Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning and Communications Specialist

Internal and External Vacancy Announcement

Plant With Purpose/Floresta is a non-governmental organization based in San Diego, CA, USA, whose mission is to reverse poverty and deforestation by transforming the lives of the rural poor.

Floresta Ethiopia is implementing different development societal activities to improve economic empowerment and environmental restoration with emphasis on gender equity and inclusion in Andebet Woreda, South Gondar Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Thus, Floresta Ethiopia would like to invite competent candidates who fulfill the requirements listed below.

General Function

The ME&L Head and Communications Specialist is a highly visible Leadership and Management position that reports to the Country Director. The position will manage all aspects of the MEL and Communications strategy, plans and activities, including, implementation and development. Provide leadership, strategic direction, monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the Program.

The position also plays a key role in the Senior Management Team (SMT), typical tasks include developing effective corporate communication strategies, managing internal communications (memos, newsletters etc.) Drafting content (e.g. press releases) for mass media or company website collects and processing data to generate reports, monitor innovations, document best practices, capacity building for staff data collection, coordinating program activity schedule, and budget, reporting and report processing on the current state of the program. These tasks ensure the program stays on track with a focus on providing actionable data for continuous improvement of the program in alignment with the Theory of Change

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs and controls planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning activities of the organization
• Adapt & Contextualize Standard Operations Procedures and operational guidelines on initiatives that help to ensure the quality of programs’/projects’ such as Community Engagement & Accountability (CEA) throughout the program/project cycle and overseas its implementation
• Plan, organizes, directs, coordinates and controls the communication activities of the organization
• Develop effective corporate communication strategies
• Manage internal communications (memos, newsletters, etc.)
• Draft content (e.g. press releases) for mass media or company website
• Ensure timely verification of M&E data by verifying office documents against field reality
• Coaching, Assisting and supporting the team
• Ensure organizational effectiveness through development and implementation of organizational communication strategy, policies and practices
• Review, analyze and process reports.
• Ensure deadlines are met
• Document trials/FFS findings that are most relevant (address a pressing need), most integrated (complement existing spiritual renewal, sustainable agriculture and economic empowerment interventions) and tree planting Program Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
• Set achievable targets at the beginning of the year and monitor implementation to ensure that they are met.
• Process report for FLORESTA and share them with the management
• Coordinate M&E data collection process them into information used for decision making and continuous program improvement
• Ensure timely implementation of ME&L activities and improvement plans

Field Visit

• Conduct training(s). S/he will be required to conduct training(s) aiming at making sure that both Floresta staff and participants understand and are able to collect quality data which will help the management and other stakeholders in making informed decisions concerning development.
• Data verification: Verification exercise shall include all document including PA, agreements, inventories, improvement plans, attendance register, deadline tracking sheet, trip reports, work plan etc
• Social media content development
• Conducting Baseline survey community readiness assessment for new sub-watershed and Impact evaluation
• Coordinating staff review meeting (timetable, venue, meals, writing minutes etc)

Reporting 

• Success stories preparation
• Preparation of annual returns/report for the government
• Preparation of annual report as per organization’s planning year (as per 30th June each year)
• Review of all online inventories
• Review of online improvement plans
• Performs other duties and responsibilities of the work unit as assigned by the Country Director

Technical skills

• Know-how in management, relationships, internal and external communication of the organization,
• Knowledge of the environment of the organization
• Gender inclusion and equity
• Personal qualities
• Organization,
• Writing skills,
• Good communication skills
• Teamwork leader
• Ability to make decisions
• Autonomy
• Rigor
• Creativity
• Taste for challenge

Qualities for success

• a vision for integrated community development which links the environmental, economic and spiritual aspects of rural households
• ability to think creatively and pursue new solutions to existing challenges
• deep knowledge of local context in Andabet, South Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
• ability to optimize financial, time, and human resources to achieve desired project outcomes
• ability to relate across cultures

Travel requirements and demands

Frequent travel to project sites which at times may be in difficult and physically arduous conditions

Reports to: Country Director

Location: Bahir Dar, Amhara

Job Status:  Full Time Contract

Required Skills

• Excellent community development skills
• Communication skills
• Fluent in Amharic and English both spoken and written
• Good planning skills
• Good writing and reporting skills
• Interest in theology of the care of creation, conservation, forestry, sustainable agriculture and micro-finance with demonstrated expertise (training/work experience) in at least one of these areas

Education Background

• BA/BSC or MA/MSc in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Project planning and management, Management, Development Economics and Statistics with 6/8 years related work experience,

Preferred

• Female applicants
• Experience working  in NGO sector has an advantage
• Residing in the Amhara region