Manager – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

The MEL manager will oversee the systematic monitoring and evaluation of breeding initiatives to assess their effectiveness in enhancing rice varieties’ resilience to climate stresses and improving outcomes. Additionally, by leading the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities and Management Information Systems (MIS) section, the MEL manager will coordinate data collection, analysis, and reporting processes, providing valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making. Moreover, supervising a communication specialist underscores the importance of disseminating project findings and fostering knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, thereby facilitating the broader adoption of climate-smart rice breeding practices. Through these responsibilities, the MEL manager plays a crucial role in driving innovation, accountability, and sustainability within the project, ultimately contributing to food security and resilience in the face of climate change.

This position will be based at the IRRI Bangladesh Office in Dhaka and will only be filled by permanent citizens of Bangladesh.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MEL system to develop key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MEL responsibilities across the project that meet IRRI’s and USAID’s standards and practices, project and program needs, enable accountability to partners, and donors, and foster program learning.
• Facilitate the planning and preparation of the annual work plan (AWP), focusing on targets and submitting updated annual and quarterly targets of the project.
• Overseeing the design and management of the Project Management Information System (MIS), including the development of tools, and methodologies for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) data collection and verification.
• Lead in establishing data quality standards and implementing standard operating procedures.
• Conduct comprehensive data quality assessments and ensure adherence to established standards.
• Regularly review internal routine data quality assessments and prepare quarterly progress reports and annual results reports.
• Facilitate project reviews and the annual Feed the Future Monitoring System Performance Plan Report (FtFMS PPR)
• Ensure project data is accurately entered into USAID’s electronic reporting system, DIS. Track the project’s outputs and enter them into its data repository.
• Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices.
• Oversee project communication activities, ensuring clear and effective communication with all private partners.
• Maintain regular liaison as required by project needs.
• Facilitate feedback forums to share accumulated insights within the project team.
• Guide program decision-makers on enhancing activity design and implementation processes
• Establish partner’s internal MEL systems and data quality management,
• Oversee partners’ compliance, and design and conduct training to support capacity for MEL
• Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.
• Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; disseminate timely findings meaningfully and make suggestions for adaption.
• Supervise monthly progress of activities in the Annual Work Plan (AWP)
• Ensure strong and productive relationships with private partners to facilitate successful collaboration with the IRRI for project success.
• Review existing indicators and implement changes to enhance their relevance, accuracy, and sustainability.
• Draft general policies and guidelines on preparing M&E plans, reports, the conduct of surveys, and closing of a project
• Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data and analysis and compile performance indicator data for the quarterly and annual reports
• Provide training and guidance to relevant staff on designing M&E systems and information collection of project activities.
• Promote a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the office
• Analyze data, review the results and learnings of program reports
• Guide to communication personnel to develop communication materials
• Guide to developing communication and branding strategy as per USAID protocol

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Economics, social science, Development Studies, or agriculture-related field
• At least 8 years experience in M&E, information management, and handling of large datasets for international development projects including a  minimum of 5 years of experience with the USAID MEL system  (3 years as lead) is required.

Skills Required

• Experience in Agro based farms, Development agencies, NGOs, or research organizations
• Skilled in using computer software for database management and analysis (MS Word, Excel, PowerBI, GIS, PowerPoint, SPSS, STATA, etc.)
• Experience working in international organizations in multi‐cultural and multidisciplinary team settings
• Efficient in approaching work assignments with analytical ability and consistency
• Creative and quick learning ability with analytical independence and excellent interpersonal skills
• Experience on rice innovations such as  crop improvement, agronomic practices, policy influencing, food systems transformation, climate adaptation and mitigation
• Internal IRRI candidates will be given preferences.

Source: https://www.irri.org/talentlink/details.html?id=Q7LFK026203F3VBQB79QWQWAS&nPostingID=1896&nPostingTargetID=3426&mask=irriext&lg=EN