Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer at Fairtrade

Staff reporting to this post: None

SCALE LEVEL: Officer 1

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: Yes

The programme aims to develop strong producer organizations at governance & management levels. Such groups are capable of self-electing their development goals and delivering their own sustainability programmes.In that purpose, programme activities will

• Enable Fairtrade producer groups to go beyond the minimum requirements of Fairtrade standards in achieving their sustainable development goals

• Increase business capacities at producer organization level beyond the scope of our standards (i.e. support farmer-owned enterprises in achieving profitability)

• Ensuring producer organizations are capable of delivering benefits to their members including meaningful impact from their Fairtrade premiums

• Creating opportunities for match-funding as well as incentivizing investments of Fairtrade premiums in shared sustainability goals so as to drive long-term relationships between producer groups and commercial partners
• Ensure the setting up and implementation of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems that facilitate effective planning, implementation, development and performance evaluation and accountability of FTA support services in the region especially the West Africa Cocoa Programme (WACP) Programme Support

• Develop an annual regional and WACP specific MEL Plan, update as relevant and review its progress periodically.

• Lead the development and intermittent review of the regional and WACP specific MEL framework and support its implementation.

• Work with the project managers to ensure full understanding of the donor/funder M&E reports requirements and support compliance.

• Review project specific reports to ensure that they adequately respond to the project approved indicators.

• Collate the stakeholder and partners feedback on programmes, develop a report and share it as appropriate.
• Provide technical leadership to the process of collecting, analysis; internal and external dissemination (as appropriate) of relevant performance data
• Build the capacity of program staff on MEL
• Coordinate Monitoring Evaluation and research processes
• Provide technical backstopping to all monitoring, evaluation and research processes in the region in consultation with the Programme Information

Manager (PIM)

• Support and (where necessary, lead) the development of ToRs for all evaluation and research activities in the region

• Play a leading role in the review of completed evaluations and researches and ensure that they meet the minimum standards of quality before recommending them for signoff to the PIM.

• Advise and recommend tools and strategies to improve project tracking
• Suggest ways to facilitate data collection, analysis and validation
• Analyse changes and patterns in data and performance reports
• Support (and when required, lead) any global MEL initiatives/third party
• evaluations/research in the region in consultation with the PIM.

Strengthen learning

• Identify the top-level recommendations from research conducted in the region and share with staff and relevant stakeholders

• Identify ways and means of sharing the data and information on MEL activities with Fairtrade producers

• In conjunction with the Head of Region and PIM, coordinate reflection sessions with staff to identify what worked

• Coordinate the process of documenting best practices and case studies from the region.

• Coordinate the process of compiling the regional quarterly report.

Data and knowledge management

• Establish a filing system for all the MEL related documents at the regional level in consultation with the program and Information manager and ensure other staff can access.

• Ensure that all the staff in the region can access corporate systems and are supported when they have challenges

• Provide up to date monitoring data and analysis thereof as and when required and ensure data queries are addressed in an accurate and timely manner

• Identify ways and means of sharing the data and information on MEL activities with Fairtrade producers

• Support the PIM in Data Management at producer and local level.

Building Relationships

• Map out and develop a database of relevant M&E stakeholders (including CSO) and update the list at least once annually.

• Identify and propose institutions for potential partnerships with FTA on research.

• Participate in relevant MEL networks

Minimum Academic Requirement

• Bachelor's Degree in Development studies, social science, development or other related field

Other Specialist qualification (Desired)

• Knowledge and understanding of the Fairtrade system
• Certificate in Research methods/M&E
• Project Management Certificate

Minimum Years of Relevant Experience

At least 5 years' working experience in a similar position

Knowledge of Systems and Procedures

• Knowledge in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
• Knowledge in concepts of Monitoring and Evaluation
• Knowledge in statistical tools for data analysis
• Skills in using MS Office applications especially Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and knowledge of accounting software
• Knowledge in Program and project monitoring and evaluation
• Ability to drive innovation and learning
• Presentation, training and facilitation skills

Competencies

• Excellent Analytical skills
• Excellent Interpersonal skills
• Excellent Negotiation skills
• Excellent Communication and reporting skills
• Supportive and versatile
• Results oriented and focused
• Respectful and a person with integrity

Communication demands and Competencies

• Knowledge of the cocoa value chain in the region
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to speak some of the local languages
• Ability to speak and write in French and English