Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.  

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.   

Project Description 

The main purpose of the USAID Lova activity is to strengthen traditional and non-traditional learning systems and evidence-based instruction to ultimately improve the foundational skills of Malagasy learners in formal public primary schools, with an emphasis on foundational reading skills and inclusion of numeracy and socio-emotional learning.

Position Description 

The MELS will provide technical leadership to develop the program framework, plans and indicators to capture project performance results and provide effective, accurate and timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting of project activities. The MELS supervises the program’s MEL activities, ensuring the implementation of a Collaborative Learning Approach (CLA) and that lessons learned are documented and integrated into program implementation to continuously improve the quality of interventions and outcomes. The MELS is responsible for documenting and disseminating program successes and challenges to USAID.

Essential Functions

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist’s specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following activities:

• Design, oversee and monitor the evaluation, and learning activities of the project.
• Leads the design, development, planning, and implementation of the MEL plan and corresponding project evaluation activities which may include the development and implementation of tools, materials, reports, and intervention-connected research.
• Establish, implement, and update monitoring and evaluation system for all sites including partners and provides training and guidance to build capacity and quality assurance around reporting.
• Create and implement the monitoring, evaluation and learning plan including design, tools, protocols, and data collection processes and revisions.
• Coordinate and assist in data collection by other project staff members or stakeholders, providing training and logistical support, as needed.
• Oversee data processing, including data transfer, entry, verification and cleaning.
• Responsible for dispersing information through publications, reports and presentations focused on lessons learned, key findings and recommendations based on data to the government, donors, local and international partners and stakeholders.
• Collaborates on the project’s Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) framework.
• Conduct regular data verification and quality assurance checks, as per approved plans.
• Manage internal communication on M&E progress and results.
• Manage temporary M&E staff or consultants.
• Provide other support to M&E team as needed; and 
• Other duties, as assigned.

The candidate for the position of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning Specialist shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education: 

A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in education, public/business administration, international relations, other social sciences, or a similar relevant field. Master’s degree is desired.

Skills and Experience:  

• At least six years’ experience with performance monitoring, monitoring and evaluation, or operations research related to education in development work.
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring results and indicators of education quality, learning outcomes, access, retention, and community engagement.
• Competency in descriptive and inferential statistics, including experience with statistical software (e.g., SPSS or Stata, as well as Excel).
• Experience in qualitative research design, data collection, and analysis; and
• Knowledge of database management.
• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills.

Language:   

• French and Malagasy required, proficiency in English preferred.

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

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.