Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, October 12 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
We’re Looking For You
Working closely with the EKNA Chief of Party, the TNC Country Director, and the conservation teams, the Monitoring Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist for the EKNA Project is a core team member of a complex, multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary project that advances conservation, economic development, and human wellbeing goals across a large, ecologically sensitive landscape. The MERL Specialist will be responsible for all monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and related activities associated with the USAID-funded project, with technical support to this work provided by the wider TNC Zambia and TNC Africa Monitoring and Evaluation teams. The MERL Specialist position is term-limited for three years or for the duration of funding by USAID. Reporting to the Chief of Party, the position will be based at TNC Lusaka office.
Specifically, the MERL Specialist:
1. Leads monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning aspects of the USAID-funded project’s work to realize landscape-level outcomes, including:
• Managing a dashboard of metrics that measure progress toward achieving landscape-level outcomes for people, wildlife, and habitat and ensuring that data collected is available to USAID, private sector partners, implementing and collaborating partners, and communities.
• Managing and providing technical oversight of key research/data collection efforts that provide information on landscape-level outcomes, including baseline and periodic socio-economic household surveys biophysical condition and land use change assessments, and biodiversity monitoring surveys.
• Monitoring implementation progress reports to inform and support ongoing implementation.
• Conducting periodic rapid technical evaluations of project activities in the field to identify where project management and resource allocation adaptations might be needed.
• Leading a process for sharing lessons learned and providing lessons to inform decision-making for adaptive management of the USAID-funded project
2. Lead compliance with USAID MERL requirements, including:
• Refining and maintaining systems to collect, store, and ensure quality control of data and information for tracking progress against targets and deliverables.
• Ensuring standardization of monitoring and data storage for USAID compliance.
• Providing technical leadership to develop and implement the project’s sub-awardees’ monitoring and evaluation framework and plans, monitoring and performance measurement activities, and establishing and communicating meaningful and measurable indicators and targets.
• Compiling, reviewing, and submitting publications and data to various USAID portals including Development Experience Clearinghouse, Development Data Library, TriaNet, Implementing Partner Reporting System
• Assisting in the development of project reports and deliverables, particularly with respect to MERL aspects.
• Ensure implementation of and reporting against project MERL plans.
• Coordinate data quality audits and reviews
3. Participate in the development of annual work plans. Ensure alignment with technical strategy, agreement on annual milestones, and inclusion of MERL activities, and targets in the work plan.
4. Coordinate quarterly Implementing Partner meetings and semi-annual and annual portfolio reviews.
5. Screen activities for environmental risk according to USAID requirements, and develop and implement environmental mitigation and monitoring activities, as necessary.
6. Manage internal and host external Data Quality Assessments and Reviews

What You’ll Bring
Minimum Qualifications:
• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation, natural resources management, development studies, information management, statistics, quantitative analysis, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills, knowledge management, and dissemination of findings in English.
• Experience with donor-funded project monitoring and evaluation processes, indicators, data quality control, and reporting requirements.
• Experience managing and supervising data collection.
• Competence in computer skills (e.g., Excel, Word, SPSS, etc.)
• Full and valid Zambian Driving License

Desired Qualifications:
• Over 7 years of relevant experience
• Experience implementing monitoring and evaluation for a USAID-funded project and knowledge of USAID monitoring and evaluation processes
• Experience in implementing activities related to biodiversity conservation, community conservation and/or natural resource management
• Expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation analytical methods including research design and implementation, design and data analysis, rapid appraisals, etc.
• Experience incorporating project learning into adaptive management.
• Knowledge of GIS
• Experience providing guidance to project staff, partners and grantees on design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Experience maintaining an online database for monitoring of performance and outcomes.
• Experience with strengthening local organizations and building local capacities for MERL.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders and complex partnerships
• Willingness to undertake field visits.
• A passion for Zambia’s wildlife and wild spaces.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 84

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

• Interested and qualified? Click here to apply

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