Job Summary:

The MEL Specialist will work under the supervision of the project manager in Abuja or Kaduna state to coordinate data collection, project’s learning agenda, data analysis and reporting across all the project components. In addition, S/he will gather data, monitor performance and provide guidance to sub awardees in line with the result framework of the  project. The tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities of the employee, however, S/he will be expected to perform other tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the project.

Program/Practice/Department Overview:

TechnoServe’s Future Farming Nigeria Project (FuFan) will scale up the regenerative component of the DIGVCN project just concluded in Nigeria. FuFaN project aims to develop an inclusive, sustainable, scalable, and adaptable regenerative agriculture solution to make SHFs and local SMEs (Aggregators) more resilient and produce low-carbon grains in Nigeria. The 3 year project is to provide a guaranteed structured market for farmers to produce high quality grains yearly, with a significant quantity of grains produced from environmentally sustainable practices. The project aims to impact up to 30,000  SHF directly as beneficiaries of the program.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

The MEL specialist will support MEL implementation for the project, including:

• Coordinate data collection from primary data sources to final reporting against project performance indicators and emergent project information needs.
• Support application of qualitative and quantitative methods to inform knowledge gaps.
• Contribute to the design of forms, surveys, and indices as well as the data management system.
• Development of databases and dashboards for data visualization.
• Perform regular data quality assessments, data cleaning, and data analysis.
• Conduct field visits to understand the context and identify additional data needs.
• Provide ongoing technical assistance and training to project technical staff on their role in data collection, analysis, review and use.
• Coordinate the project’s learning agenda and specific learning questions
• Ensure that project’s monitoring system captures impact on women and other disadvantaged groups
• Become familiarized with the applicable donor rules and regulations, including the donor’s evaluation guidelines and indicator handbook
• Understand the specific MEL deliverables that the project is contractually responsible for, and manage their development

Provide inputs to data-driven decision-making:

• Assist in the process of adaptive management in the project using project MEL data.
• Support the documentation of best practices and production of information to capture and share lessons learned.
• Collaborate with Regenerative Agriculture Advisors and Subawardees MEL SPOC to consolidate data and insights from projects.
• Support information flows across the implementation team and the sharing and analysis of new information.
• Actively lead and contribute to collaboration learning and adapting throughout the project lifetime.
• Assist in the development of all project reports.

Participate in the broader MEL ecosystem at TechnoServe:

• Attend capacity building meetings and other relevant events related to MEL as directed.
• Support access to and insight into the project’s MEL approach to facilitate the Regional MEL’s assessment of the project against organizational standards and annual impact reporting.
• Assist in the development of corporate measurement reports as required.

Basic Qualifications:

These are the requirements that any qualified candidate must meet. Typically includes

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business management, Agribusiness, project management, social sciences or related discipline with 3 years’ experience (alternatively Master’s Degree with 1 year experience) in monitoring and evaluation and also donor funded programming.
• Experience utilizing M&E methodologies including qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methods as well as the use of causal logic in designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

Additional qualifications that would make a candidate more desirable.

• Experience working in Nigeria.
• Experience working with an INGO.
• Experience working in an entrepreneurship donor funded project.

Required Languages: Excellent written and spoken English

Travel: Willingness to travel to field locations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

This section should highlight the competencies that would make a candidate successful in the role such as

• Strong interpersonal skill.
• Expertise in data management, analysis, and interpretation, skilled at data visualization.
• Demonstrable critical skills in data collection, analysis and reporting, and performance monitoring of donor funded projects.
• Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible and respectful team player.
• Proficiency in working with Comcare is an advantage.
• Proficient in MS Office: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the enterprise development landscape in Nigeria.