IFDC Overview

IFDC is an independent non-profit organization that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to identify and scale sustainable soil solutions for improved food security and livelihoods around the world. IFDC was established in 1974 in response to the twin crises of food insecurity and rising energy prices and is designated as an International Public Organization. IFDC is governed by an international board of directors and supported by bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, private enterprises and foundations and Headquartered in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA. IFDC manages development programs and activities in over 25 countries in Africa and Asia.

Over the past four years, the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) has led a partnership with IFDC, in collaboration with U.S. universities, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and international and national soil experts in developing a low-cost Space to Place (S2P) approach for rapidly developing, more effective fertilizer recommendations through its flagship program, Feed the Future Sustainable Opportunities for Improving Livelihoods with Soils (SOILS) Consortium. The S2P Program is currently scaling up activities in key countries in Africa (focus on Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia) with additional countries in East (Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique) and West Africa (Ghana and Niger).

Overview of the position

IFDC is seeking to recruit a qualified individual to fill the position of MELS Coordinator for the S2P Program, to be based in Lusaka/Zambia. The person will lead the oversight of the monitoring and evaluation system for reporting progress against expected results and maintain reporting procedures and guidelines in compliance with agreed systems and regulations, utilizing the USAID indicator reporting and framework. He/she will help the project team to refine the monitoring and evaluation plan and system consistent with the project results framework, coordinate the collection and validation of data, monitor the completeness of data sets, and monitor project performance against targets. S/he will contribute to efforts for building the capacity of staff and project partners on activities related to MELS, which may include data collection, utilization, and dissemination.

Specific Duties:

• Help to refine and implement the S2P program MELS system, including developing and refining indicators; setting targets including partner targets; monitoring project progress; ensuring timely data collection; writing quarterly and annual reports.
• Provide inputs to the technical team by assisting in developing program goals and objectives; MELS systems, tools, and strategies, including database(s); and providing monitoring data to inform the decisions on project performance and future direction to the project.
• Regularly produce high-quality reports on the results of the project against the project goals and objectives to the project management team, and others as needed.
• Train the S2P team and partners on all MELS plan, data collection, data quality analysis and related issues
• Collaborate with the technical and management teams to identify essential project activities, processes, and outcomes to document, and design a system for capturing lessons learned and best practices, as well as success stories and providing quantitative and qualitative information related to these
• Ensure daily management of project technical leads and field staff on matters related to MELS, including routine reporting of field-level activities.
• Ensure the coordination of learning agenda activities as well as oversight and technical inputs for the delivery of research products and reports.
• Collection of data and information on success stories from field implementation and project partners and working with project technical and communication staff for production of success stories and reports
• Service as the focal point for gender and youth mainstreaming inclusion for project activities and related data collection
• Effectively inform project leadership, key personnel, partners in making vital adjustments for maximizing project effectiveness.
• Design standard data collection and survey tools based on project needs and conduct pre-tests and adjustments for uniform comprehension.
• Contribute to planning and execution of baseline, annual surveys, and impact evaluation studies at household level if needed
• Ensure the accuracy data entry into the project database.
• Maintain data storage and data quality.
• Conduct data analysis, including the creation of GPS maps.
• Support the development of work plans and annual reports.

Location & Travel and Reporting

This position will be based in  Lusaka/Zambia  and will include travel to countries of operation. The position will report directly to the Program Director, S2P with dotted lines to the Program Manager, S2P. The position work also closely with the IFDC Research Team, S2P Program Team and IFDC MELS, Communications & Knowledge Management Teams.

Required Skills

• Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills to manage project communications and disseminate project information are required
• Excellent skills in MS Excel, Word, Power Point; proficiency in MS Access preferred
• English language fluency is required.
• Experience in gender and youth inclusion and mainstreaming
• Must be a self-directed, highly organized person who can effectively prioritize and follow through on multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Previous experience with USAID indicators, reporting, and DQAs (Data Quality Analysis) preferred

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (statistics, evaluation science, public policy, social sciences, political science, or any other closely related field.
• 7-10 years of demonstrated experience designing, and implementing monitoring and evaluation activities in African countries
• Excellent command of monitoring and evaluation methodologies
• Previous experience implementing and managing a rigorous M&E system including developing and refining performance monitoring plans is required; experience managing Management Information Systems (MIS) is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of data collection protocols to ensure accurate data collection and verification; ability to identify data trends and communicate this information for strategic decision-making in program implementation.
• Must be a Zambia National or posses the legal requirements to work in Zambia