Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director – Rural and Peri-urban Sanitation Project, Democratic Republic of Congo

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director – Rural and Peri-urban Sanitation Project, Democratic Republic of Congo

In anticipation of a new multi-year USAID Rural and Peri-urban Sanitation Project, IMA World Health is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director.

Corus International is a family of organizations which believes that those who were born into impossible circumstances deserve the opportunity for a better life. Corus was formed through the strategic merger of IMA World Health (operating as a public health organization since 1960), and Lutheran World Relief (operating as a livelihoods organization since 1945), and today includes the smaller entities of Charlie Goldsmith Associates, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Coffee. Corus International works in over 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, with a primary focus on health, livelihoods, and emergency response.

Corus International’s largest country portfolio is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where IMA World Health has worked alongside the Congolese government, donors, and a variety of local and international partners since 2000 with a staff of over 200. Programs revitalize the country’s health system, improve WASH access and systems, prevent and respond to SGBV, promote clean energy, and improve the health of the population. The portfolio includes a focus on both sustainable development and humanitarian assistance activities and operates out of two base offices in Kinshasa and Goma.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director will report to the Chief of Party (COP) and will be responsible for leading the design and implementation of the project’s conflict-sensitive monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework, and its information system to track delivery against targets, outcomes, and impacts. The role will also develop and lead the project’s collaborating, learning, and adapting approach (CLA), cutting across objectives and incorporating best practices for adaptive management. The role will work closely with the Conflict Advisor, MEL Manager, DCOP, COP, and component leads.

Actual hiring is contingent upon successful agreement award and USAID approval. **

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of all monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including the development of the project’s performance monitoring plan; development and monitoring of project indicators; implementation of project evaluation; quality assurance and auditing of data
• Design and implement mechanisms for continuous collaboration, learning, and adapting for project staff, partners, donors, host country government counterparts, and other stakeholders
• Oversee the dissemination of information on successful and promising approaches, lessons learned, and other program results to local, national, and provincial-level stakeholders
• Oversee a team of monitoring, evaluation, and learning staff for the project and ensure clear roles and responsibilities and lines of communication are maintained amongst the team members
• Visit each field office and partner (local and international) regularly and provide direction and support for field-based activities
• Inform the Chief of Party of progress, issues, challenges, and concerns; make recommendations and implement decisions

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in sociology, international development, demography, biostatistics, or related field
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in senior or leadership positions for monitoring, evaluation, and learning/research efforts, preferably with at least five (5) years in multi-sectoral programming, business development monitoring, supply chain operations, and WASH MEL experience
• Demonstrated experience managing M&E systems, consistent with USAID protocols for data collection and reporting
• At least five (5) years of experience with USAID’s CLA approach, including developing and integrating the CLA approach within project frameworks and leading CLA approaches across partners and technical focus areas to yield successful collaboration and integration, in close coordination with the COP and DCOP
• Experience supporting local partner organizations’ MEL practices highly preferred
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth and breadth of technical and management expertise and experience, and strong interpersonal, writing, and oral presentation skills
• Familiarity with USAID’s Standard Indicators for the WASH sector preferred
• Experience living or working in DRC is preferred
• Experience with USAID-funded projects specifically in fragile settings preferred
• English and French language skills at a proficiency level that allows professional communication, orally and in writing, with local counterparts and USAID personnel

Based on the final solicitation for this opportunity and target geographic areas, this position will be based in either Kinshasa or Goma. The role can be negotiated as an accompanied post for families.

IMA/Corus International prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by U.S. or International law.