Monitoring Result Measurement (MRM) Officer

Introduction

The Monitoring and Results Measurement Officer will be responsible for the development and oversight of a Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM)/Comprehensive M&E Strategy (CMES) for the project: “A Systemic Approach to Decent Work and Labour Rights in Southern Africa’s Construction Sector: Building a pathway to improved working conditions for youth and the working poor”. This project aims to contribute to improved labour rights in the building-construction sector in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and will be implemented using a systemic approach to decent work and will work at the sub-regional level (Outcome 1) as well as in three countries: South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (Outcome 2).  

At the sub-regional level, the project will build on the knowledge and experience gained through implementation of construction sector interventions at the country level and capacitate the SADC secretariat to advocate for scaling-up systemic interventions and inform effective policy change across SADC member States. 
At the country level - in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique - the project will target key systemic constraints in the national construction sectors, which keep most construction workers locked in low wage, unsafe, and precarious work, often in informal employment. The project will trial a portfolio of interventions and engage with national governments, the private sector – not least SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises) – and the ILO social partners – the trade unions and employer’s organisations.

The project will aim to improve labour rights through targeting interventions that provide benefit to the working poor and young women and men and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that employ them. These target groups include the workers who are most likely to have few labour rights - including poor wages, occupational safety and health, contract stability and informality – and the MSMEs, who disproportionately struggle to provide decent work to their employees relative to larger contractors.  
As the project will be grounded in a systemic approach to decent work, it will strive to benefit the target groups in long-term sustainable way that can reach scale. It will do this by working through key project partners, including the South African Development Community (SADC), regional and national employers’ associations and trade unions, SADC member government bodies and the private sector. 

Through the support of the MRM Officer, this project will develop a robust MRM system in line with the standard of the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED). The objective of this project’s MRM system is to improve project implementation through the active collection decision-useful data that can support adaptive management in project interventions. It will also be used to help the project fulfil its project reporting and measurement obligations.
 

Reporting lines:

Under the overall supervision of the Director ILO Decent Work Team and Country office for South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini (DWT/CO Pretoria), the MRM Officer will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Project Manager (PM), and in close collaboration with the remainder of the project team, and, in particular, the Market System Development Technical Officer. 

He/She will also contribute to coordinating and quality checking the work of international and local consultants hired during the project, to collect data and support the development and operations of the MRM system, or as indicated by the PM.
 

Description of Duties

The MRM Officer will develop, operationalise, and run an MRM system/ Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (CMES) that aligns to the DCED Standard for results measurement and ILO M&E approach. This will include collecting data that can be analysed and used to make strategic decisions as well as closely collaborating with other project team members to ensure the system is fully understood and owned by them.

Specific duties include:

1. Support the project team to articulate the results chains for each project intervention.
2. Lead the development of a Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM)/CMES manual to articulate how the system functions 
3. Contribute to training on MRM of the project team and, to the extent required, of stakeholders and project partners.
4. Work with the project team to design and establish an MRM system/CMES that comprises digital Intervention Guides for each project intervention and that align to key elements of the DCED Standard and ILO approach on M&E.
5. Support the project team to identify and measure appropriate indicators to measure intervention progress and change, particularly for changes to gender, youth and business-related outputs, outcomes and impacts.
6. Coordinate and provide support to project staff in MRM system/CMES use, including development of research instruments, regular data collection and relations with partners who contribute to data collection, periodic reviews of the interventions and revision of results chains.
7. Support the project team to manage, clean and analyse collected data in a way that optimises reliability and use.
8. Support the PM in the full integration of the MRM system/CMES in the project’s management and the team’s learning.
9. Ensure the availability and reliability of data required for progress reporting, ad hoc reports, and intervention studies, and contribute to report writing.
10. Assist in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on status of the overall activities of the Project
11. Perform any other duties requested by the Project Manager. 
     

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in socio-economic research, business, economics, international development, social science or similar field. Professional training on M&E/MRM would be an advantage.

Experience

• At least two years of relevant professional experience preferably MRM or M&E systems or strategies, including Theory of changed based of which includes the development and management of such systems. 
• Experience in MRM/M&E in private sector or market systems development programmes and/or with the DCED Standard would be an advantage. 
• Experience in market systems or value chain development would be an advantage. 

Languages

• Excellent command of English.
• A knowledge of Portuguese would be an advantage. 

Competencies

• Strong socio-economic research and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of evaluation methods would be an advantage. 
• Ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to support the development of manuals and training materials and conduct training.
• Ability to provide technical advice and to guide the work of external collaborators, project team staff, senior specialists, and consultants.
• Ability to respond to developments in and relevant to the project with flexibility and adapt project activities and procedures as required.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. 
• Good ability to interpret project information and to identify and analyze problems with implementation
• Ability to work independently, quickly, precisely and take initiative and responsibility
• Excellent computer skills (Excel required, SPSS desirable).
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.
 

Reporting lines: