Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager

Amideast is a leading American non-profit organization engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa. Founded in 1951, Amideast in its early years focused on promoting U.S. study to students in the MENA region and managing U.S. scholarships and exchanges such as the flagship Fulbright Foreign Student Program.  While these important programs continue apace, our work has expanded significantly. Today Amideast programs and services touch the lives of half a million individuals a year – improving educational opportunities and quality, strengthening local institutions, and developing language and professional skills critical for success in the global economy. Read More at: https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/amideast Copyrights © 2019 Lebanon Support. All rights reserved.

Summary of Position: Amideast seeks a qualified Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager for the anticipated $12M, five-year USAID-funded New Higher Education Capacity Development Activity in Lebanon. This activity will aim to provide technical assistance and institutional capacity building to local higher education institutions and to key official higher education entities in areas such as strategic planning, administrative and financial management, and collaboration with other stakeholders, to improve their effectiveness at the system level and to develop linkages with the private productive sector. Based in Beirut, the MEL Specialist will oversee and implement the program's Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approach, MEL plan, and learning agenda. The position will manage the learning agenda, design and implementation of the MEL system, and the gathering and analyzing of, and reporting on data. **Only citizens of Lebanon or permanent residents with work authorization will be considered. This position is contingent on funding** Primary Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Collaborative Learning and Adaptation (CLA):
  • Oversee the program’s CLA process in collaboration with the Chief of Party.
  • Ensure consistent and rigorous application of the program’s CLA approach.
  • Collaborate with the leadership team to integrate learnings and promote adaptive management.
• Develop and Implement MEL Framework:
  • Design a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan encompassing process, output, and outcome indicators across all program components.
  • Establish and execute a learning agenda, fostering engagement among implementing partners and nurturing a reflective learning culture.
• Data Monitoring and Quality Assurance:
  • Develop monitoring tools to capture data that reflects program results accurately.
  • Collaborate with partners to ensure high-quality MEL practices and data collection, providing capacity-building support as needed.
  • Regularly assess data collection processes, perform data quality checks, and implement adjustments to ensure reliability and timeliness.
• Program Oversight and Field Engagement:
  • Conduct field visits to provide technical assistance and verify proper monitoring of program activities.
  • Lead partner capacity-building initiatives to ensure adherence to MEL standards.
  • Ensure timely and efficient monitoring activities, including evaluations and follow-ups.
• Reporting and Stakeholder Communication:
  • Communicate findings and insights from MEL activities to internal staff and external stakeholders, including donors and partners.
  • Produce MEL reports, annual performance plans, and annual MEL plans to track and showcase program progress.
• Capacity Building and Support:
  • Serve as the primary MEL resource for the field office and personnel.
  • Liaise regularly with Amideast MEL team in Washington, D.C., ensuring alignment and knowledge-sharing.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Regularly review and refine MEL processes to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Support adaptive management by integrating learning outcomes into program activities.
• Additional Duties:
  • Perform other relevant tasks as assigned to support the program’s success.

Required Skills and Qualifications

•  Bachelor's degree in statistics, demographics, public policy, education, or related field
•  Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience implementing donor-funded, preferably USAID, MEL activities in Lebanon with a focus on education, workforce development, youth development, or capacity development
•  Proven success in designing, implementing, and operating program MEL systems from program initiation to closeout stages
•  Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies
•  Experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing MEL and performance monitoring plans
•  Familiarity with innovative MEL methods to ensure data collection in areas with minimal connectivity and with participants with minimal literacy skills
•  Experience in designing, managing, and implementing multi-disciplinary and results-based surveys, and developing and refining data collection tools
•  Experience with data quality assessments and oversight
•  Experience managing and providing ongoing training to MEL field officers
•  Advanced fluency in English required. Working-level knowledge of Arabic desired.