Mozambique: M&E Coordinator

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Agricultural Economist to coordinate Monitoring and Evaluation and associated operational research of a major integrated agriculture-nutrition project in Mozambique, part of CIP’s global collaboration with USAID/Feed the Future. The M&E Coordinator should be driven by the desire to generate high quality evidence that will help guide and increase the impact of agricultural and nutrition interventions on the lives of poor and vulnerable populations. CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff. Women and citizens of developing countries are particularly urged to apply.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research for development with a focus on potatoes, sweetpotatoes, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is to expand the use of root and tuber crops to improve the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equality for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a network of 15 research centers that are mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.

The Project: CIP is significantly expanding the Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa (VISTA) project in Mozambique for a further five-year period to scale up the production and utilization of biofortified, orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). With support from USAID Mozambique, the project aims to improve nutrition and food security among 100,000 smallholder households in sixteen districts in Nampula and Zambezia Provinces through integrated agriculture-nutrition interventions. The project is part of the Feed the Future program in Mozambique and will specifically contribute to selected Feed the Future agricultural and nutrition indicators. The project is a partnership between CIP, the Government of Mozambique (GoM), NGOs, local private sector enterprises, and research partners, and emphasizes rigorous monitoring, evidence based management, and learning across this partnership.

The Position: The M&E Coordinator will be based in Nampula, Northern Mozambique and will report to the Project Leader. The M&E Coordinator will be responsible for the quality, timeliness, and responsiveness of all M&E reporting to the donor. The M&E Coordinator will supervise junior M&E staff and will work with district-based field coordinators and M&E staff from implementing partners. The position is part of CIP’s global group of economists and M&E specialists and will contribute to global and regional analyses based on evidence generated through the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Design and Implementation of M&E Plan:

Design and regularly update a detailed Project M&E Plan including agreed indicators and methodologies and following standards, formats, and timetables provided by the donor. Participate in relevant training and information events to update your understanding of the project’s M&E requirements and further develop your methodological skills. Coordinate the implementation of the M&E Plan involving CIP and partner M&E staff and provide leadership for timeliness and technical excellence. Seek and incorporate feedback from the Project Leader and other team members to continuously improve the performance of M&E implementation.

· Reporting and Publications:

Establish and manage detailed reporting schedules for all M&E activities in accordance with USAID/FTF standards and deadlines. Produce timely and high quality monthly, quarterly and annual M&E updates and reports to the Project Leader to support timely project reporting to the donor. Ensure that data are up-to-date, regularly audited, and appropriately formatted for use by the Project, partners, and the donor. Work with CIP’s M&E and data management group to ensure project data is available for transfer into open access as and when required. Contribute to project technical reports and publications and to communications to the public as advised by the Project Leader.

· Staff Management and Partner Coordination:

Build and manage the project M&E team comprising of M&E assistants and establish productive working relationships with district-based field coordinators and agricultural and nutrition staff to support timely and quality M&E activities. Establish and maintain productive collaboration with M&E staff from implementing partners from Government and NGO’s. Ensure that both CIP and partner M&E staff have full command of all M&E tools and procedures and can implement these in a timely manner. Provide mentoring and address additional training needs among junior M&E staff as needed. Promote accountability, teamwork, and technical excellence in all work relations.

· M&E Support Operations:

Coordinate with the Project Leader and other team members to ensure operational systems are in place and being used to support M&E field activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources. In coordination with the Project Leader, propose and design changes to M&E operational procedures as needed and in accordance with donor and CIP regulations.

· Operational research:

Contribute to operational research to better understand dynamics and constraints to technology (OFSP) adoption and utilization, including economic, behavioral, and institutional aspects. Produce scientific publications based on this work.

· G*ender:*

The M&E Coordinator is expected to take a leadership role in the mainstreaming of gender in M&E design and implementation, and in supporting M&E staff across all implementing partners to effectively implement gender-sensitive M&E indicators and methods.

Selection Criteria:

· Masters level degree in Agricultural Economics or related discipline. PhD degree in relevant field is a strong advantage. Specific formal training related to M&E is an added advantage.

· Strong experience of at least 5 years as a field-based Agricultural Economist or M&E Specialist working on large-scale nutrition or agricultural research and development projects, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.

· Direct experience of both agriculture and nutrition indicators and associated M&E methodologies as used by major donors and research/development organizations. Specific experience of Feed the Future indicators is an advantage.

· Direct experience of M&E planning and coordination of M&E teams working in remote locations and across multi-institutional project partnerships.

· Excellent track record of timely and high quality reporting within tight deadlines.

· First hand experience of using ICT tools for M&E and of data storage and processing.

· Up-to-date understanding of nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches and related quantitative and qualitative research questions.

· Demonstrated awareness of and responsiveness to gender and social equity issues in M&E design and delivery.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.

· Working proficiency of Portuguese is an advantage.

· Record of scientific and technical publications and citations.

· Willingness to travel frequently in-country and work under field conditions.

Conditions: Employment contract will be for an initial three-year term (with a three month probation period) with possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. Salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site atwww.cipotato.org

Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), including a cover letter, a full C.V with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on September 22, 2016 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted.