Monitoring & Evaluation Assistant

  • Full-time

Company Description

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. Established in 1958, EDC designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity. Our services include research, training, educational materials, and strategy, with activities ranging from seed projects to large-scale national and international initiatives.

Job Description

The USAID Let’s Read Project is a 5-year, $48.9 million project in the five target provinces of Eastern, Muchinga, Southern, Northwestern and Western Zambia that works to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending pre-primary (kindergarten) through to Grades 3 and provide professional development for teachers to support reading interventions in Zambian public and community schools.  EDC seeks to recruite suitable candidates for the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Assistant (06) positions for Lusaka, Muchinga (Chinsali), Eastern (Chipata), Southern (Choma), North Western (Solwezi) & Western (Mongu), respectively.

The position holder will contribute to the implementation of project performance monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems. The M&E Assistant will report to and work under the guidance of the M&E/PTS Coordinator and will support  data collection, analysis and reporting of results to the USAID Let’s Read team, partners, and beneficiaries. S/he will work closely with the project Database Manager and other M&E staff, as well as with provincial and Lusaka-based technical team members to ensure alignment of M&E processes and workflows. S/he provide direct training, support and assistance to Let’s Read technical and administrative staff members, Master Trainers or other stakeholders in effective implementation of the project M&E plan as well as the Performance Tracking System (PTS), including managing HelpDesk requests from PTS users.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

1. General M&E and PTS support including data collection, entry, cleaning, analysis and reporting for all project activities:

·Support the collection of ongoing project monitoring data; this will include but not be limited to PTS data; training data; TLM distribution and tracking data; data on training materials delivered via broadcasts, SMS and/or What’s App or other social media; Learning Agenda studies and focus group meetings

·Conduct data collection in person, via phone surveys and SMS

·Assist in developing and programming tools in Kobo Toolbox, Text-it or other applications

·Assist in compatibility and quality assurance testing for project ICT used for M&E and program delivery, including Stepping Stone apps

·Assist in creating training materials related to M&E, as needed

·Input project monitoring data into USAID Let’s Read’s data management system, M&E Insight

·Support data cleaning and analysis

·Participate in Data Quality Assessment reviews

·Using the project Dashboard and other resources, contribute to performance reports at the provincial level including monthly summaries of monitoring data for presentation to POMS, Let’s Read HQ and USAID

·Assist in producing ad hoc monitoring reports as requested by M&E/PTS Coordinators, POMs or Let’s Read Lusaka Office

2. Manage Help Desk support:

·Assist in routing, responding to and tracking PTS user issues and queries

·Assist in creating training materials for use of hardware and software for PTS, as needed, and delivering training, where appropriate

Qualifications

Education and Experience: The candidate for the position of M&E Assistant shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

·Diploma or higher in statistics, computer science, monitoring and evaluation, project management or any related development field

·Basic Training in M&E and/or Information Technology

·1-2 years of experience in M&E or data management

Key Competencies:

·Strong computer skills in all Office 365 applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

·Strong analytic skills in Excel, including the ability to work with formulas and pivot tables

·Experience with large scale data collection, cleaning, analysis and reporting

·Experience  with electronic data collection, preferably tablet or phone-based using common platforms such as Kobo Toolbox, ODK or similar

·Very good spoken and written English communications skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver reports Team player and ability to multi-task

·Planning and organization, including the ability to meet deadlines and cope with pressing timelines

·Problem-solving and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities 

·Experience with PowerBI, a plus

·Knowledge and experience with SQL databases a plus

·Attention to detail

Language:  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of (and proficiency in) in any one of the following languages preferred:  Chinyanja, Chitonga, Silozi, Lunda, Luvale, Kiikaonde and Icibemba. Note good knowledge of the local language of preferred duty station location is an added advantage.

Additional Information

Application Instructions:  Job Closing Date:  September 24, 2020 

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit the Careers Page at: https://go.edc.org/LO-Zambia-LRZ  Only if technical difficulties occur, applicants may send their resumes to [email protected], listing “LO-Zambia-LRZ” in the Subject Line.    

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V) and has Affirmative Action Plans for Women and Minorities and for Disabled Workers and Veterans. EDC is a smoke-free workplace.