Senior Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning and Strategy Specialist, WRI Africa Cities

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our WRI Africa office in Addis Ababa or Rwanda. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. 

About the Program: 

WRI has been working in Africa for over 30 years, supporting local partners and African governments to advance forest protection, landscape restoration, cities transitions, and sustainable cities. Our vision for Africa is an inclusive transformation that enables Africa’s people and landscapes to flourish. WRI Africa generates actionable knowledge across three strategic pillars: Vital Landscapes, Thriving and Resilient Cities, and Institutional and Economic Transformation. African cities are growing rapidly, but urban infrastructure and services are not meeting demand. Through our cities strategic interventions or programs (Livable Neighborhoods, Climate Resilient Cities, and Mobility) we aim to transform the way cities are planned and designed to ensure that urban development benefits people, nature and the climate. Through creative and sustainable local partnerships, we help decision-makers navigate competing tensions so they can adapt and harness the benefits of systemic change.

Job Highlight:

You will be responsible for integrating equity into your work. As the Senior Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL) and Strategy Specialist, WRI Africa Cities, your responsibilities will include ensuring that necessary and effective systems are in place for planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning across the Cities Program. Working closely with and supported by the Global Managing for Results (MfR) department and program staff, you will coordinate annual planning, reporting, and outcome tracking processes for WRI Africa. You will support the development of country and regional program strategies by facilitating the creation of robust, evidence-based theories of change, results frameworks and reports. You will ensure quality control, consistent adherence to standards, and the tracking and documentation of data and information relevant to project and program performance.

In your role, you will be an active contributor to WRI’s PMEL Community of Practice. You will be responsible for ensuring accurate and comprehensive data collection and analysis of results to report on progress toward project objectives. You will design a reporting methodology and regularly monitor progress towards achieving targets. You will work closely with the Cities Regional Director, technical teams, and the WRI Africa PMEL Manager to develop appropriate indicators, targets, and methods for collecting information/data on project activities. Additionally, you will play a crucial role in partnership management, ensuring that collaborations are strategic, effective, and mutually beneficial. In addition to your cities role, you will work closely with the Country Representative for Ethiopia and program leads to develop program and engagement strategy and support its implementation and reporting.

What will you do:

Cities Program Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (50%):

• Develop comprehensive frameworks and guidelines for Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL)
• Provide expert guidance to teams in developing their monitoring and evaluation plans
• Regularly update project profiles and their progress for projects across Africa
• Coordinate successful field implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities (quarterly and bi-annually)
• Support designing and implementing a uniform M&E system and standard operating procedures
• Ensure PMEL data are routinely communicated in a relevant and timely manner so that data can be used for subsequent program design and scale-up, including with partners and other humanitarian agencies 
• Conduct routine data quality checks with field implementation teams
• Prepare annual performance reports and provide recommendations for review 
• Review grant proposals, scrutinize M&E plans, and ensuring the appropriate allocation of resources for monitoring and evaluation activities 
• Take the lead in designing data collection tools to ensure high-quality data acquisition
• Lead the design of baselines and evaluations
• Lead the design of impact evaluations and support their implementation
• Develop appropriate methods for data collection, ensuring inclusion of youth- and gender-sensitive indicators and results
• Organize and implement data collection and tracking tools for survey data, results and progress information
• Maintain quality control over Cities M&E outputs
• Organise PMEL and strategy learning events
• Ensure indicators are entered in DevResult and updated regularly

Support Ethiopia Country Transition/PMEL demands (20%):

• Work closely with the Country Representative, Ethiopia to set up a Monitoring and Evaluation system for the host country 
• Support the consolidation of all PMEL work in Ethiopia 
• Build the capacity of the Country teams in PMEL work in Ethiopia  
• Support programs/projects in reviewing research methodologies, sampling and validation of results related to Ethiopia as a country 
• Contribute to developing knowledge products, including working papers, policy briefs, and reports 
• Liase with the country Data and research team to develop knowledge products for PMEL  
• Collect lessons learned and successes during project implementation
• Quality control of data collection and reporting
• Provide support in overseeing the successful implementation of ongoing country-related projects in Ethiopia, which may entail supervising consultants and partners 

Partnership Management (20%):

• Develop Cities program guidelines for partnership management
• Develop clear Cities program objectives for partnerships and advise teams on assessing potential partners
• Ensure Cities program partnership activities comply with organizational standards, policies, and donor requirements. Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Participate in WRI Africa regional meetings and workshops

Strategy, planning and budgeting (10%):

• Coordinate the preparation of Cities Program Annual and Quarterly Workplans for the regional office and global office  
• Consolidate and develop the Cities workplan and widely disseminate with the relevant stakeholders  
• Participate in the preparation of funding proposals and ensure the M&E components are fully covered and funded.

What will you need:

• Education: You have a completed bachelor's degree in environmental policy, economics, development, public policy or related social fields  
• Experience: You have 7+ years of relevant experience in sustainable development, environment, or related fields in Africa
• Demonstrable expertise in engaging with national government and international institutions, particularly multilateral and bilateral development partners, development finance institutions and NGOs 
• Experience in results based PMEL work
• Experience in cross-cultural communication and engagement with diverse constituencies  
• Demonstrated knowledge of sustainable development agenda with a track record of working with stakeholders around environment-development in Africa  
• Experience working in an international NGO is desirable
• Languages: You are proficient in spoken and written English. Skills in languages such as French, Amharic or Swahili is desirable
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Potential Salary:  

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by 8 November 2024.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities. 
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.