MEL Specialist - Tetra Tech International Development Services

Tetra Tech is a full-service company with a global reach in the areas of water, environment, infrastructure, resource management, energy, and international development. 

Job Description

PROJECT SUMMARY

The purpose of the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development (WABiLED) Activity is to strengthen the capacity of national and regional networks and institutions to enforce and prosecute wildlife trafficking laws; improve regional and transboundary cooperation and conservation strategies that include private sector partnerships and incorporate best practices for sustainable natural resource management (NRM); and improve capacity for economic planning and development of LED strategies including REDD+.

All activities must be implemented to achieve the following three objectives:

• Objective 1: Support combating wildlife trafficking (CWT) and great ape conservation through improved regional coordination and the operationalization of national and regional policies, laws, and regulations;
• Objective 2: Reduce deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss in key forests through technical and knowledge management support; and
• Objective 3: Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon sequestration from land use.

JOB SUMMARY

Working under the direction of the MEL Manager, the MEL Specialist will support the implementation and periodic review of WABiLED’s MEL Plan and MEL systems. S/he will support the MEL Manager in ensuring quality activity performance monitoring, including the data collection, analysis, and reporting process.

S/he will assist the MEL unit to organize and manage the archiving system and ensure MEL data collected from all project activities are appropriately entered, labeled, stored, and maintained up-to-date on physical and electronic structured data storage systems. Provide guidance and oversight to stakeholders responsible for data collection to ensure compliance with the MEL Plan, including WABiLED staff, grantees, sub-contractors, or other stakeholders with MEL responsibilities.

This includes preparing data collection forms, entering data into the appropriate database software, conducting analysis, developing and maintaining procedures for data collection, data management, quality control, and preparing reports. The MEL Specialist will work with the MEL Manager to coordinate with other Cross-Cutting Services leaders and Technical staff to implement Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) activities for WABiLED learning purposes.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

• Support the MEL Manager to manage and update systems, tools, and forms for collecting and analyzing data for measuring performance indicators and expected results and achievements.
• Support grantees and partners to develop and implement their Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP) and Climate Risk Management Plan (CRMP) in compliance with USAID requirements.
• Ensure the correct use of data collection tools and forms developed by the project and provide training where needed.
• Proactively ensure the regular gathering of data and supporting documents from the project staff, grantees, subcontractors, and partners and ensure that all data collected from activities are entered into the MEL database system in a timely manner.
• Provide periodic and need-based technical, analytical, and training support to WABiLED staff, grantees, and subcontractors partners to collect data and prepare progress reports.
• Collaborate with the MEL Officer to ensure that grantee and subcontractor supporting documents are downloaded, verified, and archived into the WABiLED data storage system and work with them if needed to solve data quality issues.
• Undertake data aggregation, cleaning, analysis, and archiving of all physical and electronic documents, in compliance with USAID and Tetra Tech ARD filing requirements.
• Conduct regular data reviews and cross-check physical archiving and electronic systems to ensure consistency and maintain overall data integrity;
• Contribute to data quality and integrity by conducting remote spot-checks, investigating any data deficiencies, and provide timely feedback to staff and/or partners on data quality issues such as accuracy and completeness for timely correction.
• Support the MEL Manager and MEL Officer to undertake periodic internal Data Quality Assessments (DQA) for the project, including grantees, subcontractors, and other partners, and support USAID and Home Office teams during external data quality assessments by USAID and Home Office, respectively
• Work with the WABiLED Communications and Knowledge Management staff to produce data visualizations to develop communication and visualization materials targeting WABiLED audiences (e.g., USAID, policymakers, practitioners, communities of practice).
• Ensure the security of MEL data by undertaking regular back-ups of the MEL database and putting in place measures to secure the project data.
• Contribute to all WABiLED quarterly and annual reports and presentations as needed and participate in the annual work planning process.

OTHER TASKS:

Execute any other tasks relevant to WABiLED’s objectives based on discussions with the MEL Manager and agreement by the Cross-Cutting Services Lead and COP.

SUPERVISION:

• The MEL Specialist will be supervised by and report directly to the MEL Manager.
• S/he will develop functional relations with the MEL Officer in Liberia and the project’s technical staff, and collaborate with institutional partners, implementing partners, grantees, and subcontractors.

Required Skills or Experience

QUALIFICATIONS: (MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS) EDUCATION:

At least 4 years of advanced education in Monitoring and Evaluation; Computer Sciences, Information management; Project Management, Geography, and Environmental Science, or relevant qualifications

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, preferably in Data Management
• At least three years of experience working on international projects, preferably funded by US Government Agencies (e.g., USAID, USFWS, USFS).
• Experience in the design or management of monitoring databases.
• Good knowledge of filing and archiving of MEL supporting documents.
• Strong knowledge in the use of spreadsheet and database software (Excel, Access, etc.), statistical software (SPSS), and cloud systems (Google Drive, Dropbox, Egnyte, etc.).
• Experience using digital data collection technology (KoboCollect, Survey CTO, google forms, Survey Monkey, etc.).
• Proven experience in qualitative and qualitative research and data analysis and visualization.
• Experience in West African countries (francophone and anglophone) is advantageous.
• Excellent report-writing skills are desirable.

SKILLS:

Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen, and respect for colleagues. Must be willing to travel to project sites throughout West Africa. Must be capable of working individually and as part of a team and create a supportive working relationship among all project teams.

LANGUAGES: Fluent in English and Professional Proficiency in French (preferred)