The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT)
is a multi-donor fund set up in 2009, marking its ten-year anniversary this
year. LIFT aims to strengthen the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of
poor households by helping people to reach their full economic potential. This
is achieved through increasing incomes, improving the nutrition of women and
children, and decreasing vulnerabilities to shocks, stresses and adverse
trends.
LIFT is a significant actor in Myanmar’s
development. To date, over 11.6 million people in 75 per cent of Myanmar’s
townships have benefitted from LIFT’s programmes. From January 2019, LIFT has
been guided by a new five-year strategy that puts ‘leaving no one behind’ at
the centre and will in particular focus on social inclusion and cohesion,
increased support to areas affected by conflict, bringing displaced people
into LIFT’s development programmes and working with Government at all levels
on targeted policies that achieve gains in these areas.
LIFT has received funding from altogether 15
international donors since it was established. The current donors are the UK,
the EU, Australia, Switzerland, the US, Canada and Ireland.
For more details, please go to www.lift-fund.org.
Background to the position
The position will be located in the LIFT Fund Manager’s Office (FMO).The M&E Specialist will assist the M&E Advisor in coordinating the execution of the refreshed MEAL framework across LIFT Program and Implementation Partner levels.
The LIFT M&E framework seeks to produce robust information about LIFT’s performance on strategic priorities and results; support robust evidence-based learning and adaptive management within LIFT to inform project and programme development; and, to enhance the collective impact of LIFT and its partners. The MEAL framework is implemented at three levels (LIFT wide, Program and Implementation Partner) each addressing distinct but interrelated aspects of the LIFT program. LIFT level focuses on accountability, learning and policy across LIFT as a whole, with particular focus on the LIFT strategy. Program level focusses on how thematic and geographic programmes contribute to LIFT’s evidence-based accountability, learning/adaptive management and policy objectives. Implementation Partner level focusses on how projects contribute to their own and LIFT’s evidence-based accountability, learning/adaptive management and policy objectives.
This position is responsible for LIFT level activities geared towards supporting implementation of the LIFT MEAL framework at programme and project levels. The tasks cut across all LIFT thematic and geographic areas; execution entails regular capacity support to Program level M&E Officers and program staff to understand and execute LIFT guidelines (Theories of Changes, Program Measurement Plans, Evaluation and Learning Questions); and finally, development/regular review and updating of LIFT wide M&E system tools.
This position will ensure learning and adaptive management based on documented lessons and experiences is undertaken periodically at Program and Implementation Partner levels. To this end, the position will be responsible for ensuring that standard tools and mechanisms to support effective and timely roll out of the different components of the MEAL framework are developed/adapted as may be appropriate. The MEAL framework is a living document hence learning and adaptation based on experiences of what is working/not working well is critical for its successful roll out.
The ideal candidate should demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the key technical processes required for the execution of the associated tasks. S/he will provide the first level of support and guidance to the Program and LIFT-Level officers on issues pertaining to their respective areas of accountability and responsibility.