MEL Manager

MEL Manager

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to equitable, sustainable economic growth in developing countries. IESC believes that a robust private sector is a foundation for resilient nations and strong communities. Since 1964 IESC has helped to grow small and medium enterprises around the world and strengthened the systems and institutions that support them. By deploying a mix of technical assistance and volunteer expert support, IESC works with emerging industries, financial institutions, and governments to stabilize economic environments, increase opportunity, and promote growth.

The USAID-funded John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program provides technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries to promote sustainable improvements in food security and agricultural processing, production, and marketing. The main goal of the program is to generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector through voluntary technical assistance. A secondary goal is to increase the U.S. public’s understanding of international development issues and programs and international understanding of the U.S. and U.S. development programs. There are currently nine prime implementers of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program.

IESC’s Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program (F2F A2F) addresses systemic financial constraints and unlocks access to finance for smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs; and aims to increase productivity, profitability, sustainability, and inclusion through improved access to finance. F2F A2F uses highly qualified volunteer assistance to address agricultural finance market coordination failures by supporting supply-side and demand-side actors. F2F A2F expands access to finance for the agricultural sector and develops local capacity for more productive, profitable, equitable, and sustainable agricultural systems. F2F A2F draws on the expertise of U.S. volunteers from a range of backgrounds, including agriculture, banking, technology and academia.

IESC is seeking an experienced MEL Manager for F2F A2F which is being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Liberia through September 2028. The MEL Manager is responsible for leading the Monitoring, Implementation and Learning aspects of program, including implementation of the MEL plan and regular data collection and analysis. The MEL Manager will support all F2F A2F countries and will report to the F2F A2F Program Manager based in the US. This listing is for one position that will be based in either Kenya or Tanzania.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Implement the program’s approved MEL Plan in accordance with the developed including performance indicator reference sheets (PIRS);

· Ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of calculation methodologies used in the MEL Plan;

· Establish data collection and management systems and train staff on data collection in each country;

· Manage the implementation of the MEL Plan, which includes the regular collection, analysis, and reporting on all required program and IESC global indicators;

· Develop and update M&E tools for the program, such as data collection forms and an excel-based database for continuous indicator tracking across all countries and indicators;

· Conduct baseline assessment, impact assessments, and final assessment;

· Train program field staff in the use of M&E tools and the capturing of indicator-driven data;

· Maintain collaborative relationships with beneficiaries, stakeholders, and partners to facilitate information gathering and sharing;

· Communicate project results to IESC staff, partners, and other stakeholders;

· Ensure the Country Directors and program technical staff understand their roles and responsibilities for monitoring and evaluation including data collection, data analysis, and using data to make decisions; conduct periodic virtual and in-person trainings with program staff

· Manage an effective verification and follow-up process to accurately measure activity effectiveness and sustainability;

· Ensure data quality and integrity by periodically conducting site visits and spot checks to verify data and/or investigate anomalies;

· Contribute to the development of project deliverables, including annual work plans and semi-annualreports and review volunteer deliverables for accuracy and recording data in the MEL system

· Manage MEL contribution for all reporting and program communications;

· Work with MEL functions of IESC F2F A2F associate awards to collect, validate, and incorporate required data into F2F reports

· Report on IESC internal indicator data to IESC HO staff on a quarterly basis;

· Review and adjust the MEL Plan annually or as needed;

· Participate in the F2F community of practice of nine implementing partners by sharing best practices, presenting at learning events and conferences, and participating in relevant committee meetings;

· Lead and manage development and creation of F2F knowledge and learning products;

· Review and analyze interventions and accomplishments of the project to date to develop learning models, success stories and other knowledge products;

· Coordinate with the F2F field office and home office teams, volunteers and stakeholders for knowledge product inputs;

· Other program-related support as required.

Required Qualifications:

· Degree in M&E, public policy, economics, business, international development, or a related field required;

· Five years of experience in designing and implementing M&E results, frameworks, developing and implementing PMPs, work plans and indicators, monitoring ongoing programs for USAID or other large donor organizations;

· Experience in planning, managing, and creating surveys. This will also include experience with conducting data quality assessments and oversight, and developing/refining data collection tools/methods.

· Experience drafting success stories and impact assessments from project anecdotal stories, as well as analytical data;

· Experience working with donor funded projects required, USAID experience highly preferred;

· Ability to legally work in Tanzania, or Kenyarequired;

· Fluency in English and Swahili required;

· Ability to prioritize among multiple competing requests;

· Self-starter, detail-oriented, thorough and well organized;

· Excellent written and oral communication skills;

· Well-developed interpersonal skills;

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office.