CARE began its operations in Pakistan, as a multi-mandate organization, working for both longer-term development opportunities as well as supporting the most vulnerable communities in times of humanitarian crises. Since its establishment, CARE International in Pakistan (CIP) has worked across all parts of the country- from the hardest to reach areas to urban metropolises. CARE engages with private sector partners, government, and local communities to promote women’s economic empowerment with a particular focus on entrepreneurship development, financial inclusion, strengthening inclusive value chains, and increasing employability skills. Our approach goes beyond a singular focus on income generation to holistically promoting empowerment by focusing on strengthening women and girls’ education, confidence, negotiation skills and fostering an enabling environment that is free from gender based violence (GBV) in the world of work (especially sexual harassment and other gender biases). 

Project Overview:

To unlock the power of entrepreneurs worldwide, CARE and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth (the Center) launched Ignite in 2020 with funding from the Mastercard Impact Fund. This global partnership dramatically accelerated the growth of enterprises while advancing financial security and promoting inclusive growth. Recognizing that female entrepreneurs represent one of the most powerful – and one of the most constrained – groups of entrepreneurs, Ignite prioritized actions that helped women thrive with resounding success.

With a proven model that delivers meaningful financial inclusion for Women-led Micro and Small Enterprises (W-MSEs), which aligns with Financial Services Provider (FSP) incentives and drives sustainable business outcomes, CARE and the Center are well positioned to deepen and scale impact through Strive Women (Anticipated project).  

The project will directly improve the financial health of W-MSEs by increasing business growth and financial resilience while also catalyzing replication of the model through strategic engagement and influence. CIP aims to support striver entrepreneurs (businesses with at least 3 employees) by improving their access to finance and encouraging them to use digital tools such as mobile wallets, and marketing platforms to grow their businesses. The project is anticipated to be implemented in Punjab, KP, Sindh and Balochistan. In order to implement this project, amongst other positions, CIP is seeking a Digital Financial Inclusion Specialist with a strong background in working in digital financial projects. The selected individual will play key role of technical focal person on digital financial inclusion and will support the Senior Project Manager in different program activities leading towards empowering women through digital financial inclusion initiatives.

The position will be based at CARE Country Office Islamabad with an expectation of 60% travel to field locations.

I. JOB SUMMARY

In light of the entrepreneurial milieu in Pakistan, CIP aims to support striver entrepreneurs (businesses with two to ten employees) by improving their access to financial services, encouraging them to use digital tools such as mobile wallets, and marketing platforms to grow their businesses and provision of skill enhancement trainings and mentoring. In order to implement this project, CIP seeks to work through partners to provide financial services to beneficiary entrepreneurs. In this regard, the organization is recruiting a Senior MEAL Officer to provide technical support to its partners for the alignment, adaptation, and implementation of the project monitoring and evaluation framework. The role will provide technical advice on data collection, analyze data collected through Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), and collect information and produce quality reports and case studies linked with Program Strategy of CIP (specifically based on the program/ project processes, input, outcome and impact indicators). S/he will ensure feedback is incorporated during the planning processes to improve the data management system and will support in setting up the project’s MEAL systems synchronized with Country Office MEAL unit. The current project is being implemented in three countries and although the position entails managing MEAL activities for the project component in Pakistan only, but the individual will be required to coordinate with the regional and global MEAL to manage data and knowledge holistically, as well.

II. Job Description:

Job Responsibility #1: Development of MEAL system, tools, and processes

% of time: 30%

• In coordination with partners and as per donor requirements, assist in setting up a project MEAL System that incorporates basic standards, including tools for designing, evaluating, assessing and reporting along with guidelines, including CARE International Principles, and other MEAL relevant standards, systems and quality management processes.
• Draft the process for identifying and designing key indicators to record and report physical progress against the work plan.
• Ensure that the incorporated time frames are clarified and indicators and responsibilities are clear.
• Provide technical assistance in the development, selection, and application of MEAL processes and tools.
• Assist in evaluating the methods and procedures used to obtain data for ensuring validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.

Job Responsibility # 2: Implementation of Project MEAL Plan

% of time: 30%

• Supervise and constantly track all projects activities, inputs, outputs and outcomes ensuring continued relevance to the project.
• Develop databases, data entry, data cleaning, verification, data analysis, and development of worksheets, tables, and table format, charts, and graphs.
• Work with partners in reviewing and analyzing project progress reports in terms of problems identified and actions required in accordance with approved reporting formats and deadlines.
• Document methodologies and procedures used in the compilation and analysis of data as well as data sources and limitations of estimates and guidelines for their use.
• Ensure that partner organizations have effective Feedback and Accountability Mechanism (FAM) in place and roll it out from inception stage of the project.
• Identify relationships and trends in data as well as any factors that could affect the results against key performance indicators in future;
• Conduct field visits to beneficiary entrepreneurs implementing partner field offices periodically to assess progress toward achieving objectives, ensure program compliance and effective implementation according to work plans, MEAL plans, and proposals; provide recommendations for improvement;
• Conduct surveys to assess the capacity building component, strivers journey and utilization of financial services to grow strivers business.
• Maintain and update a complaints and response mechanism database for tracking feedback from communities and ensure that the feedback/complaints are responded to.
• Ensure the Complaint Feedback Mechanism (CFM) are functional and accessible to beneficiaries.
• Develop regular trend analysis of complaints at organizational level and share these with program team as per protocols.

Job Responsibility # 3:  Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

% of time: 20%

• Draft TORs for evaluation and research studies expected under the project.
• Assist in coordinating with inter-departments and consultants in carrying out evaluations and research.
• Collaborate with partners and CIP staff on quantitative and qualitative monitoring to provide relevant information for ongoing evaluation of project activities, effects, and impacts;
• Compile program data in a Management Information System (MIS) and generate reports for internal and external reporting.
• Support the implementing partner to collect case studies, success stories and share it with internal and external audiences.
• Review monitoring reports, analyze them for impact evaluation, and identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation.

• Ensure regular submission of program performance reports based on their performance management regulations and Logical Framework Analysis (LFA);
• Conduct beneficiary survey, Knowledge, Attitude and Practices survey, learning and satisfaction survey and tracer study.
• Build strong and functional accountability mechanisms and ensure that these are continuously monitored.

• Assist the MEAL Manager in developing monthly, quarterly and annual consolidated data sheets and reports.
• Support in carrying out preliminary first verification report in case of serious nature of complaints filed by beneficiaries/communities and support for investigation of that types of complaints as per CFM protocol.
• Plan and coordinate project reviews, evaluations to be conducted internally or externally as required by project MEAL plan.

Job Responsibility # 4: Knowledge Management and Learning

% of time: 10%

• Assist in maintaining learning and knowledge management system for the project
• Ensure the key learning is incorporated in upcoming plans and interventions
• Assist in the identification, analysis, and synthesis of lessons learned from program implementation and, facilitating the incorporation of those lessons into the activity development cycle;
• Organize Learning Workshops that brings together internal and external stakeholders;
• Set up and maintain a knowledge management system of the project that includes key project reporting and learning documents, MEAL tools, tracking and reporting forms, monitoring reports, proposals, donor requirements and reports, evaluations and other program information;
• Maintain coordination with global team in planning and executing learning activities under the project.
• Draft methodologies and conduct data collection activities to collect information for learning and knowledge management.
• Draft/review learning and knowledge management reports and provide technical inputs where required.
• Coordinate with communication department and consultants to develop and disseminate learning and knowledge management products.
• Archive learning and knowledge management products in shared drive and relevant platforms.

Proposal Development

% of Time:  5% 

• Keep up to date on CARE DME resources, MEAL strategies, concepts, and best practices.
• Support the MEAL of other CARE projects, as and when needed; and
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.   
• The duties and responsibilities described above are subject to change, depending on the project needs and change in situation due to emergency.

Any other task as assigned by the supervisor.

% of time: 05%

• The duties and responsibilities described above are subject to change, depending on organizational needs.
• Safety and Security is everyone’s responsibility within CI through full compliance and accountability (as per Principle of the CARE International Safety & Security Principles).

III. Job Specifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Sociology, Development studies or related disciplines or equivalent; Master’s degree will be preferred.

Desired: Knowledge of statistical software i.e. SPSS.

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment, social science research, or a similar field, with specific focus on women empowerment, financial services, gender, and advocacy interventions.

Experience of working with National and International NGOs, Financial Institution, Development Agency in a similar role.

Technical Skills:

• Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative MEAL data collection, verification & validation and analysis methods, including tracking indicators and conducting program evaluations;
• Ability to interface with and manage stakeholders at senior level in banks, financial service providers, telecom companies and regulatory bodies;
• Research, analysis, and presentation skills;
• Strong rapport building and interpersonal skills;
• Well versed with handling database management systems;
• Ability to conduct technical analysis, and data visualizations;
• Ability to determine key indicators to measure project impact and to develop measurement systems for them;
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Well versed with Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Pro-active attitude with a proven ability to engage with multiple teams.

IV. Competencies

Respect, quality, accountability, analytical ability, building partnership, stress tolerance, facilitating change, adaptability, networking, coaching, developing teams, initiating action, political acumen, interpersonal skills, communicating with impact, contributing to team success, information monitoring, innovation, planning and organizing. 

V. Problem Solving (thinking environment)

The incumbent must use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem and also has to deal with variable situations, which need analysis, problem definition and development of alternative solutions. 

VI. Contacts/Key Relationships 

The incumbent is expected to collaborate with program team at the Country Office, Partner Organizations, and all CARE Staff.

VII. Working Conditions and Level of Travel Required

This position is located in Islamabad with field travel as and when required.

CARE participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we hereby request information from the candidate’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the candidate left employment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Note: Individuals can apply using Brightspyre or send their resumes directly to [email protected] clearly mentioning the position title in the subject line of the email, before the stated deadline. Please share your current as well as salary expectations along with the CV.