Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA) Specialist

Reference number: 2135
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Local Position
Duty station: Bogor, Indonesia
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

Overview

The expert will work in CIFOR-ICRAF’s Quality for Impact (Q4I) team, consisting of two functions, i.e. Results Quality Measurement (RQM, to which this position is assigned), and Impact Acceleration and Assessment (IAA). The expert supports research projects and programmes in their design process, in tracking their progress, in deriving lessons learned and in reporting with a focus on outcome results. Furthermore, he/she supports the development and continuous improvement of an institutional monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact assessment (MELIA) system, measuring the organization’s progress along key performance indicators (KPIs).

Duties and responsibilities

• Support the design and conduct of selected project evaluations using mixed approaches, including data collection, data analysis, workshop facilitation, and presentation of findings to various internal and external audiences;
  
• Support research teams to develop theories of change (ToC) to strengthen project design, with ToCs being finalized and applied;
  
• Support the development of MELIA systems for research projects, featuring tailor-made MELIA tools, in order to facilitate sound tracking of project results;
  
• Support research teams in executing the MELIA system (incl. capacity building measures) and perform quality checks of collected MELIA data;
  
• Supervise consultants who execute MELIA activities, ensuring high-quality results;
  
• Design and describe (new) easy-to-use processes for MELIA tools, and support their implementation in CIFOR-ICRAF’s IT-system, to enhance efficiency of MELIA-related processes;
  
• Support the identification of relevant MELIA processes and the preparation of workflow descriptions of how projects’ MELIA data can feed automatically into the IT-based institutional KPI system, enhancing the system’s efficiency.
  
  

Education, knowledge and experience

• PhD in economics, social sciences, environmental sciences, forestry, agricultural science or any other specialized field of study, ideally with an interface to monitoring & evaluation – the position is also open to Master degree holders with a strong research component in the above-mentioned fields of study;
• 5 years of proven experience in monitoring & evaluation, theory of change and the management of complex data records in the field of natural resource management or development policy;
• Good understanding of a transdisciplinary research approach to understand and influence processes of change (ideally with proven experiences);
• First experience in performing MELIA-related processes;
• Good understanding of IT systems, notably database systems and IT systems supporting administrative processes with workflows;
• Knowledge of CIFOR-ICRAF research agenda and key actors, including access to them, would be an asset;
• Proven experience in primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative data collection, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions;
• Proven research and analytical skills, as well as communication (oral and written), facilitation and management skills;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential;
• Other languages (e.g. French or Spanish) are an asset.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Excellent analytical and facilitation skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience in working with multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams;
• Resourceful, able to take the initiative and capable of working independently while being an effective team member;
• Competency in personal organization, priority setting and managing multiple tasks;
• The successful candidate will value the sharing of information and offer continuous improvement in a co-operative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning.

Terms and conditions

• This is a locally recruited position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency commensurate with skills and experience.
• The appointment will be for 1 (one) year, inclusive of a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
• The duty station will be in Bogor, Indonesia. To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor.org/careers To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org and www.worldagroforestry.org CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.

Application process

The application deadline is 30 Sep-2021
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.