Vacant Position Advertisement: USAID/Mali Education Office: Project Management Specialist (Education and Monitoring & Evaluation) 

REF No.: 72068822R10004 (must be inserted in the subject line of the email)

(USAID/Mali is advertising the position of Project Management Specialist (Education and Monitoring & Evaluation)

GRADE LEVEL: FCFA 21,897,069 TO FCFA 33,940,461 equivalent to FSN-11. In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) of USAID/Mali, final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Program/Project Management Specialist (hereafter referred to as the M&E Specialist) will provide technical assistance to the USAID/Mali Education Team. Responsibilities will involve working together with education team colleagues to manage a range of activities in support of the Ministry of National Education. Specifically, s/he will assume responsibility for the monitoring and evaluation of all education programs, including the development and maintenance of a formal Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) that must be updated semi-annually as it serves as a management tool and the basis for all of education program reporting. Additionally, the M&E Specialist will be directly involved in managing awards as the AOR/COR or Activity Manager on mechanisms related to assessments, reach studies, and monitoring and evaluation; including day-to-day responsibility for the management of awards with ambitious education sector objectives and rigorous reporting requirements, such as the grant for education in conflict and crisis implemented by Education Cannot Wait (ECW).

It is expected that the successful execution of the responsibilities of this position will lead to a positive impact on the national education system in Mali.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:                                                                             

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (50%)

The M&E Specialist has primary responsibility for all assessment, monitoring, evaluation and learning areas of the education portfolio. As such, duties will include the following:

• Develop and maintain a formal Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan to serve as the education portfolio management and reporting tool. Ensure implementation of the Plan, including regular engagement with implementing partners.
• Coordinate with the Mission’s Program & Resource Management (PRM) Office on implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning contract to ensure support of the education portfolio, including tracking of indicators, data quality assessments, and third-party monitoring.
• Collaborate with PRM and the MEL contractor to create the Mission Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to track progress of the CDCS. Collect performance data from implementing partners to contribute to regular updates of the PMP.
• Coordinate with Education Team A/CORs to guide implementing partners in identifying performance indicators and setting targets that can be used for the annual Operational Plan and Performance Plan & Report. Compile performance data when more than one activity uses the same indicator. Facilitate reporting of results to USAID/Washington.
• Ensure that all new implementation agreements contain a provision for collecting cost financing data and that the data are reviewed and shared with the MNE on a regular basis.
• Ensure baseline data are collected for all education portfolio implementing mechanisms. Work with A/CORs and implementing partners to set and regularly update targets.
• Prepare and present MEL Plan data during periodic working group meetings and program implementation reviews.
• Present MEL Plan, along with other education sector data, in a variety of analytical and visual formats (graphs, charts, maps, etc.) to help demonstrate achievements.
• Contribute to the team’s Development Outreach and Communications strategy by writing program success stories and finding ways to convey information on USAID/Mali’s education program to audiences in Mali and the United States. 

COR/AOR/Activity Management roles 35%

The incumbent will manage the design and implementation of specific activities which focus on expanding access to education and improving the basic education skills of children and youth. Examples of duties in this category include, but are not limited to:

• Contribute to the management priorities of USAID/Mali’s education portfolio, including contracts for assessments, research studies and evaluations outside the Mission-wide M&E contract.
• Review ECW’s annual work plans, monitoring plans for tracking indicators and targets, and annual reports for implementation of a $10 million grant for emergency education services in northern Mali regions impacted by conflict.
• Collaborate with MEL Plan third-party monitors to organize regular field visits and document, in writing, any deficiencies.
• Participate in regular monitoring meetings with the implementing partners and MNE technical staff to evaluate performance and provide timely technical direction.
• Ensure reports/deliverables are received in a timely manner and monitor them for accuracy and completeness.
• Conduct analysis of reports/deliverables and identify program, policy and other implications for consideration by the education team and MNE.
• Identify success stories and other means of outreach to U.S. and Malian audiences.
• Monitor implementing partners’ spending through their budgets, vouchers and invoices.
• Ensure that all incremental funding actions comply with USAID’s forward-funding guidelines.

Strategic Planning, Design Research and Analysis 15%

• Serve as a technical advisor on focal areas of USAID/Mali’s education portfolio as well as other USG support to the education sector.
• Contribute to technical and policy discussions related to the USAID/Mali’s education program, to Mali’s national education strategy (PRODEC2) and Education Sector Investment Program (PISE), and to Mali’s education system at large.
• Participate in education sector thematic commissions and working groups along with the MNE and other donors supporting the sector. Collaborate closely with bilateral and multilateral donors working in technical areas relevant to USAID’s education priorities.
• Review, analyze, and respond to education sector-related documents and studies, including support to the MNE for the management of information leading to a robust Education Management Information System.
• Serve as the Education Team’s focal point environmental compliance. Provide the Team and the Mission Environmental Specialist with guidance on USG environmental regulations and environmentally sound activity design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Ensure that both the project-level and implementing partners’ Initial Environmental Examination and the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans are drafted and kept up to date. Analyze and respond to queries related to environmental compliance and climate risk assessments associated with the education portfolio.

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants MUST meet the minimum qualifications below and ONLY preselected candidates will be contacted:

1. All interested CCN (Cooperating Country National) candidates eligible to work in Mali. A Cooperating Country National (CCN) is defined as an individual who is a cooperating country citizen, or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country.
2. Education: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education sciences, psychology, philosophy, management, public administration, or topics related to social sciences is required.
3. Prior Work Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively more responsible experience managing and implementing education programs, preferably large-scale programs that aim to improve basic education in Mali. Previous experience in monitoring and evaluation of education programs. Previous experience working directly with USAID-funded programs, with high-level representatives of the MNE, with the donor community, and/or with international or local non-governmental organizations is required. Extensive knowledge of Mali’s education sector reforms (PRODEC and PISE) is required.
4. Language Proficiency: Proficiency in both oral and written French (level 4) and English (level 4).
5. Knowledge: Extensive knowledge of international education issues, as well as trends in Mali and West Africa. Thorough knowledge of the Malian basic education system, its evolution and the challenges and issues involved in achieving reform as proposed under PRODEC and the Education Sector Investment Program (PISE). Technical knowledge of education system planning and program management. General knowledge of teacher training, student instruction and assessment, girls’ education, use of ICT in education, commune/community participation in education, and education in crisis and conflict environments. Some knowledge of USAID/Mali’s education programs in Mali.
6. Skills and Abilities: Ability to analyze education sector issues based on reading, discussion, and observation to provide prompt and succinct written and oral recommendations, options, and strategies. Ability to engage in discussion and policy dialogue with host government officials and donor stakeholders. Ability to assume administrative, technical, and financial management responsibility for large-scale technical programs. Ability to provide technical guidance and management oversight to implementing partners in a constructive, team- oriented manner. Ability to deal with various program implementation issues simultaneously while meeting deadlines. Ability to take initiative, identify objectives and priorities, and manage time effectively to achieve results while working in a team context. Ability to assess new opportunities for intervention. Ability to conduct program design, monitoring, and reporting. Ability to represent USAID and conduct meetings with various partners and beneficiaries. Ability to prepare documents, budgets, and reports using MS Office software (Word, Excel, Google, PowerPoint).

SELECTION FACTORS: 

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications noted above. For applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, further consideration and selection will be based on Technical Evaluation Committee’s assessment of the selection factors listed below.

• Prior Work Experience : 45 points
• Knowledge: 35 points
• Skills and Abilities : 20 points

Applicants are required to address each of the selection criteria on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards or recognition they have received relevant to each criterion described above, and any related considerations.

Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

For detailed minimum requirements, applicants must refer to the Full Statement of duties and the qualification requirements available on https://www.usaid.gov/mali/work-with-us/careers   or https://ml.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/

TO APPLY

All cv/resume and cover letter must be in English; otherwise, application package will be considered incomplete and will be rejected. All the hiring process will be conducted in English, including interviews and any eventual proficiency written test.

Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.

Interested candidates for this position must submit the following required documents:

1. A Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) relevant to the position for which the applicant is applying.
2. A Cover Letter of no more than three (3) pages describing how the incumbent’s skills and experience fit the requirements of the subject position and minimum qualification requirements.
3. Applicants must submit a Supplemental Document within three (3) pages outlining how they meet each selection requirement (Relevant Work Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities). The document should describe what experience, training, knowledge and/or awards or recognition they have received relevant to each criterion, and any related considerations.
4. Applicants are required to provide five (5) Professional References with complete contact information including email address and telephone number(s). References should have knowledge of the candidate’s ability to perform the duties set forth in the application and must not be family members or relatives.
5. Copies of Degrees/Diplomas, Work Certificates, Recommendation Letters, or any relevant Academic Transcripts.
6. Applicants must provide their full Address with Telephone, Email Address.

Applicants should retain, for their records, copies of all enclosures that accompany their submissions.

Offers must be received by the closing date of August 3, 2022 5PM, Bamako time.

To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission: 72068822R10004

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Indicate the Vacancy Reference Number: 72068822R10004 in the subject line of your email. If this is not properly indicated your submission would NOT be retrieved. 

Email Human Resources Management Section: bamakohrmvacancies@usaid.gov with the above reference in the subject line. 

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION IS:  August 3, 2022 at 5:00PM Bamako time