Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer

• Data Collection Tools: Develop paper-based and electronic data collection tools in Kobo and Tangerine.
• Quality Control: Provide quality control for all monitoring, survey, EMIS and other data used for internal learning and external reporting.
• Data Analysis: Conduct descriptive and statistical analysis of monitoring, survey, EMIS and other data as instructed by the MERL Lead.
• Field Visits: Conduct and supervise field visits to monitor programme activities, support project implementation, data collection and other MERL activities and maintain regular communication with the District Programme Officers (DPOs).
• Support Technical Leads: Assist technical leads in collecting monitoring data related to their activities and measuring the outcomes achieved by those activities.
• Management Information System: Assist the MERL Lead in the management of the programme management information system and dashboards, ensuring data is kept up to date, captured comprehensively and routinely, and accessible for colleagues to use.
• Collaboration and Adaptive Management: Support the MERL Lead to ensure MEL data and findings inform project planning and decision-making and contribute to the programme’s adaptive management approach.
• Annual and Quarterly Reporting: Assist the MERL Lead to provide timely and appropriate reporting to FCDO against logframe indicators, VFM indicators, key MERL activities, and learning emerging from the programme.
• Budget Development: Assist the MERL Lead to develop budgets for the delivery of the MERL workplan and for specific MERL activities.
• Flexibility: Adapt to changes in the scope and needs of the wider programme.
• Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by the MERL Lead, Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, Technical Director and the IDS Impact Measurement and Evaluation Lead.

• Good understanding of the educational context in Sierra Leone
• In-depth knowledge of MEL and minimum 2 years of experience
• Demonstrated data analysis experience, including ability to handle and process large datasets
• Previous experience of working with the government systems in Sierra Leone
• Ability to multi-task, prioritise and manage own time for maximum efficiency
• Excellent strategic thinking, planning and communication skills
• Excellent spoken and written English and Krio
• Willingness to be pro-active, responsive and flexible to the changing requirements of the project
• Excellent IT skills and confidence in Outlook, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, databases (e.g. Access) and statistical packages (e.g. SPSS, STATA or R)
• A team player with experience of working within team hierarchies and towards a common vision and to achieve a team goal
• Strong ability to foster and build networks and maintain diplomatic relations with different stakeholders.
• Hardworking with capacity to work independently with minimum supervision
• Working with the project team and ensure project results are achieved timely without compromising with quality
• Operate in a high-pressure deadline-driven environment with professionalism
• Ability to use cost effective and online applications for mobile data collection and data management

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Information Technology, statistics, education, gender, international development or related subject
• Formal training in data analysis or project management

• Pillar 1: Support policy and planning reform to improve education provision for girls and young people with disabilities.
• Pillar 2: Strengthen government systems to deliver improved education for adolescent girls and young people with disabilities.
• Pillar 3 Engage with communities to help adolescent girls and young people with disabilities access and thrive in school, particularly in underserved rural areas. (Note that the award of Pillar 3 is postponed indefinitely.)

• Strengthening monitoring, supervision and support for schools by district offices.
• Strengthening leadership of inclusive learning in schools.
• Delivering School-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for improved learning outcomes, inclusion, and safety.
• Strengthening systems for inclusive education for children with disabilities.
• Strengthening the response to GBV and challenge harmful norms
• Increasing access to quality comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and remove barriers to retention for adolescent girls.

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