Background: Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa Expertise Centre (SECAEC) is a member of Solidaridad Network of Organizations.

SECAEC aims at production and supply chain development approach for market transformation in agricultural commodities such as coffee, sugarcane, livestock, cotton, textiles, tea, fruits and vegetables and gold mining.

The regional center’s support activities are spread over Eastern and Central Africa countries – Ethiopia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Solidaridad’s inclusive sector transformation strategy is based on lessons learnt and pegged on theory of change in four key result areas:

Result 1: Good Practices; Producers implement good agricultural, mining and industrial practices that optimise their social, environmental and economic performance.

Result 2: Robust infrastructure; Producers have improved access to land and natural resources, labour, inputs capital, knowledge and markets.

Result 3: Enabling policy environment; Public and corporate policies that create incentives for sustainable investments are in place and enforced.

Result 4: Landscape management; Sustainable landscape management practices and mechanisms are in place and operational.

Job description
Reporting to the Co-Director, the Monitoring Evaluation & Learning Manager is responsible for ensuring that the project has the systems and the capacity for carrying out effective monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the project staff collects, collates and analyses the key information and data necessary for effective project management and monitoring, including compliance with donor reporting requirements, and in supporting other staff and partners to participate in this.

To do this the post holder will be responsible for the implementation of the DCED Framework that enables complex monitoring of the beneficiaries and impacts of the program to take place.

Key Responsibilities:
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
Design and implement a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system for SECAEC projects in close collaboration with the program managers, adopting and/or adapting MEAL procedures that are already in place.
Collaborate with project staff, vetted Evaluation Consultants and project partners to design data collection protocols, tools and systems.
Support in developing comprehensive performance monitoring plan and coordinate implementation with all relevant staff and project partners.
Together with the respective program manager, coordinate with appointed Baseline Consultants on the design and completion of baseline studies for Projects.
Ensure that the MEAL system fully reflects and incorporates gender and social inclusion commitments as outlined in Solidaridad’s Gender Policy, Strategy and Approach collaborating with the gender specialist.
Oversee all aspects of the implementation of the MEAL system.
Revise and update SECAEC general Performance Indicators for comparing progress, if necessary on an ongoing basis incorporate learnings and changes that reflect project environment.
Train and brief all staff and project partners on the MEAL system and ensure that they clearly understand their role and have the necessary tools for monitoring and evaluation
Oversee the regular production and updating of key lessons learned from SECAEC projects.
Together with the program managers, improve SECAEC accountability to donors, development partners, local beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
Support baseline survey, internal mid-year and annual reviews and external program evaluations.
Data Management
Develop appropriate analysis tools for monitoring and evaluation of project activities, and information gathering systems to input into program processes, outcomes and impact measurement.
Through in-house management information system, PLAZA, provide feedback to SECAEC and the Network at large based on quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports and analysis of impact data received from program managers.

Knowledge Management
Promotes adoption and use of knowledge management in the REC through the development and support of communities of practice, including consulting and training/capacity building.
Ensures effectiveness of knowledge management programs and activities by analysing activities, monitoring their use, and measuring their impact.
Test knowledge management products and services for effectiveness, quality and responsiveness.
Serves as key contact for data requests by responding to queries and by assisting clients in accessing knowledge management tools and resources.
Utilize knowledge bases, networks, communities of practice and other sources to synthesize responses to queries.
Conduct outreach programs and oversee training for staff and clients in use of knowledge management products.
Provide oral and written responses and briefings for queries by staff and managers and by external clients.
Contribute to knowledge management resources by preparing and capturing best practices through written stories and video debriefings

Communications
Strong writing, editing, proofreading, layout and design, professional printing/publishing skills are essential, including ability to present concepts verbally
Develop and refine new ways to harness our collected data to more intentionally and successfully segment our various stakeholder audiences
Develop content for stakeholder communications channels (newsletters, conference sessions, and other forums)

Other responsibilities:
Inform and advise the top management on monitoring and evaluation strategic directions.
Carry out any other duties as required by the Regional Director, from time to time.

Qualifications
Master’s degree in economics, statistics or a related field.
Post graduate training and experience in M&E will be an added advantage.

Experience
Minimum 8 years in development work, with at least 5 years working in monitoring and evaluation of donor funded projects preferably in the area of agribusiness and economic development.
Experience of developing and facilitating monitoring and evaluation trainings and skill building workshops for actors, including stakeholders in the private sector, government and civil society.
Experience in networking among, promoting and collaborating closely with private sector, government and civil society actors.
At least five years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation with in-depth experience in:
Logic model and performance measurement framework approach and other strategic planning approaches.
Monitoring and evaluation methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory).
Design, implementation and management of monitoring and evaluation systems for large development projects.
Training in monitoring and evaluation development and implementation.
Facilitating learning-orientated analysis sessions of monitoring and evaluation data with multiple stakeholders.
Experience in data processing and knowledge management.
Knowledge
Demonstrated experience of integrating and measuring gender and social inclusion results including:
Gender and social inclusion information disaggregated and gender sensitive baselines, indicators and targets.
Data collection and analysis of indicators related to gender and social inclusion.
Abilities
Demonstrated ability to communicate good practices and learning in working with targeted audiences that contributes to breaking down negative gender and generational stereotypes.
Ability to present and represent SECAEC in a variety of communication to a variety of audiences including government, private sector, donors and civil society.
Proven ability to work effectively in a number of teams, in a multi-cultural context and where teams may be geographically dispersed.
Proven ability to be self-serving in IT (Outlook, Email, databases, basic excel, Powerpoint).
Good time management and flexibility.
Ability to work under pressure.

Skills
Demonstrated skills in strategic monitoring and evaluation planning, capacity building, community-based mobilization and employment initiatives for community groups and vulnerable populations.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate project views efficiently and positively in various formats, including public speaking, panels, debates and group discussions.
Strong networking skills and the ability to build relationships, alliances and networks in a fast paced ever changing work environment.
Leadership skills.
Considerable problem solving and decision-making skills.

How to Apply
Your application must be forwarded to consult@syn-solutions.com with the recruitment reference: Monitoring & Evaluation Manager clearly marked in the subject line of your application.

Applications must be received by 18th December 2015 midnight.

No late applications will be considered.

Your C.V. and application must not be more than 4 pages in length together with the covering letter.

Consolidate these as one word document.

Your application should be written in English and must demonstrate that all of the essential qualifications are met.

Applications that do not meet the above requirements will not be considered.