Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Expert 38 views

Direct supervisor: Engagement Lead

Supervision: Project Implementation

Job Grade: Managerial

Project: Building Regional and Federal Capacity Amidst Aid Shifts: Technical Assistance

Location: Addis Ababa

No of Hires: 1

Position Type: Short-Term (1-Year)

Post Deadline: April 15, 2026

Role

POSITION OVERVIEW

ACE Investment and Impact Advisors is a women-owned and led independent advisory firm that is dedicated to promoting innovation for better development outcomes and social change. Our firm brings a strategic cross-domain perspective with deep expertise in driving public-sector delivery capabilities and private-sector development by partnering with government, private-sector, and development partners. We envision becoming the preferred partner to government, private sector, and development partners as a change catalyst to transform investments and impact life and boldly embrace our core values of promoting equity, & inclusion, professionalism, meticulousness, partnerships, and impact orientation. With our diverse team of experts and multi-sectoral outlook, we are strategically placed to provide bespoke services across sectors and industries.

Ethiopia’s regions face a structural health financing gap. On-budget ODA fell significantly in recent years, with further declines projected. The termination of USAID operations in 2025 accelerated service collapse across health, nutrition, and agriculture. Regional governments have limited fiscal space, and the absence of earmarked health allocations within federal block grants means fiscal pressure diverts funding from essential RMNCAH and PHC services.

The Gates Foundation is funding a 12-month initiative implemented by BKP through its local partner, ACE Advisors, to strengthen financing capacity at a regional and federal level, through five result areas ODA intelligence and early warning frameworks, PFM systems strengthening, alternative financing mobilization, domestic revenue generation, and program management and sustainability:

• Federal level: Supporting the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to analyze ODA trends, what it means for the country’s macroeconomic stability, the impact on key sectors and to develop forward-looking financing strategies, and design innovative financing mechanisms
• Regional level (Oromia, Sidama, Afar and Somali): Supporting Regional Bureaus of Finance and Health to strengthen financing resilience and safeguard essential service delivery. This will be done through five result areas: ODA intelligence and early warning frameworks, PFM systems strengthening, alternative financing mobilization, domestic revenue generation, and program management and sustainability.

Given the complexity of the project and its multi-level engagement, a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system is critical to track progress against results, support evidence-based decision-making and enable adaptive management. To this end, ACE Advisors as the local lead in this effort is looking to recruit a Senior Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Expert.

ROLE OBJECTIVE

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Expert is a full-time job and will be responsible for designing and leading the implementation of a comprehensive MEL system that ensures the effective tracking and assessment of project performance across both the federal and regional components. This system will integrate data and insights generated from multiple project workstreams into a single, coherent framework, enabling a holistic understanding of progress and outcomes. In addition to monitoring performance, the MEL system will be structured to facilitate continuous learning by generating timely evidence and feedback that inform decision-making. Through this approach, the expert will support real-time learning and adaptive management, ensuring that project activities remain responsive, coordinated, and aligned with evolving implementation needs.

Reporting: Dual – To BKP and ACE Advisors Project Director (primary, for technical quality and deliverables). Technical guidance from ACE’s PFM Reform Expert, Health Financing & DRM Expert, and ODA Analyst. Close coordination with the AMREF Embedded Health Financing Advisor in the corresponding Regional Health Bureau.

SCOPE OF WORK

• MEL Framework Design and System Development:
  • Develop project-wide MEL framework aligned with objectives and results framework.
  • Defining key performance indicators (KPIs), data collection methodologies and timelines.
  • Foundational PFM including budget classification, cash management, health expenditure tracking.
  • Baseline, reporting setup, etc.
• Monitoring and Performance Tracking: Establish systems to track progress across federal and regional levels. Developing tools such as performance dashboards, progress tracking templates, milestones and deliverables checklist and supporting regular data collection and validation.
• Evaluation and learning: Design and implement midline and endline evaluations; analyze project performance and generate insights on effectiveness of interventions, progress towards outcomes and bottlenecks and risks; facilitate learning cycles to inform adaptive management.
• Reporting and communication: Lead preparation of performance reports and learning briefs. And ensure reporting is evidence based, clear and actionable and aligned with stakeholder needs.
• Data management and quality assurance: Develop and maintain systems for data collection, storage and analysis as well as data quality assurance and verification.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• By June 30, 2026: Project-wide MEL Framework, KPI matrix, Data collection tools and reporting templates.
• By July 30: Baseline evaluation and Operational Performance dashboards and tracking tools.
• September 30, 2026: Midline Evaluation Reports and April 30, 2027: Endline evaluation reports.
• Monthly/quarterly learning briefs.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and data management skills.
• Experience with designing MEL framework and MEL tools, dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness, initiative and judgment.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to travel to project sites and meetings, as needed.
• Computer literacy – MS Office applications, web-based management information systems.
• Fluency in English and Amharic.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS AND APPLICATION

Full-time physical presence at ACE Advisors is non-negotiable. Travel to 4 Regional Bureaus approximately monthly and quarterly reviews and workshops as needed. ACE Advisors will provide equipment.

REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of a master’s Degree in the relevant field of study (Development Policy, Management, Statistics, Economics, Business Administration, or related field).
• At least 10 – 12 years of relevant progressively advancing professional experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of multi-year and nation-wide projects at national and international organizations.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing MEL frameworks, plans, and systems.
• Track record of successfully working with government and development partners on development agendas and PFM expertise.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships with partners, stakeholders, and development partners.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis with a demonstrated ability to analyze and solve complex problems and implement change.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness, initiative and judgment.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to travel to project sites and meetings, as needed.
• Computer literacy – MS Office applications, web-based management information systems.