Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager

POSITION TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager

LOCATION: Dhaka, Bangladesh

GROUP: Agriculture, Resilience, and Water

REPORTS TO: Deputy Chief of Party, Operations

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The Systems for Expanded Trade and Uptake (SETU) project is a five-year USDA Food for Progress initiative implemented by Winrock International in Bangladesh. SETU seeks to expand international trade in agricultural goods by improving the efficiency, transparency, predictability, and effectiveness of trade related processes and institutions. The project will strengthen the trade enabling environment through four complementary areas of work: improving legal frameworks and processes for trade and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures; operationalizing risk management systems; increasing private sector engagement in trade related reforms; and strengthening trade infrastructure and access to finance. Through these activities, SETU will work with Government of Bangladesh agencies, private sector stakeholders, financial institutions, and other partners to reduce unnecessary trade costs and delays, improve regulatory coordination and compliance with international standards, and create a more predictable environment for agricultural trade and investment.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager will provide overall leadership for SETU’s monitoring, evaluation, learning, and performance reporting systems. The MEL Manager will lead the development, implementation, and adaptation of the project’s Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and Evaluation Plan in close collaboration with the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, technical teams, partners, USDA, and Winrock’s Home Office MEL support team. The MEL Manager will oversee project data collection, analysis, data quality, Management Information System (MIS), surveys and evaluations, USDA Food for Progress and FAIS aligned performance reporting, and learning and adaptive management processes. The position will work across all SETU Activities to ensure that project results are accurately measured, documented, analyzed, and used to inform programmatic decisions.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

MEL Systems and Performance Management

Provide overall leadership for SETU’s MEL function and ensure compliance with USDA MEL requirements, the approved cooperative agreement, Winrock MEL standards, and project reporting requirements.

In collaboration with project leadership, technical teams, and Winrock’s Home Office MEL support unit, develop, maintain, and periodically update SETU’s Performance Monitoring Plan and Evaluation Plan, including indicators, definitions, data sources, methodologies, disaggregation requirements, baselines, and targets.

Develop and manage monitoring and evaluation tools, processes, and protocols for routine monitoring, surveys, assessments, and other project data collection activities.

Ensure that appropriate quantitative and qualitative data are collected across all four SETU Activities and that data accurately capture project outputs, outcomes, and progress toward intended results.

Establish clear processes, roles, and schedules for collection, verification, analysis, storage, and reporting of project performance data.

Work closely with technical staff to ensure MEL requirements are integrated into annual work plans, activity design, implementation, and reporting.

Provide technical guidance and capacity building to SETU staff, subcontractors, consultants, and partners on indicators, data collection, monitoring requirements, and use of MEL information.

Support external or subcontracted evaluation and survey firms and ensure that evaluations, surveys, assessments, and other MEL activities meet USDA standards and required deadlines.

Management Information System and Data Quality

Lead the implementation and management of SETU’s project MIS and ensure that it provides reliable and timely information for project management and donor reporting.

Ensure indicator data and required disaggregates are accurately entered, maintained, and reconciled against project indicator tracking tables and source documentation.

Oversee routine data quality assurance and verification processes, including desk reviews, field monitoring visits, spot checks, and periodic data quality assessments.

Develop and maintain appropriate data collection, validation, storage, documentation, and quality control procedures.

Review and validate data submitted by project staff, subcontractors, consultants, and partners before inclusion in project and donor reports.

Analyze project performance data to identify trends, implementation gaps, emerging results, and areas requiring management attention.

Develop dashboards and other data visualization products that allow project leadership and technical teams to readily monitor performance and use data for decision making.

Maintain complete and auditable MEL documentation and supporting evidence for reported project results.

USDA Reporting and Results Measurement

Lead compilation, verification, analysis, and presentation of performance data for USDA required reports and other project deliverables.

Ensure project performance information is accurately reported in accordance with USDA Food for Progress and FAIS requirements, including applicable indicators and required disaggregates.

Coordinate closely with project technical, finance, and operations staff to reconcile programmatic and performance information and ensure consistency across project reports.

Track progress against annual and life of project targets and regularly communicate performance trends, gaps, and emerging issues to project leadership.

Support project leadership in responding to USDA requests for performance information, data verification, monitoring visits, and other MEL related inquiries.

Support the development and documentation of evidence demonstrating SETU’s contributions to improved trade processes, institutional capacity, private sector engagement, access to finance, and agricultural trade outcomes.

Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting

Lead SETU’s collaborating, learning, and adapting processes and promote routine use of MEL findings to inform project management and technical implementation.

Design and facilitate periodic learning and reflection activities, including pause and reflect sessions and other structured opportunities for technical teams and partners to review progress and adapt implementation.

Conduct and facilitate analysis of monitoring data, evaluation findings, stakeholder feedback, and other evidence to identify lessons, challenges, and opportunities for program improvement.

Work with project leadership and technical teams to translate MEL findings into practical recommendations and adjustments to activities, work plans, and implementation approaches.

Coordinate with project communications and technical staff to develop dashboards, learning briefs, success stories, case studies, and other products that communicate SETU’s results, lessons, and impact.

Promote knowledge sharing among SETU staff, USDA, Government of Bangladesh counterparts, subcontractors, private sector stakeholders, and other relevant partners.

Support technical teams in assessing whether interventions are producing intended results and recommend adjustments where performance is below expectations.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in statistics, economics, public policy, international development, social sciences, data science, or another relevant field required.

Master’s degree in a relevant field strongly preferred.

Experience:

Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience designing, managing, and implementing MEL systems for complex international development programs.

Demonstrated experience developing and managing performan