Accelerate Prosperity Initiative (AP) is looking for a Senior Programme Officer Monitoring, Evaluation, Results and Learning (MERL) in its Islamabad office for its activities and operations. The Program Officer MERL (Data & Reporting) for AP Asia will report administratively to AP Country Manager and technically to MERL Manager AP Asia.

Background

The overall objective of Accelerate Prosperity in South and Central Asia (AP Asia) is to contribute to the enhanced equitable economic well-being of women and men in rural Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The specific objective of this EU funded Action is to improve self-employment and employment of women and men in supported enterprises. The Action will achieve this through two intermediate outcomes:

• Increased growth of supported enterprises;
• Increased trade between supported enterprises, producers and clients in targeted areas.

The creation of new start-up enterprises, the growth of small businesses, and a focus on youth and women led ventures will be critical. The Action aims to contribute to positive trends in Gross National Income and Gender Development Index scores.

Accelerate Prosperity is designed to leverage the creative power and commercial instincts of private sector (including AKFED) to address the needs and challenges of budding entrepreneurs, startups and existing MSMEs. It is a part of new global initiative of the AKDN in Central and South Asia, which follows guidance from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Board to develop more formal structures to catalyze enterprises within AKDN’s main area development programs, where economic opportunities remain insufficient. Through patient capital and tailored business advisory to startups and businesses, AP complements broader employment-related programs of AKF and draws significantly on technical expertise from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s (AKFED) Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and coordinates efforts with the AKDN’s financial institutions, the University of Central Asia and many other national partners.

 Job Description:

The Program Officer MERL (Data & Reporting) will be conducting full lifecycle analysis of project data to generate high quality reports. The PO will also monitor performance and quality control plans to identify improvements and will ensure that the projects carried out by AKF(Pak) and its implementing partners in Pakistan are well-designed, well-executed, and well-learned-from. He/she will be responsible for management of MERL processes for AP supported projects and programmes including data collection, data management, reporting, quality assurance and liaising with programme staff and implementing partners. He/she also works collaboratively with the programme staff and finance team to design and employ effective performance management plans; develop project monitoring frameworks; and support MERL processes during project design and implementation.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist MERL Manager AP Asia and country teams in designing web-based data collection tools
• Interpret project data, analyse results using statistical techniques and generate high quality reports
• Develop and implement databases, data collection systems, data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality
• Identify, analyse, and interpret trends or patterns in complex datasets
• Locate and define new process improvement opportunities
• Assist team to turn data into information, information into insight and insight into project decisions.
• Develop high quality project progress reporting for AP Pakistan
• Support programme teams and implementing partners to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools including development and refinement of project result frameworks, performance measurement frameworks, evaluation/assessments design and monitoring plans.
• Ensure implementation of the web-based monitoring systems according to the project plans and policies, procedures and donor requirements.
• Ensure documentation and communication of results from different project studies including baselines, midline or end lines, evaluation or third-party reviews both internally and with external stakeholders, as per donor requirements and applicable MERL policies and procedures of AKF/ donors.
• Identify the need for studies and operational research, program performance evaluations, and support programme teams and partners to conduct additional studies and operational research if and as needed
• Support relationships, networks and synergies within and outside AKF (Pak) to promote the use of information and evidence for strategic decision making.
• Provide need-based training to project staff who are involved in project monitoring and reporting
• Any other task assigned by supervisor.

Educational Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Science, Development Studies or Economics or an equivalent recognized professional qualification.

 Experience

• (Required) Five (5) years of experience in MERL and MIS/database management, preferably within a development organization and/or funded by foreign government donor
• (Required) Data Analytics, Power BI other relevant
• (Preferable) Experience of working in Central and South Asia 
• (Preferable) Experience in projects related to entrepreneurship, business development, SMEs etc. 
• Excellent writing and reporting skills. 
• Computer literate (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.). 

 Soft Skills 

• Highly skilled in the use of digital data collection platforms (Kobo Toolbox, Ona,), visualization tools, Power BI/Tableau, and Statistical Packages (SPSS, STATA). Knowledge of database management programming languages is an advantage.
• Knowledge of result-based management approach for project design, implementation, and reporting

NOTE: AKRSP offers competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are equal opportunity employer. Our recruitment and selection policy and procedures reflect our commitment to the safeguarding of children and adults in accordance with safeguarding policy. Only online applications submitted through this website before the deadline will be considered for further process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test/interview.