of strategic information