Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director — Food for Progress Program (Ethiopia)

WHO WE ARE:

Global Communities partners with communities worldwide to bring innovative solutions to complex challenges in humanitarian response, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. We combine local knowledge with global expertise to save lives, strengthen systems, and build more resilient futures.

Position Summary:

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Reports to: Chief of Party

Program Duration: 5 years expected (anticipated end date of 9/30/2030)

Please note: Local Ethiopian candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We will review applicants on a rolling basis until this position is filled.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director will be responsible for overall leadership and management relating to the development and implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning activities for a five-year, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress project in Ethiopia with Global Communities. Food for Progress programs help developing countries and emerging democracies modernize and strengthen their agricultural sectors. Food for Progress has two principal objectives: to improve agricultural productivity and to expand trade in agricultural products. This project will use a strategic market-driven initiative to transform Ethiopia’s livestock sector and advance U.S. trade and development interests within it.

The MEL Director will work closely with the project leadership team, MEL staff, and local partners to design and implement monitoring systems that are responsive to all programmatic and organization/donor reporting needs. This includes designing and managing MEL systems, ensuring high-quality data collection and analysis, and contributing to all required donor and internal reports and related deliverables. The Director will manage the national MEL team and provide oversight to project-level MEL staff, partners, and external evaluators.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research:

• Lead the design and implementation of the project MEL system, in close coordination with program leadership, ensuring ongoing adherence to USDA requirements and alignment with the program’s Theory of Change.
• Oversee and execute internal and external large-scale data collection activities, including project evaluations (baseline, midterm, and final), special research studies, and market post-monetization plan impact assessment report.
• Ensure efficient routine monitoring and reporting systems, integrating digital platforms (e.g., CommCare, Power BI).
• Manage data quality processes and promote the ethical collection and use of information.
• Manage contracts for all outsourced monitoring and evaluation activities (TPMs, special studies, assessments, etc.), ensuring all deliverables are met in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Management, Capacity Building, and Coordination:

• Supervise and mentor MEL staff at national and zonal levels; build capacity among program and partner staff members.
• Represent GC as project MEL leader and subject matter expert within relevant working groups, partner networks, and donor meetings.
• Ensure the development of timely inputs for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual progress reports and any other required reports.

Accountability and Learning:

• Build and sustain a culture of community-led learning through co-created learning questions, technical leadership of research studies and conduct of ongoing data reflection and adaptation sessions.
• Oversee the design and rollout of a project-level Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (FBM), aligned with organizational frameworks and policies.

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and a minimum of six years of related work experience or a minimum of ten years of related work experience.
• Advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, statistics, agricultural economics, development studies, or related field preferred
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible MEL experience in donor-funded programs, (USDA, USAID, or similar preferred).
• Strong background in mixed-methods evaluation design and implementation, including large-scale baseline and endline studies.
• Experience in agricultural or livestock value chains is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor diverse teams and build partner capacity.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in digital MEL tools (Commcare) and data visualization platforms (PowerBI).
• Fluency in English required, including excellent speaking and writing skills, other local languages an asset.