Monitoring & Evaluation Learning Specialist

About the Organization

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia's agriculture sector, a key contributor to the country's GDP, exports, and workforce.

The ATI's work centers on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. It conducts policy and analytical studies, provides technical implementation support and capacity building, and coordinates platforms to better integrate partners and projects. The institute also designs and directly leads several innovative and pilot interventions.

ATI collaborates with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. It facilitates knowledge exchange and learning opportunities, playing a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia's agricultural sector.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture fosters talented, dedicated, and adaptable individuals who are committed to doing their best and exhibiting great teamwork to achieve excellent results.

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make meaningful contributions to changing the agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize that our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing the tools, training, and mentorship necessary to achieve their career goals.

Position Summary

The M&E & Learning Specialist ensures that all projects in the PCU portfolio are effectively monitored, evaluated, and analyzed to generate actionable insights for decision-making. This role is responsible for designing and implementing robust M&E frameworks, conducting impact assessments, and promoting institutional learning, ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into policy, strategy, and project implementation for continuous improvement and sector transformation.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Outcome 1: M&E Framework Design & Implementation (25%)

• Develop and operationalize M&E frameworks, tools, and KPIs for all portfolio projects.
• Ensure data collection, verification, and reporting processes are standardized and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Monitor project progress, outputs, and outcomes using qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Outcome 2: Impact Evaluation & Performance Analysis (25%)

• Design and conduct baseline, midline, and endline assessments.
• Analyze project and portfolio performance data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to leadership for strategic adjustments.

Outcome 3: Knowledge Management & Learning (20%)

• Capture lessons learned, best practices, and success stories across projects.
• Develop learning briefs, case studies, and knowledge products for internal and external dissemination.
• Facilitate learning workshops, peer reviews, and communities of practice across portfolio teams.

Outcome 4: Reporting & Decision Support (15%)

• Prepare periodic M&E and learning reports for leadership, donors, and sector partners.
• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and visualizations to support evidence-based decisions.

Outcome 5: Capacity Building & Advisory Support (15%)

• Train project teams on M&E tools, data use, and learning integration.
• Provide advisory support to PCU leadership and project managers on performance improvement strategies.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Field of Study: Bachelor's or Master's degree in M&E, Development Studies, Statistics, Data Science, Agriculture, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 6 years for a Bachelor's degree or 4 years for a Master's degree of relevant experience in agriculture, rural development, or donor-funded multi-project portfolios. Proven experience in agricultural transformation, sector reform, and multi-stakeholder coordination is preferred.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Systems Perspective: Ability to design M&E and learning systems with long-term sector impact in mind.
• Decision-Making & Problem-Solving: Analyze complex data to provide actionable, evidence-based recommendations.
• Leadership & People Management: Lead, mentor, and build capacity within M&E and learning teams.
• Communication & Influence: Present findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences; influence strategic decisions.
• Collaboration & Relationship Management: Work effectively with partners, donors, and project teams.

Technical Competencies

• M&E Systems & Methodologies: Design and implement robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks.
• Data Analysis & Visualization: Use quantitative and qualitative analysis tools to generate insights for decision-making.
• Impact Assessment: Conduct baseline, midline, endline, and special evaluations of project outcomes.
• Knowledge Management: Capture lessons learned, best practices, and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Reporting & Dashboard Development: Prepare timely reports, visualizations, and portfolio performance dashboards.

Other Requirements

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) required; local language proficiency an advantage.
• Professional certifications in M&E, program evaluation, or related areas are desirable.