Role purpose

To be responsible for supporting and managing robust evidence generation of outputs and impact of the USAID Civic Engagement in Local Governance for Accountability (CELGA) Activity in line with committed targets and objectives.

The Role will ensure the programme has a robust results framework and action plan to operationalise it, and support and manage the monitoring and evaluation team in the field and with partners to gather, clean, analyse, package and commnicate the outputs, outcomes and impact of the CELGA Action. The role will provide quality assurance of routine data being collected by partners, data analysis, oversight over external evaluations and value for money analysis to ensure the programme delivers intended quality and excellence in evidencing, dissemination, USAID engagement and communication. This will be done in collaboration with the respective technical advisor and thematic specialists. The role holder will use experience from doing this to contribute to the development of Christian Aid policy and strategy related to evidencing the results and impact of our work.

Representation: This role will use evidence-based reporting and communicatoin products for strategic representation of Christian Aid internally and externally to USAID, and supporting the Chief of Party and Country manager engagement with USAID, other relevant programmes in Sierra Leone, government and other stakeholders.

Personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and practices around good practice in monitoring, evaluation and learning through reading, online courses, mentorship and coaching, conference attendance and presentations, publications.

Key outcomes

High robust evidence of the USAID CELGA’s outputs, outcomes and impact from respective interventions based on sound methodologies.

Compliance with financial policies and procedures including reporting requirements and contribution made to other team members in the development and implementation of ME&L frameworks, partner capacity building and training.

Strong ME&L planning, evaluation, dissemination and evidence use procedures using Christian Aid’s internal systems

Positive relationships developed with field staff, partners, and governments through effective communication.

Decisions on the USAID CELGA strategy adaptation, USAID liaison and other operational priorities are informed by data and Christian Aid’s strategic focus areas.

Role agility

Expected travel per annum

Over 75 days

On call/unsocial hours Choose an item.

Surge capacity for emergency responses Choose an item.

In order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and adaptiveness to processes and structures making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role from time to time.

Role context

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist is a key position responsible for leading the design and implementation of the programme monitoring and evaluation framework of a multi-million USAID funded CELGA Programme in Sierra Leone. The role works within the international programmes role family and the wider programme management unit.

The goal of the Civic Engagement in Local Governance for Accountability (CELGA) in Sierra Leone is to strengthen the social contract between local governments and citizens in Sierra Leone by fostering increased accountability of local-level decision-makers to citizens on issues of importance to the community. The specific objectives of this activity are to:

•Increase effective and informed citizen and civil society participation in local government and political processes, and

• Bolster the capacity of local governance institutions to provide critical services and be more transparent in their processes.

Role requirements

Relationships

External Work with partner staff and institutional donors.

Internal The position is line managed by the Chief of Party. In the areas of responsibility, the role holder develops relationships with the management unit.

Decision making

Budgetary/savings responsibility Click here to enter text. Outline the amount of budgetary/savings responsibility this role is accountable for.

The post holder decides on the appropriate monitoring and evaluation frameworks, methodologies and tools for the USAID CELGA programme and supports teams in the field to operationalise the plans each of the respective projects with partners. Represents Christian Aid and the USAID CELGA programme externally with USAID, partners, other NGOs, donors and other agencies. Appraise, monitor and review programme in line with CA and external requirements.

Analytical skills

The role's primary mandate is to evidence change brought about by the CELGA programme in the Sierra Leone country programme. This calls for critical collection, cleaning, storage and analysis of data from all projects applying robust quantitative and qualitative methods, analysis of partner reports, observations on implementation progress, sharing information coming out of the data with the Chief of Party and the rest of the team for decision making and learning.

Developing self and others

Number of Direct reports TBC

Overall people management responsibility TBC

The role is responsible for training team members and partner staff in M&E issues and USAID M&E guidelines and needs to keep abreast of evolving statistical and database packages for qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

Role related checks

Child protection clearance Not required Counter terrorism screening Required

Person specification

Applied skills/knowledge and expertise

Essential

A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent such as mathematics, business, statistics, informatics, or international relations with advanced training in research and quantitative and qualitative research methods, monitoring and evaluation.

At least 5 years of experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluating activities, operational research,and/or impact evaluation for complex programs in developing countries.

A firm command of quality improvement and quality assurance with respect to integrated service and support programs.

Demonstrated experience in setting up and managing M&E frameworks and systems that track performance as per the objectives of this activity (e.g. service integration and performance against each result area).

Demonstrated analytical skills to measure the outcomes of the activity’s activities, including referral outcomes, and supportive activity supervision.

Strong writing and organizational skills for monitoring and reporting on program outcomes and impacts.

Professional level of oral and written fluency in English Language

Knowledge of USAID policies on evidencing results.

Familiarity with programme cycle management approaches and tools – including participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation

Desirable

Evidence of publication in peer reviewed journals, presentation at conferences etc.

Understanding of partnership approach to international development

Network and alliance building

Digital/IT competencies required

Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Intermediate

Web content design & development

Intermediate

Internet based collaboration tools and video calling

Basic

Social Media

Intermediate

Data Visualisation

Advanced

Further details of specific tasks and duties will be agreed with the line manager as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.

This role profile is not prescriptive; it merely outlines the key behaviours the role-holder requires to be successful in the role; the key behaviours and responsibilities are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the role-holder.

You will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures within Christian Aid which may be updated from time to time.

You must empathise with the aims, beliefs and values of Christian Aid as it seeks to work on relief, development and advocacy for poverty eradication.

How to apply

For more information on application procedures, visit Christian Aid website on http://www.christianaid.org.uk job and follow the steps to apply online. Please note: Hard copies of application will not be accepted.

Please forward any queries you have regarding this vacancy on email to:

sierra-leone-info@christian-aid.org

Closing date for application is 19th October 2021

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

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