Learning, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist [MERL] East & Southern Africa Open Mapping Hub -REMOTE

Overview

• Work Location: Remote within the region or between GMT 0 and GMT 3 time zone
• Application Close Date: Open until position is filled
• Estimated Start date: between April 3 and 17, 2023
• Department: Open Mapping Hub -East and Southern Africa
• Reports to: Regional Hub Director
• Terms: Full-time, one year initial contract
• Travel: Frequent travel within the region
• Level: 6

About HOT

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) sits at the nexus of participatory mapping, community-led development, humanitarian response, open data and tech. With a talented and diverse team spread around the globe, HOT is an NGO that supports a dynamic global community of thousands of dedicated volunteers using maps and open data for humanitarian response and the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with humanitarian and development partners like the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, UN agencies, governments and others, the HOT community maps in solidarity with those affected by or at risk of disaster, contributing the maps and data aid workers need to do their lifesaving work.

In 2020 the work of the HOT community was recognized by TED’s Audacious Project, a collaborative philanthropic initiative that serves as a springboard for social impact on a grand scale, leading to an exciting new phase of growth. HOT is expanding its activities: opening four regional hubs and scaling up its support to local mapping communities with the audacious goal of mapping an area home to one billion people in 94 countries at high risk of disasters or experiencing poverty – mapping with communities before they are in crisis.

About the Open Mapping Hub-Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA-Hub)

The Open Mapping Hub – East & Southern Africa works with organizations and communities across 23 countries in creating and updating free, editable, and shareable open map data in OpenStreetMap that promotes better humanitarian and development outcomes. We believe that open map data is universal and contributes to identifying problems, monitoring change, managing and responding to events, forecasting, setting priorities and understanding humanitarian and development trends.

About the Role

The Open Mapping Hub – Eastern & Southern Africa is looking for someone passionate about, and experienced in, measuring the medium-long term outcomes of digital development and humanitarian projects. You will support a strong learning culture embedded in our programmes and operations. This will include facilitating learning across regional programmes, including from project results, evaluations, reviews and through designing learning and knowledge exchange exercises with key stakeholders in the region. You will have experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis for decision making. You enjoy training and transferring knowledge to implementation teams and partners on the collection of high quality data.

Responsibilities

You will work closely with the Regional Director, in collaboration with Program Implementation teams to realize the following:

Learning & Knowledge Management

• Design learning and peer -peer exchange programmes, training forums and activities based on learning outcomes in order to influence and/or promote peer to peer learning.
• Collect, analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data to draw conclusions and identify key learning promoting data-based decision making among hub staff and regional partners
• Produce and disseminate high quality learning products – reports, infographics, blog posts, videos etc
• Liaise with programme staff and partners to ensure a shared understanding of MERL requirements, including skills in data gathering, analysis and reporting
• Coordinate with the communication and programme teams to track and document partner stories, promising innovations and outcome/impact related information from the region
• Ensure learning is fed back to people, organisations and communities we serve

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) Operations & Administration

• Lead the design and implementation of Hub M&E frameworks and information management systems ensuring tracking against Hub program goals and outcomes; including the development of clearly defined objectives, indicators for regional programs
• Development of data collection tools and trackers which can be operationalized in low-resource settings and should be coordinated with tools across the organization;
• Prepare and ensure timely submission of programme performance monitoring plans, including developing and defining program indicators and sources of data , and contribute to annual work plans, monthly, quarterly and annual reports, and other project documents
• Participate in meetings and strategy discussions to optimize the effectiveness of data collection and use of data in strategic decision making in the region.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a Learning & Knowledge Management role in the Eastern & Southern Africa region, within the thematic areas of ICT4D/digital development/humanitarian information.
• Extensive experience in a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning role
• Proven experience in a similar role within a Youth Empowerment/Advocacy Organisation is an added advantage
• Proven experience training teams on: data collection, data quality, implementation of tools, analysis and reporting; especially in low resource environments
• Clear vision and strong planning skills to create and deliver a learning agenda
• Demonstrable expertise and an in-depth understanding of qualitative and quantitative research design, as well as prior experience of analyzing qualitative and quantitative datasets; prior experience using SPSS, STATA, NVIVO, Atlas.ti or other equivalent packages
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and facilitation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Google G Suite
• Fluency in English and/or knowledge of at least one local language
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse staff
• A good sense of humor and willingness to learn

Compensation and Benefits

HOT values transparency and equity. All HOT compensation globally is set according to a framework detailed on our website. HOT also offers:

• Fully remote & flexible work arrangements
• Flexible public holidays
• Paid time off
• Home Office Allowance
• Healthy Staff allowance or group plan
• Learning & Development Opportunities
• Book Stipend
• Collaborating with a fast-growing, dedicated team who values humanitarianism, free, open-source, and accessible data

We encourage candidates to apply currently residing in the following countries of the region:
Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Are you missing a few of the technical skills listed? We would still like to see your application. While the skills above fit our vision of this role, we are open to those candidates with a strong knowledge foundation that are fast learners and highly motivated to close any skill gaps.

Equal Opportunity

We seek to recruit persons that reflect the diversity of the communities we work with and further, to support their retention and advancement within the organization. HOT does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. Our staff includes people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives on the world. HOT is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to live our values and promote inclusivity in all locations. All of our staff work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of all is valued and respected.

HOT is committed to diversity within our team, and recognizes our role in closing the digital divide, including identifying obstacles that certain groups face in developing skills needed for roles in the humanitarian & technology sectors. Women, nationals of developing countries, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.