Job Posting

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist: Africa Oceans Strategy

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based
organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a
world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a
Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible
schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out
our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging,
and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and
engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our
postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills
combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To
quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Program in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a
sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the
continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with
governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the 9 countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people,
strengthening leadership and resource management and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation
of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with
our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water
protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in
tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly
1.4 billion people that share Africa.

TNC Africa Oceans Strategy focuses on securing large-scale ocean protection by supporting effective marine spatial
planning, sustainable fisheries, and community-led conservation approaches. Our work seeks to establish sustainable
financing to enable conservation outcomes at large marine ecosystem scale, by supporting policy and regulatory
frameworks, as well as local capacity, with emphasis on linking science and communities to habitat protection, restoration
and management. TNC’s work on fisheries aims to safeguard productive marine fisheries for ecosystem health and as
important foundation for food and livelihood security. Our vision is for aquaculture to grow with the least environmental
impact. TNC has established partnerships with several non-government and government agencies to support fisheries and
coastal community-led conservation throughout Africa. Our aim is also to conserve and restore lost or degraded coastal
wetlands (seagrass meadows, mangroves, and salt marshes) and to promote best practices to scale beyond the capacity
of TNC, including scaling through Global Partnerships such as Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA). The current geographic
focus of TNC Africa Oceans Strategy is Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Gabon, Namibia, Angola, and Mauritius.
What We Can Achieve Together:

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist provides technical and scientific support to TNC’s Africa Ocean
Strategy team, TNC Country Programs working on oceans, and other TNC staff as appropriate to advance the Africa Ocean
Strategy under TNC’s 2030 Goals. They strengthen MEL processes and build capacity of TNC staff, partners, community
members and the implementing agencies in designing and executing relevant trainings and providing technical assistance
in relation to monitoring, reporting and data management.

The MEL Specialist sets targets and collects data in priority areas. The MEL Specialist conducts scientific surveys and
research, records data, writes reports, and develops proposals in order to administer and support coordination of
conservation programs within Africa Ocean Strategy in the target countries. The position develops a systematic and
functional monitoring framework to collect the qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered by the various projects,
including reporting on outputs and outcomes. They formulate the overall MEL plan, tracking progress, and ensure the
implementation of the plan. The role also provides technical support toward design and implementation of specific Africa
Ocean Strategy projects.

We’re Looking for You:

The MEL Specialist will be responsible for the design, coordination, and implementation of the MEL framework for the
Africa Ocean Strategy. Reporting to the Africa Ocean Strategy Director, the position will be based in either of the TNC
Offices in Mombasa Kenya, Dar Es Salam in Tanzania, or Cape Town in South Africa with frequent travels in the Western
Indian Ocean (WIO) and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) regions as the current areas of focus. The
MEL Specialist will have a dotted line to the regional MEL Director for technical MEL guidance and linkage with MEL actions
across ecosystems and countries. The MEL Specialist also works to support implementation of specific Ocean Strategy
activities and as part of mainstreaming MEL framework within TNC and partners programs.

The role involves working closely with and in partnership with fishers, local community, fishing industry, government, and
non-government organizations in the region. This is an initial 3-year term-limited position with an extension of tenure
subject to performance and availability of funds. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position
except for the local labour employment requirements.

The responsibilities and scope for this position are:

• Develop a program-level MEL framework for the Africa Ocean Strategy.

• Lead the development of program for MEL Plan and provide MEL support in refining results framework and
identifying relevant indicators to report on results.
• Lead, coordinate and continuously update a stakeholder mapping and analysis for Africa Ocean Strategy and
develop an active database.
• Develop program field-monitoring framework that allows for systematic planning and tracking of program
monitoring, e.g. templates for field monitoring and reporting.
• Develop evaluation designs, data collection tools, and analysis frameworks and align these with existing TNC
frameworks.
• In collaboration with project leads, strengthen data collection to measure progress towards both TNC’s 2030 and
program-level targets.
• Develop, review and update log-frames and theory of change for the Africa Ocean Strategy, Programs and specific
projects.
• Develop annual workplans and budget for MEL program and support regular reporting as needed.
• Coordinate and participate in MEL field visits.
• Contribute to the preparation of project proposals and reporting according to donor requirements.
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 • Organize review of program work plans with partners and other stakeholders in liaison with Project Managers.
• Provide capacity-building support to relevant team members and other stakeholders on MEL and any computer-
based support that may be required.
• Foster and support cross-project learning, lessons learning workshops and strengthen a Community of Practice
for the sharing of best practices and lessons for adaptive management.
• Provide advice to the strategy and project managers on improving projects performance using MEL findings.
• Update regional dashboards and manage the TNC Hub database for the TNC Africa ocean work.
• Participating in and providing MEL support to all ocean strategy conservation projects as needed as will be
assigned by the Ocean Strategy Director.

What You’ll Bring:

• Master's Degree in science or related field and 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and
experience in conservation practice, social sciences, MEL, development studies, statistics, project management,
or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in marine science and conservation.
• Demonstrated experience in synthesizing, interpreting, technical writing and communicating scientific
information to a broad range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills (oral and writing) and fluency in in English.
• Demonstrated experience in evaluating project activities.
• Demonstrated experience in developing MEL approaches and frameworks including Theories of Change,
intermediate results and outcomes, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools and methods, indicators,
data quality control, data management, and reporting.
• Experience in managing and supervising data collection and leading and working with cross-functional teams.
• Experience in analyzing data and using statistical packages such as Excel and /or R or and other data analysis tools.

Desired Qualifications

• Over Seven (7) years of experience working with MEL in the field of environment conservation, marine
conservation, natural resource management, development and/or other.
• Extensive experience providing MEL support to multiple projects in multiple countries across the Africa region
• Strong expertise in the social sciences and social-ecological systems.
• Specialized training in M&EL and experience incorporating project learning into adaptive management.
• Demonstrated experience in projects related to marine biodiversity conservation, community-led conservation
and/or natural resource management.
• Experience in implementing, providing guidance, and building local capacities for MEL.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with web-based data management and visualization systems for
monitoring performance and outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of common software applications especially Excel.
• Experience working in complex partnerships and with multiple stakeholders.
• Multi-language skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience are appreciated.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extended periods of field travel (at least 40%) within the WIO and BCLME
regions and beyond.

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What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life
depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching
environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated
efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible
spending accounts, Retirement Pension Stipend, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage,
employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab
on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people
we employ!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

Our Competencies:

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that
our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs,
and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a
priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colours, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages,
disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job
application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to
applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

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If you're interested, I encourage you to view the position and apply here

https://careers.nature.org/psp/tnccareers/APPLICANT/APPL/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_
APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=53754&PostingSeq=1

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