Monitoring & Evaluation Officer – Australia Awards

Location:            Nairobi, Kenya

Reporting to:      Line reporting to Officer in Charge, Nairobi Hub

                           Functional reporting to Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

Duration:            Commence: 01 April 2013, or as soon as possible

                            End: 31 December 2013 with 18-month option to extend.

BACKGROUND

Australia Awards in Africa is an AusAID-funded initiative designed: (i) to equip Africans with the skills and knowledge necessary to influence the economic and social development outcomes of their own countries; and (ii) to build the long-term capacity of African governments to provide a range of essential services, strengthen law and justice systems, improve transparency and achieve reforms to meet their own development challenges, particularly to progress towards their Millennium Development Goals.

Australia Awards provides a mix of Scholarships and Fellowships to Africans in the public, civil society and private sectors in targeted disciplines that support the home countries’ developmental priorities. Currently, 51 African countries participate in the Awards program.  Australia Awards currently funds 400 Long-Term and 600 Short Awards annually.

Australia Awards in Africa is managed by GRM International through a Program Office in Pretoria, South Africa and through Hub Offices in Nairobi, Kenya and Brisbane, Australia. The Program employs a team of about 60 full-time staff.

Monitoring and evaluating program results is at the core of Australia Awards. A Monitoring & Evaluation Framework is in place to:

• Provide the primary basis for performance assessment and continuous improvement of Australia Awards program implementation;
• Inform strategic planning and decision-making in support of the achievement and evaluation of program outputs and outcomes;
• Provide comparative data for reporting purposes to be measured against previous award cycles and scholarships programs.

PURPOSE

The Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer is part of a team that takes responsibility for the implementation and ongoing refinement of the Australia Awards M&E Framework. Based in Nairobi, the M&E Officer will be required to report to the Officer in Charge, as well as technical reporting to M&E Specialist.

The M&E Officer will provide robust monitoring and evaluation services for all aspects of the Australia Awards in Africa initiative, including the development and revision of frameworks, analysis of data sets, reporting from and inputting to the Australia Awards management information system, conduct of surveys and other methods of collecting information and contribution to periodic reports.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist and support the M&E Specialist and Team in the full implementation of Australia Awards’ M&E Framework across all hubs (Pretoria, Nairobi and Brisbane, including assembling data on M&E indicators and performing analysis on that data.

• Support and maintain quality with regards to results-monitoring. This involves attention to accuracy in data reporting and triangulation of data sources to ensure data reliability. It also involves building working relationships with the operations team in order to obtain data timely, as well as strong working knowledge of Australia Awards databases (OASIS, Scholar and alumni database) in order to draw needed data for reporting.   
• Assist in research and evaluation activities. The M&E Officer will join teams in the implementation of evaluation studies, including arranging logistics for field work, joining the team in data collection via interviews in the field or by phone, and/or through online surveys, and contributing to data analysis and reporting writing.
• Draft data collection instruments (i.e. surveys, interview protocols) to be used in special studies and/or for distribution online to target groups.
• Analyse data, including quantitative survey program data, quantitative program data for periodic reporting, and qualitative data gathered during interviews. These contributions will feed into full reports.
• Be attuned to alumni story leads and assist in collecting and recording these stories for publicity purposes.
• Interpret and use results for program improvement. This involves analysing data with a view toward feeding lessons and recommendations back into program implementation.  
• Assist and manage Alumni tracing and tracking activities through periodic updating of alumni records in the alumni database as new information comes in.
• Assist in planning, implementing and evaluating Alumni activities, e.g. workshops. In collaboration with the Alumni Coordinator and M&E Specialist, the M&E Officer will assist in making logistical arrangements for alumni events (venue booking, alumni participation confirmation, visa and flight arrangements for participants) as well as assisting in the implementation of the events, as needed.
• Perform analysis of periodic survey data and draft the corresponding reports.
• Other duties from time-to time, as may be reasonably required by the M&E Specialist

SELECTION CRITERIA

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Bachelors degree in Evaluation, Social Science or related field
• 2-3 years work experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation or equivalent, preferably with exposure to donor funded programs
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation concepts, tools and processes (both quantitative and qualitative), as well as an understanding of project administration
• Ability to interpret data, to identify and analyse problems and offer solutions
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to prepare data collection instruments, analyse and summarise data and interpret results for the benefit of program improvement
• 2-3 years experience working with and managing large databases
• Evidence of superior written and verbal communication skills including demonstrated report writing skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software, especially Excel, to an advanced level

Knowledge and Skills

Essential:

• High level of interpersonal skills with a flexible and collaborative personal style and the ability to communicate with diverse groups
• Strong administrative, organisational and presentation skills including the ability to work under pressure and balance several competing tasks at once
• Ability to work effectively as part of a cross cultural, multi-disciplinary team
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Highly developed sense of initiative and ability to effectively multi-task

Desirable:

• Experience in the education sector
• Experience using specialized data analysis software such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
• Fluency in Portuguese or French languages would be highly desirable

Deadline for applications: Close of business Friday 22 March 2013

How to apply:

Application details:

1. A curriculum vitae no more than 4 pages;
2. A bullet point summary against each selection criteria on why you are a suitable candidate for this role - no more than 2 page in length; Please note that your application will not be considered without the complete documents

If you have not heard from us within three (3) weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.  Communication will only be with applicants shortlisted for the next stage in the process.

To register your interest, please submit your CV through the GRM International Careers Page (http://www.grminternational.com/jobs). 

 Please email Kristine.Leon@grminternational.com  for any inquiries regarding this opportunity.