Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager

CARE Canada is currently seeking a: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager

CARE Canada is a leading aid and development organisation serving individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world, through strengthening capacity for self-help, providing economic opportunity, delivering relief in emergencies, influencing policy decisions at all levels and addressing discrimination in all its.

CARE’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Communication and Excellence can best be expressed through its six Program Principles: promote empowerment, work with partners, ensure accountability and promote responsibility, address discrimination, promote the non-violent resolution of conflicts, and seek sustainable results.

Position Overview

CARE Canada is increasingly requested to, and interested in, providing robust evidence from its initiatives that demonstrate the impacts of its programming, across a wide-range of sectors. Significant programming areas include Mother, Newborn and Child Health, Economic and Enterprise Development, Food Security, Climate Change, Governance, Watershed Management, Education, and Emergencies.

The purpose of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager is to drive CARE Canada’s learning and accountability by providing support, specialist advice and the right tools and systems to programs and projects to achieve a stronger results culture, increased clarity about what difference we make, and increased accountability to the people and communities with whom we work. S/he will advance the development of a CARE Canada impact framework, ensuring that the appropriate architecture, systems, tools and products are developed / in place. S/he will provide technical assistance to CARE programming (with a particular focus on programming supported by CIDA/Partnerships with Canadians Branch), including their partners and staff to: a) ensure that projects/programs are monitored as needed; b) scopes for evaluation reflect key learning questions; c) high quality external or internal evaluators undertake evaluations; d) recommendations are adopted and lessons learned are disseminated.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Job Responsibility 1: Supporting M&E in the CIDA/Partnership with Canadians Branch Programme (60-70% of time)

Current Programme • Support projects in their final evaluations o Ensure that they are adhering to CARE’s policy governing evaluations o Advise on sampling methodologies and appropriate instruments for data collection and analysis o Asses final evaluation report for quality and rigour • Coordinate a final/summative evaluation on the current programme, including a publication. • Work with the gender advisor to coordinate and implement a ‘Strategic Impact Inquiry’ on women and girls’ empowerment. • Write newsletters. • Ensure and support documentation (i.e. Lesotho, Ghana, and Mali).
• Contribute to reporting requirements for CIDA • If necessary, organize and co-facilitate a programme-wide learning event.

New Partnership with Canadians Branch Programme • Oversee the review and development of project proposals (including logic models); performance & impact measurement frameworks, as well as learning & research agendas and strategies – at the programme level and project level, and related M&E systems; • Organize and co-facilitate an inception workshop. • Work with the gender advisor to support project staff through training to strengthen gender-sensitive M&E. • Establish and support a community (ies) of practice including a pool of experts and an on-line resource-base including case studies and practical tools. • Establish and maintain a programme knowledge management system that will meet the information needs of key programme staff. • Contribute to reporting requirements for CIDA. • Remain current on innovation and promising practices in M&E and learning methodology and approaches relevant to the work of CARE Canada and its partners.

Job Responsibility 2: Supporting M&E across International Programmes (20-30% of time)

• Contribute to the development of an impact framework and corresponding monitoring and evaluation system, processes and tools (that are cost-effective, and include qualitative, quantitative, mixed and participatory methods) to feed in to this framework. Assist Country Offices, as needed, to strengthen capacity of local partner staff to implement and utilize M&E standards and systems to improve programme quality. • Work with the gender advisor to ensure gender and diversity are effectively integrated into impact measurement. • Ensure that other units within CARE Canada have access to timely, accurate and high quality programme information, leading to improved knowledge and learning. • Use results of assessment and research in advocacy and policy influence. • Present the results of CARE Canada’s work in impact measurement at national and international fora, both internal and external to CARE. • (Co)-author impact reports, progress reports, research reports, policy briefs and other documents for publication. • Identify, broker and oversee partnerships with research and / or academic institutions.

Job Responsibility 3: Contributing to CI M&E discussions (0-10% of time)

• Liaise with CARE International working groups, related to impact measurement, as required.
• Support CARE Canada COs in their p-shift work.

Required qualifications, skills and experience

• Masters Degree from a recognized university and experience in a field relevant to a M&E position in an international NGO. • Training in impact measurement and / or M&E methodologies is desirable. • Extensive and deep knowledge of key issues and organizations in international development especially around evaluation and impact assessment. • Minimum seven (7) years work experience with an international development NGO, including direct experience undertaking project and programme evaluations and impact assessment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evaluation theory and practice, including theories of change, impact evaluation, learning and use-oriented evaluation, and mixed methodologies using quantitative and qualitative data. • A strong research, publication and documentation record. • First hand developing country experience. • Experience working in partnerships with research and / or academic institutions. • Experience training others in M&E, including developing and facilitating workshops.
• Demonstrated ability to share knowledge with diverse audiences through training, mentoring, publications and other formal and non-formal methods. • Knowledge and practical experience of working with CIDA RBM, and knowledge of other donors’ M&E approaches (desired). • Excellent leadership and facilitation skills. • Excellent written and spoken skills in English, and demonstrated capability of strong analytical writing with the capacity to synthesize complex issues, make effective presentations, write reports, briefs and journal articles, and manage group interactions. • Strong time-management and multi-tasking competencies. • Proven capacity to work efficiently in a self-directed manner as well as with other staff and with a variety of counterparts, funders and partners. • Advanced computer skills (Microsoft Office, web-based research and communications). • Ability to translate broad organizational aspirations into practical results-oriented support for program staff. • Fluency in French would be an asset. Spanish is desirable.

Start date: July, 2011 Contract type and duration: fixed- term contract for a period of 1 year Deadline for applications: May 22, 2011

Working conditions • This position is based in Ottawa • Expected percentage of time travelling is 15 -20 % • This is a 12- month contract covering a maternity leave.

Please apply online at www.careersunited.org .You will need to register before submitting your resume.

We thank all candidates for the responses to this advertisement. However, we regret that we will be able to contact only short listed candidates.

CARE Canada recognizes that diversity and multiculturalism of its teams contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to developing a highly capable talent that is representative of Canadian society. We therefore encourage qualified women and men from different cultural backgrounds, to apply to become a part of our organization and contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Closing date: 22 May 2011 — CARE Canada