Niger: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

Category: Programs
Req ID: MONIT01857
Posted Date: 2019-12-10
Schedule: Full Time
Location: Niamey, Niger NER

Background:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Position Summary:

Creative is seeking a Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor for an anticipated USAID-funded project in Niger, the Resilient Governance in Niger (RGN) Activity. The MEL Advisor will play a critical role in operationalizing RGN's adaptive, iterative management approach and will design, operationalize, and lead the implementation of the project's Collaborating Learning and Adapting (CLA) framework. S/he will be expected to develop and lead knowledge management programs, facilitate communities of practice and social networking, as well as facilitating organizational learning, change, and evaluation of program effectiveness.

Overview of the USAID RGN Activity:

RGN will focus on enhancing governance of institutions and organizations, specifically improving performance of sub-national state institutions and strengthening local civil society and community-based organizations. RGN will operate in a complex, unpredictable environment supporting locally-driven, politically feasible approaches to achieve three key objectives:

• Objective 1: Communal authorities, traditional leaders, and regional representatives of the Government of Niger understand their respective roles and responsibilities in local governance and engage in more effective intergovernmental communications and collaboration to address community needs, especially those of women, youth, and other marginalized populations.
• Objective 2: Communal governments more accountably plan, manage and execute budgets, ensure provision of basic services, and mobilize financial and human resources in support of locally-determined development priorities.
• Objective 3: Citizens and local civil actors know their rights, have greater agency to engage in communal governance processes, and actively exercise these rights through institutionalized and ad-hoc mechanisms.
  Reporting & Supervision:

This position reports to the Chief of Party and supervises one CLA assistant position.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design and manage the project's Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) strategy, system and tools with a focus on promoting knowledge acquisition, management, documentation and dissemination;
• Lead the formulation and implementation of a learning agenda that responds to key learning questions and manage the associated learning partnerships and processes;
• Organize and implement learning events and processes, including 'pause and reflect' events and resulting adaptive management analysis, decision-making, program/ approach adjustments, training and follow-through;
• Coordinate with the project's MEL Manager, other MEL team members, and relevant program staff to ensure new knowledge is effectively used to adapt project activities and approaches and is incorporated in theory of change revisions, as needed;
• Contribute to the creation of a culture of openness, trust, and continuous improvement within the program team and with partners;
• Build the program team's capacity in CLA as well as the capacity of key project stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of CLA practices in the long run;
• Collaborate with the project's MEL Manager in designing, implementing, and operationalizing a developmental evaluation framework and complexity-aware monitoring approaches;
• Establish and maintain relationships and continuous engagement with USAID, other donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Ensure appropriate and continued coordination and joint-planning with USAID and other donor activities, Niger government initiatives, and private sector engagement;
• Ensure consultative processes with communities, local government, civil society, other donor-funded projects, local researchers and academics;
• Regularly engage project stakeholders in gathering and documenting information and lessons emerging from program implementation and ensure quality communications to external stakeholders; and

• Travel frequently to different locations in Niger to develop relationships and implement CLA activities.
  Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in international development, social science, communications, evaluation, or related field is required;

• At least seven (7) years' work experience with a bachelor's degree or five (5) years' experience with a Master's degree in learning and coordination responsibilities in international development projects is required;

• Demonstrated experience in facilitating learning and knowledge sharing processes; establishing and managing dynamic feedback systems to capture experiential learning for adaptive management; organizing high-level public events is required;

• Demonstrated understanding of USAID's CLA framework, toolkit, and processes is required;

• Experience in liaising and networking with large donors such as USAID preferred; as well as implementing partners, government bodies, academia, and civil society groups is highly desirable;

• Skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to a wide range or stakeholders, including producing relevant analytical reports, data visualizations, and publications is highly desirable;

• Experience in facilitation and designing and implementing trainings and workshops using adult learning principles and practices is highly desirable;

• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including design and implementation of data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation is preferred;

• Demonstrated understanding of Complexity-Aware Monitoring approaches and developmental evaluation or outcome harvesting is preferred;

• Proficiency in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management, knowledge-sharing networks is required;

• Experience in MEL for democracy and governance programs is preferred;

• Experience of working in a conflict environment is a plus;

• Written and spoken fluency in English and French is required; and

• Fluency in one or more of the national languages in Niger is preferred.
  Other Preferred Qualities:

• Strong track record in strategic, systems, and holistic thinking, managing resistance to change, and understanding of organizational culture;

• Demonstrated experience using political economy analysis/thinking and working politically to achieve programming objectives; and

• Demonstrated presentation skills that can influence decision-makers and foster organizational change strategies, and experience implementing them within a complex organizational setting.
  Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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