ICARE Foundation is seeking candidates to serve as a Monitoring and Evaluation Lead for the anticipated USAID-funded “Armenia Workforce Development Activity” project.

About ICARE 

Over the past 20 years, ICARE has been acting as a platform for cutting-edge education, research and development in Armenia. ICARE has solid experience in cooperating with leading local and international organizations and governmental bodies. Due to its multilayer activities, ICARE aims to contribute to the social, economic, and environmental sustainability on national and regional levels thus having a positive impact on beneficiaries’ wellbeing. Learn more about ICARE at www.icare.am.

Position 

ICARE is seeking for a Monitoring and Evaluation Lead position for the anticipated USAID-funded Armenia Workforce Development Activity.  The overarching goal for this Activity is to improve the soft and technical skills of youth and women and increase their linkages to occupations in key and/or growing sectors by reducing barriers to entry in the labor market.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Lead will provide technical expertise and leadership to generate, analyze, and present quality evidence and data through monitoring, assessments, and evaluations. The M&E Lead will be a technician with demonstrated experience in building or strengthening monitoring systems, quantitative and qualitative analysis, survey and sample design, and effectively promoting evidence-based program management. S/he will also provide technical guidance and supervision of sub-grantees and/or sub-contractors on Monitoring and Evaluation related issues.

This project is anticipated to be $7.5 Million over a period of 5 years.
Please note that this position is contingent upon funding and donor approval.

Major Responsibilities 

• Refine and implement the project monitoring and evaluation strategy, and recommend any possible changes based on the lessons learned
• Set up operational arrangements for collecting, analyzing, and reporting project data, and for investing in capacity building, to sustain the Monitoring and Evaluation function
• Coordinate with communities, service providers, and local governments, consortium members and donor representative to reach an agreement on the M&E system set up and continuously review the M&E practice to ensure meaningful participation of stakeholders in improving the system
• Identify information requirements of components concerning planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Develop and ensure that the established guidelines on project monitoring and evaluation for different project components are respected by WV team as well as consortium members in alignment with the agreements reached. Coordinate with ICARE staff and sub-grantees staff on meeting the monitoring and evaluation requirements
• During the life of the intervention, review the performance indicators and reports produced by different stakeholders and suggest necessary changes
• Monitor and report on the performance of the project and suggest measures to improve the monitoring system
• Ensure timely and effective communication and information sharing between different stakeholders
• Serve as a liaison between the project team, consortium members, project participants, and the donor representative to ensure harmonization, shared learning, collaboration and alignment of efforts in monitoring and evaluation.
• At the regional level assess training needs relevant to monitoring, evaluation and information management systems and provide, if required, training to local stakeholders.
• Prepare TORs for special studies when necessary and participate in the recruitment of any potential consultant that will carry out the study. In collaboration with the COP, review and approve proposed study designs and oversee the work during the studies to ensure protocols are followed to meet the internal and external validity requirements of that given study.
• Review the final report of any study undertaken in the life of this intervention and ensure that the quality standards are met and conclusions are accurate.
• Facilitate processes according to which consortium members, relevant government representatives, and donor representatives are collaborating, reflecting on the M&E data, drawing lessons learned, and making recommendations to project leaders for further improvements and adaptations in project implementation for higher efficiency and effectiveness.
• Prepare quarterly and annual reports and assist in the preparation of the annual work plans for all consortium members.
• Ensure that data audits are planned for and are performed on regular basis. Lessons learned are drawn and shared and course correction is undertaken to continuously improve and strengthen the M&E system
• Supervise staff that reports directly to this position. Conduct regular coaching and implement the Performance Development Management system.
• Work with the Strategic Learning Lead to ensure high quality, coordinated, and demand-driven learning, knowledge management, and capacity-strengthening activities.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation, to ensure compliance with operational procedures and assess progress as well as to deliver technical support to field staff, provide resources, and make clear recommendations on ways to strengthen the program and share learning across programs.
• Perform other duties as required

Required Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or above in a quantitative field (economics, agricultural/development economics, statistics, bio-statistics, nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant subjects) with significant training in quantitative methods
• Seven (7) years or more relevant experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience in leading the M&E of a large award (multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder US Government funded project).
• Strong conceptual knowledge about Theory of Changes (ToCs), logic model, food and nutrition security indicators, M&E plans, data quality assurance, data utilization, and gender integration into M&E.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in developing and operationalizing routine monitoring systems designed to track both output and outcome indicators.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including annual beneficiary-based sample surveys, probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing a proper sampling frame and establish appropriate weights, clean, process, store quantitative data.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling, and experience in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management, use of technology for getting just in time data, and data visualization.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in data utilization strategies and ability to think creatively about active data sharing techniques.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cross-culturally with diverse teams.
• Ability to work with host-country professionals, ministries, and donor colleagues in the country.
• Experience working/living in Armenia or the region.
• Strong verbal communication skills, strong presentation, and report writing skills.
• Ability to achieve results through partners.

Application Procedure

Please apply by submitting the following documents to the email address arthur@icare.am:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae

Deadline: Please submit the application package no later than March 17, 2021.

ICARE is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on account of race, age, color, sex, national origin ensuring diversity in the workplace.