Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer / Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer in Chemonics International Inc. / UCBI

Program description

U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Building Public Trust Project (UCBI - 4) (USAID) is designed to facilitate a united, democratic and Europe-oriented recovery of Ukraine from the consequences of the Russian invasion. This goal will be achieved by fulfilling two initial tasks: 1. Strengthening the confidence and ability of the communities most affected by the war to participate in the reconstruction and unified future of Ukraine; 2. Strengthening ties between people in the temporarily occupied territories and the rest of Ukraine.

The UCBI project will hire an Expert in monitoring, evaluation and study, who will work in one of the subregions (Southern) defined by the UCBI Project. The ideal candidate should be based in one of UCBI's target locations: Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kherson or Zaporizhia.

Main tasks and responsibilities 

• Responsible for facilitating and supporting the implementation of all UCBI 4 monitoring, evaluation and training activities within the defined geographical area/program area in accordance with OTI standards and approaches.
• Under the leadership of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Training Team Leader(s) (MEL TL) and Deputy OTI Country Representative (DCR) The MELO will help ensure the overall quality of the unit's monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems.
• Develops MEL plans at the project level to measure and evaluate impact and long-term consequences, ensuring that the long-term consequences were realistic and related to a specific problem.
• Composes the final Terms of Reference for conducting external monitoring to assess the immediate results and/or long-term consequences and/or impact of the projects compared to the initial planned indicators.
• Participates in the process of data analysis and impact assessment at the program (primary) and cluster/project (secondary) levels.
• In coordination with other employees, provides grantees and potential partners with technical assistance in the field of MES and mentoring support under time of project development and implementation.
• In close coordination with the program team, participates in the preparation of final evaluation reports (and, if necessary, other reports) from the point of view of monitoring and evaluation, in particular, collecting additional data that may be necessary for triangulation to determine whether intended long-term outcomes are being achieved.
• Shares project-level results with unit and program members through iterative learning processes.
• Monitors and ensures control of projects in the defined geographic/program area by conducting periodic visits to the facility; attending events and activities of the grantee in order to collect data for monitoring and evaluation; documenting visits to the object in the database, aalso through photographs, focus group discussions, observations, stakeholder meetings, etc.
• Helps develop field observation data collection tools that will enable quantitative and qualitative analysis. Conducts conversations with grantees, stakeholders, and participants. As necessary and in accordance with MEL TL guidelines, supports the development of tools for preliminary profiling and impact assessment.
• Checks records in the project database for the purpose of project-by-project monitoring of the development and implementation of MES plans. Maintains project progress records and enters them into the database.
• Manages the planning and logistics of field observation data collection.
• Liaises with staff in the defined geographic/program area for providing access to grantees, stakeholders, and beneficiaries in order to collect quality data.
• Participates in the preparation of timely, high-quality, thoughtful contributions to UCBI's communications outputs, including Semi-Annual Reports, Success Stories, and Case Studies.< /li>
• Coordinates with other teams and colleagues to ensure collaborative planning and constructive relationships.
• Co-facilitates team and grantee events to obtain feedback to create learning opportunities that enable innovation in within the scope of the project portfolio.
• Travels as needed for meetings and visits to program sites to facilitate effective oversight of program implementation, training, and evaluation.
• As needed, MELO may perform special tasks and duties assigned to her by MEL TL, to ensure the overall effective development of program activities. 

Qualification

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Preferred one (1) or two (2) years of experience working on complex programs in the field,
• Proven experience working with USAID grant programs preferred (ideally - OTI).
• Opportunity/desire travel to locations where UCBI operates.
• Demonstrated analytical abilities, critical thinking skills and understanding of local, regional and national political contexts, as well as the ability to think creatively when conceptualizing relevant grant projects are a must. 
• Developed organizational, management and communication skills, preferably in terms of report writing, monitoring and evaluation. 
• Mandatory proven knowledge of local and foreign non-governmental and community-level organizations implementing relevant projects and programs in the country, as well as key government actors and stakeholders, with up-to-date understanding and knowledge of the political environment and public conditions in the country. 
• Mandatory experience of working with local organizations in the implementation of projects involving the community and consensus-type projects. 
• The ability to demonstrate is a mustin practice, successful experience in the application of all the above-mentioned key competencies.
• Compulsory fluency in the Ukrainian language - in oral and written form.
• Compulsory mastery of the English language - in oral and in writing.
• For conscripts, the military ticket must contain a mark on military registration.

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Program Description

The Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative 4 (UCBI 4) aims to support advancing Ukraine's unified, democratic, and Europe-oriented recovery from Russia's invasion. This goal will be met through two program objectives: 1. To strengthen the confidence and ability of the most war-affected communities to
participate in Ukraine's recovery and united future; and 2. Reinforce connections between people in the temporarily occupied territories with the rest of Ukraine. 

UCBI will onboard a MEL Officer who will work in one of the designated UCBI sub-regions (South). The ideal candidate will be based in one of the UCBI target locations: Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for facilitating and supporting all monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts of UCBI 4's activities within a designated geographic/programmatic area in line with OTI standards and approaches.
• Under the guidance of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Team Leader (MEL TL), and OTI Deputy Country Representative (DCR) the MELO will help ensure overall quality of the unit's MEL systems.
• Design activity level MEL plans to measure and evaluate impact and outcomes; ensure outcomes are realistic and address a specific problem set.
• Draft initial scopes of work for conducting second party monitoring to assess activities outputs and/or outcomes and/or impact against initial activity design.
< li>Contribute to data analysis and impact assessments on program (primary) and cluster/activity (secondary) levels.
• Provide technical MEL assistance and mentorship to grantees and potential partners during activity development and implementation in coordination with other staff.   
• In close coordination with the program team, contribute to drafting final evaluation reports (and other reporting as required) by applying a monitoring and evaluation lens, including by gathering additional data as required to triangulate whether outcomes were achieved.
• Share activity-level outcomes across the unit and program through iterative learning processes.
• Monitor and ensure that activities from a designated geographic/programmatic area are overseen by conducting periodic site visits; attend grantee events and activities to collect data for monitoring and evaluation; document site visits in the database and through photographs, focus groups discussions, observations, stakeholder meetings, etc.
• Assist in designing field data collection tools, which allow for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Conduct interviews with grantees, stakeholders, and participants. Support development of tools for preliminary profiling and impact assessments as necessary and per direction of the MELD.
• Review Activity Database entries to monitor activity development, implementation, and MEL plans on an activity-by-activity basis. Ensure activity notes on activities progress are captured and added to the database.
• Manage scheduling and logistics of field data collection.
• Liaise with staff in designated geographic/programmatic area to ensure access to grantees, stakeholders and beneficiaries to collect qualitative information.
• Contribute to timely, high-quality, thoughtful contributions to UCBI communications deliverables including, but not limited to Semi-Annual Reports, Success Stories, and Case Studies.
• Coordinate with other teams and colleagues ensuring collaborative planning and constructive relationships.
• Co-facilitate team’s and grantee’s feedback loop activities to create room for pursuing learning that ensures innovation within portfolio.
• Travel as required to program site visits and meetings to facilitate effective program oversight, learning, and evaluation.
• As needs dictate, the MELD may assign ad hoc special tasks and duties to the MELO to ensure the overall efficient development of program activities.
• For conscripts, a note on military registration in the military ticket is required.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Send electronic submissions to [email protected] by November 12, 2024. Please insert the position you are applying for (“MEL Officer (South)”) in the subject line and include your CV and a cover letter/statement of interest explaining interest in and qualifications. No telephone inquiries, please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, early applications are encouraged. For more information, please visit www.chemonics.com. 

“Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.”