Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

Scope: Syrian Women Empowered for Peace and Security (WPS), We Lead, and Free To Be Me programs

Reports to: MENA Regional Director**

Duty station: Beirut, Lebanon

Hours: 36 hours per week (4.5 days per week)

Contractual terms: one year contract, renewable

Start date: April 1st, 2021

Do you have knowledge on and experience with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning? Are you driven by a desire to contribute to gender equality in the MENA region? Do you have good analytical skills and communication skills? Then Hivos is looking for you!

Job Context

The Hivos MENA operation contributes to political, societal and economic processes that aim at societal transformation to pluralist and democratic societies with respect for human rights and equal opportunities for all citizens. It collaborates with a variety of stakeholders including citizen activists, civil society organizations, and creative entrepreneurs both in the region and in the diaspora to promote respect for fundamental freedoms and enhance the space for citizen participation.

The ME&L Officer will provide support to 3 new Power of Voices programs (WPS, We Lead, and Free to be ME). About 70% of the time will be on the WPS program implemented by Hivos (lead organisation), the Euromed Feminist Institute (EFI) and the Centre for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) in Lebanon and Turkey. The program aims at creating a peaceful solution to the current conflict through active involvement of women of all sectors, geographical zones and political affiliations. The second program, We Lead, is a new, inspiring, innovative and far-reaching program aiming to improve the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH-R) of young women from four specific groups: that live with HIV, that have a disability, that identify as lesbian, bisexual, trans or intersex, and that are affected by displacement. The third program, Free to be Me, is another innovative initiative focused on wellbeing and safety of LGBTQI+ persons and their organizations, while it also aims to develop a critical mass of allies to further the socio-economic inclusion of LGBTQI+ persons.

Pending final approval, two of the programs start 1 January 2021, and the third on 1 April. These five-year programs are funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Your responsibilities

The Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer (MEL) is responsible for the monitoring, evaluation and learning dimension of programs and operates in accordance with Hivos policy and donor requirements. The MEL Officer translates program’s Theory of Change into tangible indicators for monitoring and evaluation; analyses, validates and aggregates output, outcomes and learning in all phases of the primary processes, in close partnership with program colleagues and the different specialist support positions. The MEL Officer proves the potential sustainability of a social innovation solution and makes accountability feasible.

More specifically, the MEL develops and improves the MEL methodology for programs in close cooperation with other MEL staff. The postholder is responsible for compiling and reporting on Hivos’ activities and outcomes to program teams and to lead and support program colleagues in harvesting results and learnings from Hivos and partners activities. The MEL will train colleagues and partners where needed on MEL methodology especially outcome harvesting, narrative assessments and capacity development assessment. The core responsibility of the MEL Officer is to ensure that the program maintains a proper and efficient planning, monitoring and evaluation system. Furthermore, the MEL Officer will focus on the development of (collective) learning and thought leadership.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Works with colleagues to keeps track of MEL requirements of donors; develops innovative participatory assessment and validation methods & techniques and enables validation capabilities and practices within Hivos.
• Integrates MEL methodology in programs implemented by Hivos and partners; facilitates baseline studies, aggregates activity and financial plans and reports; assesses the effectiveness of the provisional or final performance
• Develops tools and systems, such as M&E tools, guidelines and other reference documents for M&E to ensure harmonized data collection systems.
• Provides continuous support to program teams and local partners on how to plan, monitor & evaluate properly.
• Works with partners to review and monitor project-based M&E plans to track results or fill identified gaps in current M&E plans and outputs.
• Conducts data verification and quality control exercises in project countries, and lead on improvement of data quality.
• Oversee the learning component, through developing the learning questions and agenda and leading a process of continuous re-evaluation, re-energizing, re-thinking, re-tooling and re-shaping the strategies being used.
• Coordinate the production and dissemination of high quality learning products.

Your profile

• At least Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Demonstrated knowledge of quantitative and qualitative M&E systems and tools.
• Experience in applying Theory of Change methodology.
• Minimum 7 years of M&E experience with an international non-governmental organization (NGO). Experience in projects focused on gender equality, LGBTIQ, and relevant right holders is a plus.
• Experience in putting together M&E reports to donors.
• Experience coaching, mentoring and training local organizations with limited experience in M&E.
• Solid experience in data analysis and assessments, research and validation studies.
• Demonstrates high level of professionalism, entrepreneurial and result oriented, flexible, well-organized, reliable, independent, decisive and strong team player with excellent communication and social interaction skills.
• Sense of humor, brings good energy and positive vibes, & dynamic to the team
• Excellent verbal and writing skills in Arabic and English. Candidates who are not fully fluent in Arabic will not be considered.

What we offer

We offer a stimulating work environment in a professional international organization with very dedicated staff. We offer a contract based on Hivos Lebanon local labor conditions, with a remuneration commensurate with the experience and expertise. Contract renewable depending on performance