Sr. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director (D3)

POSITION TITLE:  Sr. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director (D3)

LOCATION:  Kathmandu, Nepal

UNIT: Agriculture

REPORTS TO: Deputy Chief of Party/Finance

BACKGROUND: 

The Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN) II Project is a USAID funded five-year second phase of the USAID Feed the Future (FTF) initiative in Nepal. The aim of KISAN II is to increase resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of income growth in the FTF zone of influence.  The US$ 32.70 million project is implemented by Winrock International in collaboration with five other Nepali and US based organizations: Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy, Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED), Development Project Service Center (DEPROSC), Digital Green, Siddhartha Inc, and Overseas Strategic Consulting (OSC).  

KISAN II aims to work with private sector firms, input suppliers, Millers, and private sector change agents etc.; whoever are playing a catalyst role in agriculture productivity, competitive market systems, a stronger enabling environment to agriculture sector business growth and literacy skills. KISAN II will focus on 21 districts in the West, Mid-West and Far-West regions and 4 earthquake-affected districts in the Central region (Feed the Future Zone(s) of Influence 1 and II respectively).  

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

The Sr. MEL Director will lead the development and implementation of KISAN II Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan, complying with USAID and Feed the Future’s data collection and reporting requirements with respect to data quality and timeliness. S/he will manage MEL staff and system to track project outputs and outcomes, assess progress in achieving annual and life of project targets and support applying Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) approach in market systems development. S/he will work closely with the DCOP/Finance, KISAN II technical experts, USAID, and project partners to ensure that project performance data is accurate, timely, complete, and used in a strategic manner. This position will directly supervise Sr. M & E Manager, Database & IT Specialist and GIS Expert.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage programs results measurement systems, including the programs results chains, and coordinate with partners to inform program learning and support adaptive management approach
• Provide technical leadership to the project team to ensure compliance with USAID and Feed the Future data requirements and KISAN II’s approved MEL Plan
• Strengthen MEL capacities across the project team, including but not limited to developing training curriculum and overseeing training activities related to CLA, data collection and reporting for field and partner staff. 
• Support project staff and partners to implement, monitor and review innovative pilot activities linked to the program’s learning agenda and to develop a culture of reflection and learning
• Lead staff and partners in regular reviews of program activities to reflect on programmatic learning based on implementation experience and monitoring data, to review and revise results chains and theories of change, and suggest programmatic changes
• Lead the MEL Team in data collection, storage data analysis and reporting, including providing performance data tables for triannual and annual reports
• Oversee data quality analysis (e.g. field visits, internal DQA, spot checks to assess data accuracy and backup documentation)
• Oversee data management in WIKISAN 2.0 database and DevResults
• Lead and oversee annual farmers and organizational survey activities to track KISAN II’s key performance indicators related to project outcomes
• Ensure that all project data submitted to USAID includes a detailed narrative that documents data sources, assumptions, deviations from prior reports, and other potential data issues
• Update MEL Plan as needed and keep the record of all changes with evidences for USIAD approval. 
• Develop decision-support tools and performance feedback mechanisms for project managers, partners, and beneficiaries
• Identify and document potential case study topics and lessons learned in consultation with technical leads and other experts.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the third-party evaluation team and ensure that the project is evaluation-ready through ongoing data quality assessment and external DQA
• Coordinate with/manage external consultants, researchers, and technical support staff as required

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQURIEMENTS:

Education:  Master’s degree that includes substantial coursework in statistics and other analytical methods, including but not limited to agriculture, sociology, economics, and public policy

Experience: The ideal candidate will have the following experience:

• At least 7 years of experience managing monitoring systems for rural livelihoods and agriculture projects in Nepal, USAID experience preferred 
• Strategic thinker, capable of understanding the “big picture” and working out detailed solutions 
• Experience using data to support evidence-based decision-making with the ability to:
• Articulate the Theory of Change to explain how the project design addresses critical constraints
• Deeper understanding of knowledge management and learning approaches. 
• Present data in ways that are tailored to the audience and promote a clearer understanding of current conditions and options 
• Create figures, graphs, and other data products 
• Assess data quality, relevance, and significance 
• Maintain the highest standards for data accuracy
• Fully proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, MS Access
• Experience working on an MEL team and managing MEL staff
• Oriented on development results measurement approaches 

Other: High level of English and of Nepali is required. 

Salary: Negotiable up to D3 midrange.

Disclaimer: This position is contingent upon donor approval.

How to Apply 

Interested candidates can post their cover letter and CV to Jobs.KISAN@winrock.org within 15th October 2018. Applicants should reference Sr. MEL Director- KISAN II in the subject line. Applications received after the stipulated date will not be entertained.