Project Summary:

The BIPS program is a three-year project, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). It is designed to exemplify the people-to-people approach by creating a safe space for diverse communities to build mutual understanding, trust, empathy, and resilient social ties by addressing divisions rooted in group differences such as ethnicity, religion, status, gender, or political affiliation in Sudan.

Position Summary:  

The M&E and Communication Specialist is responsible for overall Monitoring,Evaluation & Learning (MEL) responsibilities in their assigned portfolio. This includes writing appropriate MEL plans for each activity in their region, ensuring the collection of output and outcome data for each activity, and conducting regular MEL tasks for each activity such as key informant interviews, focus groups discussions, in addition to producing success stories and assisting with program reports. 

• Support the program’s MEL efforts to ensure that MEL is fully integrated into the project’s activity development cycle, including design of activity M&E plans, leading the collection and analysis of M&E data, and reporting M&E results.
• In collaboration with senior management and program staff, develop individual M&E plans for each activity inclusive of:
  • Output and Outcome Objectives
  • Output and Outcome Indicators
  • Means of Verification
  • Responsible Parties
  • Timelines
• Work closely with Program Development Officers (PDOs) to ensure that M&E plans are executed in a timely manner and on a regular basis. Collect, analyze, and systematize feedback on individual activities or clusters of activities. Ensure that consistent monitoring and relevant reporting are taking place in appropriate sections of the database at each stage of project development, implementation, and closeout. 
• Assist project staff in drafting impact and result summaries for active grants. Assist program staff, and grantees, if necessary, with report preparation to ensure that reports capture results and impact, not only volume of activity.
• Support the collection of all data required within the activity MEL plans, inclusive of conducting key informant interviews, focus group discussions, circulating questionnaires or other relevant activities
• Request the support of the program staff to collect data required by the MEL plans when needed – inclusive of photographs, attendance sheets or other items.
• Responsible for seeking guidance from the HQ-basedMEL Manager on a regular basis when developing plans, to seek input on any complex or unusual activities.
• Ensure all MEL products maintain a level of quality consistent with SIDAexpectations.
• Assist the PDOs in the submission of the final evaluation report (FERs) for activities.
• Support the MEL Manager as requested in the development of additional MEL tools including the MELP; other qualitative tools; baseline surveys; program indicators.
• Support data collection on the grounds for any cluster evaluations or baseline, mid and final surveys as requested by the MEL Manager; inclusive of helping coordinate logistics required.
• Provide recommendations to program teams on how to improve or build-on completed activities
• Contribute communications products, from weekly reports, to snapshots, to targeted presentations and reports.
• Travel to project’s areas of operation as needed.
• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Education & Minimum Qualifications: 

• Post-secondary Diploma in a relevant field required, a university degree preferred. Other relevant certifications will be considered.
• At least 3 years of professional work experience in a similar program or field is required.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Prior experience working on international development programs preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• Experience in developing and using all basic M&E tools such as key informant interviews, written. questionnaires, and focus group discussions preferred.
• Effective written and oral communication as well as interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated problem solving and analytical skills and good judgement.
• Be proactive, have strong prioritization skills, and ability to work cross-culturally.
• Possess demonstrated leadership skills, humility, and self-awareness.
• Have a basic understanding of local and national context relevant to the program.
• Fluency in written and oral English is preferred but not required.
• Position open to Sudanese nationals only.