Monitoring, Evaluation, Research Learning (MERL) Coordinator
iDE, Ethiopia
Job Description
Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research amp; Learning (MERL) Coordinator
Department: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research amp; Learning (MERL)
Reports To: Senior Manager of MERL Systems
FLSA Status: Exempt
Grade and Salary: 1 ($50,000 - $52,500 Annually)
Location: To best serve those they'll be working with, candidates must have the right to work and be located in Ghana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia, or the United Kingdom. Candidates with the right to work in the United States will be considered if located in Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, or Washington D.C.
Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2023, or as agreed
Application Deadline: July 28, 2023
Background
iDE is an international nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty in the developing world not through handouts, but by helping rural households access the tools and knowledge they need to increase their income and improve their health and well-being.
iDE has 40 years of experience and programs in 11 countries in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, and Central America.
iDE's vision, to catalyze the power of entrepreneurship to allow millions of people to lift themselves out of poverty, is ambitious and bold. We need a person who is, first and foremost, passionate about this vision.
As a key member of iDE's MERL team, this position supports the creation and implementation of monitoring and evaluation (Mamp;E) plans/processes for programs across iDE’s portfolio, analysis and reporting for our country programs, the management and maintenance of iDE’s key performance indicators, and creating feedback loops to promote learning and adaptive management.
Reporting to the MERL Department Director or their designee, and as a member of iDE’s Headquarters team, the MERL Associate will support efforts across these key areas.
Monitoring and evaluation of intermediate progress and results within project/program life cycles;
Creation and maintenance of project-level Management Information Systems (MISs) for iDE projects and Country Programs; and
Maintaining the accuracy and value of iDE’s Global Key Performance Indicator (KPI) system.
Enhancing the transparency of decision making through the availability of actionable information in iDE’s development programs
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
MANAGE Mamp;E PROCESSES/PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION - 30%
- In support of the Director and Senior Manager, coordinate the development of new Mamp;E plans with relevant country and project staff across iDE’s portfolio that meet, or exceed, the donor requirements.
- Assist in the development and implementation of learning agendas in conjunction with project/country teams and iDE’s Knowledge Manager.
- Promote participatory approaches in project Mamp;E activities and support teams in implementing them.
- Support on-going monitoring and evaluation activities in the field through headquarters and field assignments; provide technical knowledge and solutions to meet project needs while building capacity of local MERL staff.
- Support training facilitation and capacity-building activities regarding MERL functions for MERL staff around the world.
- Promote and guide the applications of the MERL Support Package elements and contribute to their continuous improvement.
SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF PARTICIPATORY MEL APPROACHES - 30%
- Help guide teams on qualitative data collection and analysis methods
- Advise country teams on implementation around these approaches best practices, walk them through guidance documents in the Support Package
- Explore opportunities for trainings of various participatory methods to bolster MERL teams skills in the area
- Research various participatory methods to test out in projects that continuously improves our learning
- Coordinate with Learning Manager to document and index key insights and learnings of participatory method applications
- Identify, and where appropriate, support the writing of proposals that will fund the growth of programs using participatory MEL approaches to better serve our end clients.
MAINTAIN AND SUPPORT PROJECT LEVEL MISs - 20%
- Work with project teams to identify user needs to define system requirements and implement system improvements.
- Create and maintain data visualizations and tables providing users with timely, accessible, and relevant information.
- Execute test plans to ensure system function and work with country teams to identify hardware