Job profile

The M&E Specialist is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Climate Change Adaptation and Rural Livelihoods (CARL) Project, which is implemented in a consortium with two downstream partners. The M&E Specialist will work closely with Afghanaid staff and the partner NGOs’ to develop, launch and implement the project’s M&E systems and tools, with a specific focus on geographical information systems (GIS). Reporting to the M&E Manager, s/he will oversee the complete M&E cycle for the project, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. S/he will conduct regular monitoring visits to project locations, identify gaps, and recommend enhancements, actively contributing to the project’s adaptive management. In addition to the project-specific tasks, the M&E Specialist will draw from his/her extensive experience in M&E to provide tailored capacity building, mentoring, and coaching to Afghanaid M&E staff, as well as partner NGO staff where needed, including on statistical analysis and GIS.

Responsibilities:
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):

• Based on the project narrative and logframe, develop project M&E documents including the M&E plan, indicator tracking sheet and activity tracking sheet;
• Design and conduct baseline surveys, evaluations and impact assessments, and oversee the execution of these where they are conducted internally;
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to project sites;
• Proactively gather participant feedback through FGDs, KIIs and other methods, and assess whether project and organisational complaint and feedback mechanisms are available and accessible for project participants;
• Regularly gather evidence of project impact, including through the collection of success stories, photos and videos;
• Facilitate and participate in external monitoring and evaluation missions;
• Oversee the collection of project progress data to comply with donor requirements, and contribute to project progress reports;
• Identify and promote innovative approaches for M&E to effectively engage with marginalised groups including women;

Geographic Information System (GIS):

• Develop and implement GIS components of the project M&E system, including tool design and roll-out.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of GIS data;
• Develop data visualisation products for internal and external reporting;
• Present GIS data to Afghanaid and NGO partner teams to inform adaptive management and decision-making;
• Train Afghanaid and NGO partner staff in GIS methods and approaches, including the use of GIS software;

Consortium Coordination:

• Plan, design and implement M&E capacity building across the consortium partners;
• Work with the PM and partners’ M&E staff to set up a project database and tracking system to measure progress made by the project against milestones and targets;
• Coordinate and organise M&E-related meetings and discussions across the consortium;

Adaptive Management:

• During and following field visits, develop monitoring visit reports outlining key findings from the visit as well as recommendations for improvement;
• Ensure monitoring findings are discussed in appropriate forums;
• Track the project team’s follow-up on recommendations from monitoring visit reports and management response plans, as well as findings from internal and external evaluations;

Learning and Project Design:

• Collaborate with programme development staff to design and conduct needs assessments and market assessments;
• Contribute to the generation and documentation of project learning, e.g. by participating in lessons learned sessions;
• Providing technical support to programme development and project teams in revising logframe indicators as and when required;
• Support the development of new projects by advising on new logframes, contributing to narratives describing M&E approaches, and collecting and analysing evidence of past programming;

Mentorship and Capacity Building:

• Provide technical support, training and mentorship on GIS tools and technologies to Afghanaid and partner NGO staff.
• Develop tailored capacity development plans for M&E staff as assigned, and oversee the follow-up on these plans;
• Participate in regular management meetings to review the status and progress of the capacity development plans;

Any other duties as and when assigned by the line manager and/or overview manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education & Professional Qualification

The position holder must possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, project management, international development, engineering, social sciences or another relevant area, as well as extensive relevant professional experience.

Work Experience

At least 3 years’ demonstrable experience in MEAL with a focus on GIS/MIS, designing and managing outcomes and result-based M&E systems to track progress, using GIS software, and developing and delivering M&E training to other staff. At least 2 of these years should be in technical data analysis and GIS positions with national or international organisations. Past work experience as a consortium M&E lead is desirable.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid seeks a responsible and dependable M&E Specialist with strong initiative, teamwork, judgment and adaptability as well as excellent skills in communication, organisational, interpersonal relations, decision-making, project management and reporting.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Key Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Strong technical skills in GIS/MIS, including the use of GIS software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar tools.
• Experience working with databases and data management systems.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Highly developed reporting, monitoring, and management skills.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, able to work with significant levels of autonomy, manage personal priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Gender sensitivity.
• Sensitivity to Islamic and local cultures.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities in personal workload.
• Proficiency in common computer software including Microsoft Office applications, as well as data collection and analysis software such as Kobo, PowerBI, SPSS and others.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto, as well as the Afghan context.
• Experience developing and providing training to other staff, including in M&E, GIS and the use of GIS software.
• Experience working in a consortium or partnership setting, ideally as a consortium M&E lead.
• Resilience to live, travel and work in isolated and possibly insecure locations.
• Commitment to support/develop the capacity of rural communities.
• Knowledge of exit strategies and sustainability issues.

Other Information

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results-driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.