Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director (National)

Background:

Chemonics is an international development consulting firm that promotes meaningful change to help people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives. Chemonics’ mission is driven by our commitment to service – to our mission, our beneficiaries, and clients, and our staff. Working under contract with USAID and other aid donors, Chemonics designs and implements development projects in many of the world’s developing countries.

Durable Communities and Economic Opportunities (DCEO) is an IDIQ funded by USAID.

DCEO’s Economic Opportunities task order seeks to advance the economic well-being of Iraqi businesses by providing firm-level assistance to MSMEs, support to entrepreneurs and startups, investment facilitation services, and initiatives to strengthen the business-enabling environment and access to finance.
DCEO also helps motivate Iraq’s vulnerable communities to become more adaptive, conflict-resistive, and resilient through enhancing livelihoods. Under the Durable Communities Task order, DCEO/Tahfeez is working with ISIS conflict-impacted communities. The purpose is to develop locally driven processes for identifying and resolving tensions. We assist emerging leaders in resolving internal tensions sustainably and peacefully through inclusive community dialogue sessions and other practical solutions. Using tailored technical assistance, including skill-building and facilitation support to match each community’s needs, the project aims to contribute to long-term local stability.

OBJECTIVE:

To oversee the design and implementation of the Performance Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (PMELP), as well as all aspects of data collection, storage, analysis, and reporting to fulfill USAID and project mandates. This includes overseeing the performance of the MEL team, coordinating data collection efforts with technical team leadership, ensuring data quality and confidentiality, facilitating information sharing, managing stakeholder relationships, and performing other assigned tasks integral to achieving the PMELP objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the performance of the MEL team and provide strategic direction, guidance, and oversight to ensure optimal performance of the MEL team.
• Ensure indicators relevant data collection, management, and reporting, including, as necessary, the development or of data collection tools and methodologies appropriate to DCEO activities and participants.
• Coordinate regularly with technical team leadership to ensure that all necessary data is captured to accurately demonstrate Project results, including from project subcontractors, grantees, and other partners.
• Oversee M&E and research conducted through local partners, subcontractors, and grantees.
• Provide regular data updates and concise analysis to project leadership to guide evidence-based decision-making, including, but not limited to, support to regular pause and reflect sessions and reviewing indicator results with project leadership.
• Oversee Development and submission of accurate, on-time quarterly performance indicator data reports.
• Oversee MEL filing systems and ensure the confidentiality of personally identifiable information and other sensitive MEL records.
• Be part of DCEO’s representation and relationship management with government bodies, local for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure all communication and reporting-related deliverables are completed and submitted on time.
• Coordinate with relevant program team members to develop and submit on-time weekly and quarterly reports to USAID, highlighting all the necessary technical progress and relevant data.
• Coordinate with the MEL team to ensure that the DCEO database and dashboards are up-to-date and accurate.
• Ensure data quality across DCEO and lead the project’s response to periodic data quality assessments.
• Provide support, as necessary and requested, to the DCEO program task orders, providing facilitation support to evaluation activities, sharing data, or other tasks as requested.
• Sponsor information-sharing on monitoring and evaluation-related issues, approaches, best practices, and lessons learned with staff, Chemonics home office, other projects in Iraq and around the world, project partners, and other USAID-funded organizations.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Chief of Party that are consistent with the overall nature of the activity.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience designing and utilizing tools for data collection, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of donor-funded projects.
• Experience working with government bodies and local for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
• Experience with results frameworks, indicators, and targets, preferably for USAID projects required.
• Proven experience designing MEL methodologies and tools; designing and implementing baseline assessments and impact evaluations.
• Supervise and manage the performance of the MEL/communications team.
• Strong attention to detail, multi-tasking skills, and strong organizational skills are required.
• Computer skills, including strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Office applications.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, with demonstrated diplomacy and the ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
• Proficiency in report writing is required.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic required.

• Reports to: Chief of Party
• Staff reporting to this post: MEL and Communications staff.

• Required Travel: 25% of the time.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. 8:30 to 5:00 pm, Sunday to Thursday