World University Service of Canada Invites Job Applications

World University Service of Canada Invites Job Applications

POSITION: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer

Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to making the world a better place for all young people. We bring together a varied network of students, volunteers, institutions, governments, and businesses that all share our mission. We work together to find solutions in education, economic opportunity, and empowerment to combat injustice and exclusion among youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees.

WUSC operates in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of around $40 million. We have over 90 employees in our Ottawa office and over 200 people working on 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mastercard Foundation, and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

• Position: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer
• Position location: Accra, Ghana.
• Reports to: MERL Manager Contract duration: 2 years
• Application Deadline: August 2, 2024 (Open until filled).
• Expected Start Date: September 2, 2024

BACKGROUND

• The Accelerating Change Through InnoVation in Agricultural TVET (ACTIVATE) project is a five-year collaborative initiative that will help Ghana build a stronger, gender-responsive, socially inclusive, and market-driven Agriculture Technical, Vocational
• Education and Training (ATVET) System that promotes long-term employment opportunities, well-being, and resilience among young women and men. ACTIVATE will combine education with high-quality, market-relevant skills training in specific agriculture value chains to assist the expansion of agripreneurship.
• The project will remove gender-specific barriers, raise youth voices and aspirations, and incorporate a strong inclusivity lens concerning gender and disability, all while fostering collaboration and linkages among key stakeholders such as public and private actors, academia, and agriculture value chain actors to create decent work for young people.
• ACTIVATE will address key challenges in agriculture and adjacent sectors such as insufficient management capacity of ATVET sector facilitation bodies, non-alignment of new TVET policies and reforms across sector ministries, low quality of ATVET instruction, curriculum, and equipment, a lack of ATVET engagement with industry, and poor business skills, among others.
• Our Canadian network also collaborates with WUSC to promote awareness and motivate Canadians to take action on global development concerns.

NATURE & SCOPE

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) officer will oversee monitoring and evaluation efforts in Ghana. The MERL Manager’s responsibilities include updating the MERL Plan regularly and adhering to RBM principles and organizational criteria.

• All MEAL-related tasks (such as planning, coordination of monitoring and data collection activities, staff training, etc.) must be completed in line with the project’s MERL plan.
• Contribute to the capacity building of partners as needed and appropriate, to promote their active participation in all phases of the MERL plan’s development and implementation (from the design of the MERL plan itself and its tools to data collection exercises, data analysis, and dissemination and use of findings).
• Supporting WUSC and MasterCard Foundation teams, as well as implementing partners in Ghana, to plan and carry out MERL-related activities;
• Deploy and contribute to the regular update of all MERL tools related to key indicators for the goal of influencing program activities and reporting to the donor, while also promoting ongoing evidence-based learning and adaptive management in the process.
• Provide project and partner staff with high-quality technical support in the planning, development, and implementation of the MERL plan;
• Contributing to regular communication and coordination for the gathering and exchange of MERL-related information with project staff and key stakeholders in Ghana, as well as the WUSC and Mastercard Foundation worldwide teams.

MERL tool development, deployment, and quality assurance

• Contribute to the development and occasional review of monitoring technologies for routine activity tracking and program data collection.
• Identify training needs of staff, particularly anchor partner staff working on the project, and recommend ways to improve capacity in terms of MERL.
• Ensure that partners follow the project’s MERL Plan and SOPs, and collect reliable, accurate, and full data as appropriate for the project environment.
• Assist staff and partners in correctly using the MERL data-collecting tools and templates.

Data Collection and Data Management

• Collaborate with technical staff and partners to ensure that all MERL data is captured and submitted via the MERL data management system.
• Conduct data quality checks on data submitted to the MERL database management system and identify any monitoring needs that require follow-up.
• Ensure that accurate and full MERL-related files are filed, preserved, and updated securely;
• Support qualitative data collection for the objectives of documenting and distributing of lessons learned, case studies, and change stories;
• Document and carry out data verification, entry, and duplicate check processes using the MERL database management system.

Communication, knowledge management, and reporting responsibilities

• Ensure that MERL data is communicated with project colleagues regularly to feed into reporting cycles, primarily annual narrative reports, in an efficient and timely manner, under organizational and donor standards;
• Ensure that project staff from all partner organizations receive regular updates on the project’s MERL processes.
• Maintain and periodically update the database, and lead the creation of high-quality, evidence-based donor reports.
• Respond to requests for information from WUSC and Mastercard Foundation employees, project partners, and WUSC and Mastercard Foundation Senior Management; and
• Collaborate with other project personnel and partners to translate project data into knowledge products via various communication channels relevant to project stakeholders (blogs, guidance notes, newsletters, social media, etc.).
• Complete any other responsibilities provided by the MERL Manager.

Required Skill or Experience

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social sciences, statistics, or a closely related discipline.
• A minimum of five years of experience in establishing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems and plans.
• Experience creating and managing databases built on the Airtable platform is essential.
• Experience collaborating with international development partners, non-governmental organizations, and donors.
• Experience recording and interpreting project evidence into meaningful knowledge products (using different types of communication channels) to support the project’s communication objectives will be an asset.
• Experience with RBM concepts and principles is necessary.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis is preferred.
• Experience working with ethnically diverse communities and on initiatives that employ gender mainstreaming strategies;
• Experience using data analysis software is preferred.
• Exhibited excellent written and vocal communication skills in English.

How to Apply for this World University Service of Canada Job

Please submit your application to jobs-ghana@wusc.ca.

WUSC provides a dynamic work environment with a diversified, intercultural staff. We provide exciting possibilities for workers and volunteers to utilize their abilities and earn experience while also making a difference in the lives of youngsters around the world. We think that adolescents can provide for their families, strengthen communities, and effect constructive social change for future generations. WUSC employees work hard to promote long-term change in education, employment, and empowerment.

WUSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Female candidates and individuals with impairments are encouraged to apply. Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Closing Date: July 25, 2024

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