Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Specialist (MEKMS) UK Aid Project Jobs – Farm Africa
Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Specialist (MEKMS)
Organization: Farm Africa
Funding Source: UK Aid
Duty Station: Uganda
About US:
Farm Africa is an international non-governmental organization working to end hunger and bring prosperity to rural Africa. We work to increase the incomes and improve food security of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and forest dwellers in East Africa. A core part of our strategy is to ensure that our interventions are both economically sustainable and scalable. The systematic integration of market linkages in implementing programmes is crucial to our ability to scale our interventions cost-effectively.
About UK Aid Project:
Farm Africa was recently been awarded a £5m grant for a Livestock for Livelihoods (L4L) programme operating in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region and Ethiopia’s South Omo zone funded by the UK government (UK Aid). During this four year programme Farm Africa will work with local civil society, SMEs, cooperatives and farmer organisations to develop market systems that support livestock services and enterprises for 21,000 women, contributing to women’s economic empowerment, reduced poverty and improved nutrition of women and children. The project will address market failures in animal health and breeding services to improve livestock productivity, build capacity and assets of herders, establish trade and enterprise opportunities and improve household nutrition practices through behavioural change. It will demonstrate how nutrition interventions can build on women’s economic empowerment to contribute to both increased income and improved household nutrition.
Job Summary: The Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Specialist (MEKMS) is a technical post responsible for ensuring the consistent and high quality collection, use and reporting of results data throughout the project cycle. The post holder will develop and implement appropriate M&E plans, based on robust logical frameworks that are suitably updated to reflect changing situations. The post holder will adapt Farm Africa’s appropriate tools and systems to support the project teamin collecting and analysing robust evidence of project results and enable use of its evidence as a vital input to management decision making. The MEKMS will provide critical analysis and technical input to project learning and evaluation processes, ensuring Farm Africa can maximise the learning potential from the project.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Plan and deliver project monitoring and evaluation activities for L4L Uganda
- Working with the Project Coordinator (PC) and Technical Manager for Livestock (TML) develop a Monitoring & Learning Plan (MLP) for the L4L project in Uganda
- Disseminate MLP and data collection tools to project delivery staff and ensure full understanding of, commitment to collection of ongoing monitoring data throughout the project lifetime
- Coordinate data collection, and collate monitoring data as outlined in the MLP and requested by the PC and TML to support project reporting
- Support the delivery team to integrate regular data collection into their routine activities
- Organise and facilitate bi-annual community feedback sessions
- Work with nutrition partner (AFRII) to develop tools for, and ensure collection of dietary diversity monitoring information throughout the project lifetime
- Work with PC, TML and MEKMS (Ethiopia) to plan and deliver mid-term and final project evaluation.
- Work with the PC and the Project Accountant and Administrator (PA&A) to ensure all activities are planned and conducted according to the organisation’s and the donor’s financial and procurement requirements and procedures
Work with the TML, MEKMS (Ethiopia) and London team to ensure coherent delivery of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities across the entire programme.
- Work with the MEKMS in Ethiopia to ensure consistency of approach in indicator reporting across the two countries of implementation
- Work with the MEKMS in Ethiopia to develop and produce data collection tools for use by project staff and partners
- Work closely with the MEKMS in Ethiopia to ensure harmonization of all M&E tools and processes and coordinate with them on the learning components of the project
- Work closely with the Quality and Impact team in London to ensure their input and review in planning, implementation and reporting of all the above activities
Supporting project planning and reporting:
- Lead regular reviews of the project’s log-frame and data collection plans, and ensure that the project is collecting the breadth of indicators required at a frequency and timing in line with reporting purposes
- Lead on the preparation and reflection processes leading to the annual project performance review (PPR) and ensure integration of the PPR’s conclusion and action points into further project planning
- Support the PC & TML to compile donor reports, and in particular ensure availability and timely cleaning and analysis of both outcome and output data
- Participate in reviews of the project’s work plan and budget as part of the quarterly and annual planning processes
- Work closely with the PC to collect and compile lessons learned, ensure dissemination and maintain dialogue on key project findings
Play a key role in delivering the wider objectives of both the L4L programme, and Farm Africa’s work in Uganda.
- Participate in project team meetings as requested by the PC
- Provide technical support to the project and country team and ensure high quality of all project M&E deliverables
- Build capacity of local communities, partners and staff on data collection, management, analysis and results-based monitoring principles
- Review and contribute to the development of various project or organisational presentations, reports, or other publications on M&E and knowledge management at Farm Africa.
- Support the implementation of the project’s visibility strategy in line with donor guidelines.
- Contribute to the relevant forum to share M&E and knowledge management experience of the project and contribute to the growth of Farm Africa’s expertise in these areas
- Maintain regular and effective communications with the wider project team, Uganda Country Office and implementing partners.
- In consultation with the PC, act as an ambassador, promoting the project and the work of Farm Africa, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops, conferences and meeting donors and other officials as and when required.
- Contribute to the development of relevant Farm Africa policies and strategies
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Farm Africa Monitoring. Evaluation and Knowledge Management Specialist (MEKMS) job placement must hold relevant academic qualification in numerate/ analytical subject (e.g. statistics, economics, econometrics, applied social science)
- At least two years’ relevant work experience in the area of monitoring and evaluation (or similar)
- Demonstrable understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles and practices, including the application of the log frame approach
- Knowledge of rural development issues in Uganda
- Understanding of market-based approaches to development and particularly approaches which encourage greater participation of women
- Understanding of project learning processes and knowledge management within and across projects
- Desirable
- Academic qualification relevant to Farm Africa’s areas of operation
- Awareness of broader trends in international donor landscape, relating to M&E and results-monitoring
- Detailed understanding of the pastoralism sector in Uganda
- Proven experience conducting quantitative and qualitative field research and analysis
- Experience in synthesising data and drafting clear written reports/ briefings
- Experience of producing and delivering monitoring and learning plans
- Proven experience in training and capacity building in M&E practices
- Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders based on trust, collaboration, demonstrated commitment and impact, deploying a wide range of influencing techniques as required
- Ability to lead and inspire a team of enumerators
- Excellent network and excellent relationship with government partners
- Strong communication skills (verbal & written)
- Ability to provide challenge and critique others in a constructive and open manner
- Fluent written and spoken English
- Methodical, thorough approach with attention to detail
- Expert in data management and manipulation, especially using Excel
- Adept in Microsoft Windows
- Desirable: Fluency in Karamojong and managing partner relationships
Desirable:
- Experience of working on projects with a market component
- Experience conducting field research in pastoralist communities
- Experience of managing external consultants
- Experience of working in Karamoja
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send an updated CV, salary history, and a two-page supporting statement detailing how you meet the person specification to ugandarecruitment@farmafrica.org including ‘MEKMS – L4L’ in the subject line.
NB: Please DO NOT send additional documents such as certificates and references with your application. Shortlisted candidates ONLY will be required to provide these documents during the interview process. Interviews are expected to take place w/c 26th March 2018 at Farm Africa’s country office in Kampala. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Deadline: 13th March 2018 by 5.00pm EAT
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