MEL Director – Ghana Fiscal Accountability Strengthening Activity (FASA) at Abt Associates

About The Job

• Abt Associates seeks candidates for a long-term MEL Director position for the anticipated USAID/Ghana Fiscal Accountability Strengthening Activity (the Activity). 

The Opportunity

• The purpose of the five-year Activity is to improve accountability within the Government of Ghana's public financial management systems to achieve three objectives:
  • enhanced external audit and parliamentary scrutiny
  • improved accounting, financial reporting, and compliance to fiscal policy; and 
  • strengthened control, predictability, and transparency in budget execution.

Position Summary:

• The Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director will be responsible for the monitoring, evaluation, and learning components of this project including the design and implementation of the MEL Plan and supporting the effective use of data for programming decisions. 
• Strong experience in managing and implementing M&E, staff building, excellent data analysis and writing skills are important.
• Work is expected to begin in late 2023. The position is contingent on the contract being awarded to Abt Associates. 
• As the MEL Director, you will be based in Ghana and will report to the Chief of Party.
• Qualified candidates will possess the qualifications listed below. Abt Associates actively seeks out candidates with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Therefore, we particularly encourage women, individuals from disadvantaged communities, and differently abled people to apply.

Core Responsibilities:

• Develop and finalize a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan for the life of the project, in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders.
• Lead the implementation and management of monitoring and evaluation for the project, including customization, roll out and management of Abt’s M&E system.
• Work with MEL stakeholders in Ghana and the Home Office MEL team to maintain the program’s results framework that establishes a causal pathway from activities and outputs to intermediate results, and ultimately to the Activities’ desired outcomes and impact.
• Manage a rigorous approach to MEL to measure performance toward specific Activity goals and objectives, including quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methodologies.
• Drive the Activity’s learning agenda to derive lessons learned and best practices from activities and contribute to program reporting.
• Coordinate regular reviews to interpret MEL findings for planning, decision-making, course-correction, and communication of implementation successes and challenges.
• Support programmatic decision-making at all levels through data analysis, reporting and communication of program learnings across multiple locations.
• Support and manage the design, implementation, and/or oversight of research, evaluations, or assessments.
• Lead preparation of all program reporting requirements and lead the development of learning products for information sharing with appropriate stakeholders.

What We Value:

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in, Statistics, Social Sciences or other relevant field.
• Minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning on donor-funded programs, with progressively increasing level of responsibility
• Experience with MEL on public financial management projects preferred
• Experience with USAID-funded activities preferred.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in Collaborating, Learning and Adapting techniques to support use of M&E data for improved program design
• Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, good judgment, demonstrated team leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills, in English.
• Extensive experience in knowledge management and dissemination of results and research findings.
• Computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, statistical software).

What We Offer:

• We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life. The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits and professional development.
• Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.
• Candidates from Ghana are strongly encouraged to apply.