Monitoring and Evaluation – Associate Officer

The Monitoring and Evaluation Associate -Officer leads the implementation of a M&E framework and coordinates the monitoring of the Alliance Bioversity and CIAT Programs in the context of CGIAR and bilateral projects together with the Alliance staff who have Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning responsibilities. This role is part of a bigger effort to increase the impact of our research. The incumbent will be doing so, by operationalizing a comprehensive approach to M&E, create effective linkages with teams such as, Program Management, Impact Assessment and Foresight, and Data and Information Management; contribute to improve the quality of research proposals with respect to M&E components; foster the internal processes of research planning and reporting, and facilitate learning and improvement of the processes along the research cycle.

Responsibilities

• Mainstream M&E and Research Best Practices at the Alliance
• Develop and facilitate the use by the Alliance staff of a M&E toolkit
• Engage Alliance’s staff who have MEL responsibilities in internal community of practice
• Work with research support teams (Program management, Partnerships, Communications, Data Management, Impact Assessment and Foresight) to apply M&E principles and contribute meta-data and outcome findings
• Document M&E processes and share lessons learned within the Alliance
• Share MEL results within the Alliance (Update intranet, Internal communication: seminars, internal media, blogs) and participate in CGIAR, and beyond, MEL activities
• Support Institutional Review Board (IRB) and mainstream due diligence on research on human subjects
• Lead and facilitate yearly program reporting cycles
• Define Impact Pathways with program teams (Theories of change, identification of M&E indicators)
• Conduct monitoring with Alliance’s Program teams, socialize programmatic Impact Pathways and facilitate reporting activities
• Work with IT developers on adjustments or improvements of the reporting tool MARLO

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s degree as required) in Economics, International Development, Public Administration or related field
• Specialized experience (4 -5 years) in supporting the design and implementation of M&E frameworks, impact pathways, M&E indicators; Knowledge and understanding of monitoring, evaluation and learning trends and practices in research for development; Skills in M&E planning, M&E strategy design, and quality assurance
• Experience with results-based management
• Proven ability of assisting others in building their capacity on M&E
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and analytical skills
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary and multicultural environments
• Fluency in English is essential to communicate in writing and speaking
• Fluency in Spanish to communicate in writing and speaking is highly desirable

Desirable assets

• Proven ability to initiate and refine new and complex endeavors
• The ability to network with scientists and research institutions on a global scale
• Knowledge of agricultural research and development
• Familiarity with research ethics procedures and data management.
• Knowledge and understanding of mixed-methods approaches and tools for data collection, analysis and reporting
• Experience in carrying out meta-analysis of M&E-derived data towards supporting institutional planning, program development and external communications.

Role competencies

• Impact and influence – Produces a determined effect on others to achieve the proposed objectives
• Planning and organizing – Executes opportunely and adequately work plans to achieve expected results
• Adaptability and flexibility – Takes on board novel or challenging situations in a flexible manner, adapting easily to changes
• Effective communication – Generates and maintains direct, clear and respectful communication with people in their environment