Vacancy: Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Introduction
The African
Virtual University (AVU):The AVU is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization established by
charter with the mandate of significantly increasing access to quality higher
education and training through the innovative use of information communication
technologies.
The AVU has
its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and a Regional office in Dakar Senegal with
Host-Country Agreements and Diplomatic Status with the two governments.
The AVU Business Plan 2009-2014 has two main thrusts:
The AVU Business Plan 2009-2014 has two main thrusts:
(a)
Educational and support services provided on a fee basis; and
(b)
Not-for-profit development services.
The
Not-for-profit development services aims at building the capacity of AVU
Partner Institutions (PIs) with an objective of increasing access to quality
education through the following activities: updating and developing content;
Open Educational Resources (OER) Development; AVU Capacity Enhancement Program
(ACEP); set up/upgrade ODeL centers; developing professional networks through
Communities of Practices; Research and Development; and Quality Evaluation and
Benchmarking.
Some of the not-for-profit development services were delivered from 2005 to 2011 through the AVU Multinational Project I, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented in 10 African countries with 12 participating institutions.
The
AfDB-funded Multinational Support Project: The AfDB is funding a second phase of the
Multinational Project which will build on the first phase and will extend its
benefits to more countries.
The overall
objective of the AVU Multinational Project II is to strengthen the capacity of
the AVU and a network of 27 institutions to deliver and manage quality ICT
integrated education and training opportunities in 21 African countries.
The project
has the following activities: (1) Establishment of new Open Distance and
eLearning (ODeL) Centres and/or upgrading of exiting AVU Learning Centres as
well as Internet connectivity provision at AVU Partner Institutions; (2)
Development and/or improvement, and delivery of four ICT integrated Programs:
AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP); Teacher Education, Computer Science,
and Peace and Conflict Resolution;
(3) Gender
Mainstreaming
(4) Research
and Development;
(5) Promotion
and development of Open Education Resources (OERs); and
(6)
Enhancement of AVU Capacity .
The AVU
Multinational Project II is being implemented in 27 AVU Partner Institutions in
the following 21 countries: nine (9) Francophone African Countries: Benin,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; four (4) Lusophone African Countries: Angola, Cape
Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique; and eight (8) Anglophone African
Countries: Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and
Tanzania.
To successfully implement these activities the AVU wishes to engage a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer who will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Under the
overall guidance of the AVU Rector, the M&E Officer will be responsible for
ensuring that AVU’s activities and those of the Phase II Project maintain their
overall objectives and that these activities result in the achievement of the
intended outputs in a timely manner.
Recently, in
2014, the AVU adopted Results Based Management as the system to plan and
monitor and evaluate the work of the organization.
The M&E
Officer will be responsible for the execution of the system within AVU
corporate operations and within its projects and initiatives.
Overall Objectives of the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
The primary
objectives of the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer are:
·
provide
assistance to the AVU in all areas related to M&E;
·
monitor
implementation and track progress toward the achievement of corporate and
project objectives;
·
assess
outcomes and the effectiveness of corporate and project interventions;
·
contribute to
the empowerment of primary stakeholders (staff, partners and members) by
enhancing skills in M&E and in promoting participation in monitoring and
evaluation.
It is
intended that the M&E Officer will help collect data to facilitate key
operational and strategic decisions in terms of corporate and project planning
and to provide insights on achieving better results.
Activities of the M&E Officer
The
activities of the M&E Officer are to:
·
Provide the
AVU staff and inside and outside project staff and stakeholders with regular
information on implementation and outputs; identify bottlenecks and impediments
in the implementation of plans and strategies; ensure that all the activities
are implemented in compliance with the requisite regulations;
·
Provide
support and information to the AVU to help determine to what extent the AVU and
its projects and initiatives achieve goals and objectives, and how these affect
the intended beneficiaries’ social conditions and capacities;
·
Maintain
acceptable performance standards in line with protocols and regulations.
·
Ensure that
the staff is familiar with and use the monitoring and evaluation procedures and
relevant tools.
More
technically, the M&E Officer will have responsibilities in the following:
·
Execution and
process monitoring – The purpose of this component is to monitor implementation
and track the ongoing progress of activities within corporate or project plans.
Primary data collection is based on existing data and documents.
·
Evaluations –
The purpose of this component is to assess the extent to which the intended
outcomes are achieved within corporate and project plans. At specific times
undertake impact evaluations to provide qualitative assessment of the impacts
of strategies and initiatives.
·
Participatory
Monitoring & Evaluation (PME) – The purpose of PME is to empower primary
beneficiaries by directly engaging them in monitoring processes and results. In
practical terms, PME is the application of participatory tools and methods for
measuring, assessing, reporting on, and ultimately improving performance
through a process of shared learning.
·
Other areas
as assigned by the AVU
Scope of Work
Specific
tasks that need to be undertaken by the M&E Officer are as follows.
·
The M&E
Officer will consult relevant stakeholders and review documents and data to
provide the AVU with the information required to improve performance.
·
The M&E
Officer will assist in the development of the annual plans.
·
Attend
meetings with staff and as instructed by the AVU.
·
Gather data
from various sites and through meetings with the aim of drafting the quarterly
report for review by the AVU.
·
Design tools
for data collection
·
Provide all
data relevant to the conduct of the any monitoring or evaluation activity
whether internal or external.
·
Support
special studies as instructed by the AVU
·
Perform other
functions relevant to and in support of the M&E activities for the AVU.
Qualifications
for Officer
M&E
Officer should possess:
·
At least 6
years of experience in monitoring and evaluation and in project management.
·
The Officer
should have Information Technology (IT) in particular MS Excel and MS Access as
well as data, collection and analysis skills in particular some experience with
conducting surveys and interviews.
·
A university
degree in social science or other relevant discipline such as economics or
statistics.
·
The Officer
must possess diplomacy, tact, ability to influence and convince senior officers
and partners and a superior verbal and written communication capability.
·
Strong
analytical skills, not just in data analysis but in data interpretation.
Accuracy and
Errors: This is a
sensitive position requiring discretion and attention to detail.
Reporting
Requirements: The M&E
Officer will report to the AVU Rector or such other person as he organization
may appoint from time to time.
Modalities of
Work: The officer
will work full time dedicating 8 hours in a day for 5 days a week.
Duration: 24 Months
Payment: Payment will be a fixed
monthly rate commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the
Consultant.
Vacancy: Senior Procurement Officer
i. The African Virtual University (AVU): The AVU is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization established by charter with the mandate of significantly increasing access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of information communication technologies.
i. The African Virtual University (AVU): The AVU is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization established by charter with the mandate of significantly increasing access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of information communication technologies.
A Charter,
establishing the AVU as an Intergovernmental Organization, has been signed so
far by nineteen (19) African Governments - Kenya, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali,
Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin,
Ghana, Republic of Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, The Gambia,
Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia and Cape Verde.
The AVU has
its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and a Regional office in Dakar Senegal with
Host-Country Agreements and Diplomatic Status with the two governments.
The AVU Business Plan 2009-2014 has two main thrusts:
(a)
Educational and support services provided on a fee basis; and
(b)
Not-for-profit development services.
The Not-for-profit
development services aims at building the capacity of AVU Partner Institutions
(PIs) with an objective of increasing access to quality education through the
following activities: updating and developing content; Open Educational
Resources (OER) Development; AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP); set
up/upgrade ODeL centers; developing professional networks through Communities
of Practices; Research and Development; and Quality Evaluation and
Benchmarking.
Some of the not-for-profit development services were delivered from 2005 to 2011 through the AVU Multinational Project I, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented in 10 African countries with 12 participating institutions.
ii. The AfDB-funded Multinational Support Project: The AfDB is funding a second phase of the Multinational Project which will build on the first phase and will extend its benefits to more countries.
The overall
objective of the AVU Multinational Project II is to strengthen the capacity of
the AVU and a network of 27 institutions to deliver and manage quality ICT
integrated education and training opportunities in 21 African countries.
The project
has the following activities:
(1)
Establishment of new Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) Centres and/or
upgrading of exiting AVU Learning Centres as well as Internet connectivity
provision at AVU Partner Institutions;
(2)
Development and/or improvement, and delivery of four ICT integrated Programs:
AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP); Teacher Education, Computer Science,
and Peace and Conflict Resolution;
(3) Gender
Mainstreaming
(4) Research
and Development;
(5) Promotion
and development of Open Education Resources (OERs); and
(6)
Enhancement of AVU Capacity .
The AVU
Multinational Project II is being implemented in 27 AVU Partner Institutions in
the following 21 countries: nine (9) Francophone African Countries: Benin,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; four (4) Lusophone African Countries: Angola, Cape
Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique; and eight (8) Anglophone African
Countries: Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and
Tanzania.
To successfully implement these project activities the AVU wishes to engage a Senior Procurement Officer to undertake all procurement activities related to the project as well as other work that may be requested by the AVU
Scope of Work
Specific
Responsibilities
·
Manage and
administer effectively the procurement of a wide variety of goods, works and
services as required by AVU for its operation including inter alia:
1. preparation of
advertisements and organization of procurement arrangements;
2. preparation of all
procurement documents e.g. bidding documents/request for proposals,
3. Bid Evaluation
Reports,
4. notification of
award,
5. contract management
6. arranging inspection,
etc.;
·
For all
procurements, comply with the AVU and the AfDB procurement guidelines, and
Procurement operational manual
·
Prepare and
update Procurement Plans and Procurement Implementation Plans
·
Update
Procurement Operations Manual and Bidding and Proposal Documents
·
Implement the
procurement processes as set out in approved Procurement Plans
·
Ensure that
all procurement-related approvals required are approved by the Rector
·
Pursue
economies in the procurement process that may be obtained through aggressive
marketing of the procurement opportunity, improved specifications, and other
sound purchasing practices to achieve value for money.
·
Establish a
contract administration system to ensure and keep track of supplier and
contractor compliance with terms and conditions of contracts, addressing delays
in delivery or performance, troubleshooting problems, and certifying
performance of services, completion of works and delivery of goods.
·
Provide all
reports and information as required under the Procurement operational manual
and each in accordance with the FORMAT requirements set forth in AVU and AfDB
guidelines and operational manual.
·
Maintain accurate
and complete records of procurement activity that contain appropriate evidence
of the rules and procedures applied and decisions made in conducting
procurements.
·
Contribute to
the reports produced by the team for project; and
·
Perform other
duties as may be assigned.
Deliverables
and Expected Outcomes
·
Updated
Procurement Operational Manual
·
Updated AVU
Multinational Project Procurement Plans and Monitoring Tables
·
Reviewed
Terms of Reference for consultants contracted under project (in conjunction
with technical experts)
·
List of
registered firms to be used for shopping solicitation;
·
Procurement
Notices
·
Requests for
Proposals (in conjunction with technical experts)
·
Bidding
Documents (in conjunction with technical experts)
·
Selection
Documents (in conjunction with selection committees and Project Manager)
·
Comprehensive
individual procurement file for procurement activity
·
Contract for
all goods and services procured in a procedural manner
·
Supplies,
goods and services to support the operations of the Multinational Project.
Qualifications
of Procurement Officer
·
Advanced
university degree in one of the following disciplines: economics, commerce,
business administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
·
Professional
certification in supply chain management by recognized body
·
At least 8
years’ working experience at a senior procurement position in an
inter-Governmental Organization, Development Agencies or other international
organizations
·
Extensive
experience in procurement of goods and services, including designing and
preparing solicitations and proposals, monitoring contract performance, and
ensuring compliance strongly preferred.
·
Proven
working experience and knowledge of multilateral donors like AfDB and World
Bank Procedures is essential.
·
Demonstrated
knowledge of international best practices in procurement procedures, project
administration, contract procedures and project follow-up.
·
Excellent
communication skills and experience in working with high level government
officials and business executives.
·
Proven
excellent computer skills especially in MS Excel, Power Point and MS Project.
·
Strong
interpersonal skills, ability to communicate well at all levels of the
organization
·
Ability to
multitask and work under pressure
·
Proven record
of working with minimum supervision
·
Good planning
and organizational skills.
·
Fluency in
reading, writing and speaking in English
·
Knowledge of
French or Portuguese is an added advantage
Modalities of
Work: The officer
will work full time dedicating 8 hours in a day for 5 days a week.
Duration: 18 months
Reporting: The officer will work
under the supervision of the Manager, Finance and Administration or such other
person as the client may designate from time to time in writing.
Payment: The salary will be
commensurate with the qualification and experience of the successful candidate
How to Apply
The African Virtual University (AVU) is an equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply
The African Virtual University (AVU) is an equal opportunity employer.
The successful candidate will be appointed for 18 Months
Application
must include an application letter and a detailed curriculum vitae with: a
telephone number; email and residential addresses; and names with contact
addresses of three professional references.
Applications
should be sent to job@avu.org and must have Senior Procurement Officer as the
email subject All inquiries should be sent to avuhr@avu.org
The
successful candidate will be based at the AVU Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
The closing date for this application is January 2nd 2015 at 18:00 East African Time (UTC/GMT + 3)
Note: ONLY shortlisted candidates
will be contacted