Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager

Position Summary 

AKFC is seeking an experienced, dynamic Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager to implement MEL across an exciting multi-sector program portfolio in North America, Africa and Asia. The MEL Manager will provide oversight, leadership, and technical support to AKF colleagues and implementing partners to ensure project, proposal, and organizational MEL activities are designed and implemented effectively. In most projects in the position’s portfolio, field-based MEL staff will be responsible for leading and executing MEL activities, with backstopping from the MEL Manager. The MEL Manager will report to the Senior Manager, Programs, Partnerships, and Results.

The MEL Manager will be based in Ottawa, Ontario, with travel of up to 30% per year to Africa and Asia. Support is provided for relocation to Ottawa if necessary. The starting salary range for this position is between CAD$85,000 and CAD$90,000 per year, alongside a competitive benefits package.

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with AKF, project implementation partners to establish and implement gender sensitive MEL systems for routine project monitoring and evaluation of programs in the AKF North America portfolio. 

• Lead design of project logic models, theories of change, indicators, performance measurement frameworks (PMFs), indicator reference sheets, and other MEL components during proposal development and project redesign.

• Oversee program data collection, including development of data collection tools and implementation of quantitative and qualitative studies, such as baselines, midlines, endlines, and other periodic evaluations and assessments.

• Guide development and execution of program data management systems in the position’s project portfolio, ensuring timely availability of quality data for reporting and learning.

• Support program data reporting against outcome, output and reach indicators, ensuring reports align with donor requirements and industry good practices. 

• Oversee program learning, ensuring data and evidence are disseminated and used to inform decision making and adaptations by AKF, project partners, and other key stakeholders. 

• Ensure gender equality and safeguarding are integrated throughout MEL activities, including selection of performance indicators, data collection design and implementation, data management and storage, and data analysis and reporting.

• Support, liaise, and coordinate with global, regional and country-level MEL staff. This includes providing remote and on-site technical support to project implementation partners in relation to the development and maintenance of gender sensitive MEL systems in partner countries.

• Assist in the identification and recruitment of MEL technical experts (consultants and partner staff), as necessary.

• Participate in MEL communities of practice, represent AKF at MEL-related conferences and forums, and contribute to capacity building of country-based MEL staff.

Qualifications & Experience 

• Master’s degree, preferably in international development or a related field, ideally with a focus on measurement, evaluation and research.

• Minimum of five years of relevant practical experience designing, implementing and managing gender sensitive MEL systems for donor-funded international development projects across various sectors, including health, education, economic development, including at least two years of experience based in a developing country.

• Extensive knowledge of results-based management (RBM), including how to design and analyze logic models and how to develop and use appropriate (“SMART”) indicators. Strong preference for knowledge and experience with Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC’s) results-based management tools, requirements and reporting processes, including monitoring and evaluating gender equality results.

• Knowledge of good practice global standard indicators.

• Knowledge and experience of research design and implementation, including qualitative and quantitative gender sensitive and/or feminist data collection methodologies.

• Experience with the development of data collection methods and tools (forms, formats, questionnaires) as well as systems for the entry, analysis and storage of quantitative data.

• Experience in using digital data collection, management, analysis and visualization tools and functions (e.g. KoboToolbox, ODK, MS Power Query, MS Power Pivot, SPSS, NVIVO, MS Power BI, etc.) is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated capacity to respect and safeguard vulnerable populations.

• Experience in the development context of any of AKF’s partner countries (Afghanistan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Uganda) is an asset.

• Experience working with GAC, USAID and other North American institutional donors is an asset.

• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English. Proficiency in French is strongly preferred.

• Ability to travel up to 30% of time per year, including to Africa and Asia.