Description

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital, and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places

can generate income, jobs, and wealth for their families and communities. With 50 years of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

The West Africa MEL Advisor, provides technical assistance, M&E systems development and evaluation oversight across  TechnoServe’s West Africa portfolio. The advisor ensures that the foundational building blocks for managing to impact are in place within program, country and regional teams. The primary internal ‘customers’ for the position include program managers and country directors, for whom the advisor will ensure that local M&E / Program staff and systems are in compliance with TechnoServe’s M&E standards and are therefore able to produce M&E data in a timely and relevant manner for project decision-making. The advisor will collaborate closely with regional backstopping and program development teams and have an indirect reporting relationship to the West Africa regional director.

Position Requirements:

Soft skills, including the ability to influence and build capacity as well as excellent causal logic thinking, are as important to the success of this role as quantitative and analytical skills. General requirements include:

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as economics or other social science, business administration, agronomy or relevant field and a minimum of 5 years of experience designing, managing and implementing multidisciplinary and results-based M&E systems in an international context OR a masters degree and 3 years of similar experience

Ample knowledge of the rural setting, particularly market systems and how market flaws contribute to underdevelopment. Ample knowledge of the sector, including market actors, characteristics, norms and institutions.

Extensive experience utilizing M&E methods and methodologies (including qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methods as well as the use of causal logic in designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating projects);  demonstrated dominion over and capacity to learn data collection and analytical software (e.g. Commcare, Excel, NVivo, SPSS, or others).

Outstanding written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated track record of producing high quality, well-written deliverables. Proven ability to translate research, methodologies, and data into accessible formats for colleagues with non-technical backgrounds

Takes an inquisitive and creative approach to problem-solving.

A commitment to coaching staff to support their development.

A demonstrated capacity for management. Examples include successful project management, personnel management, work plan management, and/or financial management.

A demonstrated ability to coordinate and communicate effectively and diplomatically with a range of external and internal colleagues including donors, partners and senior and junior team members across diverse cultures

Inherent value and respect for voices of staff at all organizational levels, external stakeholders, and the women and men we work with.

Fluency in English strongly preferred; proficiency in French and local languages desirable.

Willingness to travel frequently

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility of the West Africa MEL Advisor is to ensure the proper systems and procedures are in place to generate timely, high-quality data and analysis that enables adaptive management across the region. In particular, the Advisor will:

Advice on theories of change and logical frameworks. Provide M&E plans as part of project proposals, and ensure proposals have sufficient resources to adequately and cost-effectively perform M&E.

Oversee best of class M&E implementation

Assess project compliance with organizational standards, including best practices in measuring gendered impact

Provide direct support at critical project junctures, in particular, project inception, to establish the mechanisms for data-driven decision-making and feedback loops

Supervise external consultants performing project evaluations as required

Collaborate with country directors and regional management to systematically improve the structures, processes and resources that enable the application of good MEL practices, including standardization of tools and technology use

Supervise 1 Regional Database Administrator to ensure the build-out of data management technology that supports real-time data collection and reporting

Provide critical input into the hiring, supervision and performance evaluation of project and country-level M&E staff,

Support the exchange of information and knowledge to improve project implementation by participating and contributing to internal and external fora.

Shepherd annual impact reporting from their regions; Co-present the results (with country rep) to the Impact team for review

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to Director of Impact

Exercises Supervision over: West Africa Database Coordinator

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive nor is it intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, or skills required of an incumbent.

An employee will perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by management when required. TechnoServe reserves the right to revise or change job functions as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written contract of employment.