National Local Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert

The National Local Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert will support the Skills for Decent Employment in Zambian Artisanal and Small-scale Mining project by designing and implementing MEL frameworks, coordinating data collection and analysis, and providing technical advice to ensure project performance tracking and learning. The role involves capacity building, reporting, and field missions to support project objectives in Zambia.

Responsibilities

• Support the LTA and HQ KM & Monitoring expert in the design and refinement of the project's MEL framework, including outcome-tracking tools and GESI-sensitive indicators.
• Plan and coordinate MEL-related activities (data collection missions, participatory monitoring exercises) with the Provincial Coordinators and Community Outreach Officers.
• Provide technical advice to the LTA and PMU on monitoring, evaluation and learning matters.
• Lead the collection, verification and analysis of quantitative and qualitative project performance data at field and provincial levels.
• Ensure monitoring processes and tools comply with UNIDO standards and EU donor requirements.
• Support the design and application of participatory monitoring approaches with ASM communities.
• Integrate GESI-sensitive indicators into monitoring tools and processes.
• Facilitate continuous learning by synthesizing field evidence, documenting good practices and identifying implementation challenges.
• Communicate MEL findings and lessons learned to the project management team and Provincial Technical Committees (PTCs).
• Support the documentation and dissemination of good practices and success stories generated through MEL processes.
• Contribute MEL-related content for project visibility and knowledge products.
• Support capacity building of implementing partners and local stakeholders on MEL practices and tools.
• Facilitate training and coaching for PMU staff (Provincial Coordinators, Community Outreach Officers) on data collection and monitoring tools.
• Support partners in adopting participatory monitoring approaches with ASM communities.
• Feed lessons learned into adaptive management processes and provide recommendations to the LTA and PDM.
• Contribute MEL data and analysis to monthly, quarterly and annual project reports.
• Maintain the project's MEL data systems and ensure data quality and accessibility.
• Undertake field missions across the target provinces to support MEL activities as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the LTA in support of the overall achievement of project objectives.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in monitoring and evaluation, statistics, social sciences, development studies or another relevant discipline is required; Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 5 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.
• At least five (5) years of professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, research or data analysis for development or technical cooperation projects, is required.
• Experience designing and applying monitoring and evaluation frameworks, tools and outcome-tracking indicators, is required.
• Experience in quantitative data collection and analysis, including the use of statistical or data analysis tools/software, is required.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of Zambia or a similar country in the region is desirable.
• Experience in working with government and development agencies in the province and in Zambia is desirable.
• Experience with participatory monitoring approaches involving artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) or other rural/informal-sector communities is desirable.
• Experience integrating gender-sensitive or GESI indicators into MEL frameworks is desirable.
• Experience providing MEL capacity building to implementing partners is desirable.
• Experience working with UN agencies or international development organizations is desirable.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Working knowledge of Nyanja, Bemba or another locally relevant Zambian language is desirable.

Skills

• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Data Analysis
• Quantitative Data Collection
• Statistical Analysis
• MEL Framework Design
• Outcome-Tracking Indicators
• Research for Development
• Capacity Building
• Project Performance Reporting
• Participatory monitoring
• Gender-sensitive Indicators
• MEL Reporting
• Technical Advice
• Field Missions
• Development Cooperation
• Working with Government Agencies
• Experience with UN Agencies

Languages

English