MEL Director - FHI 360

FHI360 is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Ghana’s Education System (SAGES) (the Activity). This position will be based in Accra and is contingent upon funder award and approval.

Project description

The anticipated 5-year Strengthening Accountability in Ghana’s Education System (SAGES) Activity seeks to increase and strengthen accountability in the education sector. The project will include support to operationalize the education accountability framework by enhancing the supervision of education personnel from the district to the school level, improving the ability of local authorities and District Education Authorities to implement the framework and address teacher professional behaviour issues such as high teacher absenteeism and inadequate time on task in the classroom, engaging school management committees and parent-teacher associations to harness community support for improved school management and education quality.

The project will also strengthen citizen action and engagement at the local level to ensure that the government delivers quality services with increased accountability. The project will work with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service at the national level and will have a strong focus in the North.

Job Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director will provide technical leadership and oversee the monitoring, evaluation and learning components of the anticipated project. S/he will lead the development of the MEL plan; design, implement, and maintain MEL systems and processes to capture program activities and results; and ensure the collection and analysis of quality, timely and valid data.

S/he collaborates with the project team, partner organizations and government counterparts to support learning, evaluation and planning; oversee data analysis, dissemination, and use; and train MEL personnel.

S/he reports on MEL data and develops strategies for project improvements for greater impact and sustainability. The MEL Director will build capacity of government counterparts and develop and implement a learning program to inform policy makers and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the MEL plan for the Activity, including indicator selection and definition, target setting for all indicators, planning of all necessary data collection and analysis.
• Oversee and directly contribute to the development and implementation of M&E tools and systems to collect, interpret and aggregate data that track tangible, measurable progress toward project results and data that meet donor reporting requirements

• Develop and support the design and implementation of end of project evaluations, surveys and other components of the program M&E system.
• Develop high quality quantitative and qualitative methods and participatory methodologies to monitor program quality for performance and results; design appropriate feedback mechanisms to assess whether approaches implemented by the project are effective.
• Working closely with the COP, lead team of M&E officers and provide training to staff, primary stakeholders, and implementing partners on M&E components in project design; such as monitoring plan, assessments, reviews, surveys and evaluations.
• Provide ongoing oversight and technical assistance to consortium partners implementing monitoring and evaluation system, ensuring data and analysis are of high quality.
• Lead collaborative, learning and adaptive approach throughout the entire project; design program learning plan, coordinate pause and reflect activities, ensure that findings from all monitoring, assessment and survey activities are fed back into the project and disseminated to stakeholders and consortium partners for continuous program adjustments.
• Lead data systems strengthening efforts, building the capacity of government and other stakeholders
• Undertake periodic reviews of project MEL systems; provide guidance on for quality assurance, as well as best practices documentation and reporting.
• Oversee the publication and dissemination of information on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned and other program results to program partners, donors, government counterparts, and other key stakeholders.
• Provide high quality and timely submission of all required project reports, including documentation of success stories, analysis of data for indicator calculation, summary of qualitative findings, etc.
• Work collaboratively with members of FHI 360’s Research & Evaluation team to achieve project M&E goals.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in monitoring and evaluation, education, international development, or related field from an accredited university
• 10 years of experience related to monitoring, evaluating and reporting on programs related to education in complex, resource-constrained settings
• Experience in design and implementation of M&E systems for USG-funded projects
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills and ability to articulate technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and analytical methods.

• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills.
• Demonstrated statistical analysis skills and use of relevant software (SAS, SPSS, Epi Info, Atlas).
• Experience in the education sector in Ghana or the region strongly preferred.
• Experience coordinating with governments, ministries and/or local NGOs in the design and implementation of data collection activities and data utilization approaches.
• Demonstrated knowledge of US Government rules, regulations, policies and procedures regarding compliance and reporting on projects and programs.
• Fluent in English.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.