WCS Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) – WASH

Overview: The WCS Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) will ensure the implementation, coordination and administration of all activities supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Reporting to: Chief of Party

Place of work: Calabar, Nigeria

Expected travel: Frequent travel to Abuja and to Bauchi State, as well as field sites in Cross River

Start date: ASAP

Duration: 6-month scoping project, followed by 4.5-year implementation period if funding is secured.

1. Principal responsibilities

​​This position is subject to funding availability. The​​​ Head of Monitoring and Evaluation ​will be ​​ ​ responsible for coordinating the monitoring and evaluation of the program in addition to managing the Performance Monitoring Plan.

Job Summary/Responsibilities:

• Building and supervising the MEAL unit. The MEAL unit supports all departments and directly informs program management;
• Working with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party, managing implementing of the results framework;
• Catalyse studies and collection of required data for the results framework to adapt programs and activities, inform decision making and planning on several key dimensions, including:
• Quantifying the changes in the well-being of communities (ensuring that all data are disaggregated as appropriate);
• Measuring the impacts related to agricultural production and transformation;
• Measuring environmental impacts on key habitats, ecosystem services and conservation targets;
• Building a network of partners and collaborators to carry out surveys, and data collection and analyses;
• Promoting theory-of-change, design thinking and/or results-based management;
• Promoting learning across the organisation from the analysis and interpretation of data and results;
• Developing data collection tools (including, for example, the use of KoBoToolbox) with department heads to ensure accurate collection of data;
• Using and adapting appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools – KAP, METT, Capacity Scorecards, Financial Sustainability Scorecards, etc.;
• Working with other members of the team to ensure that data required for donor reporting (including donor specific results frameworks) are collected, collated, analysed and prepared for reports in a timely fashion;
• Assisting with the process of writing reports

1. Qualifications

Candidates will need to demonstrate clearly that they have the necessary experience and skills to i) work with other team members to collect and collate data, ii) carry out qualitative and quantitative data collection and analyses, iii) build and maintain databases, iv) contribute to the process of writing reports, v) providing rigorous analysis to feed into strategic decision making processes and vi) promote learning from the monitoring and evaluation processes.

This requires:

• A post-graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in an appropriate subject;
• Five to seven years of relevant experience, with experience with non-profit organisation(s) and on donor-funded project(s) in developing country(ries) a plus;
• An interest to conduct rigorous analysis that will inform strategic decision-making;
• Strong qualitative and quantitative skills, proven IT skills including database management and knowledge of statistical software (e.g., R or Stata), and use of data collection tools such as KoBoToolbox (or equivalent);
• Knowledge of GIS is an added advantage;
• Experience of, and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability;
• Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects;
• Demonstrated skills in oversight of research, assessment and evaluations;
• Hands on experience in strategic planning processes;
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills;
• Excellent understanding of different components of MEAL and skills in leading MEAL systems;
• Sound conceptual understanding in advancing gender equality in programming and workplace;
• Written and oral fluency and excellent writing skills in English are required;
• Ability to work with a diverse, interdisciplinary team of people;
• Demonstrated openness and sensitivity to the socio-cultural environment;
• Dynamic, energetic, creative and ambitious.