Awards Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist

The Investment for Business Resilience (IBR) Activity (formerly known as FSR) is a five-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed by DAI Global LLC (DAI). The purpose of the Activity is to support systemic changes in Ukraine’s economy and to increase the supply of finance available to Ukrainian businesses. IBR aims to transform the country’s financial sector into a sophisticated, well-functioning, competitive market that is aligned with European Union (EU) standards and integrated into international financial systems. At the same time, the IBR will support the transformation of Ukraine’s financial sector and work to mobilize private finance for sustained economic growth in Ukraine.

The IBR is looking for candidates to fill in the MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) SPECIALIST position, LTTA in Kyiv or Lviv

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Awards Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist implements all aspects of the monitoring and reporting system. He/she reports to the MEL Lead while working closely with the Component Leads and Senior Grants Manager to track, gather, input, analyze and report on progress of the IBR Activity as required by USAID. Under the direction of the MEL Lead, the Specialist will track and store data and supporting documentation in a timely manner to provide accurate quarterly updates on AMELP indicators and progress toward achievement of key results as agreed in the AMELP and the annual work plans (AWP).

The Awards MEL Specialist will work with the technical and grants team to ensure that each new award has measurable performance indicators that include the mainstreaming of gender. This includes helping them to establish the baseline, targets, collection method and identify the required documentation to ensure that awardee reporting is accurate. The Awards MEL Specialist will work with the technical and grants team to implement the awardee data collection and partner reporting system, ensure data quality, and analyze information.

OBJECTIVES AND DUTIES:

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Update and maintain IBR database and Indicator tracking system on weekly basis and supporting documentation.
• Provide accurate and timely data on IBR results to the management team and/or communications team for inclusion in donor reports, learning sessions, donor briefs, presentations, and communications material.
• Enter quarterly and annual indicator data into USAID DIS and provide narrative analysis of progress against targets.
• Implement IBR MEL system, including but not limited to:
  • Develop data collection tools (forms, surveys, etc.).
  • Conduct primary and secondary data collection as needed.
  • Manage, analyze, and report MEL data.
  • Ensure data is reported on within required timeframes for routine reporting and learning sessions and support ad hoc requests for data.
  • Conduct data quality assurance activities, including spot-checks, data quality assessments (DQAs), help coordinate external DQAs, etc.
  • Support, advise, and train colleagues on activity-level and project-wide MEL efforts, ensuring consistency of MEL processes.
• Assist MEL Lead and Component leads to manage all internal and external evaluations of the Activity as well as evaluations of IBR partners.

Quality Planning and Reporting

• Coordinate and contribute to preparation of IBR quarterly and annual reports.
• Ensure progress towards IBR key performance indicators is reported in a timely manner.
• Implement internal data quality assessments (DQAs) and prepare for and coordinate with USAID on external DQAs.

Partner Reporting Data Gathering

• Implement the partner data collection system / partner reporting system for all IBR awards.
• Design and provide on-going training for the IBR staff, local partners and grantees on M&E tools and data collection systems.
• Provide support to the IBR staff, local partners and grantees in collection, verification, and calculation of data; monitor data accuracy, entry, and cleaning; and oversee maintaining accurate and up-to-date and secure data.
• Implement processes for partner data verification, data quality, and data analysis, including regular data quality reviews, spot-checks of the collected data and field visits to observe data collection. Address challenges in data and information management that impact quality.
• Ensure IBR data maintenance, including a project-wide secure system for partner reports.

Partner and Grantee Support

• Coordinate with technical and grants teams to identify and select performance indicators for awards, M&E data collection method and the assessment method of grant awards’ impact.
• Ensure mainstreaming of gender equality in all awards.
• Verify partner or grantee capacity to provide accurate, quality and timely data
• Design and provide training for the IBR staff, local partners and grantees on M&E.
• Support IBR and partners with effective use of tools and methodologies for planning, monitoring, reporting, and measuring outcomes and progress towards key performance indicators.
• Where needed, support partners to design and implementation of innovative solutions to data gathering

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Help identify and formulate lessons learned from partner reporting, evaluations, and studies to be integrated into broader DAI knowledge management.
• Produce data for activity updates, newsletters, success stories and performance reports, if needed.
• Keep abreast of latest development and professional norms, standards, tools and methodologies.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree preferred.
• At least three years in of experience in international development projects with a proven ability to implement a robust M&E system.
• Proven ability to oversee and manage the collection and reporting of performance indicator data as frequently and in as timely a manner as decision makers need.
• Familiarity with developing, overseeing, organizing, storing, and analyzing data and data systems.
• Strong analytical capabilities
• Some familiarity with tracking and reporting data from the private sector strongly preferred.
• Proven research skills using publicly available information.
• Ability to work in a dynamic and quickly changing environment.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English required, proficiency in Russian preferred.

Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Please submit Cover Letter and CV to RecruitmentIBR@dai.com by May 23, 2024.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please include “Application for Awards MEL Specialist: your name and surname” in the subject line.