Lead Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) – Trickle Up

Apply by 10th May 23

Trickle Up’s (TU’s) Asia Regional office was established in the year 2006 in Kolkata, India and is now poised for attaining significant scale. TU is partnering with 7 local NGOs and the Odisha and Jharkhand state agencies of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission in the development and testing of scalable models for promoting the economic and social development of ultra-poor women and their households, based on the Graduation approach.

Trickle Up helps people in extreme poverty and vulnerability advance their economic and social well-being. We drive large-scale change by partnering with governments, global institutions, and local organizations.

Trickle Up has helped 335,000 women gain the skills and confidence to achieve greater economic self-sufficiency. We work with women and vulnerable populations to start sustainable livelihoods and join self-help groups that give them a safe place to save money, access credit, gain hope and confidence, and become decision-makers in their households and communities. Trickle Up has offices in Kolkata, Guatemala, and New York City. See trickleup.org for more information.

Position Overview:

This is a senior position within the TU Asia Program Team and will also work closely with the global Headquarters and other regional programs.   He/she will be responsible for ensuring that TU Asia’s programs are grounded with a solid, robust monitoring and evaluation framework and that data/information is generated on a consistent basis to ensure timely adjustment, program quality improvement and desired impact.  The Lead- MERL will be responsible, working closely with TU HQ colleagues, to ensure that the TU Asia office will have the necessary M&E systems and tools to meet their management, learning and evidence needs. He/She will work closely with both the India program team and the global monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) team to provide strategic and operational direction and oversight related to M&E and will provide on-the-ground support to implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems and projects. This position will also be instrumental in integrating digital monitoring and data visualization systems into TU and its partners’ M&E systems in India, to support real-time monitoring and management to support continual program learning and improvements. The Lead- MERL will also foster external research partnerships and develop research proposals to raise funding for high quality evaluations, in collaboration with the Program Director, and oversee the implementation of research. S/he will manage M&E and learning-related documentation and knowledge management portfolios of the region. S/he will also support the India and global program teams to identify evidence and innovations to inform Trickle Up’s programs and advocacy initiatives on behalf of highly vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Principal functions

Monitoring and Program Quality Assurance-

• Work closely with members of the program team to ensure that the monitoring systems are well aligned with and responsive to the program’s management, learning and advocacy needs (for both TU and its partners); ensure technical quality of the system; and the integration of mechanisms to enable feedback from and accountability to program participants.
• Ensure performance targets and graduation criteria align with and support TU’s regional strategy, including alignment with government partners as appropriate, at the individual, household and SHG level.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of “systems level” change objectives related to the effective inclusion of highly marginalized households in government programs.
• Support the Programme Director in rolling out the Program Quality Framework in close consultation with TU HQ and ensure systematic feedback and adjustment on the Framework as it is tested and utilized.

Digitalizaton of MIS/M&E system:

• Support the integration of appropriate digital technology for monitoring systems that support continual performance management and learning, in collaboration with HQ M&E staff and digital technology manager, and in collaboration with government and NGO partners.
• Monitor and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of digital M&E and program tools and systems, including their integration to support case management and accountability, and identify required improvements.

Evaluation and Research-

• Identify research priorities, in coordination with the Program Director and based upon program strategy and design objectives; lead on the development of research TORs and selection of external consultants to conduct research identified, as well as oversee quality of work. This includes process-oriented research as well as impact evaluations.
• Build relationships with external research partners and oversee the development of research proposals in order to secure research funding.
• Stay informed about research and trends in our program areas to inform TU’s strategy and program design accordingly.
• Oversee both internal and external evaluations, and ensure quality, integrity and efficiency of data collection, analysis, reporting and external communication.

Capacity building, Learning and Knowledge Management-

• Promote a culture of continual learning and performance management within Trickle Up and with partners, including a culture of transparency and willingness to discuss both failures and successes.
• Train and mentor staff to develop the necessary knowledge and skill sets to effectively engage in monitoring and evaluation activities and to engage in continual learning regarding their projects and programs.
• Track advancements in measurement, learning and evaluation and apply to TU’s programs as appropriate.
• Support TU program and partner staff in the interpretation and use of data to enhance the socio-economic inclusion of under-served groups.

Documentation, dissemination, and representation-

• Lead in the development of research briefs and articles, with support from the Communications team, and support other documentation efforts including developing case studies, technical briefs, and other publications.
• Disseminate research and evaluation results to TU’s program, business development and communications teams, and to external collaborators and audiences, including government and NGO partners, and the global Graduation community of practice.
• Support TU’s advocacy agenda for the effective inclusion of ultrapoor women and their households by providing evidence and learning at National, State and District levels through documentation and representation in relevant forums.

Team Management

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) lead is responsible for managing a team of M&E officers/ Digital M&E Officer to ensure the implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation systems. The MERL Lead oversees data collection, analysis, and reporting, and uses the findings to inform programmatic decisions and drive continuous learning and improvement.

Others-

• This is a leadership role and as such it is anticipated that the post-holder while generally working normal hours will fulfil his/her duties with out-of-hours work as and when necessary, including to enable effective communication with colleagues in TU’s New York based HQ and other regions of operation.
• Support resource mobilization initiatives through input to proposals and budgets and meeting prospective donors and partners.
• The job description may be altered depending upon organizational priorities.

Qualifications

Academic:

Post-graduate degree or equivalent in a field relevant to rural development

Working Experience:

• Demonstrated 12 years monitoring and evaluation experience working with field-based staff to ensure quality program implementation and learning for international NGOs, reputed local NGOs or government.
• Experience managing or evaluating livelihood programs, particularly in rural areas.
• Experience with gender focused programs, and other cross-cutting vulnerabilities.
• Experience working with extremely poor and highly marginalized populations.
• Experience working in partnership with both local NGOs and/or CBOs and government and state/national level entities (experience with NRLM particularly valued)

Knowledge and skills

• Strong writing skills in English and exemplary communication skills.
• Skills in data analysis (quantitative and qualitative), and ensuring data quality, integrity, and efficiency of collection.
• Skills in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems and distilling findings and learning for a range of audiences.
• Knowledge of digital approaches of program monitoring and evaluation.

Behavioral competencies

• Strong attention to detail.
• Able to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Works well both independently and as a member of a team.
• Optimistic, creative, and solutions-oriented; tackles challenges with maturity and accountability.
• Superb people skills and diplomatic demeanor.
• Understands the challenges and opportunities of working in a small nonprofit setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to mission-driven work.

TRAVEL Requirements

Must be able to travel domestically at least 50% of the time to remote areas, at short notice.

Salary and Benefits:

Trickle UP offers a competitive salary and benefits for this full-time position. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, passionate, multicultural team deeply committed to the alleviation of extreme poverty. Trickle Up promotes a collegial, high-performing organizational culture in which staff communicate clearly and openly, and are reflective, innovative, and mutually accountable.

To Apply:

• To be considered, all candidates must fulfill the above prerequisites, provide a complete CV, covering letter referencing the required functions, skills and experience, and a writing sample, preferably a sole authored piece related to research or evaluation. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• To submit your application, go to the Web Link given below and click on “Apply for this Position” button at the bottom of the page, and follow the instructions.

WebLink:

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until 10 May, 2023. We are sorry that we are unable to entertain phone calls related to this posting.

Trickle Up is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and extend equal opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law.