Job Description

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Sharing (MELS) Head

Company Name: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Advanced degree in a relevant discipline (economics, statistics, evaluation science, demography, social sciences, political science, or other related degrees).

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 10 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Sharing (MELS) Head - Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity
∎ Current Job Openings --> Full Time --> Full Time Asia
∎ Dhaka • ID:20121041
∎ IFDC is an independent non-profit organization that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable climate-smart agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.
∎ IFDC is recognized by the Government of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh as an International Organization. IFDC established its Asia Divisional Office in Dhaka Bangladesh and enjoying diplomatic status under the same Government declaration.
∎ IFDC is recruiting for the above project in Bangladesh.
∎ The Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will work in 21 Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI) Districts targeting 900,000 farmers and 2,485 private sector enterprises including 10-20 big companies. The activity`s purpose is to: facilitate farmers, firms, and public sector actors to increase the sustainable productivity and diversity of smallholder farmers through a more resilient and inclusive food and agriculture production system in Bangladesh. The goal is to sustainably improve food security and the nutritional status of the rural population, decrease the incidence and severity of poverty among the rural poor, and better adapt agriculture systems to meet the threats and challenges linked to climate change-related events, thus transforming farming systems through climate-smart agriculture (CSA). Mainstreaming women and inclusive development presents a significant opportunity. Meaningful participation of women is essential to purpose and goal achievement.
∎ The Activity will result in marked improvements in smallholder farmers` access to and use of high-quality CSA technologies and practices as well as CSA inputs, to improve productivity of target crops such as rice, pulses, legumes and vegetable and other suitable crops. More than 200 model CSA villages will be developed in the ZOI districts with a village farm area group seeking advice on how to set up and operate an agriculture cooperative to serve area farmers with CSA input supply and sale of harvested crops by linking farmer-members to buyers. These 200 villages will be advertised as model villages and gradually spread all over the country. Farmers` incomes will increase, bolstering food and nutrition security
∎ The three intermediate results (IR) of the Activity are:
∎ IR 1: Increased availability of climate-resilient varieties of target crops through seed system strengthening.
∎ IR 2: Enhanced market delivery of climate-adapted innovations of agro-inputs, including seeds, practices, and climate information services.
∎ IR 3: Increased smallholder farmer application of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices.
∎ IFDC is seeking to recruit a qualified individual to fill the position of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Sharing (MELS) Head for the above project, to be based in Dhaka.
∎ The MELS Head will guide the Activity in determining progress towards its intended purpose and results, provide feedback on the Activity`s performance to all stakeholders, and enhance the project`s learning agenda to inform future programming. He/she will track and capture the progress of Activity results, which is vital for accurate reporting, adaptive management, and ensuring the transparency of Activity performance for the USAID, other partners, and beneficiaries. The MELS Head will also oversight and provide technical inputs for the delivery of action research products and reports. He/she will be based in Dhaka. The MELS Head will work together with the Senior Data Management and Monitoring Specialist under the guidance of Chief of Party (COP) to ensure that the data collection meets USAID`s Data Quality Standards as outlined in ADS 201:

Job Responsibilities:
∎ ADS 201: Validity, Integrity, Precision, Reliability, and Timeliness.
∎ The MELS Head is supervised by and reports to the Chief of the Party. She/he works in close collaboration with Activity colleagues, and other IFDC staff.

Additional Requirements:
∎ This is a national position with a duty station in the IFDC Dhaka office.
∎ The position requires intensive travel (up to 50% of the time) in target ZOI districts of USAID's Feed the Future Activity.
∎ Design the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP) through a collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) management approach within three months of Activity implementation to track and to report timely and accurate measurements of project performance consistent with the Cooperative Agreement in consultation with the Senior Data Management and Monitoring specialist under the guidance of COP.
∎ Develop progress reporting template in compliance with the requirement of USAID and commission reporting template to report on activity progress, tools developed or adapted in activity implementation, outcome harvesting, cross-cutting issues, assumption monitoring, lessons learned, and make recommendations for improvement of Activity reporting processes.
∎ Develop and implement the project's MELS system, including developing and refining indicators; setting targets; ensuring timely data collection; writing quarterly and annual reports in consultation with Senior Data Management and Monitoring Specialist under the guidance of COP.
∎ Procure and install appropriate software for reporting on the selected result indicators of the Activity in the Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) of Feed the Future Indicator Handbook of USAID.
∎ Identify technical assistance to train staff on the use of selected software and customize Activity data reporting forms to the selected software in consultation with Senior Data Management and Monitoring Specialist.
∎ Assist COP in preparing the Annual Work Plans tying the AMELP with the Annual Workplan. The workplan presents activities that will be implemented under three primary areas: technical assistance-organizational development and capacity building; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL); and Activity management and administration.
∎ Conduct routine "developmental evaluations" that assess how a specific activity fits within the broader system, thereby revealing pathways for change that more accurately address the roots of a community's complex needs. The evaluations deliver information that furthers stakeholders' understanding of their roles in the complex environment and the way their interventions influence that environment.
∎ Provide inputs to the technical team by assisting in developing program goals and objectives; MEL systems, tools, and strategies, and providing monitoring data to inform the decisions on project performance and future direction of the project.
∎ Regularly produce high-quality reports on the results of the CSA Activity against the goals and objectives of the CSA activity management team, and others as needed.
∎ Collaborate with the technical and management teams to identify essential CSA activities, processes, and outcomes to document, and design a system for capturing lessons learned and best practices.
∎ Develop a clear roadmap of M&E objectives and related activities to be integrated into the project planning and budgeting cycles.
∎ Ensure overall coordination and streamlining of M&E activities in the operation and harmonization of indicators.
∎ Support the development of results chains for each activity that maps out how the activity generates outcomes and impact in line with the project theory of change.
∎ Develop a tailored monitoring and results measurement plan for tracking the performance of the results chains.
∎ Ensure the coordination of learning agenda activities as well as oversight and technical inputs for the delivery of action research products and reports.
∎ Effectively inform Activity leadership, key personnel, partners, and the donor advisory committee in making vital adjustments for maximizing Activity effectiveness.
∎ Ensure compliance with USAID standards and reporting.
∎ Assure quality of training and other activities delivered by local partners/stakeholders and compose reports of observations and recommended actions.
∎ Seek advanced technical support from and collaborate with regional and global monitoring and evaluation advisors for overall coordination of priority M&E activities.
∎ Perform other related duties as required.
∎ This is a senior position that requires highly motivated and self-driven individuals with the following qualifications.
∎ Advanced degree in a relevant discipline (economics, statistics, evaluation science, demography, social sciences, political science, or other related degrees).
∎ A postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation is an added advantage.
∎ At least 10 years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation activities in developing countries including Bangladesh.
∎ Excellent command of monitoring and evaluation methodologies including research skills.
∎ Previous experience implementing and managing a rigorous M&E system including experience in setting up systems and rolling out performance monitoring frameworks is required.
∎ Knowledge of data collection protocols to ensure accurate data collection and verification; ability to identify data trends and communicate this information for strategic decision-making in program implementation.
∎ Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills to manage communications and disseminate information are required.
∎ Excellent skills in MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; proficiency in MS Access preferred and Knowledge of other statistical packages like SPSS, STATA has an added advantage.
∎ English language fluency is required.
∎ Must be a self-directed, highly organized person who can effectively prioritize and follow through on multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 10 Jun 2023

Company Information:
∎ 21 May 2023
∎ International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Category: NGO/Development

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