MONITORING, EVALUATION, & LEARNING ASSOCIATE

About

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Associate is responsible for implementing the OI Malawi MEL strategy and managing deliverables for grants and projects. This involves monitoring program activities against the program’s theory of change. The role will run standard survey tools, ensure data quality control, conduct project surveys, and perform data analysis. The role will ensure the M&E framework informs program optimization and expansion and aligns with the overall learning objectives. This role will cover MEL deliverables in Malawi and in support of Opportunity International Malawi (OIM).

Key Duties

• Oversee the implementation of the AgFinance program M&E strategy, including analyzing data collected by Farmer Support Agents (FSAs) and conducting baseline and annual surveys for new cohorts of FSAs.
• Oversee the MEL strategy for Opportunity International Malawi (OIM), including graduation programs, health programs, education finance, and financial literacy.
• Execute the MEL work plan promptly, refining tool protocols and reporting against progress on activities and timelines.
• Analyze data output from client services and generate key insights for program reporting and operation.
• Liaise with AgFinance and OIM external learning partners contracted for specific third-party studies.
• Liaise with the Knowledge Management (KM) team to ensure a cohesive approach to the organization’s learning agenda.
• Develop new data collection tools to capture additional data needed to execute the MEL strategy.
• Review and adapt existing MEL tools based on feedback, ensuring localization.
• Recruit, onboard, and oversee local data collectors/enumerators.
• Build the capacity of the local team with the use of MEL tools.
• Train and support FSAs in data collection and survey protocol when utilizing FSAs for research or studies.
• Conduct quality assurance on all data collected, ensuring it meets the criteria of timeliness, accuracy, validity, reliability, integrity, and completeness in coordination with the data management team.
• Support project teams in conducting client verification protocols.
• Conduct data quality assessments (DQAs), spot checks, validations and back-checks in collaboration with the data.
• Provide technical support, including developing logframes, identifying key indicators, and creating MEL plans for specific projects or grants awarded.
• Design surveys, lead Focus Group Discussions, key informant interviews, or other monitoring tools specific to projects.
• Draft reports, client stories, or other outputs around learnings on projects for donor reporting for wider dissemination.
• Maintain an updated performance indicator tracking system for projects in coordination with the data management team.
• Participate in program review meetings, reflection workshops and adaptive management processes.
• Document lessons learned, innovations from the field in the knowledge repository and ensure updated learning matrix.
• Co-facilitate annual MEL workshops, support dissemination of findings with partners, clients, funders and government stakeholders.
• Coordinate learning sessions and knowledge capture from evaluations, pilot initiatives, and feedback loops.
• Contribute to the organization’s thought leadership through data-driven storytelling.

Qualifications

• A graduate degree in social science research, international relations, development economics, or a relevant social science field.
• 5+ years experience in M&E field management work in low- and middle-income country contexts.
• Familiarity with survey collection/analysis software, CommCare and/or Nvivo experience a plus.
• Formal Monitoring & Evaluation or Research certification is preferred.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• An understanding of and a commitment to advancing the mission and core values of Opportunity International

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply via the link provided. Travel within the country will be required for survey collection up to 30% of the time. International travel may be required occasionally. Written and verbal fluency in English, additional 1 or 2 local languages required. Must be able to attend & fully participate in meetings conducted in English.