Background

The Government of Malawi (GoM) through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has received financing towards the cost of Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project. The NLGFC intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under the contract for hiring Monitoring & Evaluation Officer on a three - year contract renewable annually based on performance and availability of financial resources or mutually agreed by both parties. NLGFC therefore invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of Monitoring & Evaluation Officer tenable at the NLGFC Offices. The terms of Reference (TORs) for Monitoring & Evaluation Officer are as follows:

The Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of M&E officer position is to assist in ensuring the effective, efficient and transparent management in supporting evidence-based Project Monitoring and Evaluation for GESD 2.0. Further, ensuring that Project objectives and activities are achieved in strict compliance with existing legislation, combined with the management standards set out in world bank procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties will include but will not be limited to:

• Develop, operationalize, and maintain the project's Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, including indicators, targets, data collection tools, and reporting systems.
• Coordinate the collection, verification, analysis, and management of project data from all implementing entities and participating Local Authorities.
• Monitor progress against the Project Development Objective (PDO), Results Framework, annual work plans, and performance indicators, and provide timely feedback to management.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project performance reports in accordance with project reporting requirements, including leveraging data from the Project Management Information System (PMIS).
• Conduct data quality assessments and verification exercises to ensure the accuracy, completeness, reliability, and timeliness of project data.
• Support the development of annual work plans and budgets by providing performance data, trend analysis, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Coordinate baseline studies, mid-term reviews, beneficiary assessments, impact evaluations, and end-of-project evaluations as required.
• Monitor implementation progress at both central and local government levels through field visits, supervision missions, and performance reviews.
• Prepare periodic Results Framework performance reports showing progress towards achievement of project targets and indicators.
• Support the preparation and organization of World Bank implementation support missions, project reviews, and other monitoring missions by providing relevant data and analytical reports.
• Develop scorecards, and other performance monitoring tools to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, success stories, and implementation challenges to support knowledge management and continuous improvement.
• Build the capacity of project staff, Local Authorities, and other stakeholders in monitoring, evaluation, results-based management, and reporting.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities comply with project requirements, Government policies, and donor reporting standards.

Qualifications and Experience

The candidate should meet the following qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Statistics or Demography; an advanced training in Monitoring and Evaluation will be considered an added advantage.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant working experience in an M&E position.
• Experience in data collection, data analysis, reporting, communication and project management.
• Demonstrated Computer Skill (Proficiency in using computer desktop application MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); and fair knowledge of Statistical Packages such as SPSS and Stata.
• Experience in designing, implementing and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to close out stages.
• Experience in designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.
• Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (such as qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys.
• Experience in developing and refining data collection tools, quality assessments and oversight.
• Ability to mainstream gender in monitoring and evaluation of projects or programmes.
• Ability to work in a team and good interpersonal skills, result oriented; proactive and attention to detail.
• Self-starter and ability to work under minimal supervision.

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The assignment is expected to span a total period of up to three (3) years, with annual performance reviews and contract extensions subject to satisfactory performance.

LOCATION OF EMPLOYMENT

The M&E Officer will be based at the NLGFC offices in Lilongwe. The M&E Officer will occasionally be required to travel to all local government authorities in Malawi where the GESD 2.0 Project is implementing its activities to engage with district officials to guide and improve project implementation (M&E).

REPORTING

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will report to the Project Coordinator. S/he shall work in corroboration with the monitoring and evaluation team of the NLGFC.

• Develop, operationalize, and maintain the project's Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, including indicators, targets, data collection tools, and reporting systems.
• Coordinate the collection, verification, analysis, and management of project data from all implementing entities and participating Local Authorities.
• Monitor progress against the Project Development Objective (PDO), Results Framework, annual work plans, and performance indicators, and provide timely feedback to management.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project performance reports in accordance with project reporting requirements, including leveraging data from the Project Management Information System (PMIS).
• Conduct data quality assessments and verification exercises to ensure the accuracy, completeness, reliability, and timeliness of project data.
• Support the development of annual work plans and budgets by providing performance data, trend analysis, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Coordinate baseline studies, mid-term reviews, beneficiary assessments, impact evaluations, and end-of-project evaluations as required.
• Monitor implementation progress at both central and local government levels through field visits, supervision missions, and performance reviews.
• Prepare periodic Results Framework performance reports showing progress towards achievement of project targets and indicators.
• Support the preparation and organization of World Bank implementation support missions, project reviews, and other monitoring missions by providing relevant data and analytical reports.
• Develop scorecards, and other performance monitoring tools to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, success stories, and implementation challenges to support knowledge management and continuous improvement.
• Build the capacity of project staff, Local Authorities, and other stakeholders in monitoring, evaluation, results-based management, and reporting.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities comply with project requirements, Government policies, and donor reporting standards.

• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Reporting
• Communication
• Project management
• MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Statistical Packages (SPSS, Stata)
• Designing and implementing M&E systems
• Managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems
• Strategic planning
• Performance measurement
• Indicator selection
• Target setting
• Database management
• Developing M&E and performance monitoring plans
• Evaluation methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, impact)
• Data collection and analysis methodologies
• Survey planning and management
• Developing and refining data collection tools
• Data quality assessments
• Gender mainstreaming in M&E
• Teamwork
• Interpersonal skills
• Result-oriented
• Proactive
• Attention to detail
• Self-starter
• Ability to work under minimal supervision

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Statistics or Demography; an advanced training in Monitoring and Evaluation will be considered an added advantage.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant working experience in an M&E position.
• Experience in data collection, data analysis, reporting, communication and project management.
• Demonstrated Computer Skill (Proficiency in using computer desktop application MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); and fair knowledge of Statistical Packages such as SPSS and Stata.
• Experience in designing, implementing and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to close out stages.
• Experience in designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.
• Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (such as qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys.
• Experience in developing and refining data collection tools, quality assessments and oversight.
• Ability to mainstream gender in monitoring and evaluation of projects or programmes.
• Ability to work in a team and good interpersonal skills, result oriented; proactive and attention to detail.
• Self-starter and ability to work under minimal supervision.