MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) OFFICER

Job Description

Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Recruitment of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer

Background

Gambia Participates (GP) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to strengthening governance within and beyond The Gambia. Established with a commitment to promoting a vibrant democracy, the organization has been contributing towards empowering citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) to actively participate in shaping the nation's socio-political and economic landscape. At the heart of Gambia Participates' mission is the belief that an informed and engaged citizenry is vital for the growth and development of a nation. The organization works towards advancing the principles of good governance, accountability, and social justice. As one of the fastest-growing organizations in the civic space, GP is dedicated to making significant strides toward good governance and accountability.

The M&E Officer will play a pivotal role in supporting GP's MEL infrastructure, measure the outcomes of its programs, ensuring accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

Scope of Work

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer will be responsible for designing, coordinating, and implementing the monitoring and evaluation framework at Gambia Participates. The officer will ensure that the organization's program activities are tracked effectively, and that lessons learned are applied to enhance future programmatic efforts.

Key Responsibilities

1. Improve M&E Frameworks

• Improve and implement GP's existing M&E systems ensuring alignment with organizational goals and partner requirements.
• Improve existing systems for data collection, analysis, and reporting.

2. Monitoring

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project implementation and assess progress towards set goals and objectives.
• Develop and use monitoring tools such as surveys, interviews, focus groups discussions, and any other data collection templates.
• Ensure the timely collection of relevant data to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).

3. Evaluation

• Lead the design and execution of evaluations, including baseline studies, mid-term reviews, and end-line assessments.
• Provide analysis and recommendations to guide the strategic direction of projects based on evaluation outcomes.

4. Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare comprehensive reports on M&E findings for management, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate documentation and sharing of lessons learned and best practices across all projects.
• Support proposal development by providing relevant M&E inputs and data.

5. Capacity Building

• Train program staff and partners on M&E frameworks, tools, and best practices.
• Strengthen the organization's capacity for data-driven decision-making and accountability.

6. Data Management

• Manage project databases and ensure data accuracy, quality, and timeliness.
• Develop mechanisms to track the long-term impact of Gambia Participates' programs and initiatives.

7. Learning and Adaptation

• Facilitate the integration of findings and lessons learned into project design and implementation.
• Lead internal learning sessions to review project outcomes and improve organizational practices.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Administration, or a related field. A Master's degree gives you an added advantage.
• Experience: At least 5 years of professional experience in M&E, preferably in governance, non-governmental organizations, commercial or international development sectors.
• Technical Skills:
  • Strong knowledge of M&E methodologies and tools, including quantitative and qualitative data collection.
  • Technical experience and skills with data management and analysis softwares (e.g., SPSS, Stata, Excel, Power BI, etc.).
  • Familiarity with partner reporting requirements, especially from international agencies (e.g., US Federal Funding Agencies, UN Agencies, EU and international NGOs in Europe, Canada etc.).
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex findings to non-technical audiences.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze data critically and draw meaningful conclusions.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with an ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

Key Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data collection and reporting.
• Capacity to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Commitment to accountability, learning, and adaptive management.
• Experience working with well-structured establishments in the field of M&E.

Additional Information