Senior Program Officer – Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at International Budget Partnership (IBP)

The International Budget Partnership (IBP) seeks a Senior Program Officer for Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) to work closely with the Nigeria Country Manager and team, Strategy and Learning Team (SALT), and partners to develop, implement, and maintain IBP’s strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for programs in Nigeria, in alignment with IBP’s strategy, impact and learning vision, principles and standards.

IBP works to ensure that all people, especially underserved communities, have the right and ability to understand and influence how public money – their money – is raised and spent. IBP is a nonprofit organization fiercely dedicated to ensuring governments use public funds to help those that need it most. In more than 120 countries, we pioneer new approaches to enable oversight of government taxation and spending. IBP is a multi-cultural environment with strong camaraderie among mission driven people.

Essential duties of the job include, but are not limited to, the following:

Nigeria Programs and Partners

• Co-create and facilitate the development of strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, approaches and annual plans for Nigeria programs and overall country strategy aligned with IBP’s PMEL principles and standards, including:
• —–Evidence-based strategy development processes, including program design, theory of change and program logical framework;
• —–Results frameworks that are relevant, robust, and serve the informational needs of the program (learning and reporting);
• —–Priority evaluation questions and evaluation approach, including internal and external evaluations, as relevant;
• —–Priority learning questions and learning approach, including annual (or as needed) Review and Reflection spaces, and agreed upon learning products
• Lead and facilitate the implementation of strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, approaches and annual plans for Nigeria programs and overall country strategy aligned with IBP’s PMEL principles and standards, including:
• —–Update strategic planning documents, including program design, theory of change and program logical framework as needed on the basis of emerging evidence and insights;
• —–Coordinate annual (or as needed) data collection with Nigeria team and partners to ensure timeliness, consistency and quality; lead consolidation and write up for reporting and other organizational needs, including contributing to IBP’s organizational and program results frameworks;
• —–Lead, support and/or facilitate internal and external program evaluations (in coordination with SALT);
• —–Facilitate country review and reflection and other learning spaces to enable a participatory learning culture actively involving Nigeria team, CSO partners and other relevant stakeholders; document learning processes and learning products ensuring these are shared and integrated by key stakeholders
• Ensure alignment between Nigeria strategic PMEL priorities, frameworks, and approaches, and country program (SPARK, Tax, Budget Credibility, etc.) strategic planning MEL approaches and processes, in coordination with the Focus Country PMEL SPO
• Ensure active engagement and ownership of country and partner strategic planning and MEL processes by program staff and partners, providing support and capacity building as needed
• Facilitate and support evidence gathering and learning processes that address country priorities and enable strategic and adaptive management, as well as documentation and sharing of progress and lessons
• Develop and maintain Nigeria knowledge management practices and systems, in coordination with IBP knowledge management

Focus Country Programs (SPARK, Tax Equity, Budget Credibility, etc.)

• Coordinate closely with other country PMEL staff, SALT SPO for PMEL in focus countries and IBP HQ staff for programs undertaken in Nigeria, with a focus on the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK) program; participate in program team meetings, program development processes, and external (including donor) engagements, as necessary
• Contribute to the development of strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, approaches and annual plans for focus country programs (e.g. SPARK, Tax, Budget Credibility), including:
• —–Evidence-based strategy development processes, including program design, theory of change and program logical framework;
• —–Results frameworks that are relevant, robust, and serve the informational needs of the program (learning and reporting);
• —–Priority evaluation questions and evaluation approach, including internal and external evaluations, as relevant;
• —–Priority learning questions and learning approach, including annual (or as needed) Review and Reflection spaces, and agreed upon learning products
• Contribute to the implementation of strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, approaches and annual plans for focus country programs (e.g. SPARK, Tax, Budget Credibility), including:
• —–Update strategic planning documents, including program design, theory of change and program logical framework as needed on the basis of emerging evidence and insights;
• —–Coordinate annual (or as needed) data collection with country team and partners to ensure timeliness, consistency and quality; lead consolidation and write up for reporting and other organizational needs, including contributing to IBP’s organizational results framework;
• —–Contribute to, support and/or facilitate (with country team and partners) internal and external program evaluations;
• —–Contribute to and facilitate program review and reflection and other learning spaces to actively involving country team, CSO partners and other relevant stakeholders 

At the organization level

• Contribute to IBP’s organizational results framework, ensuring alignment with program and country results frameworks and monitoring processes; contribute to annual results report and/or other related products
• Contribute to effective IBP knowledge management practices and systems, ensuring alignment and compatibility with in-country knowledge management
• Contribute to the development of appropriate strategic planning and MEL methodologies, tools and processes in collaboration with IBP staff and partners, and aligned with IBP’s standards
• Contribute to organizational strategy, evaluation and learning processes and spaces, particularly leveraging evidence and lessons from programming in Nigeria
• Contribute to PMEL capacity building for IBP staff and CSO partners, including support and coordination of a PMEL community of practice to enable shared exploration and strengthening of tools, practices and processes; participate in regular meetings of all IBP PMEL staff 
• Coordinate with IBP’s development and communications teams to ensure alignment between external communications, donor proposals/reporting, and Nigeria strategic planning and MEL processes and products 

Other Responsibilities

• Participates in IBP all-staff retreats
• Coordinates closely with the IBP Finance and Operations Team for all administrative and logistical needs
• Complies with all administrative and financial protocols, policies and procedures

Education Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in social, economic, political sciences, or development studies; training in monitoring and evaluation systems, approaches and methodologies    

Experience and Core Competencies:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in developing and implementing MEL frameworks and systems for governance, advocacy, or development organizations and programs is required
• Demonstrated experience with MEL (including appropriate tools and methodologies) for complex, politically informed and adaptive programming is required
• Familiarity with database and analysis software such as Excel is required
• Experience contributing to MEL for multi-country programs is preferred; experience working in Nigerian civil society organizations is preferred

Attributes:

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for IBP’s mission
• Ability to work independently to advance multiple processes and objectives
• Strong interpersonal skills with clear ability to work collaboratively diverse individuals, teams and cultures, especially between central office and decentralized field teams
• Excellent written and spoken English, proficiency conveying complex and technical processes and ideas to diverse audiences

Physical Demands:

• Domestic travel will be required; occasional international travel may be required   
• The position supports occasional event or publication preparation which may require lifting or moving of items that weigh up to 30 lbs.  

Please apply with resume and cover letter stating the skills and approach that you would bring to the role. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at the International Budget Partnership, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.

APPLY FOR THIS JOB