VVOB – education for development is an international non-profit organisation with over 40 years’ experience in strengthening the quality of education systems in Africa, Asia and South America in close partnership with ministries of education and their institutions. Our head office is based in Brussels, Belgium.

We implement our programmes and projects with one shared passion: to ensure the improvement of quality education.

Do you share our ambition to ensure that learners around the world can enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception? Are you convinced as well that quality education guarantees equal opportunities for everyone and is the key to a better world?
We are looking for a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer who will operate from our Zambian office. Do you want to take on this challenge? Then continue reading!

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.

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 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.

You will:

• You take the lead in monitoring and evaluating the Catch up ABC Project effectively and you ensure lessons are drawn, documented, and disseminated to inform on-going implementation and future programming.
• Work with MoE counterparts, Planning departments to continually refine monitoring tools, response mechanisms and reflection systems.
• 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.
• You provide coordination, technical support, and advice to project Coordinators, Education Advisors and MoE in planning of M&E activities.
• You ensure capacity development on M&E 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 M&E Officer, your workweek 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 midline.
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree, verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA), in Statistics, Education, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Relevant experience in the field Monitoring and Evaluation.
• 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.
• Experience in and understanding of project monitoring and evaluation and the current M&E practices in development organizations.
• Excellent computer skills in MS office and software for data analysis
• Knowledge and/or experience with monitoring learning outcomes at early childhood education level is an added advantage.
• 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:

• Reliability
• Accuracy
• Planning & Organization
• Communication skills
• Problem analysis and judgement

What we’re offering:

1) A full-time contract up to December 2026.
2) 25% gratuity at year’s end
3) In-patient and out-patient medical package for you and your legal dependents (as proven by marriage certificate and birth certificate(s))
4) Education allowance for your legal children
5) Transport allowance and housing allowance in line with the Zambian employment legislation.
6) Supportive environment enabling continuous professional development.
7) 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 !

What’s next?

Your motivation letter and a detailed CV are expected to be sent no later than 26th March 2025 via this link.

Shortlisted candidates will take a written test, go through an interview process and reference checks,
before a final offer.

VVOB firmly believes that quality education can only be achieved if equity is ensured. Qualities of people prevail, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or disability.

Is this not exactly the job you are looking for? Please have a look at our other vacancies at:
www.vvob.org/en/vacancies.