Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager

Job description

Tanager is an international nonprofit that connects smallholder producers and private businesses to co-create new ways of realizing life-changing economic and social opportunities.

Our process builds on years of technical expertise, on-the-ground presence and public/private partnerships to unite economic growth with social innovation.

Together, we are ushering in an era of equitable market systems that combine profitability with the power to address urgent challenges in poverty, malnutrition, and gender inequity.

Overview

In 2022, Tanager partnered with the John Deere Foundation to pilot the Imbewu Farmer Development program that would transition smallholder maize farmers from subsistence farming to commercial production.

Derived from the Zulu word for “seed,” Imbewu symbolizes growth and potential—values central to the program’s mission.

Building on the success of the first program, Tanager and John Deere Foundation are proud to launch the second phase of Imbewu from November 2024 – October 2028.

Imbewu II will expand efforts to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity , minimize post-harvest losses , and enhance overall profitability , driving sustainable agricultural development.

Imbewu II offers a continuum of services to support farmers as they progress from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

Key components include digital extension, on-farm training through demonstration plots, improving access to finance and markets to maximize block farming initiatives, and more tailored support to commercial-level farmers.

Across all activities, the program emphasizes climate-smart approaches, digital extension, gender and youth empowerment, farming as a business, and access to finance.

Building on its initial work with 2,760 smallholder maize farmers, Imbewu II aims to support 6,576 farmers, increase yields by 37%, and increase incomes by 68%.

Pursuant to its mission, Tanager is seeking experienced and talented professionals for the position of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager.

The MEL Manager will be responsible for overseeing all daily work and routine data collection related to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities of the project, as well as overseeing the formative research, impact assessments, and ongoing learning activities.

The MEL Manager will develop and manage efficient systems that monitor progress and impact and capture, analyze, and share evidence-based results and lessons learned.

S/he will ensure both the MEL system and results reporting meet organizational and donor requirements.

This position will be based in Mthatha , Eastern Cape, South Africa and will report to the Imbewu Team Lead.

The term of the contract is annual with the possibility of extension based on a satisfactory performance review.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The main duties of the MEL Manager include, but are not limited to:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational management of the various MEL components of the project and ensure the completion of all MEL activities.
  
  
• Develop and implement a MEL strategy (i.e. MEL Manual) outlining systems and tools for data collection, targeting and tracking project indicators, knowledge management, impact assessments, learning activities and reporting in compliance with organizational and donor requirements.
  
  
• Work closely with the Tanager US-based Data and Learning Director and other technical units throughout the organization to manage a GIS referencing, cloud-based Management Information System (MIS) and ensure data requirements are integrated into project management processes.
  
  
• Plan and conduct routine assessments that track, analyze, and synthesize project data useful for learning and adaptive management.
  
  
• Oversee regular review of monitoring data, organize and lead periodic learning sessions and annual strategic project reviews to enable project technical staff to identify successes and make decisions about adapting activities and approaches to achieve results.
  
  
• Collaborate closely with project technical staff to analyze MEL findings, determine any needed adjustments, and identify and disseminate key learning messages/finding to internal and external audiences.
  
  
• Engage with project technical staff on project impact data collection and research opportunities.
  
  
• Utilize critical inputs, feedback, and assessments from external evaluation partners to inform changes in program approaches and scale-up when necessary.
  
  
• Ensure compliance with all organizational and donor reporting requirements, and, if/where applicable, South African government reporting requirements.
  
  
• Conduct field visits to observe project activities and service provision to project participants and stakeholders and report back findings and recommendations to the project technical staff.
  
  
• Organize surveys, interviews and group discussions on project activities and results.
  
  
• Monitor the progress of the project based on the agreed milestones.
  
  
• Maintain and update the Performance Monitoring Plan in conjunction with the project milestones.
  
  
• Collect and organize all necessary verification documents including activity/progress reports, photographs and minutes of important meetings and visits.
  
  
• Develop and maintain the project’s MIS operational manual and training/guidance documentation.
  
  
• Review and validate the consistency and accuracy of MIS data; discuss with project technical staff the findings and propose corrections, adjustments and/or improvements.
  
  
• Develop various MIS forms for data collection and analysis as required.
  
  
• Generate statistical reports, graphs, maps, infographics, and follow up on trends of project indicators or other related data points on a monthly basis.
  
  

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree preferred in relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience in a relevant competency area, including statistics, international development, economics or other.
  
  
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working on the monitoring and evaluation preferably for donor funded projects.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience of developing monitoring and evaluation systems, experience developing compelling dashboards and analytical reports to communicate project results and guide adaptive project management.
  
  
• Experience working with an international or local NGO/NPO is desirable.
  
  

Skills and Capabilities

• Ability to write concise and clear reports.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with wide range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
  
  
• Proven experience in managing multiple and competing tasks while maintaining quality of deliverables within deadlines.
  
  
• Advanced oral and written communication skills in English and Xhosa.
  
  
• Proficiency with MS Office, including Excel and Word and other communication tools (i.e., Teams, Zoom, SharePoint).
  
  
• Good organizational and interpersonal skills.
  
  
• Willingness to travel within & outside the region as and when required.
  
  

To Apply

Please submit your resume to by or before 15th December 2024.

Please include the position title in the subject line of the mail.

Please submit the resume and related application documents as a single attachment.

Please include your long-term employment history and any relevant short-term consulting work.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone.

Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.

Tanager is an equal opportunity employer.

Women, minorities and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply.

Please be aware that Tanager does not charge any fee at any step of recruitment.

Required Skill Profession

It Management & It Project Management