Mozambique: MONITORING & EVALUATION ASSISTANT (16-16)

Job description: The International Potato Center (CIP) seeks a talented and motivated Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant to support the design and implementation of the M&E program under the Project on Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa (VISTA).

Location: Nampula, Mozambique

The Center: CIP (www.cipotato.org ) is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions.

The Project: The overall goal of VISTA Mozambique is to contribute to improved nutrition, food security and incomes of 100,000 smallholder farming families through increased production and better utilization of the biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) varieties, especially by those most at risk of vitamin A deficiency - children under five years of age and pregnant and lactating women. With continued support from USAID / Feed the Future, the project is expanding its current activities to 16 districts in Nampula and Zambezia Provinces for the next 5 years. VISTA is a research and development collaboration between CIP and national and local partners and emphasizes the importance of technical excellence, rigorous evidence base, and capacity development of Mozambican stakeholders.

The Position: The Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant will directly report to the Senior M&E Coordinator and the Project Leader, and support the Communications & Extension Specialist. He/she will essentially support the development and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools and processes taking into consideration the Feed the Future requirements. The M&E assistant will play a key role in guiding the project partners, beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders in the participatory design and implementation of the M&E system. This includes active contribution to capacity development and training of the stakeholders and government officials involved in the implementation of the project. The Assistant will also support the Senior M&E Coordinator in documentation and reporting.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• In coordination with the Senior M&E Coordinator, assist in developing and upgrading a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan in line with the Feed the Future Performance Indicators;
• Assist in supervising and quality checking the development of the prescribed activities under the VISTA project, that includes the multiplication and dissemination of the technologies, and closely check on the nutrition and marketing related activities;

• Support the design and implementation of market and other indicator surveys and technical studies recommended by Feed the Future;

• Conduct exposure and technical training sessions on the VISTA M&E system for staff under the project, implementing partners, stakeholders and other relevant extension agents and government officials. This includes the design of the necessary documentation and materials needed for M&E trainings;

• In collaboration with the Senior M&E Coordinator, produce periodic performance reports on the VISTA implementation performance for USAID/Feed the Future and key stakeholders;

• In collaboration with the Communications & Extension Specialist, document lessons learned in the design and implementation of the M&E system used for the dissemination of the new technologies related to OFSP varieties;

Selection Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree (Masters preferred) in Agricultural Economics, marketing or a related area. Specific formal training related to M&E is an advantage;
• At least three years of professional experience in developing and implementing M&E plan and strategies. Knowledge and proved experience with the Feed the Future Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is an added advantage;
• Proven experience and understanding of M&E and data requirements for nutrition and agriculture interventions;
• Demonstrated experience working with local contact farmers and extension agents;
• Direct experience of using ICT tools for M&E. Familiarity with data storage and processing tool is a plus;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in Portuguese and English. Knowledgeable and familiarity with local languages such as Emacua and Lomue is an added advantage;
• Mozambican Nationality;
• Willingness to travel frequently to the field and work under field conditions.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three-month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. The salary will be very competitive, paid in Meticais, and commensurate with experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/ ), including a letter of motivation, 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 1^st October, 2016 and will continue until the post is filled. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org

CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and professionals are particularly encouraged to apply