Mel Specialist

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TechnoServe Background

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe's work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase, and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

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Job Summary

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist will lead the MEL function for the Smart Souks Project in Ethiopia. This role will ensure that robust MEL systems are in place, that data is accurate, timely, and actionable, and that insights are used to inform adaptive management and decision-making.

The MEL Specialist will design and oversee MEL tools, procedures, and systems; ensure data quality and integrity; and guide project staff in evidence-based programming. This position demands strong technical MEL expertise and solid project management skills, including developing timelines, coordinating activities, and producing high-quality reports and analysis.

The MEL Specialist will work closely with the Project Manager, program staff, and TechnoServe's regional MEL network to embed learning into program delivery and share insights across the organization.

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Program Background

The Ethiopia Smart Souks Initiative represents a significant evolution in the partnership between TechnoServe and the elea Foundation to strengthen the micro-retail sector in East Africa.

Smart Souks will build on the successes of the previous four phases of the Smart Duka program in Kenya, which have directly impacted over 57,000 micro-retailers (dukas); mobilized over $5 million in capital; fostered partnerships with more than 10 financial institutions and over 50 manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors; and established 58 business groups and 10 regional associations that forms the NDO membership. Through business groups, the micro-retailers have been able to aggregate fast-moving consumer goods products worth over $1M, attracting an average of 2-5% quantity discounts.

Smart Souks' vision for micro-retail is rooted in a long-term process of sector transformation, strengthening systems through interventions that support commercialization, maturity, and sustainability. In Ethiopia, we aim to enter the market further along this pathway than we did in Kenya. Rather than starting with training individual micro-retailers, we propose a more advanced, collective approach—organizing micro-retailers into scalable clusters, serving selected high-density condominium communities in Addis Ababa, working through locally embedded Business Development Services (BDS) providers. This model is particularly promising in essential goods sectors like cooking oil, where early signals from government actors suggest strong alignment and interest.

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Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. MEL Coordination and Oversight

• Lead the design and implementation of the Smart Souks MEL work plan aligned with project performance indicators and emerging information needs.
• Integrate MEL activities into annual and quarterly work plans in collaboration with the project team.
• Oversee the design of data collection tools, surveys, indices, and data management systems.
• Manage the entire data cycle, from collection to cleaning, validation, and reporting, ensuring high standards of accuracy and completeness.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments (DQAs) and implement improvements.
• Undertake periodic field visits to monitor data collection processes and identify areas for improvement.

2. Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Train and mentor project staff and partners on MEL processes, data collection methods, analysis, visualization, and interpretation.
• Translate research findings and data into accessible formats for stakeholders with varying technical backgrounds.
• Incorporate qualitative, quantitative, and participatory approaches into MEL design and execution.

3. Adaptive Management and Learning

• Facilitate periodic reviews of the project's logical framework and theory of change, updating them based on lessons learned and contextual changes.
• Present data-driven insights to inform decision-making, highlight successes, and recommend course corrections.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to embed adaptive management practices into implementation.

4. Cross-Organizational Engagement

• Collaborate with TechnoServe's Regional MEL network to share lessons learned and adopt best practices.
• Contribute to organizational impact reporting and corporate MEL initiatives.
• Support external evaluations, liaising with evaluators to ensure smooth execution.

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Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Agronomy, or a related field, and at least 3 years of experience in a Project Management role in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning.
• Master's degree or 1 year experience.

Technical Expertise:

• Experience designing and implementing MEL systems, including qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methods.
• Strong data management and analytical skills; proficiency in tools such as MS Excel, CommCare, Stata, SPSS, NVivo, or similar.
• Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and accessible visualizations.

Sector Knowledge:

• Familiarity with the MSMEs, preferably in the informal micro retail sector, market systems development, and private sector engagement.

Soft Skills & Attributes:

• Strong communication skills in English (proficiency in Amharic or other Ethiopian languages highly desirable).
• Demonstrated project management skills, including planning and coordination.
• Creative and inquisitive problem-solving mindset with a commitment to learning and innovation.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, with the ability to work diplomatically with diverse stakeholders.

Other Requirements:

• Willingness to travel frequently within Ethiopia.

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