Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.
Department Programs - Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect.
Position Overview
Pact seeks an experienced Strategic Learning Advisor for the anticipated USAID-funded DRC Jeunesse Enseignement Technique pour Opportunités Inclusives, Lucratives et Équitables (ETOILE) Activity, which aims to enhance inclusive workforce development to improve livelihoods for Congolese youth, particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds, to improve social mobility, economic livelihoods, and access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This is anticipated to be a five-year activity (2023-2028). This position is contingent upon award.
Key Responsibilities
The Strategic Learning Advisor provides strategic guidance, vision, and management for successful monitoring and evaluation of the program. This individual also supervises MERL staff and ensures the strategic and functional integration of all MERL activities as well as active collaboration with sub-awardees and USAID/DRC Jeunesse Etoile Activity. The Strategic Learning Advisor oversees all MEL activities, provides technical direction and support, ensures the accurate reporting of results for program activities, and ensures the program aligns with Pact’s quality standards for MERL in close coordination with Pact’s Learning, Evidence, and Impact (LEAP) team.
The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:
- Oversee the design and implementation of the project’s MERL system in coordination with Pact’s Learning, Evidence, and Impact (LEAP) Team to develop key performance indicators, targets, tools, and appropriate MERL responsibilities across the project.
- Manage baseline assessments and support the implementation of formative assessment such as baseline market and needs assessments, identifying facilitators and barriers to health care services, gender-sensitive assessments with Pact’s HQ LEAP Team.
- Coordinate any external evaluation processes, including drafting evaluation ToR and selection of firm, in alignment with award.
- Develop and disseminate relevant M&E tools, formats and lead the provision of M&E specific technical training
- Oversee data collection, collation, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data is of high quality and audit worthy
- Supervising a team of 4 Program Officers with MERL roles and responsibilities
- Supervise other M&E staff and oversee consortium partners’ compliance with MEL system.
- Ensure appropriate training and supportive supervision of all partners in monitoring and evaluation procedures, data collection tools, and data management practices in alignment with the MELP
- Work closely with partners to establish their internal MERL systems, M&E plans, and data quality management, oversee partners’ compliance with MEL system, and design and conduct trainings to support capacity for MEL among partners.
- Strengthen staff and partners’ capacity in qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation techniques through comprehensive staff training, mentoring, and/or coaching.
- Conduct and manage Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA); ensuring implementation of corrective actions to improve data quality and accountability of staff and partners
- Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive project database, ensure accurate and timely storage of electronic files.
- Responsible for calculation and reporting of Pact’s Global Indicators through imPact, Pact’s instance of DHIS2, and calculation and reporting of relevant project data into impact
- Responsible for the data analysis, writing, and review of the results and learning sections of program reports in collaboration with program staff, before submission to donor and ensure consortium partners’ compliance with internal data quality requirements and timely submissions for reporting.
- Commitment to applied learning and adaptation based on data: Lead the program team on routine reviews and interpretation of data for learning and adaptation; package and disseminate timely findings in a meaningful way, and make suggestions for adaptive management in line with Pact’s principles and USAID’s CLA approaches.
- Create a learning agenda and implement a system designed to identify lessons learned and disseminate timely information.
- Produce learning products and thought leadership pieces relevant to the project intervention; present in local conferences or on webinars regarding project’s MERL successes
- Employee complies with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
- All other duties as assigned
Basic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Master’s degree in any of the following or related fields: social science, international development, public health, evaluation, statistics, or economics
- At least 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing results-based MERL activities
- Demonstrated relevant technical skills in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and packaging the findings
- Progressively responsible experience in monitoring and evaluation of sexual and reproductive health and livelihoods, program beneficiaries, and program staff.
- Experience in utilizing gender and social inclusion sensitive indicators and measures