JOB TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate – 2 Positions 

REPORTS TO: Programme Manager (PM) 

REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None 

LOCATION: Babati/Singida/Dodoma 

DURATION & HOURS: 40 hours a week, One Year full time fixed term contract 

 

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

 

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate is a technical post responsible for ensuring  consistent and high quality data collection, and for use and reporting of results across the project. The  post holder will ensure the project develop and implement appropriate MEL plans, based on robust  logical frameworks, and adhering to Farm Africa’s core standards and approaches.  

The MEL Associate will work with the Programme Manager (PM)/Project Coordinator (PC), to ensure management decision-making is evidence-based. The MEL Associate will work with the Project field team to ensure a clear understanding of the programme’s MEL framework at the field level, with all  methods and tools clearly understood and communicated. The post holder will develop appropriate tools, systems and training to support field teams to understand and use robust evidence of project  results as a vital input to management decision-making. The MEL Associate will provide technical as  well as capacity building support to partner organisations; ensure use of relevant Farm Africa standard  data collection tools; provide critical analysis and technical input to project evaluation processes,  ensuring Farm Africa can maximise the learning potential of all studies and evaluations undertaken  within the project.  

 

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Planning 

• Coordinate and facilitate the development and use of appropriate MEL systems and plans for  the project, and provide technical guidance and leadership to the programme PM/PCs in  implementing them. 
• Take responsibility for ensuring the programme’s MEL systems are fully compliant with the  donor and Farm Africa’s requirements for reporting results. Ensure project teams are familiar  with these requirements. 
• At start-up, work with field teams, PM and PCs to ensure that the indicators and targets are  SMART, and the methods for collection and analysis are clearly understood and will fulfil  reporting requirements at all levels. 
• Support PM/PC to ensure that MEL activities are scheduled into the work plan at times that  are appropriate to achieving the highest quality data.  
• Liaise with the PC/PM to adequately budget for and utilise resources to undertake MEL  activities. 
• Identify learning questions and plan for data collection to inform them.  

Implementation 

• Coordinate and implement baseline surveys and evaluation exercises. 
• Build capacity of field staff and local partner staff on data collection, management, analysis  and results-based monitoring principles and ensure understanding of Farm Africa’s core  standards and approaches.
• Work to ensure project team are able to disaggregate data by gender and age, where  appropriate, by devising and disseminating simple data collection methods. 
• Provide a ‘quality assurance’ function to ensure that data reported by all projects is relevant,  accurate and verifiable. 
• Undertake regular monitoring and assist the PM/PC and team at field level to ensure that  project MEL activities are achieved as planned. 
• Ensure the project’s log-frame and data collection plans are regularly reviewed and refreshed,  and the project is collecting the breadth of indicators required at a frequency and timing in  line with reporting purposes. 
• Support the PM/PC that the project is keeping to its MEL plan. This involves organising and  conducting MEL activities regularly and on time. Activities will include a mix of qualitative and  quantitative approaches, including, but not limited to: Household surveys, KIIs, FGDs,  community feedback sessions, SME records’ reviews, etc.  
• Work closely with relevant staff and other project partners to ensure regular data collection,  analysis and reporting. 
• Lead on appropriate cleaning, storage, analysis and reporting of all data, including developing  case studies and collating photos. 
• Support to the PM/PC for adaptive management to ensure data reported by all projects is  used for programme management and decision making.  
• Participate in project quarterly review meetings. Participate and help facilitate biannual  Project Performance Review (PPR) workshops.  

Reporting 

• Ensure regular and sufficient communication with other Farm Africa projects and staff on  overall MEL development and coordinate and cascade any learning that will enhance MEL  activities at the Country Office. 
• Collate and consolidate data from all partners and field staff - ensuring required quality, and  report to the PM/PC with specified deadlines. 
• Support the PM/PC in ensuring that reports are informed by the relevant data.  
• Ensure that the quarterly project reports have case studies, success stories and lessons learnt  so that there is continuous information that will feed into the overall learning process. 
• Work with the Regional MEL Team to develop tools and methods for capturing and  documenting lessons learned from the programme’s implementation, and ensure that they  are shared with the communities, partners and across the organisation. 
• Together with the PM/PC participate in monthly project progress review sessions including:  in-depth review of financial spend/burn rate; achievement against activity and output plan,  and a forward look on whether the project is achieving against its objectives.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential 

• MSc./MA in numerical/ analytical subject (e.g. statistics,  economics, econometrics, research design, applied social  science)
• Demonstrable knowledge of rural development issues in  Tanzania
  
  

Desirable 

• Academic qualification relevant to Farm  Africa’s areas of operation (i.e. agricultural,  rural business management, value chain  development)
• Awareness of broader trends in international  donor landscape, relating to MEL and  results-monitoring
• Knowledge of value chain development and  agricultural practices, policy and enabling  environment in Tanzania and East Africa.

Experience

Essential 

• Demonstrable understanding of monitoring, evaluation and  learning principles and practices, including the application of  the log frame approach
• A minimum of 3 years proven experience of conducting  quantitative and qualitative field research and analysis for  large, multi-purpose projects
• Experience in working with data including analysis, and  drafting clear written reports/briefings
• Proven experience in training and capacity building in MEL  practices

Desirable 

• Previous NGO work experience in rural  development
• Experience conducting field research in a  rural context or business perspective
• Communicating technical information to  non-technical, ‘lay’, audiences
• Experience managing individuals and  supporting others in their professional  abilities and development

Skills & abilities

Essential 

• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) 
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively as  part of a team; responsive and informative in  
• communication to both Tanzanian, regional and UK staff. 
• Ability to ensure quality standards are adhered to and  understood
• Ability to critique others in a constructive and open manner
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Swahili
• Methodological, thorough approach with attention to detail

Desirable 

• Strong partner relationship management
• Experience using evidence for impact  communication

 

 

 

Our Values 

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm  Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and  developing businesses in rural Africa.  

EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm  Africa does.  

GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making. 

IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families. 

BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing. 

Contact details of how to apply: 

If you are interested in this position, please send your applications with updated CV to:  Tanzaniarecruitment@farmafrica.org by 11.59pm (EAT) on Monday 31st October 2022.