The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is seeking an innovative & multi skilled candidate to join its team, as a Consultant – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL).

Jordan is facing increasing climate risks, making resilience-building a national priority. The country’s national adaptation plan and climate change policies reflect the Government of Jordan’s (GoJ) commitment to addressing these challenges. However, resilience-building is complicated by the presence of substantial refugee populations, which account for over a third of Jordan’s population. These refugees and their host communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Therefore, the GoJ recognizes the urgent need to act on disaster risk management, the protection of vulnerable populations, and the development of long-term strategies in water management, agriculture, and urban planning to ensure sustainability.

In response to these needs, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) is supporting Jordan’s “Climate-Refugee Nexus Initiative,” launched by King Abdullah II at COP27. This initiative is part of a broader package of solutions linked to the COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace. The 3–5-year JAHEZ (READY) project, delivered by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the UK Met Office, aims to build resilience for both refugees and their host communities. It will focus on climate change adaptation and anticipatory action, piloting solutions to mitigate the effects of extreme heat, drought, flooding, groundwater depletion, and agricultural land degradation. Through a combination of nature-based solutions (NbS) and disaster risk reduction measures, the project seeks to rehabilitate watersheds, improve agricultural productivity, and protect vulnerable populations.

The JAHEZ project requires a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) strategy to guide the implementation, track progress, and generate evidence of the project's impact. As part of the start-up process of JAHEZ, a MERL Specialist is required to lead the development of the MERL strategy, processes, and tools.

The MERL Specialist will support the development of appropriate targets and indicators to measure program quality, effectiveness, and impact in interventions related to nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, agricultural water management, gender-transformational change, and fragile, conflict-affected, and human migration settings. This will examine both household and community impacts as well as the functionality and institutional capacity of government and other service providers to deliver critical services to communities. The MERL Specialist will support the relevant teams by leading the development and implementation of MERL systems in line with donor requirements and will contribute to project impact evaluation objectives. S/he will manage relevant partner relationships and address MERL questions from the IWMI team as well as implementing agencies and partners. The MERL Specialist is expected to be a strong team player who can carry out daily M&E tasks, communicate with local partners and project stakeholders in line with relevant cultural contexts, and ensure quality delivery of various knowledge products in a timely manner.

SCOPE OF WORK

• In collaboration with the project team (IWMI and partners as relevant), develop, implement, and revise, as required, comprehensive MERL systems, including the incorporation of indicators in consultation with the project’s donor, FCDO. Steps may include:

1. Refinement and visualization of the project’s Theory of Change (ToC) and associated key performance indicators, covering both donor compliance and important project indicators to understand program quality and performance.
2. Design of baseline/midline/endline tools and methodology, as well as periodic measurement tools covering both qualitative and quantitative progress tracking systems, highlighting program quality, program outcomes, and impact measurement (where relevant).
3. Support the development of program minimum standards and monitoring systems.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Refinement and visualization of the project’s Theory of Change (ToC) and associated key performance indicators, covering both donor compliance and critical project indicators to assess program quality and performance.
• Design of baseline/midline/endline tools and methodology, along with periodic measurement tools, to track progress qualitatively and quantitatively. These tools will emphasize program quality, program outcomes, and impact measurement (where relevant).
• Development of a Logical Framework to align project objectives with measurable outcomes and outputs.
• Contributions to the second quarterly report, focusing on outcome measurement and insights.
• Submission of a comprehensive MERL strategy document, which includes the ToC, Logical Framework, and an indicator tracking sheet.

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Undergraduate degree (Master's degree preferred) in Agriculture, Water Resources Management, Geography, Economics, Gender Studies, Sociology, Administration, Information Management, Project Management, Finance, or a related academic field.
• Minimum of 10 years of MERL experience in activities related to climate change adaptation.
• Additional qualifications in MERL and/or over 5 years of experience in MEL assignments in the MENA region and beyond.
• Proven experience of developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for complex projects for bilateral donors including FCDO/USAID or EU funded projects.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Professional familiarity with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in:

1. Water resource and agricultural water resource management in the MENA region, with a specific focus on Jordan.
2. Formal frameworks (preferably FCDO’s) for gender, equity, and social inclusion, particularly those addressing gender transformational objectives.
3. Fragile, vulnerable, conflict-affected, and human migration contexts, including host communities in Jordan.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary environment, demonstrating sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Teamwork and organizational skills, with proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities under strict deadlines and minimal supervision.
• Ability to establish priorities effectively, as well as plan, organize, implement, and monitor work activities with limited supervision.
• Working knowledge of applied research in development project implementation (especially related to climate change adaptation) and associated M&E techniques and practices.
• Independent and critical scientific thinking, including a sound understanding of M&E systems, indicator development, and their relationship to Theories of Change, Logical Frameworks (Logframes), and impact evaluation.
• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, including survey design, data collection, and analysis.
• Experience in facilitating joint analysis and sense-making of program performance and impact data to inform project design, adaptations, and recommendations on project effectiveness, efficiency, and impact.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills for data analysis.
• Willingness to travel nationally or regionally at semi-regular intervals or for extended durations (up to 10% of the time).

LANGUAGE PROFICINECY:

• Excellent oral and written language skills in English and Arabic.

This is a nationally hired consultancy; therefore, only Jordanian nationals will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive monthly rate for this assignment. The duration of the contract will be for a period of five and a half months (5.5) months.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on 07 December 2024 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

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The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is seeking a multi-skilled Project Coordinator to join its team in Amman, Jordan.

The Project Coordinator (PC) will be part of the team that implements the 5-year "Jahez (Ready)"project, which is being delivered by IWMI and the UK Met Office in collaboration with specialized local partners and humanitarian agencies under the guidance of the Government of Jordan.“Jahez (Ready)” has the objective of "improving anticipatory action and climate change adaptation to build the resilience of refugees and their host communities in Jordan".

The Project Coordinator will play a critical role in overseeing project administration and logistics, partner and stakeholder relationship management, and will feed into the technical steering of the project. The successful candidate will foster an enabling environment among project team members, implementation partners, and key stakeholders to ensure the timely delivery of project outputs.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Jahez Project Administration and Logistics:

The PC will play a central role in coordinating the Jahez Project Management team and facilitating logistics and administrative processes in careful coordination with IWMI project management, procurement, finance and other regional and HQ based teams. Specific responsibilities include:

• Financial, operational, logistical, procurement, and accounting processes of the project
• Maintaining and monitoring project workplans, schedules, work hours, budgets, and expenditures
• Supporting regular review and updates of workplans, budget forecasts and risk registers
• Assessing project risks and issues and provide solutions where applicable
• Developing and maintaining a project management calendar to track progress towards achieving goals and objectives.

Jahez Project quality, monitoring and reporting:

The PC will collaborate with the Project Lead, researchers and monitoring and evaluation specialists to ensure Jahez implementation is on scope, on time, on budget and striving to achieve technical excellence. Specific responsibilities include:

• Contributing to preparation of accurate and timely reports on the Jahez project to support informed decision making and ensure consistency across information presented to stakeholders
• Tracking outputs, progress-reporting updates, and overall project progress, including deliverables, and provide administrative support to the Project Leader to ensure that agreed timelines are adhered to
• Keeping track of progress and deliverables of all ongoing concept notes and support review and quality assurance of concept note system
• Assisting the Project Leader in different areas of the project management life cycle to be undertaken across Jordan and any additional geographies that may need to be covered
• Supporting the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) team to develop and coordinate data-gathering and monitoring systems to maintain rigorous quality standards and report progress against project targets, milestones and outcome
• Facilitating stakeholder meetings by organizing and attending sessions, actively participating, documenting key actions and decisions, and following-up when necessary
• Liaising with internal and external counterparts to promote effective collaboration, monitoring the ongoing progress of the Jahez (Ready) project, and highlighting potential risks to program delivery
• Contributing to maintaining project databases detailing contacts, interns, consultants, events, and projects.

Jahez partners relationship management and engagement:

The PC will support and facilitate interactions between project partners and external stakeholders and support the project management team (PMT) in facilitating diverse engagements, representation and visibility of the Jahez project. Specific responsibilities include:

• Assisting in coordinating partnerships and relationships with government (at national and local level) and international development/humanitarian partner agencies involved with refugee management, Disaster Risk Reduction and climate change adaptation in Jordan and the MENA region
• Helping to identify, develop, and manage potential partnerships that support collaborative working to enhance the implementation of the Jahez (Ready) project
• Working with the project lead to provide oversight (financial and technical), technical support and skills/institutional development of local implementing partners
• Facilitating regular review and reflection meetings (virtual and physical meetings) with the project team and implementing partners for effective coordination and planning
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement arrangements, conferences and events as and when necessary
• Ensuring that inquiries and correspondence to the Project Leader are responded to in an appropriate and timely manner.

Support delivery of Jahez technical vision and ensure coherence across workstreams:

The PC will help the team to ensure that the implementation of Jahez is in line with the technical vision, Theory of Change and concept note systems.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and inputing into technical concept notes, research approaches and technical approach design.
• Where required, supporting researchers, project lead and local partners in project context analysis, landscape analysis and community assessments.
• Supporting researchers, project lead and local partners to prepare summaries of key outputs, progress and achievements.
• Contributing to Jahez communication, visibility and advocacy and influence materials and strategies.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• Postgraduate degree, preferably in environmental science, climate change, policy, or a related scientific discipline relevant to water resources across multiple sectors.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in various geographic locations, including a minimum of 4 years of demonstrated experience in project coordination and management processes with international organizations or other development partners.
• Demonstrated familiarity with social media platforms and the ability to utilize them for promoting inter-office communications and facilitating information sharing.
• Experience in preparing scientific information and papers.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders especially with national and local government of Jordan and humanitarian and development partners.

Desirable,

• Previous experience in water management or climate change with international organizations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential,

• Good organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills, particularly in preparing correspondence and briefings.
• The ability to establish priorities effectively and to plan, organize, implement, and monitor work activities with limited supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, demonstrating sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Proficiency in project management tools.
• Proficiency in employing facilitation methods for participatory decision-making and shared vision development with stakeholders.
• A high level of proficiency in using MS Office and other relevant computer software.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Personal attributes including high standards of conduct, respect, flexibility, and a strong work ethic.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English and Arabic, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.

This is a nationallyrecruited position and only Jordanian nationals will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years with the possibility of extension.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on November 27, 2024(applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

See more jobs at International Water Openings

Apply for this job