I. GENERAL INFORMATION:

TechnoServe, Inc. (www.technoserve.org) is an international nonprofit development organization founded in 1968. Its mission is to help entrepreneurial men and women in poor rural areas of the developing world to build businesses that create jobs, income and economic opportunity for their families, their communities and their countries.

Our work focuses on identifying promising business opportunities with a positive economic role for and impact on the rural poor, and facilitating the business linkages and partnerships needed to make deals occur. In addition to market linkages, we also provide credit linkages through loan guarantees and the sourcing of debt capital through commercial banks, and support in improving managerial talent through transfer of skills to client firms.

In East Africa, we are currently present in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Across the region, we are implementing a range of large-scale value chain interventions (in sectors such as dairy, horticulture, cotton, coffee and tea) as well as entrepreneurship programs.

II. PRIMARY PURPOSE:

To enable evidence-based decision-making during all phases of program design and execution in support of TechnoServe’s mission, performance excellence and sustained impact.

Key accountabilities include ensuring that:

• Program commitments are measurable and realistic;
• In-country M&E resources have the necessary skills and tools to implement M&E plans with quality and timeliness;
• Correct information is available on a timely basis for country level decision-making, regional/corporate analysis and use, and for donors/external stakeholders.

The primary internal ‘customers’ for this individual are the Country Directors, Regional Director and Program Development Manager; day-to-day work will largely be conducted in collaboration with local M&E and project managers.

III. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

1.) Develop and apply standardized tools and practices in support of evidence-based decision-making during all phases of program design, start-up, implementation and exit.

• Lead the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, strategies, and plans in collaboration with regional and country teams for multiple grants and projects.
• Develop standardized M&E tools for use by local M&E managers and program teams that include but are not limited to a logical framework with a standard ‘library’ of indicators that encompass typical TechnoServe work; a standard M&E plan that can be adapted for a wide range of project types and sizes; methodologies for baseline, mid-point and end-of project evaluations with a ‘library’ of standard questions; etc.
• Disseminate and support country-level adaptation and use of standard M&E templates and tools for key project deliverables.
• Develop and implement plan for sharing relevant M&E information and approaches across programs and countries.
• Lead the process of developing and incorporating performance indicators in critical, cross-cutting areas, including gender integration, natural resource management / climactic change and food security.

2.) Improve the quality of monitoring and evaluation activities in the region, including technical support to M&E and program staff, staff capacity-building and direct management of M&E activities as needed.

• Provide strategic guidance and counsel to Country Directors, project managers and partners on evaluation approaches, priorities, and compatibility with program and organizational aims.
• Lead the implementation and execution of performance monitoring and evaluation systems for project teams, including development of tools and guidelines, training and technical support, and data management and analysis.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to staff, either as part of a project team, or as a resident evaluation expert.
• Assure that donor / contractual M&E obligations are met.
• Build local capacity for monitoring and evaluation, including regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E, ensure quality control and identify where adaptations might be needed.
• Manage / support effective management of M&E contractors.
• Routinely review and analyze project site monitoring data and provide periodic data findings for project management and reporting purposes.

3.) Contribute to continuous improvement of the organization’s performance and help to shape institutional thinking about impact evaluation.

• Participate in internal dialogue to help shape and support institutional evaluation thinking, strategies, and initiatives.
• Package results and data analysis in formats responsive to the needs and strategic priorities of Country Directors, the regional team and donors.
• Ensure that lessons-learned throughout program development, execution and exit are documented, disseminated internally and externally as appropriate, and looped back into program decision-making by working through program managers and Country Directors.
• Develop evaluation frameworks and well-defined indicators that clearly link programmatic interventions to TechnoServe’s mission, social impact and poverty alleviation.
• Develop indicators / proxy indicators and measurement methodologies that enable timely and cost-effective evaluation of progress toward overall project goals (typically related to social impact, increases in total household income and/or poverty alleviation, among others).

4.) Participate in program design and proposal development among other team fundraising activities.

• Ensure that all proposals/concept notes being developed are guided by well-structured and concise logframes with measurable indicators and documented means of verification
• Provide timely and concrete inputs on M&E sections of proposals/concept notes, as requested by proposal development teams/Program Development Manager
• Support new program M&E and management staff to establish frameworks, methodologies, procedures and responsibilities for monitoring project performance indicators in accordance with the logical framework and reporting requirements of their programs

IV. IMPACT:

Strengthened M&E capacity in TechnoServe East Africa leading to:

• Increased evidence-based program decision-making
• Improved demonstration of impact on poverty reduction through robust data collection and analysis

V. REQUIREMENTS:

• Masters or PhD in relevant field, including but not limited to Public Administration, Economics, Business or other.
• Minimum seven years experience (more preferred) designing, managing and implementing multidisciplinary and results-based M&E systems in an international context; gender-specific M&E experience is an added advantage.
• Experience with a range of monitoring and evaluation methodologies, and sound understanding of quantitative and qualitative research skills with the ability to analyze and interpret data from various sources.
• Ability to measure performance in a business setting as well as in non profit settings.
• Proven ability to translate evaluation research and methodological issues for colleagues / customers with non-research backgrounds, and to translate research and evaluation data into accessible formats for non-research audiences.
• Hands-on training/capacity-building experience, including independent development of high-quality relevant training materials, as well as delivering actual training sessions.
• Prefer experience working with USAID and knowledge of their: reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines, and tools for Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated track record of producing high quality, well-written deliverables in a timely fashion.
• A demonstrated ability to effectively manage projects, including staffing, work plans, deliverables, timelines and budgets.
• A demonstrated ability to coordinate and communicate effectively and diplomatically with a range of external and internal colleagues including donors, partners and senior and junior team members.
• Strategic thinking and negotiation skills to help shape a strong agenda for moving forward TechnoServe's work and impact.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally 30-50% of the time.

Reports To: Regional Director, East Africa Division

Position Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

For details of how to apply, click here.

TechnoServe is an equal opportunity employer.