Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager, IGNITE Program

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 businesses 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.

Program Description:

The Inspiring Good Nutrition Initiatives Through Enterprise (IGNITE) will build on the foundations of the Technical Assistance Accelerator Prelude (TAAP) program to achieve increased motivation and fortification capability of millers leading to increased proportion of fortified staple foods and conversion of a critical mass of millers to improved FF practices across at least eight countries.

IGNITE will facilitate the activation and expansion of a catalytic collective impact initiative – the Millers 4 Nutrition (M4N) coalition – to globally coordinate and locally implement an ultimately sustainable model for delivery of technical assistance (TA) and other services to millers through contributions of and collaboration with corporate partners- Strategic Fortification Partners (SFPs).

These TA services, and associated engagement platforms, will establish business cases and motivate and develop capabilities of food processors to improve their performance in the fortification of selected staple foods and condiments, and thereby to achieve large-scale and relevant (contributing to the diets of large proportions of populations in countries where staple FF has been identified as part of national nutrition strategies) coverage on a sustained basis. The IGNITE program will be implemented in eight priority countries namely Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania with India, Kenya, and Nigeria serving as the operational hubs.

Job Summary:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager will report to the Program Director and work closely with Program Managers, Regional MEL Specialists, and Partner Liaison Manager in their respective countries to design, analyze, and execute MEL activities, tracking implementation and results while continuing to improve the program’s approach.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Program Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Establish a robust framework, methodology, and procedures for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) that align with the program’s logical framework and reporting requirements.
• Formulate and execute a plan that aligns the accountability frameworks of Strategic Fortification Partners (SFPs), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and TNS with collective impact goals. This includes synthesizing program activities into broader objectives and ensuring compliance with food fortification standards at the national level.
• Lead collaborative efforts (Data Task Force) with program partners to align data, including management of collective calls, enhancing bi-lateral advocacy and project initiatives under the Millers for Nutrition Initiative.
• Oversee the creation of internal and external dashboards and data products to facilitate informed decision-making by the program leadership team.
• Coordinate with Regional MEL Specialists to collate, monitor, and update key metrics including processor market share, product testing outcomes, input utilization rates, market trends, sector performance, and consumer reach/impact.
• Develop and disseminate progress reports, presentations, and graphical representations to both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with global and country team needs.
• Regularly visit project countries to support local teams with MEL training and capacity building. Orient new staff to MEL processes as required.
  
  

Compliance Oversight:

• Uphold stringent confidentiality standards concerning sensitive and confidential program data. Provide proactive compliance advice to optimize program delivery in accordance with TechnoServe’s policies and guidelines.
• Analyze program data to generate comprehensive reports and briefs that communicate program progress effectively.
• Work with M&E practice in headquarters to identify and integrate corporate impact indicators into organizational reports.
• Collaborate with TNS’ Impact Team and ensure IGNITE adopts global standards, plus contributing to efforts to further best practices
  
  

Data Management and Analysis:

• Manage and routinely audit multiple program tracking databases to ensure data integrity and quality (e.g., housed on Smartsheets).
• Conduct ad-hoc data analyses (e.g., multi-level pivot tables) and generate insightful reports and graphical data representations.
• Support global and country-level knowledge management assessments to refine data collection mechanisms and storage platforms, ensuring standardized data capture and access across program geographies.
  
  

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree + 7 years relevant experience OR Master’s Degree + 5 years relevant experience
• Experience managing MEL systems for Large Scale Food Fortification and/or B2B programs and engaging private sector partners.
• Knowledge of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation or other international development donor reporting requirements.
• 5 years of experience with MEL methods and approaches in an international development context, including designing, planning, and implementing MEL systems, analyzing, and reporting using a logical framework, and other strategic planning approaches.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in any of the listed program countries
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports
• Advanced proficiency with relevant software packages, including Microsoft Office (With advanced knowledge of Excel), Google Suite, Salesforce, Smartsheets, Google Analytics, Tableau or Power BI
• Competence in managing and analyzing large datasets
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-sectoral stakeholders, including development partners and national governments
  
  

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

This is a remote position with a preference for candidates based in the US, Kenya or India due to Program Hub locations. TechnoServe can not provide sponsorship for this position, and applicants must have work authorization in the country from which they are applying at the time of application.