Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) & CLA Lead – USAID Jordan Youth Grow At Creative Associates International

Overview

Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) & CLA Lead

USAID/JORDAN Youth Grow Activity

Position Location: Amman, Jordan

Background:

Creative Associates International is a fast-growing, social impact company that specializes in the areas of education, economic growth, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Washington, DC, this global development organization has a field presence is more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.?

Position Summary:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Director will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing an effective system to monitor progress, impacts, and successes of project activities and performance at all levels. S/he gathers, analyzes, and processes complex information related to all aspects of program activity implementation to inform program adaptation in a way that is responsive to the needs, desires, and decisions of youth. This includes establishing youth and community collaborations, convening local stakeholders and youth to learn and collectively benefit from improved outcomes, establishing critical feedback loops, and maintaining a culture of learning and adapting across all activities.

She/he will conduct impact assessments, baseline studies, surveys and need assessments to identify necessary changes and future project opportunities. The MERL Lead will ensure that the project complies with USAID performance reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

Reporting & Supervision:

The MERL Director will report to the Chief of Party and work closely with the Creative’s MERL team in the Washington, D.C. office. The MERL director is responsible for all monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities. The Director must ensure that all activities are in line with the USAID evaluation policy, as well as the ADS monitoring and learning best practices, and will oversee the activity’s work to create and maintain a culture of continuous learning and deepen collaboration with stakeholders. The MERL Director will also ensure the integration and measurement of all GESI activities.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Design and lead Jordan Youth Grow’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approach.
  • Facilitate the development and implementation of Jordan Youth Grow learning agendas and propose methods to address them;
  • Document, and make available in useful form, evidence and analytic results from all studies and evaluation reports, meeting notes, and follow ups from learning engagements.
  • Help create and maintain a culture of learning and adaptive management within the project.
  • Provide training and capacity-building on CLA, knowledge management, and adaptive management methods and tools and best practices
  • Ensure GESI analysis and interpretation is included in all assessments;
  • Contribute to the design of the activity GESI strategy;
  • Contribute to monitoring and evaluation activities focusing on GESI;
  • Support the design and implementation of GESI related indicators.
  • Gather, analyze, and process complex information related to all aspects of program activity implementation to inform program adaptation in a way that is responsive to the needs, desires, and decisions of youth
  • Establish feedback loops for youth to contribute and engage with the learning agenda for Youth Grow
  • Develop clear learning agendas for Jordan Youth Grow.
  • Establish convening mechanisms for youth and local stakeholders to analyze program impact, review results, analyze data, and propose creative solutions to respond to identified gaps/needs.
  • Develop tools for data collection and protocols for performance monitoring as well as baseline, midline and end line and other assessments as needed;
  • Ensure data collected is uploaded to Creative web-based platform (MEDAL);
  • Analyze ongoing quantitative / qualitative data at different points in the program leading to the specific program / contract results and program enhancement.
  • Conduct field visits, as necessary, to develop monitoring / performance management plans with and train Youth Grow technical teams and youth advisory leaders.
  • Regularly review Youth Grow work plans to ensure the timely achievement of results related to USAID MEL;
  • Elaborate annual Youth Grow plans related to the MEL component as well as budgets for relevant activities;
  • Ensure regular communication of MEL activities to all key stakeholders and contribute to the quarterly, annual report and project reporting to USAID.
  • Collaborate with the technical team to monitor the progress of the program in terms of the compliance requirements of USAID results and indicators;
  • Work closely with technical staff, institutional partners, and youth leaders to explain MEL processes and understand how these processes relate to the project’s technical work, and to promote MEL-related training as needed;
  • Manage MEL resources and ensure that M & E information and resources are up-to-date, available to staff and widely disseminated; and
  • Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in international development social science, economics, statistics or a related field, Master’s degree preferred.
  • At least 5 years of experience in designing, managing and implementing results-based MEL activities for Economic Growth, livelihoods, Positive Youth Development, or related activities
  • Experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Experience developing and implementing learning agendas and other collaborative learning activities.
  • Excellent planning, management, and communication skills, ability to work in teams.
  • Experience working with an international development organization and knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines and tools for monitoring and evaluation, especially impact evaluation and a strong knowledge of USAID reporting requirements is an advantage.
  • Experience leading collaborative learning sessions and convening efforts.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork. Effective communication skills, able to make formal and informal presentations both orally and in writing and produce professional and analytical reports and program documents.
  • Previous experience working with USAID desired.
  • Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English.

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.

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