Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager - Lebanon Economic Reform and Infrastructure Investment (LERII) Programme

LERII is a 4-year DFID-funded programme implemented by DAI that will support the Lebanese Government in implementing economic reforms related to electricity, roads, water, waste management, PPPs, PFM, investment climate and macro-fiscal reforms. To help achieve these objectives, technical assistance services will be made available to the Lebanese government ministries and agencies who are involved in direct planning and delivery of infrastructure and economic reforms.

The post holder will be responsible for the monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL) of the programme, including developing and implementing a robust and adaptive logframe, tools, systems and workplans that are flexible, responsive, innovative and adaptive to change. This will include setting up the relevant systems and processes and developing relevant MERL tools, including, but not limited to the result frameworks, indicators, monitoring and reporting tools. S/he will also gather data, provide regular reporting on the programme’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and impact (e.g. monthly, quarterly annually), and capture and disseminate learning internally and externally.  Tasks include:

Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Development and Oversight: 

• Develop, implement and maintain the programme’s robust results management and monitoring framework, with sound and flexible methodologies, systems, indicators, tools, ensuring the client and DAI’s standards and expectations are fully met. 
• Lead on the design of the log frame and log frame indicators and development of projections - including the development of output and outcome indicator projections and assumptions. 
• Develop a comprehensive Value for Money (VfM) Strategy and framework, including a set of indicators and monitoring tools that focus on using resources optimally across all levels of programming throughout programme implementation. 
• Work with the team to develop a wide range of surveys and tools.  

• Support of the Team Leader,t he Senior Reform Lead and PEA Advisor with the development of the programme’s Political Economy Analysis, and ensure the programme is able to respond to changes accordingly.  
• Ensure baseline data collection is conducted at the start of the programme and thereafter that data is collected regularly against indicators and capture not only the effectiveness of the programme activities but also system-wide changes occurring across all reform interventions. 
• Lead on the preparation and review of MEL workplans, and annual, midterm and end-of-programme reviews. 
• Ensure all MEL systems, indicators and tools allow for continuous improvement over the life of the contract, are gender sensitive, and allow for gender disaggregated data. 
• Gather data, conduct analysis and provide regular reporting to the Team Leader on the programme’s KPIs, activities and impact (e.g. monthly, quarterly annually  

• Conduct regular monitoring visits and meet with partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries and ensure their feedback is adequately captured, addressed, analysed and used by the programme team. 
• Manage, oversee and input – as agreed with the Team lead - into the programme’s reporting to the client and other stakeholders, ensuring that complete and accurate data and evidence is provided by the programme. 
• Responsible for providing constant monitoring, reporting and learning, ensuring adaptation, innovation and risk management, and leveraging evidence and lessons learnt so to allow for effective adaptive programme management. 

Requirements:  

• A minimum of seven years’ experience designing and implementing robust and adaptive MEL systems, mythologies, tools, strategies and workplans for multi-component technical assistance programmes, reporting on programme progress, impact and learning   
• Extensive experience of qualitative and quantitative M&E data collection and analysis methods and tools, particularly for complex governance programmes 

• In depth experience with bilateral donor programmes, long term experience with DFID preferred. 
• Previous experience of using data and evidence for adaptive management and learning purposes 
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to manage, process and work with large amounts of data 
• Excellent ability to write comprehensive and well-articulated client facing narrative reports (e.g. internal reviews, progress reports), and compelling learning products for an external audience (incl case studies, stories of change and other communication materials)  
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to relate to and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders 

• Very good presentation and facilitation skills, including previous experience in MEL participatory training and capacity building staff, implementing partners and other key stakeholders  
• High level of computer literacy, and experience with one or more types of data analysis and management software (e.g., Stata, SPSS) is strongly preferred 
• Good understanding of Lebanon’s political economy and governance  
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver under tight deadlines on a continual basis  
• Accuracy, attention to detail, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a fast-moving high- performing team 

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) 
• A degree in Economics, Political or Social Sciences, Public Administration, Sociology, Research Methods or other relevant discipline