Mali: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer

Jul 16, 2018 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
View Original

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, IITA improves livelihoods, enhances food and nutrition security, increases employment, and preserves natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.

IITA seeks a highly motivated individual to work as Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer for two similar multi-institutional projects in Mali and Niger. The project’s aim is to reduce poverty and food insecurity, protect natural resources, and increase farmer incomes by enhancing agricultural productivity, strengthening market linkages, and facilitating new agribusinesses particularly those led by women and youth. Project interventions are organized into two broad components: scaling out of proven, ready-to-go climate smart technologies and research to develop new climate smart innovations across value chains. Reporting to the Project Manager, the MEL officer will lead and coordinate the design of the integrated Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) System for the two projects, oversee its implementation across several partners in both countries, conduct performance monitoring on the progress of the project, and outcome evaluations. The MEL officer will also provide an assessment of technology adoption from the outcome evaluations to draw lessons learned to provide feedback for improving the project implementation process, as well as contribute to facilitating and maximizing synergies between the two projects. The successful candidate will also seek synergies with other partners in leveraging available and reliable data sources and engage with relevant stakeholders in the technical and operational design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities. The MEL officer will be responsible for periodic reporting to the donor by aggregating all the information gathered from the various implementing partners on the required performance measures to inform progress achieved towards key output and outcome indicators.

Position Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct baseline household surveys to establish baseline database and undertake analyses of current crop (cowpea, maize, millet, sorghum, and groundnut) production conditions, yield estimates, household incomes and market opportunities.
• Design and conduct follow-up household and community surveys to assess technology and innovation adoption levels, pathways, constraints, and outcomes at household and village levels.
• Implement a robust and gender sensitive results-based framework for monitoring and evaluating project activities and for comparison of value chain results and performance.
• Implement a knowledge management system within the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework as a continuous, dynamic, action-reflection-action process.
• Assess and regularly report on key program innovations and technologies, major constraints and challenges as well as emerging opportunities in out scaling them.
• Design performance management plans for the project and monitor the implementation processes to track milestones and report on progress of the selected performance indicators for outputs.
• Contribute to livelihood and impact assessments.
• Participate actively in project review and planning meetings and in reporting on performances and effectiveness of interventions.
• Contribute to publication of action research results and success stories.
• Perform any other activities as may be assigned.

Educational Qualifications

The candidate should have a Ph.D. in agricultural economics, agribusiness, economics, development studies, statistics, or related social science fields from a recognized university.

Core Competencies:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in designing and conducting MEL activities.
• Demonstrated experience in leading monitoring and evaluation teams.
• Knowledge of advanced monitoring tools (e.g. participatory field-level assessments, remote sensing, GIS, big data operations and advanced statistical diagnosis).
• Knowledgeable in formulating performance indicators, using the logical framework approach, conducting theory-based evaluation, formal survey techniques, impact assessment approaches, rapid appraisal methods and other participatory methods.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality M&E reports as well as scientific papers.
• Good understanding of the agricultural sector and its development challenges in Africa, such as those affecting technology dissemination, adoption, and impacts.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
• Fluency in spoken and written French and English.

Duty station:

The position will be based in Mali.

General information:

The contract will be for an initial period of three years with possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.

Applications:

Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete the online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/careers

Closing Date:

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women candidates. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.