VVOB is an international NGO with programmes and projects in 10 countries worldwide.

Hello! We’re excited to see you found your way to this job opening. That must mean you share our ambition to ensure learners around the world enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

But first things first. Allow us to introduce ourselves, drawing on the great mystery behind our name. Since our establishment in 1982, ‘VVOB’ has evolved from a complex (Dutch) acronym to a stand-alone concept meaning education for development:

• VVOB stands for ‘commitment’ – to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
• VVOB stands for ‘integrity’ and ‘mutual respect’ – in working with our partner organisations across 10 countries / 3 continents.
• VVOB stands for ‘quality’ and ‘innovation’ – of everything we do in our effort to improve education worldwide.

Are you interested and eager to find out if you are a fit for this position? Then check the specifications outlined in this vacancy.

We are looking for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Advisor who will operate from our Mongu office in Zambia to contribute to the remedial learning interventions in the Catch Up/Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Project in Zambia. Do you want to take on this challenge? Then continue reading!

Catch Up/Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL):

The evidence-based Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, pioneered by Pratham in India, helps learners develop basic reading and numeracy skills. It has been evaluated and proven to be effective by many randomized evaluations. In a TaRL classroom:

• Learners are assessed on basic reading and numeracy using a simple tool.
• Grouped by learning level, rather than by grade, for a dedicated time when they focus on building foundational skills through activities and materials appropriate for each group.
• As learners progress, they move to the next learning group and continue to grow.

In Zambia, the TaRL approach is known as “Catch Up” and was piloted by MoE in 2016-17 with support from partners, including VVOB. It is currently being implemented by MoE in more than 4000 primary schools across Zambia, with support from several partners. MoE has an ambition of making Catch Up/TaRL a national remedial teaching programme.

You will:

• Take the lead in monitoring and evaluating the Catch up-MIT Project effectively and ensure lessons are drawn, documented, and disseminated to inform on-going implementation and future programming.
• Provide clear guidance and quality assurance over M&E processes in Catch Up.
• Lead data analysis and dissemination. You will analyse Catch Up data and share key insights with MoE and the VVOB team on the successes, challenges, lessons learnt and highlight areas that require urgent attention.
• Quality assure the assessment data content for provincial and district reflection meetings and troubleshoot as necessary.
• Work with MoE counterparts, Planning departments to continually refine monitoring tools, response mechanisms and reflection systems.
• Pilot new measurement ideas & conduct regular school visits to assess effectiveness.
• Facilitate M&E for learning within the Catch-Up implementation team and coordinate with team members on learning objectives and future research projects.
• Summarize findings from the data to report the achievements and areas of strengthening of the Catch-Up programme to donors and other stakeholders.
• Provide coordination, technical support, and advice to VVOB Program Coordinators, Advisors and MoE in planning of project activities.
• Ensure capacity development on MEAL Processes and Procedures for VVOB and MoE staff at all levels (Provincial, District, Zone and school) according to the needs identified in the use and access Catch up data for targeted support and decision making.

If you’re our MEAL advisor, your work week at the office will include the following highlights:

• In the regular online Catch-Up project team meeting, you brief the team on key findings and issues arising from assessments (Baseline, Midline and Endline), highlighting where the team needs to follow up.
• You develop a new tool for collating data on trainings. You meet with VVOB and Ministry of Education colleagues to take them through the new tool. You get their feedback and adjust the tool.
• You attend a Provincial and district review meeting to learn about the learning outcomes in the Province and district and the challenges faced during data collection.
• Lunch! A perfect time to nurture relationships with VVOB colleagues and have an informal exchange on best practices.
• You organize a training for PRCCs, DRCCs and planners on interpreting learning outcomes data and using it for monitoring plans. You develop case studies for hands-on practice during these trainings.
• You are on a call with DRCCs to explain the data verification process during baseline, midline and endline assessment.
• You prepare and present national data on learning outcomes to a team of donors.

Who are you?

This is a national position, open to Zambian Nationals

Your expertise and experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject (e.g. social sciences, statistics, demography, international development, research, policy) or equivalent field experience.
• 3 years demonstrable experience in a similar position in Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning; experience in projects strengthening government systems and structures or projects in the education sector is an asset.
• Demonstrable experience with the development of indicators, the use of M&E tools and implementation of M&E processes, including data collection techniques and methodologies, data collection and analysis.
• Knowledge and/or experience with monitoring learning outcomes at early childhood education level is an added advantage.
• Experience with data collection and quantitative analysis methods and tools, especially MS Excel and KoboCollect/SurveyCTO/ODK. Knowledge of Stata and PowerBI/Tableau is a plus.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently.
• Experience with working in a multicultural team.
• Language skills: Fluent in English.

Matching competences

VVOB core competences:

• Results orientation
• Continuous improvement
• Cooperation

Function specific competencies:

• Creativity
• Development oriented 360° empathy
• Communication skills
• Problem analysis and judgement

What we’re offering:

• A full-time contract up to December 2025.
• 25% gratuity at year’s end.
• In-patient and out-patient medical package for you and your legal dependents (as proven by marriage certificate and birth certificate(s)).
• A percentage of Education allowance for your legal children.
• Transport allowance and housing allowance in line with the Zambian employment legislation.
• Supportive environment enabling continuous professional development.
• An opportunity to work in a very well-liked, evidence-based project aimed at ensuring that learners across Zambia acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills!