Location: Freetown
Expected time travelling: 50%
Duration: 9 months
Introduction
CARE seeks a Monotring & Evaluation Value Chain Advisor to work within the European Commision funded Food Facility/Rice Value Chain grant in Sierra Leone for 9 months effective 1 March 2011. The objective of this grant is to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the food security of the population of Northern Sierra Leone. The rationale for this action is that improved food and nutrition security and increased income can be reached through more efficient production and marketing practices supported through value chain promotion. Value Chain (VC) Promotion as a market-driven economic development approach is by nature not explicitly pro-poor, but pro-growth. Value Chain Promotion can generate direct significant development impacts and create opportunities for the poor as farmers, increase food production and indirect poverty impacts through rural employment creation. The grant will work on identifying opportunities to increase the profitability of rice production by: -
Reducing costs, this is about improving productivity, mainly through efficient utilisation of inputs (seeds in particular) and reducing post harvest losses (improved techniques); -
Improving bargaining position through group marketing and rice quality; -
Added value mainly through access to improved knowledge and linkages; -
Providing training and exposure to improve agricultural practices and market linkages.
The ideal candidate should have significant monitoring and evaluation experience with specific experience in market-based approaches and agriculture value chains targeting large numbers of small holders. S/He should be a dynamic and creative individual, able to adapt and thrive given the challenges of Sierra Leone's economy.
This position is for 9 months with the specific objective to set up a comprehensive M&E system for the action and to provide capacity building support for a local counterpart.
Responsibility and tasks Job responsibility 1:
Develop and implement a comprehensive M&E system including process, procedures and reporting system for a new European Commision funded Food Facility/Rice Value Chain grant in collaboration with a local M&E counterpart, providing ongoing capacity building and technical support as necessary
Key Tasks: -
Develop and implement a robust M&E system for the project in line with best practice within CARE's DME processes and procedures that will meet comprehensive reporting requirements to the EC based on the project logframe -
Ensure that CARE SL has qualified, well trained value chain DME staff in place -
Provide both formal training (workshops) and on the job training and coaching, so that staff enhance their performance in ensuring program quality, knowledge management and learning -
Work with the Country Office DME cooridinator to ensure teamwork and collaborative working and learning opportunities
Job responsibility 2:
Contribute to Maintenance of CO Institutional Memory -
Provide input and technical expertise to the CO program-wide information collection and management system (Program Resource Center - managed by the program assistant). -
Assist in collecting, assessing and organizing secondary-source information; -
Design and implement relevant survey tools as appropriate to the project and provide technical expertise and input to the DME team on survey instruments
Job responsibility 3:
Collaborate with International, Regional and Country Program staff and partners to lead the knowledge management and evidence-based learning for CARE Sierra Leone in Value Chain Key Tasks: -
Collaborate with International, Regional and CO Program staff to develop and implement a learning agenda focusing on understanding the underlying causes of poverty (using CARE Unifying framework) and how to address them through on-going program quality improvements based on learning and reflective actions -
Work with CO program staff (mainly with sector coordinators) to identify, research, document and share lessons learned from innovative and/or interesting projects and programs with other CO Programs within the region and the agency. -
Coordinate and support CO program staff to develop and write papers on CARE programs for publication or presentation at conferences. -
Identify strategic learning opportunities within and outside CARE SL and support identified staff to take advantage of such opportunities. -
Develop and implement processes that will build staff capacities for evidenced-based learning. -
Contribute to the CARE broader learning agenda linked to program quality through participation in various fora (international discussions, regional program quality meetings, email exchanges, wiki-discussions etc) -
Produce documentation and information for RMU, CARE USA HQ, donors and for key stakeholders (government bodies, UNs, sister NGOs) as necessary -
Contribute information on DME in CARE Sierra Leone annual report -
Contribute to the supply of program information for any special requests from donors, line ministries, NGOs, etc. -
Network with regional RMU (DRD Program Quality) and CARE USA Program Quality and Impact Divisions (especially Program Impact Team), EDU staff, CARE UK staff to encourage transfer of expertise, best practices and lessons learned.
Job responsibility 4:
Compliance with CARE policy and procedures Key Tasks: -
Assist in monitoring expense budgets and review cash projections as they relate to DME functions -
Coordinate with CO Finance and Administrative units as needed -
Review and approve procurement requests according to authorization level as it relates to DME functions -
Insure that project assets (esp. vehicles, communication equipment and programme materials) are managed soundly and in line with CARE's policies -
Review reports sent by Admin, Finance and Admin units and provide feedback / follow-up as needed
Problem solving
Problem solving on a daily and varied basis is integral to this position. In most instances dilemmas / problems, whether environmental, programmatic, security or financial will not be 'specifically' foreseen but their broader context can be anticipated simply given the difficult nature of the working environment of Sierra Leone. The incumbent will be expected to act with persuasiveness and autonomy in resolving the majority of issues that will be variable within and external to the program, such as involving analysis, seeking alternative solutions / being innovative, coordination with colleagues and initiating action / making recommendations.
While programmatically, this initiatives' strategy is well defined, this type of intervention poses aspects that are new experiences for CARE Sierra Leone. In all regards one can anticipate a number of varied and unforeseen challenges. |
| Qualifications Education/training
Required Desired -
Masters degree in international development, demography, mathematics, or related fields, and/or equivalent combination of education and work experience. -
Specialized training in statistical software and/or data processing -
MBA or Masters Degree in Economics or Agrobusiness
Experience
Required -
5 years of design, monitoring and evaluation experience -
Experience working in a development context (preferably Africa / West Africa) -
Specific experience of at least 3 years effectively programming in the value chain sector -
Experience in Projects' implementation with an NGO, research institution, or development body (donor, UN agencies, development agencies/banks). -
Demonstrated practical project management experience covering all aspects of the project cycle from design through to evaluation -
Experience in capacity building / mentoring / coaching
Desired Technical skills
Required -
Monitoring & Evaluation experience and skills -
Good computing skills - Word, Excel, PPT, Access and other database packages -
Knowledge and experience of participatory methodologies. -
Practical knowledge of economic development and and/or small business practice issues in Africa -
Excellent written and spoken communication skills including presentation skills
Desired |
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