Job opportunities at ORDA Ethiopia

Job Description 

Position Summary:

The MEAL Lead will design, coordinate, and oversee the STREAM Project’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems to ensure effective results-based management, reliable data, evidence-based decision-making, adaptive programming, and timely reporting. The MEAL Lead will ensure that project performance is measured against the approved results framework, Theory of Change, indicators, targets, and donor requirements, while strengthening accountability to affected populations and the learning capacity of ORDA Ethiopia and its implementing partners.

The M&E Lead will be responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the project’s overall M&E framework, ensuring data-driven decision-making, results-based management, and transparent reporting to the donor and key stakeholders.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

M&E System Design and Management

• Lead the finalization and implementation of the project’s Results-Based Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning framework, aligned with Dutch government reporting standards and Theory of Change (ToC).
• Develop and maintain the Project Performance Measurement Framework with clear indicators, baselines, targets, and means of verification.
• Coordinate baseline, mid-term, end-line, outcome monitoring and other assessments in collaboration with project partners and relevant stakeholders.
• Oversee data collection, validation, analysis, and storage using robust digital data gathering tools such as Kobo Tool Box and others.
• Ensure regular data verification, quality assessments, analysis, and secure storage of project information.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Prepare and implement the project monitoring and evaluation plan, including monitoring schedules, assessment methodologies and reporting timelines.
• Conduct field monitoring visits to verify implementation progress, output delivery, outcome achievement and compliance with agreed standards.
• Produce timely, accurate and evidence-based MEAL reports, analytical briefs and performance updates for project management, implementation partners and the donor.
• Identify implementation gaps, emerging risks and deviations from targets, and recommend corrective actions.
• Support evaluations, reviews, audits and donor monitoring missions by providing reliable data and supporting documentation.

Learning, Accountability, and Knowledge Management

• Facilitate regular learning cycles, reflection sessions, with project teams and local partners to adapt implementation strategies based on evidence.
• Ensure compliance with donor standards regarding Accountability to Affected Populations and gender equality/social inclusion mainstreaming in data collection.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and human-interest stories for communication products and donor reporting.
• Improve quality of data through data verification procedures, including routine data quality audit.
• Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons and good practices and facilitate the use of such data for project improvement.

Capacity Building and Team Leadership/Quality Assurance

• Supervise, mentor, and build the capacity of project M&E staff, field officers, and implementing partner organizations.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments to ensure accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of reported data.
• Ensure the PMEL staff good understanding of feedback mechanism to spot and cases with in the existing system as well as clear understanding of data protection.
• Developing the beneficiary data base for the STREAM project in consultation with the national hub and IPs.
• Ensure that a robust risk identification and management framework for the project is built and monitored.
• Report safeguarding concerns through designated organizational channels in accordance with ORDA Ethiopia’s policies and procedures.
• Ensure Organization Safeguarding policy is effectively implemented and report any form of abuse to the safeguarding officer.

Education Background

• MSc/MA in Monitoring and Evaluation, Economics, Developmental economics, development studies, statistics.

Work Experience

• At least eight years of relevant experience in monitoring and results reporting for development sector, with a thorough understanding of international best practices in a wide range of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods and data analysis.
• At least five years of experience in a managerial or supervisory positions
• Proven record in the design of effective monitoring systems, data collection tools, building staff capacity in monitoring, reporting and consolidating data from multiple locations, organizations for results reporting at hub level.
• Experience in project management; need assessment, planning, monitoring, evaluation and Accountability is required.
• Work experience in international NGOs Experience working with international NGOs and donor-funded projects; consortium or multi-partner programme experience is an advantage.

Skills/Knowledge and competencies

• Strong skills in the development and use of data bases and systems of visualizing, entering, processing/cleaning and extracting data, including experience in web based monitoring and reporting systems-
• Advanced computer and data analysis skills (SPSS, spread sheet and other applications including Kob Tool Box)
• Strategic thinker, with well-developed analytical skills and thorough attention for details.
• Ability to train and motivate project and implementing partners staff on MEAL system monitoring and result reporting and using of online reporting tools.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and report writing skills in English.
• Strong leadership, facilitation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across multicultural teams and government stakeholders.
• Ability to frequently travel to the operational areas
• Other duties as assigned.

Personal Attributes and Values

• Integrity, honesty and professional accountability
• Hard working Strong work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail.
• Firm belief in gender equality, disability inclusion, team work, transparent and participatory management.
• Collaborative, transparent, and participatory working style.
• Commitment to learning, evidence-based decision-making, and continuous improvement.