FEED THE FUTURE MALAWI GROWTH POLES PROJECT

VACANCY

POST: Data Analytics Manager

BACKGROUND:

The Feed the Future Malawi Growth Poles Project is a five-year initiative to strategically invest with Growth Pole (GP) Partners to build a pipeline of natural resource regeneration, conservation, and climate- smart projects that benefit local communities and leverage catalytic capital to realize them; crowd-in enterprises; and GP Actors to provide key agricultural inputs, financing and community-building support to integrate smallholder farmers into emerging value chains and sectors with growth potential; and mobilize right-fit agricultural loan products for Malawi’s most vulnerable to access finance and build links to formal savings and credit. The Activity is funded by USAID Malawi and the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi.

The Project intends to recruit the Data Analytics Manager to be based at its Lilongwe Office and will be reporting to the DCOP (Program Quality and Assurance)

The Job Description:
The Data Analytics Manager will have responsibility of assisting in the implementing an up-to-date M&E plan, Management Information System (MIS) and reporting requirements for USAID and the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi. The Data Analytics Manager will also ensure that the Objective Teams and partner organizations have the support and capacity required to carry out necessary activity monitoring and data collection. The Data Analytics Manager carries out the following responsibilities:

• Manage data collection processes, including coordinating with the Co-DCOPs, and Objectives Directors, to support partner organizations in meeting their reporting requirements, including providing training, developing data collection and reporting procedures, and creating data collection and data quality assurance tools.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting on project indicators to USAID and the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi, including providing analysis and reporting on indicators and M&E activities for Quarterly and Annual Reports.
• Managing and updating the project M&E management information system (MIS), including training technical team members, partners and stakeholders on using/updating the system.
• Maintain continuous collaboration with the project technical team, USAID and the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi M&E personnel, partners and stakeholders to ensure the M&E and technical implementation are aligned.
• Carry out assessments of partner data reporting capacity, work with partners to develop Data Improvement Plans, and conduct and assist partners in carrying out internal quarterly Data Quality Assessments (DQA).
• Provide support for the external evaluators as necessary, including reviewing data collection and evaluation methods and tools, and provide any support required for the external evaluator to complete external data quality assessments of Growth Poles and its partners.
  Assist in coordinating with Objectives Directors, Palladium Headquarters staff, partners and external experts to design evaluations for Growth Poles activities, and manage the implementation of those evaluations.
• Support partner organizations in meeting their reporting requirements, including providing training, developing data collection and reporting procedures, and creating data collection and data quality assurance tools
• Conduct assessments of partner data reporting capacity, work with partners to develop data improvement plans, and assist partners in carrying out internal quarterly data quality assessments.
• Assist the MEL Team with other M&E activities as required, including data entry, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation of direct implementation activities, and reporting on M&E activities.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to the implementing partner organizations and facilitate efficient implementation of the projects MEL activities as required, including monitoring implementation, managing implementation data, and writing reports.
• Monitor MEL systems periodically, analyze strengths and weaknesses in relation to objectives with an aim to improve program quality and MEL standards.
• Represent the Malawi Feed the Future Growth Poles Project in various forums and foster partnership with other stakeholders particularly those supported by the USAID Mission and the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 to 8 years of experience coordinating MEL activities for an international organization; experience conducting MEL for a USAID and of the Embassy of Ireland in Malawi-funded project is preferred.
• A minimum of Master’s Degree in Statistics, Agribusiness, Public Health, Natural Resource Management, Economics or a related field.
• Experience liaising with partners to facilitate data sharing and reporting.
• Knowledge of basic MEL principles, such as theory of change, results frameworks, logical frameworks to identify risks and design program monitoring.
• Experience with MIS, mobile data collection and GIS applications preferred.
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and tools, conducting surveys, and quality control procedures and tools.
• Strong teamwork skills, including the ability to coordinate and communicate with partners, and design and provide training on MEL procedures.
• The ability to conduct basic statistical and qualitative analysis and to generate accurate and timely reporting on MEL findings.
• Good attention to detail and strong time management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, SPSS or Stata.

To apply

Interested applicants must send their Curriculum Vitae with cover letter and copies of certificates indicating the position being applied for in the subject matter to: HR@ftfagdiv.com or hand deliver to: The Director, Finance & Operations, USAID Feed the Future Malawi Growth Poles Project, Area 3/121, Laws Avenue, Off Colby Street, Lilongwe. Malawi by 13:00hrs on Friday 19th April 2024. Late applications will not be reviewed.