Description

1. Introduction

Heifer International (www.heifer.org) is a development organization working to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth by using sustainable practices and engaging smallholder farmers in agricultural development. Heifer was founded on the simple belief that ending hunger begins with giving people the means to feed themselves, generate income and achieve sustainable livelihoods. With this strong foundation, Heifer focuses her pro-poor work by creating wealth through viable value chains that harness the social capital of communities to drive market development.

Heifer works in about 21 countries across the World, and these countries are managed under the 3 Regions of Asia, the Americas, and Africa.

2. Project Background, Purpose, and Objectives

Reporting directly to the Heifer Zambia Country Director with a matrix reporting relationship to the Regional MELS Manager and the Programs Director, the Consultant will actively engage in MELS processes development and contextualization, assist the Country Director, Program Director and Program Managers to identifying emerging MELs need for the country office and specific projects and develop solutions and undertake tasks that will ensure the Heifer International Zambia MELS work is implemented adequately at the country level to track and report on the progress of the Zambia Country program towards the overall organizational goals and impact.

The role will also provide operational leadership in the implementation of the MELs plans, project-specific indicator development and standardization, data collection template development/refinement, project-level data gathering, Evaluations and Outcome monitoring, Living Income benchmarking and Progress Reporting.

The candidate must be a university graduate with significant MELs training and have at least 8-10 years of experience, 5 of which will be in managing MELs functions in a dynamic organization. To meet the diverse needs of this role, you will have strategic and operational MELs understanding, a sound understanding of all the aspects of evaluation and outcome monitoring, project management, data collection, analysis, and reporting, proficiency in the use of relevant statistical packages including SPSS, Stata, Survey CTO and interpersonal skills backed with the ability to work within a team and autonomously. You will have good computer skills and previous experience working with diverse teams. Experience working in an International/Multinational private sector, NGO, and/or governmental environment will be an added advantage.

3. Expected Roles and Responsibilities of the Consultant

Progress Reporting

• Support all the projects in progress reporting based on their specific project MELS framework.
• Develop and ensure there are systems and processes for data collection and management, at project and country levels that feed into Heifer standard reporting platforms and templates.
• Support the application of Heifer standard data collection tools and processes such as the survey CTO.

Evaluations and Outcome Monitoring

•  Support the country office and project in developing an annual data collection calendar that aligned with the overall Heifer schedule.
• Plan and lead the processes for country-level project baseline surveys, mid-term and end line reviews, and annual impact monitoring.
• Lead output/outcome data analysis, management, and reporting through the HQ MERL platforms
• Support projects and the country office in tracking and reporting on outcomes.

MELs Plan Template

•  Support the country office in completing and implementing all the key elements of the Heifer International MELs plan template.
• Support the development and refinement of the project theory of change, results framework including indicator selection.
• Develop and implement indicator tracking tables, data collection systems and processes and actual data collection and reporting.
• Periodically update the MEL plan template with most recent projects evaluations data.

Indicator Standardization

•  Ensure that all country-level project track and report on Heifer global indicators.
• Successfully set up project and country-level M&E systems to include high-quality project-specific indicators, log frames, Indicator Progress Tracking Tables, Indicator performance reference Sheets.
• Provide direct support to field teams on MEL work plans, monitoring/data collection plans, development of indicators, IPTTs, log frames, theories of change and report design.

Learning & Development

•  Support the facilitation of key learning events such as CLA at the project and country office levels.
• Lead the documentation and dissemination of key learning outcomes at the project and country level.
• Provide advice and coaching to the Program Managers on learning processes and the documentation of learnings.

Perform any other duties and responsibilities as required by Heifer Zambia Senior management.

4. Consultant submission requirements 

Essential Competencies

• Well-grounded in the discipline of project monitoring and evaluation, project quality, quantitative and qualitative data collection, management and reporting methodologies.
• Experience as a Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at some level within a large donor-funded project managing both output and impact indicators.
• Proven ability for field level monitoring and evaluation processes and standards.
• Demonstrated experience with solving an array of field implementation issues
• Knowledgeable of current and emerging ideas, research and developments in the field of international development and a commitment to continuous learning and development.
• Excellent written and oral communication.

Preferred Qualification And Skills  

• Master’s degree in social science, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field.
• 8-10 years’ job-related experience with at least 5 years working in the field in a developing country.
• Proficiency in MS office application, data analysis and the use of statistical packages and data collection systems including Survey CTO, Stata, SPSS.
• Hands on practical experience in setting up and managing monitoring and evaluation systems including data quality and fostering organizational learning.
• Previous experience with an International NGO is highly valued. Experience in implementing strategy, meeting objectives, and working within a matrix structure.
• Excellent influence skills, team management, active listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Experience in building the capacity of partner institutions to document and disseminate project data/information, manage knowledge and measure progress.