Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer

Background

The Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) is a non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organization established in 2005. ECDD promotes the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities through policy advocacy and mainstreaming disability inclusion in service delivery, development programs, and humanitarian actions.

ECDD has launched a new one-year initiative titled “A Multi-Sectoral Initiative for Screening 9,000 Youth with Disabilities, Providing Rehabilitation, School Enrollment, and Upgrading School Infrastructure across 23 Woredas.” Funded by UNICEF and implemented under the Biqu Wotat Program in partnership with the Amhara Development Association (ADA), the project aims to enhance inclusive education, healthcare access, and institutional support for 9,000 youth with disabilities (ages 15–29) across 23 target woredas.

Purpose of the Role

The MEL Officer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems for the Biqu Wotat Project. This role ensures timely data collection, analysis, reporting, and learning processes that enhance program quality and demonstrate impact for persons with disabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring and Data Management

• Develop and implement project monitoring plans, indicators, tools, and reporting frameworks.
• Track progress of project activities against approved work plans and indicators.
• Ensure disability-disaggregated and gender-disaggregated data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Regularly track project progress against indicators and targets, and produce consolidated performance monitoring reports.
• Maintain accurate databases and beneficiary records while ensuring confidentiality.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess project progress and quality.
• Track project outputs, outcomes, and performance indicators against targets.

Evaluation and Learning

• Ensure programmatic results are well-aligned with ECDD’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, ensuring consistency with the organization’s overall strategic objectives and goals.
• Support baseline, midline, and end-line surveys, assessments, and evaluations.
• Prepare a comprehensive M&E plan and coordinate joint monitoring visits to project areas involving stakeholders, the ECDD Management Team, and the.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to measure project effectiveness and impact.
• Prepare evaluation reports and present findings to management and stakeholders.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.
• Facilitate learning and reflection sessions with project teams and partners.

Data Collection and Management

• Design data collection tools (e.g., surveys, checklists) using platforms such as KoboToolbox or similar systems.
• Ensure data quality through regular verification, validation, and cleaning processes.
• Ensure that all data collected and reported is accurate, reliable, and consistent with established standards.
• Ensure that all documentation related to the project is compliant with organizational policies and donor requirements
• Ensure that documents are properly archived and retained for the required period, as well as provide access to documents for audits or evaluations.
• Maintain and update project databases and ensure data is securely stored and accessible.

Reporting and Communication

• Prepare high-quality monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare quarterly and annual project performance reports for government signatory bodies, ECDD Board of Directors and General Assembly.
• Support timely submission of donor reports in line with agreed requirements.
• Translate data into clear visuals, dashboards, and summaries for decision-making.

Accountability and Inclusion

• Ensure monitoring systems are accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities.
• Support feedback and complaint response mechanisms.
• Promote disaggregated data collection by disability, age, gender, and other relevant factors.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and organizational MEL standards.
• Ensure compliance with disability inclusion and safeguarding standards.

Capacity Building and Quality Assurance

• Train staff, partners, and volunteers on data collection and M&E procedures.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments and audits.
• Provide technical support to field teams on data quality assurance.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and organizational standards.

Safeguarding & Financial Oversight

• Apply safeguarding, child protection, and Do No Harm principles across all community and school activities, maintaining zero tolerance for corruption, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment.
• Ensure safe, accessible feedback and complaint mechanisms are available to beneficiaries and community members.
• Monitor field activities and resource utilization against approved budgets, ensuring transparent, efficient expenditure with accurate supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with Finance, Procurement, and Logistics teams to ensure timely supply delivery in compliance with ECDD and UNICEF donor guidelines.

Additional Responsibilities

• In addition to the duties outlined above, the MEL Officer is mandated to undertake any other tasks or responsibilities that may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor. These assignments will be consistent with the role and organizational priorities, intended to ensure flexibility, responsiveness, and effective delivery of ECDD’s mission and project objectives.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, M&E, Social Sciences, Project Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, preferably in disability inclusion, humanitarian, or development programs.
• Experience using data collection and analysis tools such as Excel, MS Access, SPSS, STATA, Power BI, KoboToolbox.
• Strong understanding of results-based management and logical frameworks.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities and disability-inclusive programming.
• Proven computer skills for effectively using email software, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Desirable:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent report writing and data analysis skills.
• Effective communication and presentation abilities.
• Knowledge of disability rights, inclusion principles, and safeguarding.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Core Competencies

• Commitment to disability inclusion and safeguarding.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data quality.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability in complex environments.
• Effective teamwork and interpersonal skills.