Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella organisation representing Fairtrade certified producers in Africa. FTA aims to effectively represent producers within the International Fairtrade system and to contribute to livelihood improvement of African producers by increasing access to markets. Established in 2005, FTA directs policy and strategic development of the organisation. FTA has four (4) regional networks - Eastern, Southern, West and Middle East and North Africa supporting producer activities.

Job Description

Fairtrade Africa, as well as the wider Fairtrade movement have been increasing their investment in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities. In 2015, Fairtrade Africa expects to see the rollout of comprehensive systems to monitor and evaluate progress towards Fairtrade goals. The systems will require greater human resource capacity to manage collection, storage and analysis of data.

The monitoring and evaluation officer, based in the Western Africa region will be key in ensuring the effective implementation of this system.

JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING
This position will support the implementation of the Fairtrade Africa MEL system and the development and implementation of region- and country-specific MEL activities. The position will be line managed by the FTA M&E Manager.

The MEL Officer will:

•   Support the development of high quality, coherent, and cost-effective MEL for Fairtrade within Western Africa.
•   Lead implementation of agreed aspects of the Fairtrade Africa MEL plan within Western Africa
•   Ensure coherence and synergy between the FTA secretariat and regional MEL activities.
•   To develop analysis and reporting, and support communications about the impacts of Fairtrade within Western Africa.

SPECIFIC TASKS
In particular the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will:

•   Support the FTA M&E Manager to implement the FTA MEL system to deliver high quality data on regional (West African) programmes and projects through timely data collection, data analysis and coordination of any external evaluations in the region;
•   Support the M&E manager to ensure implementation of improved Fairtrade global monitoring systems in West Africa that deliver high quality data to Fairtrade’s stakeholders and ensure timely data collection of data in the region;
•   Identify and test out new approaches to MEL in the region that will allow Fairtrade producers to directly benefit from Fairtrade MEL activities including support for better data management at producer level or through improved access for producers to data.
•   Build the capacity of the West Africa team in the Fairtrade Africa M&E system through training and ongoing technical support
•   Help drive learning from M&E data in the region.
•   Ensure that monitoring and evaluation work has real value for learning and improvement in the region, through the dissemination of data, evidence, lessons learned, and best practice to FTA staff and stakeholders in the region.
•   Build relationships and partnerships with research institutions and other organizations with relevant expertise within the region.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Degree in Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences or other related fields
•   Masters qualification or ongoing masters/Doctorate student in agricultural economics, development studies, social science, development or other related field will be an added advantage;
•   Extensive experience in data collection and field work, preferably in West Africa
•   Good understanding and experience of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including participatory methodologies
•   Good understanding of the concepts of Monitoring and Evaluation
•   Experience in managing all aspects of data collection, storage and analysis;
•   Excellent working knowledge in Microsoft Office but particularly in EXCEL;
•   Experience in the use of ICT and other developing tools and approaches within MEL projects.
•   Experience in compiling complex data for different audiences through high quality reports and powerpoints for diverse audiences;
•   Experience of working within a geographically dispersed team; Written and spoken fluency in English and French; knowledge of local languages in West Africa will be an added advantage
•   Ability to work with minimal supervision, meet multiple deadlines, and balance competing priorities;
•   Other competencies/ skills Strategy and planning skills; Excellent interpersonal, communicaton and facilitation skills;
•   Excellent analytical and attention-to-detail skills.

Personal Attributes

•   Must be a highly collaborative team player; Must be able and willing to undertake regular travel to remote areas.

The following are core competencies required for the role:

•   Passionate commitment - This competency shows you have a passion, dedication, and proactively can show your support for FTA.
•   Embracing change - This competency is about you showing you are flexible and responsive to changing needs. It is about innovating, doing something new or differently.
•   Working together -This competency is about how we all relate to one another – either as Line Manager and Team, the Team itself, or colleague to colleague.
•   Delivering results - This competency is about achieving a high quality of measurable results while at the same time maintaining or even raising, the quality of work.
•   Knowledge management - This competency is about working in a way that promotes information and knowledge sharing to the team and our broader network.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

An application form (CVs will not be accepted) can be found on the jobs and volunteering page of our website http://www.fairtradeafrica.net/about-us/jobs-and-volunteering/

If you have any queries, please e-mail recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net or call +254202721930 and ask to speak to a member of the HR team.

Closing Date: 14 February, 2015

•   Qualified applicants will be subjected to background checks as a condition of employment.
•   The final hiring decision is anticipated end of February 2015. Completed applications should be e-mailed to recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net
•   All applicants should state how they meet essential requirements of the post and include their email address, telephone contacts and three referees with contact details on the application form.

Notes: This job description is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments following discussion with the post holder.

The post holder will be expected to work to agreed objectives, which should facilitate achievements of the key responsibilities in accordance with the Performance Review Process.