Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist - Coastal Resources Center

The University of Rhode Island is seeking candidates for a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist for an anticipated fisheries project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ghana.

This is a local hire recruitment (i.e., recruited in Ghana and based in Ghana). Any nationality is eligible to apply under these conditions if the candidate has, or can obtain, legal status to work in Ghana. The position will be a personal services contract and not a staff position with the University of Rhode Island. URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development, regular revision, and implementation of the project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan.
• Track progress and continually update the Chief of Party on partner and overall project progress on meeting performance targets and on identifying problem areas and providing recommendations to address them. Conduct assessments of partners on the progress of work plan implementation with respect to project performance indicators and deliverables.
• Set up and manage data collection and Data Quality Assessment processes, including for local and international implementing partners. Collaborate with partners in consolidating internally consistent information for the project’s overall MEL plan.

• Establish and manage a geo-referencing system of all MEL plan data, inclusion in a database, and mapping of such data for reporting to USAID.
• Coordinate with USAID MEL platforms on data reporting and MEL plan revisions, including MEL data entry into USAID on-line systems as required.
• Ensure all technical reports, participant training reports, databases and other required documentation are received, quality controlled, finalized, and properly posted or archived.
• Conduct periodic field monitoring to beneficiary communities.
• Facilitate learning sessions as part of periodic partner meetings including evaluation of MEL plan data and implication for meeting performance targets and determining adjustments needed to improve performance.
• Work with the entire project team and implementing partners to identify learning questions, document project experience, lessons learned and impact of project interventions.
• Build capacity of project sub-recipient partners in MEL functions including analysis and synthesis of MEL data for informed decision making. 
• Work closely with other team members to design and conduct various studies and assessments (baseline, midterm, final survey, among others).
• Supervise MEL, MIS, or GIS staff as may be assigned.
• Support preparation of progress reports based on data collection, field analysis and assessment of project activities.
• Coordinate with program and finance managers on partner performance reviews.
• Contribute to development and implementation of a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan in accordance with USAID requirements.