Senior Specialist - Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.
Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.
Job Purpose
The Transformative Policies and Investment (TPI) Unit is seeking to recruit a Senior Specialist - Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) who will help cater to the growing demands of MEL work for the Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD) Initiative from One CGIAR management, implementing CG centers, donors, and partners and ensure quality delivery of MEL responsibilities at the work package and Initiative level. In particular, the Senior Specialist - MEL will be responsible for ensuring the effective and timely execution of MEL tasks as guided by the AMD MEL Plan and as agreed with the TPI Unit, which includes but is not limited to: (1) formulating data collection instruments for baseline, outcome and impact studies; (2) conducting remote and on-field data collection; (3) assisting in data management and processing; (4) facilitating project reporting to the PRMS in coordination with work package leads/staff; (5) writing of MEL related reports and publications, (6) participation in planning, reflection, learning, and MEL capacity-building sessions.
This position will be based at the IRRI Bangladesh Office and may only be filled by the permanent citizens of Bangladesh.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Ensure effective execution and monitoring of existing monitoring, evaluation, learning, and impact assessment (MELIA) framework and plans of the Initiative.
- Monitor and evaluate the progress of the Initiative and identify successes and implementation constraints in accordance with the existing MEL Plan.
- Support baseline studies, formative and impact evaluations of the AMD Initiative around relevant indicators identified in the MEL Plan at different stages (from planning, coordinating, and implementing)
- Develop, coordinate, and manage databases for monitoring of Initiative progress against indicators ∙ Support the development of the analytical framework, methodological approaches, and data collection instruments for measuring and/or assessing progress against Initiative outcomes.
- Support the planning and preparation of annual work plans and other technical reports as required by the PRMS
- Support and participate in the reflection and learning sessions of the Initiative, including capacity-building activities for MEL.
- Consult with the Asian Mega Delta, Initiative Lead, work package teams, partners, and AMD MEL Team in capturing and making sure MEL tasks are delivered properly and timely.
- Cascade work plans and expectations of quality on various MEL tasks to Initiative Lead/work package teams
- Facilitate timely uploading/updating of the Initiative’s information (such as the Theories of Change, indicators, targets, etc.) on the One CGIAR Submission Tool (OST)
- Facilitate timely collection and reporting of the Initiative’s progress on outputs and outcomes to the Performance and Results Management System (PRMS) of One CGIAR
- Coordinate with Initiative Leads, work package teams, and AMD MEL Team in related technical design MEL work of the Initiative to ensure quality and robust methods for the baseline studies, outcome, and impact evaluation.
- Provide logistical support and assist in the coordination of reflect, learning, and capacity building sessions (including
- planning workshops for delivering MEL tasks, outputs, and designing/conducting MEL studies)
- Spearhead detailed execution of tasks as guided by the AMD MEL Plan
- Quality assure submitted information or outputs of work package teams as required by the MEL Plan
- Ensure the Initiative Lead, work package teams, and the AMD MEL Team are informed of progress, requests of support, and challenges in delivering MEL responsibilities
- Ensure appropriate and innovative methods and tools are used in MEL-related studies
- Timely and transparent access to databases
Qualifications
- Master's degree in Agriculture, Environment, and Development Management or related fields.
- At least 7 years of combined experience in monitoring and evaluation or project management with MEL exposure on research-for development and development programs in agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
Skills Required
Mandatory
- Proven technical proficiency in project cycle management and results-based monitoring and evaluation
- Demonstrated experience and competence in mixed methods approach
- Strong competence in the theory-based evaluation and quantitative methods, such as experimental and quasi-experimental methods are a plus.
- Extensive experience working with agriculture-for-development projects in the Asia.
- Substantive international experience in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
- Extensive knowledge and/or experience in rice innovations such as but not limited to crop improvement, agronomic practices, policy influencing, food systems transformation and climate adaptation and mitigation.
- Extensive experience in program development and proposal writing, particularly for the MEL component
- Has experience using STATA, SPSS, or R for quantitative impact evaluation
Preferred
- Extensive experience working with OneCGIAR programs, MEL systems of OneCGIAR and its major donors
- Demonstrated track record in conducting and publishing evaluation studies for agricultural innovation programs
In addition to the base salary mentioned above, IRRI also offers the following benefits:
Basic Salary: 70667 - 130833 BDT per month
- House-Rent Allowance: 30% of base pay per month.
- Transport Allowance: BDT 14,400
- Contributory Provident Fund (CPF): IRRI contribution of 15% of base pay to the fund
- Returning Mother Allowance: BDT 2000 up to nine months on post-delivery of baby
- Globally-covered medical insurance, life and accident insurance and other allowances.
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