Senior Evaluation and Learning Advisor
Senior Evaluation and Learning Advisor
Purpose Of The Position:
The position fosters learning and evidence-based development of thematically-aligned program strategies at Oxfam; engages program managers and MEL staff in countries, regions and in thematic teams to design shared MEL systems around long-term, influence-oriented rights-based programs; collaborates with program managers to conduct and/or commission evaluation and learning processes to assess progress towards impact and test underlying assumptions in Program (including influencing) theories of change; and assists the Global MEL Manager in working with and strengthening capacities of program quality and monitoring, evaluation, and learning throughout the Oxfam organization.
Primary Responsibilities: In coordination with program management and MEL staff, the Senior Advisor will:
- Lead the design and implementation of shared, high quality, integrated Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems to assess the effectiveness of thematically-aligned programs.
- Partner with thematic teams and strategic partner countries to design testable, evaluable theories of change around thematically aligned programs;
- Plan and budget for iterative learning and adaptation moments;
- Develop evaluation and learning approaches that improve the measurement advocacy and influencing approaches and the measurement of impact;
- When necessary, provide training, support, accompaniment to staff.
- Coordinate with monitoring and evaluation advisors, the Institutional Support Department, and/or thematic advisors, and/or regional Program Management Units (PMU) to ensure that monitoring, evaluation and learning activities:
- Are planned and budgeted for, from proposal development to closure;
- Are aligned with the Oxfam Confederation's approaches and standards.
- Meet donor requirements and improve social accountability to program participants;
- Meet or exceed standards of the sector and evaluation field.
- Conduct and/or commission evaluation and learning processes at multiple levels for thematic programming and for organizational learning purposes.
- Commission, develop and/or manage evaluation and learning processes;
- Conduct evaluation readiness assessments and prepare program teams to engage in evaluative research and participatory learning processes;
- Design and conduct or commission evaluation processes applying a mixed-method approaches (quantitative, qualitative and using triangulation);
- Oversee quality of evaluation and/or learning processes and ensure competent implementation teams.
- Provide technical advice and support to integrate evidence into program learning and adaptation.
- Work with program staff and thematic advisors to incorporate monitoring and evaluation findings;
- Lead, manage or support the integration of research into planning, monitoring and evaluation processes or by analyzing existing data from past evaluations with Oxfam staff and partners;
- When necessary, provide training, support, accompaniment to staff
- Magnify the evidence from our strategic MEL systems to share knowledge in our sector, improve external accountability and demonstrate what does work and what does not work.
- Coordinate dissemination of program evidence and learnings with LEAD team, communications and resource development units;
- Collaborate with Oxfam's confederation-wide MEL network, Knowledge Hubs and Knowledge for Impact Team to promote further learning and evidence-based knowledge sharing with other program teams, countries, and themes;
- Collaborate with thematic, policy, research and country teams (as appropriate) to present Oxfam's evaluation findings and learning through conferences such as AEA and publishing on Oxfam's policy and practice website and other journals.
- Contribute to OUS and OI MEL shared initiatives and knowledge management to enhance standards of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities and improve performance of programs across the confederation.
Expectations For The Position:
- Perform all duties appropriately for a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect, and be familiar with and committed to the mission and goals of Oxfam America.
- Works effectively and collaboratively in support of building a team-based culture of work.
- Has an understanding of gender justice and diversity within key areas of responsibility and a commitment to promoting gender justice and diversity in our workplace and programs.
- Stays abreast of professional standards, trends and issues affecting this set of responsibilities, continuously striving for enhanced quality and impact and demonstrating continuous learning.
- Within key areas of responsibility, will have a commitment to providing a safe environment for staff, partners, and beneficiaries, and a commitment to promoting safeguarding in our workplace, programs, and the communities we serve.
- International travel up to 30% of the time.
Required Qualifications:
Education: Master's degree with a strong social research component, or equivalent combination of education, experience and training.
Experience and Core Competencies:
- Five or more years of experience in evaluation and research in the international development or policy field.
- Experience in the practical implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning processes that drive effectiveness for a project or program in a developing country context.
- Strong conceptual foundation in social science research, quantitative and qualitative methods and analysis and demonstrated understanding of evaluation methodologies for rights-based international development work.
- Experience supporting the design, monitoring and evaluation of complex, rights-based programming and/or development approaches that aim for large-scale systemic change using influencing strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to translate technical findings into accessible formats for various audiences.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills, including preparation and monitoring of plans and budgets.
- Able to work effectively in a networked and matrix structure, demonstrating good leadership and good "followership" as need-ed.
Preferred Qualifications (Power And Money Theme):
- Experience working in at least one of these issues: aid effectiveness/financing for development, tax justice, and/or extractive industries.
- Experience advising national policy and advocacy work and using MEL evidence and findings to help enhance advocacy intervention design and implementation.
Preferred Qualifications (General):
- Fluency in Spanish, French or Arabic.
- Experience carrying out gender-focused and developmental evaluation studies in cross-cultural settings.
- Experience working in Latin America, West Africa, East Africa, Middle East, North Africa and/or Asia.
- Experience in training and facilitation in the development sector.