Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate , USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) program At DAI Global

Project Background

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) program is a five-year, flexible buy-in mechanism jointly managed by the USAID Africa Bureau, Middle East Bureau, and Africa Regional Missions. It was designed to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that increase trade and investment in Africa, including North and Sub-Saharan Africa. It strengthens Africa’s markets by developing new trade and investment relationships, particularly between the United States and the African continent. It also works to achieve development outcomes across all sectors.

Summary of Primary Duties

The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate will support the MEL team with managing several large multi-year buy-in activities with significant labor and/or field presence, with support from technical advisors and the ATI team. Responsibilities include supporting technical and management support to buy-in activities, working with activity teams in support of program implementation, and supporting USAID clients. The Activity Associate will support generating buy-in activity scopes of work, supporting the design of procurements and grants programs, consolidating of data, and other administrative support tasks as needed by the MEL team.

Essential Duties

• Support and track data from buy-in activity implementation to ensure it adheres to the approved workplan and deliverable schedule, and troubleshoot deviations with supervision of a MEL Specialist
• Support development and review of buy-in scopes of work, technical deliverables and contribute to subsequent learning;
• Support on MEL and Reporting on all buy-in activities
• The Under supervision of the MEL Specialist and relevant rants and procurement personnel, provide procedures and policy guidance and interpretation for pr ram staff as well as grantees and subcontractors to ensure adherence to the Activity policies.
• Provide background information for indicators to the grants and procurement teams in preparation of negotiation memos for submission to USAID; supporting the development of first drafts.
• Provide assistance to grantees and subcontractors in areas of submitting proposals, achieving and maintaining compliance with USAID regulations, reporting, and other areas in which partners may require support.
• Liaise with activity teams to ensure proper MEL data capture and data quality to contribute to overall ATI project MEL reporting; and In tandem with relevant technical staff, generate buy-in scopes of work and indicator targets as needed.
• Travel to regional offices as required
• Carry out any other tasks as requested by the Activity Manager.
• Develop surveys and survey administration protocols to assess outcomes and impact of project interventions
• Conduct internal and external studies
• Conduct analysis of data sets from trade surveys
• Document lessons learned and best practices in MEL according to USAID guidelines

Qualifications

• B.A. Degree and 7+ years of work experience
• Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations regarding Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• Ability to identify time sensitive demands & inquiries and respond effectively
• Demonstrated knowledge of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• Demonstrated report writing skills in English is required.
• An articulate individual who possesses excellent communications and personnel management skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus

Level of Effort/Timeline

This position is full-time with 8 working hours per day or 40 working hours per week. The employment contract will be on a yearly basis, with possible extensions until the close of the project. The position is based in Johannesburg South Africa.

Supervision

The MEL Associate reports to a MEL Specialist.