ORGANIZATION: Oxfam America
TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning Coordinator
REPORTS TO: Deputy Regional Director
COORDINATES WITH: Regional Director, members of the Regional Office and LEAD
LOCATION: Lima, Peru
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND: Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization based in Boston, USA, with five regional offices worldwide. Its mission is to find long-term solutions to global poverty and injustice. It is part of a confederation of Oxfam International (OI) working together in more than 100 countries in the world. Oxfam America is engaged in regional development work including grant making, networking, research, and communications to improve the lives of people in the developing world. Oxfam America also pursues advocacy to change policies that affect poor communities and engages with a wide range of stakeholders to tackle the causes of poverty. www.oxfamamerica.org
PROGRAM CONTEXT
In the countries in Oxfam America’s South America regional program Indigenous peoples, who make up 46 percent of the population, are victims of social and racial discrimination, and are routinely denied access to government services. Oxfam has been a leader in the support and development of indigenous peoples’ organizations in South America for over 20 years. It is one of the few development organizations operating in the region with such a long history of commitment to the indigenous peoples’ movement.
Our work in the region includes Emergency response and disaster risk reduction; Extractive Industries; Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Interculturality & Climate Change.
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator is an integral member of the Oxfam America South America regional office (SAMRO) and is supported by the Deputy Regional Director and the SAMRO Team.
The purpose of the position is to develop and manage the MEL strategy for the SAMRO program, monitor existing MEL Plans in Oxfam America’s programs and to develop existing and potential resources for the program. This position will also contribute to building Oxfam America and its partners overall MEL capacity.
This position is based in Lima, Peru with frequent travel to provinces and other countries in the region.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
The MEL Coordinator will have overall responsibility for implementing existing MEL Plans, formulating others and establishing a system to integrally monitor, evaluate, and learn for all programs implementation processes and their impacts. In addition the MEL Coordinator will contribute to donor reporting and writing concept notes and proposals.
Working to agreed annual performance objectives and personal development plan, in a close co-ordination with others and guidance by the Deputy Regional Director, the MEL Coordinator will:
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
1. Develop and institute, in consultation with program officers and coordinators, partners and allies, and the Learning, Evaluation, and Accountability Department (LEAD) the programs’ MEL system.
2. Develop selected and periodic monitoring assessments and monitoring tools for OA and partners
3. Ensure the programs comply with the agreed MEL plans.
4. Develop terms of reference for evaluation and impact assessments and ensure the quality of consultancies.
5. Be responsible for assigned areas/partners in monitoring, reporting and quality control
6. Provide mentoring or coaching to relevant staff or the local partners in addressing MEL issues
7. Work with relevant staff in the preparation and dissemination of high quality reports/ program documentation/ learning among OI affiliates, peer organizations, government agencies, universities, development organizations, and donors.
8. Report/alert to line manager on regular basis on any anticipated project issues, risks, implementation status, and any emerging opportunities and threats to the project implementation.
9. Build capacity of OA staff and partners on MEL systems.
10. Actively engage and take part in research design and activities with local partners or any Oxfam America’s related research.
11. Assist the program staff and partners in extracting critical lessons learned and good practices from final evaluation, audit and monitoring reports.
Program reporting and updating
1. Under the guidance of the Deputy Regional Director and Program coordinators/officers, support the preparation of reporting requirements including program updates, grant mid-year and annual reports, M&E, and impact assessment in line with the program-level MEL systems.
2. Work with relevant staff in preparing individual project progress and final reports ensuring the quality and formats required by donors.
Resource Development
1. Under the guidance of the Regional Director, work with relevant staff in the region and Boston in drafting concept notes and funding proposals for prioritized programs.
2. Occasionally, write grant applications for internal submission.
3. Facilitate the process of preparing and submitting multi stakeholder proposals.
Other
1. Participate in the preparation of annual operational plans, mid-term reviews, staff meetings, and liase with other OA units across departmental areas as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. A Master’s degree or equivalent experience in development, social or agriculture science, or other relevant fields.
2. Knowledge of social research methodologies and techniques.
3. Strong writing skills.
4. Knowledge and understanding of the rights based approach to development.
5. Excellent command of written and spoken English and Spanish.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
1. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional working experience in international development especially in the area of monitoring and evaluation; working with learning initiatives, preferably in the context of Central America.
6. Proven experience in research and program development and management.
7. Strong understanding and experience in policy advocacy, rural development, or related field.
8. Strong experience in building relations with research institutions, hiring consultants, and developing monitoring tools.
9. Experience of working in the field of resource development, writing proposals and concept notes, reporting to donors and different constituencies.
10. Experience in rights based programming and social change strategies.
11. Demonstrable analytical skills on sustainable development and policy issues.
12. Demonstrable experience in conducting or facilitating participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning initiatives.
13. An understanding of gender issues and experience in applying gender analysis in planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
CORE COMPETENCIES
1. Demonstrates commitment to Oxfam America’s vision and mission to overcome poverty and social injustices.
2. Has initiative and ability to exercise sound judgment.
3. Shares knowledge and experience.
4. Possesses strong communication skills and analytical abilities, particularly in the areas of learning, and capacity development/transfer;
5. Is able to lead the formulation, oversee the implementation, monitor and evaluate a specific project;
6. Is able to manage multiple tasks in an effective, pro-active and timely manner
7. Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
8. Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
9. A team player who works well in a multi-cultural environment, communicates readily and shares learning with colleagues, partners, primary change agents and others.
10. Ability to produce quality work even under pressure.
11. Confidence to work alone but to judge when help is needed.
TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter and your resume to Ivonne Chiroque at
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 31, 2010
