Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer

Title: Մոնիտորինգի, գնահատման և ուսուցման (ՄԳՈւ) աշխատակից

Reports to: Country Director

Location: Yerevan, Armenia

Travel: 25-50% covering 11 Marzes

NEF is a non-profit international development organization that has supported livelihoods recovery and community-based economic development in the Middle East, Africa, and Caucasus since 1915. NEF draws on local teams, experience, and partnerships in these regions to create community-led solutions to improve livelihoods and local governance among conflict and crisis-affected groups, while maintaining neutrality and ensuring inclusiveness in our approach. Working through a network of country offices and local partners, NEF currently has operations in ten countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Our programs are organised around three pillars: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate-resilient Development, and Stabilisation and Peacebuilding.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer is a key member of the Near East Foundation team in Armenia. The MEL Officer has the responsibility to coordinate and ensure the successfully implementation of projects’ MEL plans.

Under the overall supervision of the Country Director and in coordination with the functional HQ MEL team, the MEL Officer will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Finalize the Project’s MEL plans;
• Manage and report on the implementation of the Project’s MEL plans;
• Operationalise all monitoring and evaluation tools (AKVO software and smartphones, project database(s), etc.), including updating and finalising NEF’s Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA) tool in collaboration with HQ MEL Manager and project technical staff;
• Train, support and supervise field officers and partner staff/volunteers implementing baseline, follow-up and end-line surveys (with AKVO tools), and collecting project activity data;
• Support the Project Director in developing the project Communication and Visibility Plan in accordance with donor guidelines;
• Lead in conducting key informant interviews and focus groups in close collaboration with other team members as required;
• Review and ensure the quality and accuracy of the data collected and stored (data cleaning and entry);
• Regularly treat and analyse the data to be reported on the project’s performance indicators, working with the Project Director to prepare a response plan if data highlight unintended or inadequate results;
• Review and contribute to the project annual and final reports;
• Participate in monthly country coordination calls with NEF HQ and report progress monthly to key country and HQ staff;
• Facilitate the statistical analysis (using SPSS or equivalent tool) for project impact assessments in coordination with the MEL Manager;
• Facilitate the processes for project’s mid-term and/or final evaluations in coordination with the MEL Manager;
• Contribute to project learning activities in coordination with the MEL Manager;
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

The successful MEL Officer must be a self-directed individual with the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Economics, or related field;
• 3 years of M&E experience in community-based projects, humanitarian work, or related field;
• Demonstrated experience and capacity in conducting data collection and experience in data analysis;
• Previous experience in drafting or contributing to reports;
• Ability to work independently, organise work, meet deadlines, and maintain composure;
• Prioritise work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail;
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity, and flexibility;
• INGO experience preferred, or experience interacting with vulnerable populations;
• Fluency in Armenian and proficiency in English are required;
• Eligibility to live and work in Armenia without company sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with EU grants.

Position Criteria:

• Effective interpersonal and oral communication skills;
• Excellent written communication skills;
• Able to work effectively as part of a team;
• Complete assignments independently and/or collaboratively, meeting project deadlines;
• Take instructions and criticism constructively;
• Exercise problem-solving skills;
• Interact with project stakeholders in a professional and pleasant manner.