The project has allocated a budget for distributing more than 20 grants to actors in the 5 countries targeted. Under the supervision of the Project Leader based in Tbilisi (Georgia) and the Deputy Project Leader, based in Chisinau (Moldova), the EU 4 Innovation East MEAL Manager is responsible for overseeing all the activities related to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning of the project.

The MEAL Manager is part of the Project Management Unit (PMU), based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The role requires a high degree of autonomy, thoroughness, and interpersonal skills suitable for an international and multicultural environment.

Project description

EU4Innovation East is a EU-funded project aiming to support the Eastern Partner Countries (EaP) startup ecosystems’ growth.

Position Description

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project director and the Deputy project director and in close collaboration with the MEAL team in Expertise France HQ:

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The monitoring and evaluation of the project is carried out under the supervision of the Project director and the Deputy project director, and in close collaboration with the chiefs of component, Grants management team and communication team. The MEAL Officer will be responsible for:

• Developing the M&E Strategy and Framework, in accordance with Expertise France’s M&E guidelines and with the EU4Innovation East project, including:

o   Reviewing EU4Innovation East’s logical framework and harmonizing how the operational teams (i.e. Chiefs of components) report on these indicators;

o   Setting up the system for collecting, processing and consolidating M&E data (e.g. with innovative digital tools);

o   Proposing a plan, calendar and communication tools to facilitate the reporting.

• Providing methodological support and participating in the dissemination of EF's MEAL standards to different actors (internal staff and external partners) and train them on the appropriation of the M&E Strategy and Framework, as well as the tools used;
• Implementing and deploying the M&E Strategy and Framework and among others:

o   Drawing up a data management plan;

o   Creation of data collection tools according to project needs, while ensuring that tools are harmonized across the mission;

o   Provide evidence-based data for an overall analysis of the effect/impact of the project and meet the contractual commitments to the donor and partners;

o   Ensure quality control of the information and data collected;

o   Ensure the archiving of tools and data collected;

o   Ensure the protection of the data collected;

o   Manage external MEAL experts according to requests;

o   Set up and organize the evaluation of capacity building activities:

§  Pre-post testing (knowledge assessment);

§  Satisfaction survey.

o   Set up external evaluations of projects (baseline, mid-term and final evaluation):

§  Drafting of ToRs with EF team, partners, and the national coordinators;

§  Selection of service provider;

§  Monitoring of the evaluation;

§  Validation of the deliverables.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Lead the consolidation of the technical reports that Expertise France must provide to the EU and other donors (annual reports, mid-year summary reports);
• Set up data visualization systems to contribute to the accountability of donors and partners;
• Set up and participate in various internal and donor accountability exercises:

o   Yearly review;

o   Draft and consolidate technical and financial donors’ reports;

o   MEAL report;

o   THEMA indicators.

• Ensure compliance with the reporting schedule to the EU and other donors.

LEARNING

• Organize external evaluations (mid-term and final evaluations) of the EU4Innovation East project (terms of reference, selection of evaluators, follow-up, etc.);
• Develop a learning and capitalisation Strategy;
• Prepare and organize training on learning with teams and new recruits if necessary;
• Identifies, in collaboration with the relevant team members, the needs and elaborates the terms of reference for the selection of external service providers dedicated to the project experience capitalisation exercises;
• Organize and lead internal capitalisation exercises;
• Supervise the awarding procedures and contracting of subcontracted capitalisation services;
• Ensures the follow-up of these services and the production and distribution of the deliverables sent to the various parties involved in the project;
• Ensures the dissemination of capitalisation documents, in collaboration with the Communication team of the project, in order to promote a learning process. 

Project communication

• Supporting, in close collaboration with the communication team of the project, all he relevant communication activities related with the MEAL activities by consolidating and facilitating the information and related communication material generated in the framework of its tasks.

Project management support

• Support in monitoring administrative and financial issues, in collaboration with the Administration and financial team (budget planning and follow-up, budget reporting, etc.)
• Participation in coordination meetings;
• Drawing up minutes of meetings with partners;
• Leading and monitoring the archiving of project documentation in collaboration with the rest of the team;