Program Officer - MERL

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a private, non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill-health with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous and other resource poor regions, primarily in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its main areas of focus are education, health, rural development, environment and strengthening civil society.

The Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) [AKF(P)] is seeking high caliber professional for the following position to be based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Program Officer-Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning  (MERL )

The Program Officer for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) will report to Manager MERL AKF(Pak). and will ensure that the projects carried out by AKF(Pak) and its implementing partners in Pakistan are well-designed, well-executed, and well-learned-from. He/she will be responsible for management of MERL processes for AKF supported projects and programmes including data collection, data management, reporting, quality assurance and liaising with programme staff and implementing partners. He/she also works collaboratively with the programme staff and finance team to design and employ effective performance management plans; develop project monitoring frameworks; and support MERL processes during project design and implementation. He/She will provide dedicated support to the MERL team of implementing partners for effective implementation of PMF of BEST4WEER project.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

A.      Project Design and Implementation

• Review and finalize MERL plans for AKF supported projects including BEST4WEER in consultation with AKF (Pak) implementing partners.
• Support the development of results frameworks, MERL narratives and other relevant details involving programme staff and MERL team of AKFP and respective implementing partner(s).
• Ensure/support/facilitate design and implementation of project baseline studies, midterms evaluations/review, end-line studies and other technical assessments including gender and environmental assessments.
• Ensure and apply donor requirements, agreed MERL policies and procedures in design and execution of  MERL systems in projects and programmes including BEST4WEER, managed/supported by AKFP.
• Support programme teams and implementing partners to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools including development and refinement of project result frameworks, performance measurement frameworks, evaluation/assessments design and monitoring plans.
• Ensure implementation of the monitoring systems according to the project plans and policies, procedures and donor requirements.
• Ensure documentation and communication of results from different project studies including baselines, midline or endlines, evaluation or third-party reviews both internally and with external stakeholders, as per donor requirements and applicable MERL policies and procedures of AKF/ donors.
• Ensure active participation of partners, beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the design and implementation of MERL plans for the projects.
• Collaborate with Policy & Partnerships, programme teams, and partner organizations to ensure that projects under development have solid MERL frameworks from an early stage; help develop and/or review proposal documents as necessary.
• Manage / facilitate consultants in accordance with the approved policies and procedures for timely and quality delivery of outputs.
• Guiding and supervising third party service providers (organisations, individuals, contractors, institutions) sub-contracted to implement special surveys or studies in accordance with project PMF / PIP.
• Determining information needs of project management, implementing partners and primary stakeholders, and the donor agencies.
• Collecting, compiling and analysing monitoring / program reports prepared by implementing partners and facilitating the preparation of consolidated progress reports for project management to submit to the donor, in accordance with approved reporting formats.
• Producing regular/periodic internal reports for Management to update on project progress vis-à-vis Project PMF and PIP.  

B.      Learning and Knowledge Management Support programme teams in the development of Terms of References (ToRs) for different studies/evaluations, ensuring key learning questions frame the ToRs with a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods; and technical aspects as per donor and MERL policies and procedures.

• Facilitate HR to secure appropriate external human resource for evaluations/research studies in line with respective ToRs.
• Encourage learning by sharing and using acquired knowledge, skills, attitudes and technology that is conducive to improving performance.
• Develop and implement AKF global standards for documenting and sharing project achievements, successes, challenges and learning.
• Identify the need for studies and operational research, program performance evaluations, and support programme teams and partners to conduct additional studies and operational research if and as needed
• Support relationships, networks and synergies within and outside AKF (Pak) to promote the use of information and evidence for strategic decision making.
• Provide need-based training to project staff who are involved in project monitoring and reporting

C.      Support to MERL Unit AKF (Pak)

• Support MERL lead at AKF(Pak) for strengthening information management systems and ensure updated information are available on the AKF supported projects including BEST4WEER.
• Closely work with MERL team of implementing partners and ensure effective implementation of project MERL and communication plans.
• Contribute to update the MIS and AKF global database systems for BEST4WEER and other projects assigned by the supervisor and train other new members on use of MIS.
• Ensure AKF(P) remains up to date with respect to AKF global data management systems and processes.
• Support the Manager, MERL in the development of AKF Pakistan MERL systems, including strategies, policies/SOPs, and tools.
• Work closely with AKF Geneva to integrate global MIS with AKF Pakistan’s systems and processes.
• Stay abreast of industry developments in MERL and share with AKDN colleagues.

Required Qualifications & Experiences

• The incumbent should have a master’s degree in social sciences/development studies or economics with a research component and academic grounding in data science and research methods
• Five (5) years of experience in MERL and/or database management, preferably within a development organization and/or funded by foreign government donors.
• Knowledge of database management programming languages is an advantage.
• Knowledge of result-based management approach for project design, implementation, and reporting

AKF(P) offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. AKF(P) recruitment and selection policy and procedures reflect our commitment to equal opportunity and the safeguarding of children, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees in accordance with AKF(P)’s Safeguarding policy.

We are an equal opportunity employer and women are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is 19th April 2021. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.