Senegal: PROGRAM QUALITY MEL OFFICER

Programme Quality & MEL Officer

Contract Type: fixed term, two (02) years

Location: Dakar, Senegal

Job Grade: National

Reporting to: Country Director

Job Ref No: 12837

WHO WE ARE

Oxfam is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. We work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions. Oxfam saves lives, develops long-term solutions to poverty, and campaigns for social change.

OXFAM has been active in Senegal for more than two decades. In recent years, our focus has been on supporting sustainable livelihoods, promoting good governance and ensuring sustainable human development in the face of crisis and human/natural disasters.

Job Purpose

To increase Oxfam’s program impact in Senegal by working closely with country management and program teams to improve program quality – providing technical advice, coordination and strategic support on program quality including design, planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning, social accountability and partnership with Oxfam’s one program approach, gender, rights-based approach and impact at scale embedded.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Programquality leadership

· Promote a PQ culture and evidence-based decision making working with the Country Management team to develop a culture of PQ and knowledge-driven programming within Oxfam and partners, and actively participate in senior management meetings, providing support to evidence-based decision making processes.

· Develop, monitor, and ensure the implementation of a country PQ strategy for foundational aspects (design, MELSA and partnership), ensuring cross-cutting topics are embedded in PQ.

· Provide leadership and quality assurance on the planning, preparation, and implementation of annual Programme Quality Reviews that inform PQ improvement plans, and support country and program management to establish PQ priorities.

Programme design and planning

· In close collaboration with funding team, guide and support CMT and program teams in planning for programme, project, and proposal design. This includes promoting and supporting early engagement and active participation of partners, primary change agents, and of Oxfam and partner PQ staff in programme and project identification and design.

· Influence and guide country team to embed and resource PQ in programmes/projects - in particular restricted programming - and that developed programs and projects meet Oxfam quality standards.

· Influence funding and decision-making processes to ensure investment in MELSA at 5% of program spend, and include additional resources for design, partnership and knowledge management.

· Proactively contribute and support quality strategy, programme, and project development processes in coherence with Oxfam standards, with an emphasis on ensuring sound programme logic and objective setting that is informed by contextual information, learning, and knowledge.

· Promote and facilitate evidence-based programme design

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Social Accountability

· Coordinate support for Oxfam and partner teams in designing and ensuring the operationalization and implementation of effective and participatory MELSA strategies and plans at all levels in line with Oxfam standards.

· Provide assurance and control of the quality of programme and project MELSA that is appropriate to the context and in line with Oxfam standards.

· Provide technical advice and support in designing and implementing relevant programme and project MELSA systems in line with priorities agreed with programme and country management teams.

· Support implementation of country knowledge and learning agenda, participate in the definition of a country knowledge and learning agenda and provide methodological guidance to thematic leads on the design and organization of programme reviews and learning events.

· Provide oversight in ensuring that Programme Management Information Systems are up to date and contain accurate information that facilitates decision-making at the strategic and operational level.

Partnership and capacity development

· Support partner identification processes in collaboration with programme teams

· Support partner capacity assessment and support in the design and review of partnership strategies for the country and relevant programmes.

· Provide guidance and mobilize support to the country team in regularly reviewing and strengthening partnership relations, downward accountability, and adherence to Oxfam partnership principles.

· Strengthen country capacity on PQ: Facilitate identification of needs, planning, and implementation for country team capacity building in programme quality areas, and build capacity of Oxfam and partner staff to deliver PQ, including through induction, training, and coaching. This includes mobilizing of internal and external resources as relevant in close coordination with the RPQL

Internal and external coordination, representation and networking

· Promote and ensure exchange and use of learning: Promote and facilitate the identification of learning from PQ practices by Oxfam and partners, ensure that knowledge and learning is shared internally and externally, and promote replication of good practices across the country programme.

· Contribute to effective corporate processes and reporting: Contribute to and support implementation of regional and global Oxfam PQ strategies, processes, policies, and initiatives. This includes contributing to effective corporate processes and reporting (e.g. Output reporting, indicative outcome areas, Program Quality Reviews, partnership surveys, etc.).

· Facilitate country use of KNOW system: coordinate and support country use of the KNOW system and market place for PQ (E)

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

· Knowledge of International Development and the INGO world, and experience, in particular, with practical field-based development including rights-based approaches, influencing strategies and gendered perspectives

· A higher degree in social sciences or related discipline

· Experience in effective and feasible MEL practice, with strong ability in both quantitative and qualitative forms of MEL , practice supporting organizational learning processes

· Experience of improving effectiveness of development and humanitarian programs and demonstrating tangible outcomes for poor and vulnerable women and men

· Strong understanding of all aspects of program quality, including the practical issues faced by managers in delivering high quality programs

· Proven ability to facilitate the design and development of country strategy, programs and projects, including Theory of Change

· Proven experience in supporting strategic thinking and quality improvement on partnership

· Demonstrable ability to think creatively and practically to improve program quality

· Ability to liaise and coordinate with a wide range of people, both internal and external

· Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with demonstrable ability to lead, influence, and motivate others in a diversity of contexts and functions

· Excellent communication, facilitation, and team building skills

· Strong self-awareness, as well as strong analytical and critical thinking skills

· Highly organized, with attention to detail;

· Proven planning, co-ordination and prioritisation skills;

· Ability to translate complex concepts or aggregate results into language and/or visuals that are accessible, creative and user-friendly materials

· Fluency in French is required and competence in English is desirable

Desirable

· Ability to carry out frequent travels to programme/project areas

· Ability to communicate in Wolof is highly desirable

· Ability to work with evaluation non-specialists and engage with colleagues in a multi-cultural environment

· Familiarity with current public discussion about accountability, including social accountability

HOW TO APPLY:

This opportunity is for a dedicated and highly motivated professional with strong commitment to Oxfam's values and beliefs. If you believe you are qualified for this post and you are the candidate that we are looking for, please submit your cover letter and CV to:

https://app.jobvite.com/CompanyJobs/Job.aspx?j=ol9c6fww

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 13 NOVEMBER 2017

Given the urgent need for this position, suitable candidates can be shortlisted and interviewed before the closing date.

ONLY SHORLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED