Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager

Position Description

Project Description

Deloitte Consulting is the implementing partner for the USAID Trade and Competitiveness Activity, a five-year project to increase Nepali private sector participation in targeted global value chains by making them competitive, resilient, and sustainable. The Activity will chart a new growth path for private companies by supporting them to capitalize on global opportunities – targeting quality and high-value exports (of products and services). It aims to foster sustainable growth, in selected value chains, by incentivizing actors (both private and public) through investments, innovations, employment, and business enabling the environment to expand its integration into the global market. The Activity will work to achieve the goal by working on the following objectives:

• To increase access to market-based financial and non-financial services.
• To increase productivity in sectors with high growth and employment potential; and
• To improve the investment climate and business enabling environment, for targeted sectors and
• To support private sector led economic recovery.

Deloitte is seeking qualified candidates to fill the role of Manager MEL to be based in Kathmandu, Nepal. This is a five-year program; however, the position is currently for one year with opportunity of renewal.

This position leads project data analysis and reporting of progress against performance management plan indicators. S/he will work directly with each project component lead, the Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Director of Finance, Administration and Compliance (DFAC) and MEL specialists from home office to ensure that the Project is adequately evaluating its progress and communicating its findings to USAID. S/he will also coordinate with the Project Management Team to manage the Project’s compliance with entering data into Deloitte repositories, USAID online portals and leading other knowledge management and communications activities for the project.

This position additionally contributes to the program activities under CLIN I and CLIN II including designing and leading surveys and assessments, leading internal studies and outcome harvesting, managing and supervising STTAs, offering strategic advice in the selection and mentoring of partners and facilitating coordination with pertinent stakeholders, handling donor communications pertaining to MEL, representing donor-organized forums and platforms, and serving as a liaison between programs, grants, and donors with the consultation of CoP and DFAC.

The position reports directly to the Chief of Party (CoP).

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to M&E functions:

• Designing and leading surveys and assessments.
• Lead internal studies and outcome harvesting strategically to showcase the results, outcomes and impacts of the activity.
• Lead revision of MEL plan, Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) and source data management systems as per program requirement.
• Fulfill all internal project MEL requirements, including the preparation of PITT. 
• Provide oversight in management of the project’s MIS system to effectively capture and report   on all project deliverables.
• Lead updates of data into USAID systems (including Development Information Solution.
• Manage and supervise Data Management Specialist and short-term technical assistance (STTAs) whereby provide overall guidance and oversee performance and deliverables. 
• Offer strategic advice in the selection and mentoring of partners (grantees and sub-contracts)
• Represent Trade and Competitiveness in the donor-organized forums and platforms and share activity’s efforts and results as per need.
• Serve as a liaison between programs, grantees, and donor in consultation with CoP. 
• Manage the maintenance of indicator tracking tools and develop additional databases and tracking tools as needed.
• Deliver M&E training and technical assistance to project counterparts, grantees, or subcontractors to ensure the quality of their reporting.
• Contribute to the development of annual work plans to identify project targets and ensure inclusion of M&E activities.
• Upload deliverables to USAID online portal (such as Development Information System (DIS) or others as required).
• Lead USAID T&C reporting process (Quarterly Reports, Annual Reports, etc.) in close coordination with   project leadership.
• Lead response to USAID evaluation feedback such as on Data Quality Assessments (DQAs), Mid-term review etc. 
• Lead quarterly “pause and reflect” sessions with the project team and with USAID.

Learning and Knowledge Management Functions:

• Engage in collaborative learning process with USAID and T&C program team in the form of contextual monitoring, data quality assessment and internal evaluations. 
• Archive approved deliverables (programmatic, assessment, survey reports etc.) systematically.
• Assist with deliverable tracking, communications, and drafting/editing documents.
• Proactively synthesize and analyze MEL data and provide feedback to technical team and project leadership on possible gaps in implementation and recommend adjustments to activity plans and implementation.
• Integrate knowledge management techniques with project processes, policies, and procedures.
• Lead the design and implementation of innovative solutions to knowledge management problems.
• Design and implement an effective filing system for project-related documents and maintain information repositories.
• Train staff on project learning and knowledge management systems.
• Produce reports on M&E findings and prepare presentations based on M&E data as required.
• Work with Communications Manager in putting together materials and organizing events to share learnings from implementation of activities, planning, and organizational operations.
• Perform other functions as directed by the Chief of Party.

Supervisory Role

• Supervise Data Management Specialist.
• Supervise short-term technical assistance (STTAs)/ consultants.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Master’s degree in relevant discipline, statistics background is preferred.
• Minimum of seven years relevant professional, extensive, and demonstrated experience working on core M&E tasks for USAID or other donor projects.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out statistical analysis is highly preferred.
• Possess prior experience of leading MEL in USAID funded projects.
• Strong working knowledge of tracking and reporting on key indicators for measuring project effectiveness and impact for programs.
• Demonstrated experience in ME&KM processes including data collection with attention to data quality assurance.
• Strong interpersonal and team skills, with ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong writing and reporting skills.
• Self-starter, takes initiative, and is proactive in coordinating with project technical team, and strictly adhere to deadlines.
• Able to work effectively with high-performing team and highly accomplished professionals and experts and deliver on the tasks.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment, with multiple competing priorities and to determine the order in which tasks should be prioritized.
• Able to travel any time to Activity sites.
• Flexible, adaptive personality and able to work in multiple time zones.
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive.
• Experience with the MS technology suite (Microsoft Office) required. Experience with MS Teams, Project, MS Share Point and Power BI preferred.
• Fluent in Nepali and English both written and spoken.

Please ensure resume/application DOES NOT INCLUDE personal information such as gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion. We are an equal opportunity employer.

All interested candidates are requested to apply for the position through email with mentioning the job title “Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager” on the subject along with updated resume and Cover Letter to info@tc-udhyamnepal.com by COB April 4, 2024.