Feed the Future Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor – Kenya

Background

The Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Activity is designed to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United States.

Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support activities and a large, flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract facility designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the private sector identify.

Summary of Primary Duties

The Feed the Future Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor is responsible for managing a process and system that tracks the results of ATI’s trade and investment activities related to food security and resilience. The position will be responsible for creating and executing MEL plans and conducting data analysis for all of ATI’s work to support the U.S. Government’s Global Food Security Strategy. He/she will work with the MEL team to manage the ATI database so that up-to-date information can be provided accurately and quickly per USAID’s reporting requirements. In addition, the Feed the Future MEL Advisor will work with stakeholders to identify and implement the policies, tools, and processes for data management across ATI. He/she will work closely with the MEL team to improve systems, track results, and provide strategic leadership to the ATI learning agenda. The advisor is responsible for activities related to the development and implementation of the ATI MEL and knowledge management strategy and systems, including operationalizing the Performance Management Plan and MEL system.

Overall Responsibilities

Support ATI in reporting results through an effective M&E system, enabling ATI to develop the robust intelligence and analysis needed to develop, adapt, and improve its strategy on an ongoing basis. To achieve this, the Feed the Future MEL Advisor will be responsible specifically for the following:

• Provides data analysis on ATI’s food security work that is funded by the Feed the Future initiative, including support for ATI dashboards, USAID reporting requirements, and the ATI communications team.
• Provide MEL expertise on the design, review, and implementation of activities, as well as the modification of MEL information management systems.
• Manage and guarantee data used for reporting meets USAID and ATI data quality standards.
• With the support of the ATI MEL team liaise with technical teams, develop guidelines for database and systems use, including training staff on any new upgrades.
• Provide leadership to ATI Data Quality Assurance Processes. This includes setting up DQA assessments and ensuring all data in ATI MEL systems meets the USAID Data Quality Assurance standards.
• Manage the indicator performance reporting and target setting for quarterly and annual reporting, guided by annual ATI performance review and baselines for reporting progress.
• Maintain reporting procedures and guidelines in compliance with USAID.
• Lead in the development of specialized monitoring and evaluation tools and data collection protocols to ensure accurate collection and verification.
• Work closely with the ATI learning advisor, providing support to assess, coordinate, and manage external production of learning and messaging products related to ATI’s food security work.
• Coordinate, oversee, and participate in project evaluation activities to assess the outcomes and impacts of ATI activities related to food security and resilience.
• Provide day-to-day remote assistance and support to activity teams and project staff.

Reporting

The FTF MEL Advisor will report to the MEL Associate Director.

The FTF MEL Advisor is expected to perform autonomously to execute the duties and responsibilities as outlined in this SOW. The FTF MEL Advisor may be assigned to other program-related duties, as needed, upon the direction of the ATI MEL Director. The chosen candidate is expected to develop his/her work schedule, create effective procedures for accomplishing tasks, and independently resolve problems that may arise in compliance with ATI and DAI’s procedures and regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in developing and managing M&E and knowledge management systems for Feed the Future-funded programs administered by USAID.
• Familiarity with USAID’s reporting cycle, priorities, expectations, and USAID’s Development Information Solutions (DIS) system.
• Must have work experience in M&E systems that track results of international development activities related to food systems, agricultural development, nutrition, or other food security and resilience areas.
• Demonstrated ability to implement, operationalize, and manage information collection and analysis systems.
• Maintains an extensive, detailed technical body of knowledge of the latest MEL techniques, applications, and methodologies.
• Strong background and training in field research methodologies, including some knowledge of statistical analysis programs.
• Supervisory experience is required, including working with remote, field-based staff.
• Demonstrated experience leading and building the capacity of a team to meet the M&E needs and deliverables of a development activity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Skills

• Exceptional technical skills in quantitative and qualitative monitoring and results measurement (MRM) methods.

• Ability to communicate complex issues with clarity and structure, and to deliver documents to the highest level of professionalism.

• Results-focused, consistent, and accurate with a commitment to data integrity.

• Ability to think strategically and critically, and to bring imagination to solving problems with substantial complexity and ambiguity.

• Fluent, advanced English communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Can work independently, generate ideas, analyze, and solve problems, and prioritize issues.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; a genuine team player with strong listening, negotiating, and persuasive skills.

• Proactively engage with a range of colleagues and work collaboratively with people from different professional, national, and cultural backgrounds.

  About DAI

  DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

  DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

  DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.