Country MEL Advisor/Assistant

We are searching for an experienced Country MEL Advisor/Assistant at our Morocco facility. 

Project Overview:

The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) is a 7-year and €134 million programme funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that aims to create a prosperous future for 230,000 young women and men in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa, and Horn of Africa regions. The Fund supports initiatives in 11 countries that offer youth, in particular young women, opportunities for work that is demand-driven and productive, offering a stable income and safe working conditions, and that is contributing to their personal development and social protection.
Private sector, civil society and knowledge institutions submitted proposals through Challenge Calls geared to scalable solutions for creating more and better jobs and income generating opportunities for youth. Solutions focus on an integrated approach that addresses the shortcomings on the demand side (jobs) and supply side (skills) and bridging the mismatch between these two in the labour market.

Role Overview:

CFYE requires a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor/Assistant in Morocco to support on implementation of data quality assurance and capacity building with implementing partners (IPs).  This position is suitable for a mid-level MEL professional with excellent attention to detail and experience in data quality assurance. The MEL Advisor will need to operate independently after initial training/onboarding (while maintaining good communication about progress and reaching out for support from the Country Lead and Central MEL Advisor as needed on technical or operational questions).

Specific Activities & Deliverables:

- Attend onboarding/training sessions and relevant team meetings and review documentation/guidelines to develop a sound understanding of (and stay up to date on any changes to) CFYE’s MEL strategy, system and tools.
- Provide ongoing capacity building for IPs in MEL, including following up on gaps or issues identified through the MEL System Assessment or the IP’s routine reporting (review new tools, MEL plans, or MEL system components developed by the IP to ensure they meet requirements outlined in the MEL template).
- Support IPs to develop new MEL tools to fulfil reporting requirements (as needed).
- Review quarterly and annual KPI results submitted by implementing partners and conduct data quality assurance activities in accordance with CFYE guidelines (including review of validation documents, recalculation of results, etc.).
- Conduct phone calls or site visits to speak with a sample of beneficiaries for each project, to confirm recorded results and capture feedback (including on job quality and impact).
- Document findings from validation/verification activities and share reports and feedback with the Country Lead and central MEL team as well as the IP.
- Attend project progress review meetings to discuss findings and implications of the validation/verification exercise.
- Support IPs to update MEL Templates as required, based on learning and/or project design changes (in accordance with CFYE project change request process).

Level of effort & Contract Period:

- Period: 1 March – 31 August 2025
- Total input: 54 days
- LOE will higher in quarters where implementing partners have annual reporting, and lower in other months (estimated 6 – 8 days per month);
- 6 months contract, with a 6 month extension until closure of MEL activities within the country/call.

Reporting:

The MEL Advisor will report directly to the Country Lead with technical oversight from the MEL central team and regional MEL Advisor.

Role requirements:

- Based in Morocco and has the right to work in Morocco.
- Demonstrated experience in MEL, particularly conducting data quality assurance processes, including results validation/verification for results self-reported by partners.
- Experience using both qualitative and quantitative data collection/research techniques and advising programme partners on the use of appropriate research techniques.
- Topical knowledge of employment /entrepreneurship measurement issues preferable.
- Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships across teams and organisations.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities while meeting timelines.
- Willing to travel to IPs around the country.
- Strong communication skills, and fluency in written and spoken English, French and Arabica is compulsory.

Closing Date: 9 February 2025
#CFYE

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.