Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator

The vision of the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) is “a world in which agriculture thrives amongst vibrant ecosystems, and those engaged in agriculture live in good health, enjoy food and nutritional security, and have access to the inputs and resources they need to continuously improve their livelihoods.”  

In order to help ensure impact from our research towards achievement of this vision and to foster and institutionalize learning processes, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), which is leading the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), seeks an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator.

The MEL Coordinator will play an essential role to align the WLE program with ongoing reforms within the CGIAR. This includes promoting an outcome-based approach to research planning and the establishment of a performance management system. The position holder will provide guidance and support to each of the program’s Strategic Research Portfolios (SRPs) to design impact pathways and theories of change, develop quantifiable outcomes and establish verifiable processes for measuring progress against outcomes/impact pathways at various levels.

The incumbent will work with WLE management to develop and implement monitoring, evaluation and learning processes at all levels of the program, fostering an evaluative learning culture, supporting reflection and examination, seeking evidence on which to make decisions and encouraging experimentation and change. 

The position will be based at the headquarters of IWMI in Pelawatte, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, and will report to the Program Director (WLE).

 

The person and the job

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator will provide guidance and support to each of the program’s Strategic Research Portfolios (SRPs) to design impact pathways and theories of change, develop quantifiable outcomes and establish verifiable processes for measuring progress against outcomes/impact pathways at various levels.

You will:

•          be the first point of contact for all external requests for monitoring information;
•          design impact pathways and theories of change;
•          develop processes for measuring progress achieved against desired outcomes, and implement these at various levels based on the MEL strategy;
•          commission specific outcome and impact assessments and coordinate evaluation measures, including external reviews at program level;
•          contribute to the development of a Performance Indicators Matrix;
•          work collaboratively with SRPs to provide training, mentoring and support on MEL, including guiding researchers in the use of an outcome-based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system and to support the development of meaningful project log frames with quantifiable outcomes;
•          develop guidelines for partners on incorporating MEL within future research;
•          foster institutionalization and internalization of learning processes in close collaboration with knowledge management teams, including the design and organization of training activities on conceptual and methodological approaches to MEL;
•          working closely with the Knowledge Management team and collect outcome stories to provide evidence that change is happening; and
•          work closely with the Gender, Poverty and Institutions Coordinator to integrate a gender and diversity approach across the MEL system and to develop gender indicators;

 

 You will possess:

•          a MSc/MA in social sciences, knowledge management or a MBA or equivalent experience in a related field, and a minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience;
•          demonstrated experience in M&E of multi-faceted programs;
•          the ability to apply concepts of MEL to change processes;
•          proven ability of building capacity on MEL in others;
•          experience in managing large, multi-partner projects;
•          excellent interpersonal, teamwork and analytical skills;
•          proven ability to initiate and refine new and complex endeavors;
•          ability to network with scientists and research institutions on a global scale;
•          experience working in multi-disciplinary and multicultural environments; and
•          proficiency in written and oral English;

 

It would be advantageous if you had:

•          a background in research on monitoring, evaluation and learning processes;

•          familiarity with the CGIAR and the CGIAR Change Management Process that has resulted in the CRPs; and

•          the ability to understand research on water, land or ecosystems, and to communicate the potential interactions to increase development impact;

 

This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance, annual home leave, retirement and health insurance package. IWMI’s policy is to appoint staff initially on three-year contracts which are subject to renewal, depending on performance and the Institute’s needs.

 

Application online at:  http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies