Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer

Location(s):

03, TZ

Contract Type: Contract

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Various

Discipline: Education

Job Ref: 9535

Recruiter Contact: Shailesh Chougule

Job Description:

The MEL officer will play a critical role in supporting the Shule Bora programme’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning efforts under the direct supervision of the MEL Lead. This position will focus on ensuring the accurate and timely collection, verification and reporting of data.

The MEL officer will be responsible for supporting the operationalisation of a robust MEL framework and ensuring data is systematically used to inform decision-making, enhance programme effectiveness and generate evidence-based learning. This includes contributing to the development and maintenance of a Shule Bora Integrated database system (Dashboard) for real-time monitoring and working closely with government partners to improve data quality and reporting systems. The role will also oversee data quality assurance activities, capacity building for stakeholders and the preparation of high-quality performance reports.

The following are the specific technical responsibilities of the MEL Officer:

Core Technical Responsibilities

Planning and MEL system support:

Support the MEL Lead in implementing a comprehensive MEL framework aligned with programme goals and donor requirements.

Keep up to date on indicators, indicator definitions and data collection tools of the programme, and ensure planned activities by each technical/output lead align with the Logframe and roadmap priorities.

Ensure that data collection and monitoring processes are aligned with the three Shule Bora outcome areas and Education Programme for Results performance indicators.

Data Quality Assurance:

Conduct regular data quality audits and verification exercises to ensure high data accuracy and consistency.

Implement data quality control measures for programme staff and implementing partners, including government counterparts.

Learning and Knowledge Management:

In collaboration with the Communication and Knowledge Management officer, contribute to the development and implementation of a learning agenda to promote evidence-based decision-making across the programme.

Document and share lessons learned, best practices and success stories to inform programme improvements.

MEL Capacity Building:

Support the design and delivery of capacity-building sessions on MEL best practices for programme staff, implementing partners and government stakeholders.

Provide ongoing technical assistance to stakeholders to strengthen their data management, use and reporting skills.

Reporting and Communication:

Assist the MEL Lead in preparing high-quality performance and monitoring reports, including Quarterly Progress Report, progress reports, the Government’s annual Education Sector Performance Report (ESPR) and Annual Review.

Ensure all reports are data-driven and provide actionable insights for stakeholders.

Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including government counterparts, partners and donor, to ensure smooth data sharing and collaboration.

Represent the MEL team in relevant meetings, discussions, workshops and other activities as assigned by the MEL Lead.

Candidate Specification:

Education

Degree in International Development, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Education, International Relations or other relevant field or higher.

Formal training in data analysis or project management

Significant relevant field-based M&E experience, including significant time in monitoring and evaluation for Education projects, and research experience is an asset.

Essential competencies and experience

Proficient and ability to use cost-effective and online applications for mobile data collection and data management (e.g., KOBO Toolbox, ODK, SurveyCTO).

Ability to manage and clean large datasets using Excel, SPSS, STATA, or R.

Demonstrated proficiency in using Power BI to design interactive dashboards, connect to multiple data sources, automate updates and present complex data in user-friendly visual formats tailored to various audiences, including program teams, donor and government stakeholders.

This position requires high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications, i.e MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and Internet.

Experience with rights-based participatory MEL approaches, including social audits.

Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment

Deep understanding of the educational context in Tanzania

Previous experience of working within the constraints of government systems in Tanzania

Ability to multi-task, prioritise and manage own time for maximum efficiency

Excellent strategic thinking, planning and communication skills

Excellent spoken and written English and Kiswahili

Willingness to be pro-active, responsive and flexible to the changing requirements of the project

A team player with experience of working within team hierarchies and towards the common vision of a programme

Strong ability to foster and build networks and maintain diplomatic relations with different stakeholders.

Work location: Dodoma, Tanzania.

Project Description:

The UK aid-funded Shule Bora programme aims to improve the quality of pre-primary and primary schools in Tanzania. The programme's Impact Statement is: Shule Bora will deliver improved quality, inclusiveness, and safety of learning for all children. There are three outcomes:

Improved quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning in Tanzania’s primary schools.

Improved safety, inclusiveness and resilience of Tanzania’s primary schools

Enhanced evidence-based planning and management in the basic education sector.

* The term ‘all children’ infers particular attention to the most disadvantaged: girls, the disabled and those living in deprived areas **Value for money is defined as a composite of economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity

The programme:

Works with Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) and the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) to test, adapt and implement at scale quality, gender-transformative, disability-inclusive and safe to learn education approaches in 9 regions, generating learning and evidence on how to achieve these outcomes affordably and at scale.

Supports GoT with the timely and effective implementation of the PforR mechanism through technical assistance and capacity building, with a strong focus on data verification, financial management and risk management. Support lesson learning processes from PforR so that these can be embedded into government processes and shared with development partners and other key stakeholders. Ensure that lessons and best practices from (1) are used to inform the PfR mechanism.

Manage and coordinate programme activities, with a strong focus on (i) ensuring a high-quality programme, financial and risk management oversight, (ii) working with an independent Learning and Evidence (L&E) provider on establishing regular, rigorous and community-driven monitoring and evaluation activities, and (iii) developing and implementing a strategy for effective communication of Shule Bora objectives, results and lessons learned to a range of target audiences.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

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