Output 4 Lead - PLANE at Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI)

Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) is an international development company. For more than 45 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 80 countries.

Our development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Output 4 Lead - PLANE

Location: Abuja, with National / Regional travel
Reporting: The Output 4 Lead will report to the Team Leader and will supervise PLANE’s M&E Manager and Communication Manager.
Programme: PLANE (PARTNERSHIP FOR LEARNING FOR ALL IN NIGERIAN)
Contract Duration: May 2023 – May 2028

Project Background

• Nigeria PLANE is a 7 year, £95m programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and represents one window of intervention in a broader package of investment intended to enable a more inclusive and effective basic education system. It seeks to do this through improvements made in teaching and learning with a focus on foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics.
• It has four primary outputs: (i) Teaching & Learning: Evidence-based teaching and learning approaches & materials in use, in better managed performance focused schools and teaching colleges; (ii) Governance of state systems: Improved planning, personnel management and public financial management practices; (iii) Governance of non-state systems: Improved management and performance of the non-state sector; and (iv) Use of Evidence and Communication: Effective generation, communication and use of evidence to inform citizen engagement and improve service delivery. PLANE will work in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa, the South West, South East, and the federal capital territory.

Duties & Responsibilities
The Output 4 Lead will be responsible for the following functions:
Programme M&E and Reporting:

• Manage PLANE’s M&E systems and procedures ensuring high quality data ensuring all MEL activities are coordinated across the programme’s consortium to track progress against PLANE’s progress KPI and logframe targets
• Undertake regular reviews of the programme’s logframe, Theory of Change and VfM framework and engage with FCDO on proposed logframe amendments and annual targets
• Engage with PLANE’s external evaluators over the course of PLANE and facilitate PLANE’s Annual Review process.
• Ensure compilation, quality assurance and submission of PLANE’s quarterly and annual reports as well as any additional reports required by PLANE’s senior management team and FCDO.

Advocacy, Research and Communications:

• Engage with team members and consortium partners to develop an annual workplan and budget for PLANE’s Output 4 component (M&E, research, communications and advocacy), ensure workplan deliverables are completed as scheduled and within budget and undertake regular workplan reviews
• Ensure effective coordination within the team, consortium partners and stakeholders on all communications, research and results products in partnership with other PLANE team members
• Manage the development, quality assurance and dissemination of knowledge products highlighting key achievements of the programme, success stories, lessons learned, positive impacts of the programme to inform policy makers as well as communication products to increase the programme’s public profile through various platforms and media.

Partnerships & Collaboration:

• Foster collaboration across the PLANE programme windows and facilitate cross-linkages and learning at a programmatic, sectoral and consortium level.
• Facilitate the projection of PLANE’s results through evidence-based learning products and platforms, and ensure the programme is leveraging the work of all partners and collaborators in the education sector.
• Ensure PLANE is developing national and regional partnerships that draw on international education trends and debates.  

Essential Requirements

• A Master’s Degree, preferably in monitoring and evaluation (Essential)
• At least 10 years of experience in the development sector, preferably with FCDO-funded programmes (Essential)
• Proven experience of managing M&E systems, frameworks and processes on large complex programmes including VfM, Theory of Change and Logframe change management (Essential)
• Proven experience of producing and disseminating research, communication and knowledge products (Essential)
• Proved experience of producing project reports and an ability to develop well written, cohesive reports (Essential)
• Extensive professional experience in Africa, particularly Nigeria.
• Experience of developing and managing annual workplans and budgets
• Experience of working with government and donor counterparts.
• Proven experience with relationship building and team building skills;

Application Closing Date
28th April 2023.