Monitoring & Learning Expert (NRLM) - CARE India (Apply by: 06th Sept'14)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Monitoring & Learning Expert (NRLM)
CARE India, New Delhi

POSITION VACANT ^*:  Monitoring & Learning Expert - NRLM (MLEN), CARE India, New Delhi

* Subject to the signing of the grant agreement between CARE India and the donor

RGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

CARE India is a part of the CARE International Confederation working in 84 countries for a world where all people live in dignity and security.

CARE has been working in India for over 60 years, focusing on ending poverty and social injustice through comprehensive programs in health, education, livelihoods and disaster preparedness and response.

In recent years, CARE India has been involved with improving the quality and coverage of reproductive, maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition services in the states of Bihar and UP, in collaboration with the government and key development actors viz. BMGF, DFID and the World Bank, amongst others. 

The Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development had launched the “National Rural Livelihood Mission” (NRLM) in June 2011 after restructuring its existing centrally sponsored flagship Scheme “Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana” (SGSY). The Government of India, through the National Rural Livelihoods Mission(NRLM) is endeavoring to organize poor families into their institutions at various levels and improve and enhance their livelihoods portfolio and socio-economic well-being through them. This includes social, financial and economic inclusion on a universal and saturation basis, and building their capacities to layer various interventions on their own sustainably in social development, food, nutrition, health, social and livelihoods security, accessing rights and entitlements and convergences. The NRLM functions in a mission mode for target based time bound delivery of outcomes. NRLM follows a demand driven approach and states formulate their own poverty alleviation plans on the basis of available allocation, resources and skills. Towards this end,National Mission Management Unit (NMMU) of the NRLM provides technical assistance to the states and the Ministry at the national level.

CARE India has been requested to strengthen the National Mission Management Unit of NRLM towards achieving this, by embedding a team professionals into it. These team members shall provide technical inputs and support various processes at various levels in NRLM including strategy development, support planning, budgeting, capacity building, coordination, monitoring and advocacy.

For more information about CARE India please visit http://www.careindia.org/, and for NRLM, please visitwww.aajeevika.gov.in.

As part of this broad agenda, NRLM is facilitating technical support to states/SRLMs in implementing and rolling-out NRLM agenda in the states.

JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:      
                  
Under the guidance of Mission Director, NRLM, and direct supervision of Chief Operating Officer, NMMU, the Monitoring & Learning Expert - NRLM (MLEN) shall be responsible for extending technical support towards monitoring and learning architecture in SRLMs. S/he will be part of the NMMU on monitoring and represent and network with other agencies as required and focus particularly on the areas of food, nutrition, and health.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

(1) Facilitating NMMU and SRLMs in developing/ fine-tuning monitoring and learning framework and systems at NMMU and SRLMs, for tracking progress and performance in terms of results, processes, activities, etc., towards achieving the NRLM outcomes, with health as the key indicator across sectors;
(2) Providing support to select SRLMs in commissioning external baseline, follow-up studies, thematic studies, impact and evaluation studies and process monitoring;
(3) Supporting select SRLMs in the domain of community monitoring systems (self-monitoring, inter-institutional monitoring, social audit, score cards, etc.);
(4) Providing technical assistance to select SRLMs for the preparation of State Perspective Implementation Plans and Annual Action Plans and undertaking their appraisal;
(5) Carrying out analytics based on MIS and M&E studies, and preparing reports for various stakeholders including MoRD;
(6) Facilitating capacity building of SRLM staff and Communities (members, leaders, cadres and institutions) on M&E, including working with National Resource Organizations, Resource Agencies and Resource Persons;
(7) Facilitating development and implementation of context-specific M&E chapters of Model Community Operations Manuals with protocols in Implementation Blocks;
(8) Facilitating select SRLMs in managing convergence and partnerships in M&E area;
(9) Facilitating select SRLMs in establishing and continuing mechanisms for learning from MIS, M&E and embedding the learning in planning forward;
(10) Facilitating and fine-tuning Monitoring & Learning Systems to be robust enough to produce timely, accurate and high quality information on all facets of NRLM processes;
(11) Performing any other related tasks consistent with the level of the post and/or assigned by the Mission Director, NRLM.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:            

Qualifications: 

Masters in Economics/ Social Sciences/ Statistics/ Management, Science, Engineering, ICT, Statistics, Social Work, Rural Development, Development Studies or related field

Experience:

(1) Applicants must have at least 12 years of relevant experience in development sector including five years of working with/ managing M&E of large government projects/ programmes for Health/ Poverty Reduction/ Livelihoods/ Social Development at the state/ national level;
(2) Prior experience in strategic program planning and leading implementation of MLE frameworks, particularly in the areas of food, nutrition, and health;
(3) Hands-on project design, design of M&E systems including MIS;
(4) Prior experience in impact evaluation, process monitoring, and assessments in the areas of food, nutrition, health, poverty reduction, and social development;
(5) Expertise in strategic program planning and implementation;
(6) Expertise in conducting a range of studies such as thematic studies, poverty studies, etc., and studies involving community based institutions
(7) Expertise in coordination and facilitation of teams and providing management advisory services.

Skills and Competencies:

(1) Proven ability to lead, strategize, conceptualize, design, develop, implement and continuously improve monitoring and learning frameworks and systems;
(2) Proven ability to analyze large volumes of data and channelize its learnings towards scaling up, with understanding of data handling and analysis technologies;
(3) Strong facilitation, training and presentation skills to community members/leaders/ cadres/ trainers and different tiers of functionaries;
(4) Excellent interpersonal communication (both written and verbal) and presentation skills;
(5) Ability to function effectively as a team leader and team member interchangeably;
(6) Gender sensitivity;
(7) Proactive collaborative and relationship/ partnership building at multiple levels;
(8) Strategic and action oriented;
(9) High level of integrity and honesty;
(10) Proactive time and resource management skills;
(11) High energy and positive/ constructive attitude;
(12) Openness to change and ability to manage complex situations;
(13) Ability to understand and consistently apply organizational policies and procedures in work;
(14) Responding positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
(15) Ability and willingness to travel extensively.

Language Proficiency:

(1) The job requires proficiency in English language, including excellent writing skills.
(2) Good knowledge of Hindi is desirable and that of any state language(s), would be an advantage. 

CARE India is an equal opportunity and diversity promoting employer. Accordingly women, differently abled persons and SC/ ST/ OBC candidates, are especially encouraged to apply

TENURE

The successful applicant shall be offered a two to three year employment contract with CARE India.

COMPENSATION OFFERED

The position offers gross compensation of Rs. 20 to 25 lacs per annum, on a cost to organization basis. The offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience and salary history.

LOCATION

New Delhi

APPLICATION PROCESS

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply with a cover letter that highlights their motivation to apply and suitability for the position applied, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, to mle.nrlm@sams.co.in, by or before September 6, 2014. Candidates are urged to apply immediately, as tele-interviews with strong applicants, are likely to be initiated almost right away.