Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer

Company Profile

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity using the power of play. By harnessing play, one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in a child’s life, we helped 2.3 million children last year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the only global development organization focused exclusively on using play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease and inequality.
Established in 2000, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has operations in 22 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

Job Description

• Department/Division: Country Office/ Program Department
• Authorized to work in: Ghana(Eligible to work legally without requiring sponsorship or work permit)
• Target Start Date: Immediate
• Contract Duration: Long term engagement with an initial one-year contract

JOB SUMMARY

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (MELO) reports directly to the Country Manager (CM). The incumbent receives technical advice and supervision from the Regional MELO. The MELO collaborates with staff, not only at the country office level, but also within the broader region and across the organization, globally. The primary roles and responsibilities of the MELO are to (a) manage and implement Right To Play’s country-level monitoring, evaluation and Learning plan, within the RTP global Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) framework and specific to country strategies, needs and contexts; (b) coordinate and implement the monitoring of program activities, participants, and outcomes and support the development of program reports; (c) support program planning at the country level by conducting appropriate assessments and through the provision of technical assistance; (d) support program evaluations; and, (e) help the country office utilize the findings in their planning and decision-making. The MELO leads the ME system across the country and plays an active part in the global Right To Play Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) community by contributing to the organization’s understanding of its program approaches and outcomes.

RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                   Time%

• Coordinates and implements regular monitoring of program outcomes by leading outcome studies at least once a year.
• Utilizes the global monitoring system to track program outputs such as number of trainings conducted and number of program participants.
• Coordinates the required preparations for all ME activities by identifying and preparing participants for samples, testing and translating data collection tools and liaising with schools/communities to secure time/space.
• Implements qualitative (focus groups, interviews, child observations) and quantitative (surveys) tools to collect data with children, youth, leaders, parents, partners and other stakeholders.
• Coordinates access to, and retrieval of, secondary data such as school records, community-level health statistics.
• Identifies innovations and improvements to enhance effectiveness of the global MEL framework and systems.

• Oversees data entry and transcribing processes both for primary and secondary data.
• Conducts data audits and checks data to ensure accuracy in data collection and entry.
• Conducts rudimentary analysis on quantitative and qualitative data such as descriptive analyses and identifying themes and sub-themes.
• Ensures data storage is in line with RTP standards such as confidentiality.
• Develops and submits output, outcome, and evaluation reports to the Country Manager and the Regional MELO.

• Assesses RTP’s global indicators and ME tools for relevance and appropriateness within country’s context and proposes revisions as required.
• Identifies gaps between global indicators/data collection tools and country’s program outcomes and proposes ways to address gaps.

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development or related discipline.
• Training in Monitoring and Evaluation such as university courses, workshops, certificates.

• 3 years of practical experience developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks (developing logic frameworks, outcomes, indicators, targets and data collection plans).
• 1 year of practical experience working with social programs.
• 3 years leading and conducting data collection, both qualitative (focus groups, interviews, observations) and quantitative (surveys, statistics review).
• Experience conducting rudimentary analysis for quantitative data (descriptive analysis) and qualitative data (identifying key themes and sub-themes).
• Experience managing data sets (coordinating data entry, ensuring data quality, managing data confidential storage).

• Advanced interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills to think and plan strategically and to identify trends.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work appropriately with a variety of populations and stakeholders, including children, youth, parents, teachers and school administrators, government, and other partners.
• Proven written communication and presentation skills, presenting evaluation findings through a variety of mediums— data visuals (graphs), reports and presentations.

• A background in program evaluation methodologies
• Understanding of quantitative and qualitative research approaches and best practices, and of child-friendly data collection methods
• Knowledge of SMART indicators
• A strong working knowledge of issues related to development and humanitarian programming (sport for development, health, education, community development, refugee and internally displaced populations, gender equity, inclusion and advocacy)
• Substantial knowledge of monitoring and evaluation processes for NGO programs
• Computer literacy in MS Word, Excel and Internet

• Fluency in spoken and written English and local language(s).

• Ability to work appropriately with a variety of populations and stakeholders, including children, youth, parents, teachers and school administrators, government, and other partners
• Experience designing and leading evaluation or research studies
• Experience conducting data collection with children
• Expertise and experience in training and capacity-building (e.g., developing and delivering workshops, mentoring and supporting colleagues, etc.)
• Expertise and experience in designing data collection tools both qualitative and quantitative
• Experience identifying program implications and recommendations from data findings
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation processes for NGO programs

• The incumbent is expected to follow the work procedures while using analytical skills to solve work related problems. Seeks the CM’s support when required.

• The incumbent is expected to make sure that the implementation of MEL activities are within budget.

• The incumbent is expected to keep a database of reports, data, and MEL related documents and share information with project team.

• The incumbent is expected to monitor and evaluate project results and recommend changes.

• The incumbent is expected to enhance relationships with partners by keeping contact with them and asking for their feedback and their intervention when needed. He/she is also responsible for maintaining good relationships with all staff.

• The Country Manager, Regional MELO, Project Team in the respective country, and MEL global team.

• Stakeholders and partners’ staff

• The incumbent will be splitting his/her time between the field and the office based on the priorities and as required to attend stakeholders’ meetings, conduct field visits, follow up on the project implementation.

• The incumbent’s job requires concentration, accuracy and attention to deadlines. The incumbent is expected to conduct monitoring and evaluation training session and collect and analyze data with attention to details and accuracy. This involves talking, listening as well as seeing.

• The incumbent’s job requires concentration and attention to deadlines.

• The incumbent is required to travel in the country to perform his/her duties. Outside travel is expected.