Vacancy Announcement:
Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Grants Specialist (MREGS)
BACKGROUND
The Peace Corps is an independent U.S. Government agency that sends American volunteers around the world to aid countries to fulfill their development needs. The Peace Corps has programs in 65 countries with approximately 7,000 American volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.
The three goals of the Peace Corps are:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women;
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served;
- To help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.
Peace Corps originally opened its program in Rwanda in 1974, working for 20 years before closing its offices in 1994. It reopened its program in 2008 and Peace Corps Volunteers currently work in Health and TEFL Education, responding directly to the Government of Rwanda’s priorities. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who is a team player and self-starter with moral integrity and a spirit of continuous improvement to fill this vacancy.
BASIC FUNCTION
The Peace Corps recognizes monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MRE) as a critical area through which we communicate the value of Peace Corps Volunteers’ (PCVs’) work in the communities they serve. Peace Corps partners express increased accountability for results, and Peace Corps staff members need relevant data and tools to strengthen project management and planning. MRE assists Volunteers to measure and understand their value on their project’s technical areas and supports staff in providing Volunteers with feedback on their work. Reporting to the Director of Programming and Training (DPT), the MREGS establishes monitoring systems, leads data collection and analysis, conducts staff development in MRE, conducts PCV trainings in MRE, and provides leadership and coordination for timely and reliable data for analysis and reporting in the agency’s monitoring and evaluation platform using Peace Corps MRE tools. Equally important in this position is grants management which includes training and supporting Volunteers in completing successful grant projects from application to completion reports; keeping track of all grants and observing projects in the field, completing reports for donors, Peace Corps Washington, and analyzing the information to inform and improve programming and training in PC Rwanda.
Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation
Working in close collaboration with the entire Programming and Training team, coordinates Peace Corps Rwanda’s monitoring and evaluation efforts in order to understand our program impact. Manages, coordinates and collects program data and information from PCVs; conducts evaluation and reflection activities regarding the project and related Peace Corps activities, and writes and contributes reports on projects. The duties include:
- Provide MRE training to Peace Corps Trainees and Volunteers, including MRE theory and practice, the use of the Volunteer Reporting and Grants platform, the use of other data collection tools, and data interpretation
- Create or update data collection tools for clear, accurate reporting by PCVs
- Track timeliness, thoroughness and accuracy of PCVs’ quantitative and qualitative data submissions
- Assist programming team with review of PCVs’ VRG submissions, and support them in providing feedback and guidance as needed
- Identify gaps in data collection and communicate directly with the Programming and Training team.
- Conduct periodic site visits to assess, monitor and verify Volunteer record-keeping and data collection in the field.
- Liaise with the programming and training team to review data reporting on each project’s indicators and interpret data as a team.
- Become an expert in relevant reporting tools and mentor other staff and Volunteers on them, particularly the Volunteer Reporting and Grants platform (VRG).
- Take overall responsibility for the VRG, making alterations to frameworks, importing Volunteer reports and producing reports
- Develop and communicate Volunteer reporting timelines and staff feedback schedule for VRGs
- Send VRGs to Volunteers, troubleshoot technical problems and follow up to ensure timely submissions
- Ensure timely, accurate feedback by staff to Volunteers
- Assist staff with data needs for reports, items relevant for periodic and annual reports to comply with special funding needs and Peace Corps headquarters reporting requirements.
- Participate in monitoring and evaluation communities of practice with PC/Washington and Africa Region.
- Contribute to draft documents for the annual Integrated Planning and Budgeting System, Project Status Reviews, Training Status Review, Congressional Reports, Staff Notes, Volunteer Newsletters, and Peace Corps Rwanda Annual Report.
Grants Coordination
The MREGS is responsible for the day-to-day administration of grant projects at Peace Corps Rwanda, and serves as the primary small grants program contact for Volunteers, post staff, Funding Partners/Donors, and Peace Corps/headquarters grants program support staff.
Grants Program Management
- Understand grant program rules and requirements; keep abreast of updates/best practices for grant programs and convey updates to the Small Grants Committee and Volunteers.
- Organize, prepare for and serve as the chair of the Small Grants Committee and identify committee members in relation to grant requests.
- Train Peace Corps Trainees and Volunteers in grant writing, application, management,
- Maintain grant funding files, including proposals, committee feedback, and final reports
- Provide support to Country Director (CD) and DPT in determining funding needs and negotiating new funds; provide input on funding needs based on remaining carryover funds and spending patterns.
Funding Partners/Donors
- Serve as day-to-day liaison with in-country funding partners (USAID or other) regarding ongoing grant program operations as delegated by the CD
- Support DPT/CD in drafting regular reports to USAID or other funding partners.
Financial Management
- Track grant spending and available funds by grant program and by funding areas (e.g., by SPA program element) in collaboration with Administrative unit
- Ensure financial processing of approved grants in collaboration with administrative unit
- Ensure that funds are available in the proper funding source (including proper program element for SPA) prior to recommending approval of grants.
Project Design, Review, Approval & Implementation
- Understand Project Design and Management (PDM) tools and ensure post consistency
- Prepare and communicate to staff and PCVs post-specific policies, procedures, and guidelines in line with PC issued guidance.
- Provide Volunteers with feedback on applications submitted for approval
- Communicate potential activities and prohibited activities
- Receive grant applications (e.g., SPA and PCPP) from Volunteers, provide the first review of all grant proposals to ensure they are complete, and disseminate to Small Grants Committee members and appropriate PMs
- Communicate feedback from the committee to the PCV and support revision of proposals as necessary; coordinate the approval process to include identification of the proper funding codes.
Project Tracking and Monitoring
- Track the status of all SPA-funded ongoing projects conducted by both PCVs and staff
- Provide status updates to the CD, DPT, post staff, and relevant Peace Corps/headquarters staff.
- Conduct periodic site visits to provide personal and technical support and verification of grant funded projects and results, as well as to track status of grants, and write project summaries after visiting SPA projects. Where appropriate, develop success stories using the USAID template for distribution to share with USAID.
Project Reporting and Closeout
- Ensure that grant completion reports meet all Small Grants Program guidelines when a Volunteer finishes the completion report.
- Provide regular updates on small grants to Peace Corps Headquarters, USAID or other donors
- Work with the Volunteer sponsor to report to the relevant Peace Corps/headquarters office, if a project is to be canceled, transferred, or amended
- Compile best practices to be used in future program planning
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge: Knowledge of databases (i.e. Access/Excel, and other data analysis software packages); Experience Q/A of large data sets. Experience presenting findings based on data, and training others on data collection and use. Proficiency in developing reports, using multiple reporting tools, and advising on data interpretation. Excellent communication skills across both supervisors and subordinates. Experience working with a volunteer organization.
Abilities and Skills:
- Knowledge of office administrative procedures, modern office technologies, working relationships in a multicultural setting, professional communication standards and protocols; Ability to work under pressure and respond to a wide variety of inquiries.
- Pass a Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and/or Outlook proficiency test
- Demonstrate the ability to draft a clear, concise memo related to Grants and/ or MRE.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze a complex data set and prepare a written summary.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in project management and evaluation, international development, social sciences, or relevant field required. Master’s degree in Evaluation, Program Management, International Development, Social Sciences or related field preferred.
Language Proficiency
English fluency (speaking, reading and writing) is required.
Professional Experience
A minimum of three (5) years’ experience in Project Management, Grants Management, and/or Monitoring and Evaluation including at least one year with any International Organization (IO) or International Non-Governmental Project (INGP) required. Work experience in supporting programming, training, and volunteer programs.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit via email ONLY CV/resume and a cover letter to the “Apply” button bellow not later than by September 14, 2022.
The title of the position should be clearly marked in the subject line of the email message. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The Peace Corps is an equal opportunity agency.
