Strategic Partnership Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

Company Description

SNV is a global development partner deeply rooted in the African and Asian countries where we operate. With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, we strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform agri-food, energy and water systems. Working on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance, we tailor our approaches to different contexts to achieve large-scale impact and create sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

We are looking for a Strategic Partnership Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor
Full-time – The Hague, Netherlands, or any of the SoC country offices (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia)
Reporting to Strategic Partnership Programme Coordinator

Are you an analytical MEL Advisor to join our strategic partnership programme team, and drive the success and ensuring impactful outcomes? Then this is your role!

Job Description

Context of the position
SNV and partners aim to transform the agri-food system in Eastern Africa promoting and implementing Regenerative Agriculture (RA) and Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE). Although examples of success (and failures) in RA and PURE are emerging, these are isolated and limited in scale and therefore function as islands of change. These successes (and failures) must be captured, documented, and shared for broader adoption to achieve Seas of Change.

The Seas of Change (SoC) strategic partnership aims to utilise the learnings and evidence built with, in particular, smallholder farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises – to adopt regenerative practices powered by renewable energy. To reach this ambitious goal we seek to build a network of like-minded partners at national, regional, and global level to institutionalize these ways of working and further embed them in policies and practices of government, private sector, knowledge institutes, and civil society. We will actively engage private actors, public actors, and donors to co-invest €55 million to secure this transformation. The strategic partnership includes a portfolio of SoC country programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The programmes will have three intervention pathways of LEARN: Practice-based learning and evidence, LINK: Action-oriented collaboration among system actors and LEVERAGE: Embedding ways of working in policies and practices. Through these pathways, the strategic partnership seeks to facilitate a new way of working to achieve an integrated, sustainable and resilient agri-food system powered by renewable energy.

Your role
SNV is seeking an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor to become a key player in our strategic partnership programme team. In this pivotal role you will monitor the portfolio’s impact, guide teams to harness MEL data for continuous improvement, and lead capacity development to ensure everyone understands the programme’s innovative Theory of Change (ToC) and MEL framework.

You will ensure data consistency and the effective use of tools across all country programmes, working closely with in-country MEL Officers. Your support and coaching will be instrumental in steering portfolio strategies. Your insights will be vital in assessing the portfolio’s impact on system dynamics, and you’ll take the lead in organizing annual ToC and MEL framework reflection workshops both globally and in-country.

In this role, you will adapt MEL strategies based on findings and thrive in multicultural settings. Reporting to the Strategic Partnership Lead, you will join a dynamic team of three advisors and a part-time Finance Officer. You will collaborate closely with the Seas of Change programme teams in Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda, as well as other SNV colleagues globally and locally, to integrate MEL findings into knowledge products, advocacy, and programme development. Your expertise will be crucial in driving the success of our initiatives and ensuring impactful outcomes.

All Strategic Partnership team members will:

• Ensure alignment with the program’s Theory of Change and RA-PURE objectives.
• Build in-country team and partner capacity.
• Drive strategic positioning and advocacy.
• Use digital tools to streamline their work

Your key responsibilities include:

• Data monitoring and analysis: Support country teams in their data monitoring efforts by ensuring the effective use of MEL tools and conducting quality analysis of data results. Lead in the compilation and analysis of all Strategic Partnership outcome and impact data to produce annual data-driven reports submitted to funder and for external-facing documentation, with a strong focus on reflection and learning. This also includes revisiting ToCs for alignment or adaptation based on emerging realities and MEL findings at country level.
• MEL steering and best practices: Coordinate the development and implementation of MEL approaches, methodologies and tools to monitor, evaluate and steer the Strategic Partnership’s impact at regional and country level, in close coordination with MEL advisors from the SoC country programmes.
• Business development: Supports Strategic Partnership proposal development efforts by helping design and write high-quality ToCs that align with overall programme framework and approach.
• Positioning: Support the production of high-quality documents for external publication by providing relevant support evidence and data.
• Capacity building: Enhance the capabilities of Strategic Partnership Programme teams (in particular programme managers and MEL officers) and partners in systems transformation and MEL, assuring the collection and analysis of high-quality data.

Qualifications

Your background
You are an analytical, detail-oriented, and data-driven professional with extensive experience in MEL tools and methodologies. Your ability to analyse both quantitative and qualitative data, communicate complex concepts clearly, and utilize digital tools for data collection and analysis sets you apart.

What you bring

• A post-graduate degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations and/or other relevant field, including coursework in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), research methodologies, and statistical analysis.
• +5 years of experience in MEL, in a lead or advisory role together with sector knowledge in agriculture and energy and in familiarity with SNV’s thematic areas (climate, governance, gender equality, and social inclusion) preferably in East Africa.
• Good proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Stata/R/SPSS and the ability to design and implement MEL frameworks across different context, ensuring quality assurance across country programs.
• You possess strong interpersonal skills, allowing you to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and build trust (in various cultural and operational contexts)
• Excellent English communication skills

In this exciting opportunity, you will leverage your strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse teams and build trust. Your self-motivation, analytical mindset, and adaptability will be key as you collaborate with others, ensuring excellent teamwork, communication, and organizational efficiency. You will use your exceptional writing and presentation skills to develop clear and impactful MEL frameworks and documentation. Additionally, your advisory and mentoring experience will be evident as you guide and support team members demonstrating your strong organizational capabilities.

Additional Information

Working for SNV
We are home to 57 cultures working in 22 countries, with about 95% of our team members holding the nationality of the respective countries we work in. We promote (international) career development. Our workforce exists of a mix of both people with longstanding tenure, willing to share their institutional knowledge, as well as people with other backgrounds and experience. All with an inquisitive view and united in ‘ONE SNV’ working towards our purpose.

Together, we are committed to effective and efficient stewardship of resources and maximising positive, lasting impacts. Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, knowledge, evidence and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Our offer
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package in a stimulating work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling international working environment.

Additional information

• Contract Type: National contract, Full time (40 hours per week)
• Contract Duration: 2 years with the possibility of extension
• Expected Start Date: January 2025
• Information Duty Station: The Hague, The Netherlands or any of the SoC country offices (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia)

How to apply
If you’re excited about this opportunity and believe you have the skills and passion we’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your CV and a motivation letter via SmartRecruiters on/or before 1st January 2025 to join our dedicated team at SNV. All information will be processed in the strictest confidence.

Reference & vetting check
At SNV we prioritise safety and security for all employees. We conduct thorough background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct“. This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.

*We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.