Senior Monitoring Evaluation Research Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Advisor (Readvertised) at Creative Associates International

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and in close partnership with federal partners and select Nigeria States (designated as legacy [Bauchi and Sokoto], launching and technical assistance), the five-year Leveraging Education Assistance Resources in Nigeria (LEARN) project will support sustainable improvements in reading outcomes for first and second grade pupils. The goal of LEARN is to strengthen and scale early grade reading (EGR) best practice by ensuring that standards-based, context-appropriate assessment, materials, training, and administrative supports needed to improve literacy skills for P1-2 pupils are embedded within the federal policy, funding, and monitoring frameworks, and state and local authorities have the implementation protocols, capacity, and resources to carry out and sustain standards-based, data-driven EGR reform. The project objective is to instill ownership in and build capacity of school-community, local, state, and federal systems to establish a base for adequate, consistent data-driven funding, monitoring and performance that increase the equity, inclusion, and wellbeing necessary to achieve sustained EGR gains. LEARN will therefore be building on lessons learned from prior Nigeria reading programs to introduce a flexible, cost- efficient EGR intervention model that can be tailored to state contexts.

POSITION SUMMARY

Ensure performance monitoring, action research, and evaluations are consistent with program results and track activity progress towards achieving targets and results.

REPORTING & SUPERVISION

 The Senior MERLA Advisor will report to the Chief of Party.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure methodologies proposed by the contractor to measure program impact on access, retention, literacy and learning outcomes, school safety, community engagement, gender, disability-inclusive, conflict sensitive and foundational measures are consistently and systematically tracked and reported.
• Manage and coordinate evaluation of program effectiveness, including quality implementation of early grade literacy assessment.
• Manage and coordinate field-based monitoring and evaluation specialists, and other staff responsible for timely performance monitoring, budget management, oversight, data collection, and reporting.
• Liaise with Senior TA Coordination and Learning Advisor to develop plans to monitor and support TA MERLA gaps and provide On-Demand support as needed.
• Provide capacity building, coordination, and monitoring support to MERLA TA staff and consultants in Abuja and in Legacy, Launching, and On-Demand states.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Requires a master's degree in the social sciences, sciences or a related field.
• At least eight years designing, monitoring, and evaluating results-based MERLA programs required.
• At least four years of direct supervisory experience of monitoring and evaluation teams required.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in monitoring and evaluation of education programs, working with development agencies and organizations, government officials, civil society leaders, community leaders, project beneficiaries and project staff.
• Prior experience organizing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting on USAID-funded early grade literacy assessments, especially assessments of oral literacy fluency highly desired.
• Extensive knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines, and tools for monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including impact evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience working in the education sector in Africa region, preferably sub-Saharan countries preferred.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.                

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Previous experience in similar role.
• Proven experience directly and indirectly supervising and managing staff and teams.
• Experience with a USAID-funded or other international organization implementing a program operating in insecure areas is desired.
• Strong ability to deploy and use various forms of tracking tools.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Excellent record keeping, and documentation skills are required.