DM&E Associate

Search for Common Ground

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is one of the largest international NGOs working on peacebuilding and conflict transformation. We have 36 offices around the world with over 600 staff. At the office in Bujumbura there are approximately 24 full-time staff, with three monitoring and evaluation staff, and two regional staff.

SFCG is full of committed, enthusiastic and talented individuals. It is a fun place to work and an exciting place to learn offering a rich range of opportunities.

The Institutional Learning Team

The Institutional Learning Team (ILT) sits at the heart of the organisation. The Team comprises the VP of Programs, Director of DM&E, Learning Portal Manager, and the Director of Children and Youth, all of whom are based in DC headquarters. It additionally includes five DM&E Specialists for Asia, Middle East & North Africa, East and Southern Africa, and West Africa.

ILT is a fun team to be part of and undertakes work that spans the full spectrum of work of the organisation. ILT works across every programme at Search for Common Ground (SFCG) either on Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DM&E) related issues or on learning and cross-fertilisation related themes.

The associate will be working with the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist based in the Search for Common Ground Country office in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Job Description

Supervised by the Regional Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, SFCG seeks an associate for the Institutional Learning Team to support SFCG’s Monitoring and Evaluation work in East and Southern Africa, with specific support to the Burundi team.

The associate will be responsible for a short-term monitoring and evaluation start-up process in Burundi. Working with the Burundi M&E team, the DM&E associate will support M&E planning, tool design and activities for the project Amahoro Iwacu, a three-year USAID project that will be executed in partnership with Catholic Relief Services and local partners. The project’s goal is to improve the ability of urban and rural youth to resist political violence amongst themselves and in their communities.

The primary responsibilities of the DM&E associate will be related to two main aspects of the Burundi project:

1) Supporting and working in coordination with the Burundi M&E team to put in place a feasible and well-designed M&E plan. This includes thinking creatively about barriers to M&E in Burundi’s current political context, and working with the project manager to develop an approach in which everyone can engage. It will be an opportunity to engage in both fieldwork and analysis with support from the Burundi team and the DME Regional Specialist.

2) Developing a youth-led research project with participants across several provinces in Burundi. The youth-led research component of the project requires a participatory training method for youth in research methods that allows them to develop a research plan together, and identify key components of research on the situation of youth that are most important for them to learn. The ILT associate will support these youth, in combination with the M&E team in Burundi, to design the research, execute data collection in the field, and come together to analyse the data. They will also support youth in writing a report on their findings, consolidating information from all participants into a final report.

ILT Associate’s Responsibilities

• Support M&E start-up, planning and execution for the Amahoro Iwacu project.
• Support quality of research, monitoring and evaluation taking place in Burundi’s office related to this project.
• Primary focal point for the youth-led research component of the Amahoro Iwacu project. Includes leading a team of youth in research, analysis, and reflection.
• Support research on cutting edge issues in research and evaluation methodology, thematic issues, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Support the use of innovative methodologies and technologies in conflict analysis research.
• Contribute to the development of M&E planning in East and Southern Africa.
• Provide support to the Regional DM&E Specialist as needed to reinforce DM&E systems in country offices.
• Conduct research of best practices for DM&E methodologies and tool development for our M&E systems.
• Organising meetings, taking notes, and providing logistical support for the DM&E team.
• With local partners and SFCG, support the sharing of research results through the different activities.

Requirements:

• Education or relevant work experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, international development, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, or other related fields (graduate level preferred);
• French language skills and translation ability an advantage;
• Experience in information gathering and research;
• Excellent written and oral English skills and the ability to draft, edit and proofread;
• Good computer skills (including Word, Excel, various Web 2.0 tools);

Preferred Attributes:

• Proactive attitude and ability to work independently and in a team;
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills;
• Creative and thorough approach to work;
• Interest in evaluation of conflict resolution interventions.

HOW TO APPLY:

The associate should be able to commit to working for SFCG for a minimum of 5 days per week in the Search for Common Ground Burundi office for at least a 3-month period. The ideal starting period for this position would bein February 2015.

To apply please upload your (1) Cover Letter and (2) Resume tot through our application website athttps://sfcg.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=415 by January 21, 2016, or as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

In your cover letter, please clearly state which position you are applying to, why the position is of interest, what you can bring to it and what you hope to gain from it. Also, please include the date you can start work, the length of your availability (in months – please note that this position has the possibility for extension or renewal).