USAID CATALYE MS4G MEAL

Project Background

This Opportunity:

Palladium International, LLC is implementing the $250 Million, 8-year USAID CATALYZE contract which offers a facilitated partnership model that will craft solutions to crowd in $2 Billion in blended finance (i.e., blended concessional and commercial finance) to USAID partner countries; it can work in any development sector or region. Launched in October 2019, CATALYZE is a buy-in mechanism that allows USAID Bureaus and Missions to efficiently deploy investment facilitation solutions that respond to the needs of specific sectors, issues, and geographies. 

USAID CATALYZE Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) focuses on creating transformative outcomes in the food security and WASH sectors to benefit all Ethiopian people. To achieve these goals, the activity engages youth, mobilizes capital, increases access to finance, connects enterprises to markets, and supports stakeholders to self-advocate towards policy change which will promote opportunities for the private sector community. The project supports activities in Addis Ababa and secondary cities.

To strengthen the private sector in the food security and WASH sectors, MS4G uses a market-based approach to enhance enterprises’ performance, product/service delivery, and inclusion. The activities are designed to build institutional capacity, enhance knowledge and skill transfers through workforce development initiatives, advance the business enabling environment, accelerate digital transformations and scale best practices to increase productivity and quality.

The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Advisor will provide Technical Support and direction to MS4G in line with client expectations. S/he is based in Addis Ababa to enhance the opportunities to link more closely with other USAID/Ethiopia Mission-sponsored projects, other USG-sponsored cross-sector activities, private sector players and Government of Ethiopia (GoE) agencies and ministries on the urgent actions and partnerships needed to achieve the expected results.  

You and Your Career:

If you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer, and you have expertise in supervising program activities, we are interested in hearing from you. 

We are a learning organization and provide growth opportunities from the start.  We pride ourselves on giving you the freedom, resources, and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!

Reporting and Supervision:

The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Advisor will report to the CATALYZE: MS4G Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager.  S/he will help responsible for assisting the project team to refine the monitoring and evaluation plan and system consistent with the project Performance Work Statement/ results framework, coordinate the collection and validation of data, monitor completeness of data sets, and monitor project performance against targets. She/He coordinate the annual targeting setting and do updating of the AMELP and will contribute to efforts for building the capacity of implementing partners and other stakeholders on activities related to MEL, which may include tailoring data collection tools, provide awareness on MEL requirements, and verify the collected data from the partners.  S/he will be responsible for performance monitoring and evaluation and learning activities.  Manage partner level data and monitoring; data quality assessments (DQAs); analysis and reporting.   

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Specific responsibilities of MEL Advisor include, but are not limited to:
• Work to refine and implement the project MEL activities, including developing and refining indicators; setting targets; monitoring project progress.
• Work to refine the project MEL system, tools, and strategies, including database(s); and providing monitoring data to inform the decisions on project performance and future direction to the project.
• Conduct timely project data collection, preparing quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project report.
• Ensuring that M&E activities are integrated into all MS4G program activities, and that data is collected and documented in an accurate and timely manner.
• Work closely with the MEL, technical teams, and partners in setting annual targets  for each project indicator, develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for different activities and monitor progress and achievements towards annual performance of indicator targets
• Develop and adapt the monitoring tools/trackers according to the different project interventions,
• Validate data collection tools and questionnaires, data collection procedures, and MEL policies and procedures to guide partners, subcontractors, and grantees.
• Support project activities involving the collection and analysis of data for the execution of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan,
• Assist in the implementation, dissemination and use of evaluations, assessments and monitoring data in program development, adjustment, or review,
• Conduct CLA activities, P&R sessions, extract lessons and learning from events such as workshops and forums, conduct studies, success stories etc.
• Conduct FTF reporting data entry in Development Information Solution (DIS) and project MIS - Smartsheet.
• Conduct Project Data Quality Assessments and take Geo-references of partners in coordination with other M&E team members.
• Ensures MEL principles are integrated into relevant activities and reporting data is collected accurately and timely for reporting.
• Provide data visualization and analysis for project communications materials for internal, client, and stakeholders,
• Conduct any other tasks as required.

Location: The position is based in Palladium’s Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Office

Estimated Start Date:   This assignment is expected to commence in June 2023. 

Job Requirements

Professional Expertise Preferred: 

• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline (Economics, Project Management, statistics, or other related discipline);
• At least 7 years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Previous experience implementing and managing a rigorous M&E system including developing and refining performance monitoring plans is required; experience in managing the DIS, and MIS is strongly preferred.
• Experience with USAID programs/projects strongly preferred;
• Knowledge of data collection protocols and data quality assessment to ensure accurate data collection and verification; ability to identify data trends and communicate this information for strategic decision-making in program implementation.
• Previous experience implementing and managing a rigorous M&E system including developing and refining performance monitoring plans is required; experience in managing the DIS, and MIS is strongly preferred.

Key Competencies Required: 

• Excellent skills in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint; proficiency in MS SPSS
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills to manage project communications and disseminate project information are required.
• Excellent command of monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
• English language fluency required.

How to Apply

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected] and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.