Join us.
Tanager is an international nonprofit that connects smallholder producers and private businesses to co-create new ways of realizing life-changing economic and social opportunities. Our process builds on years of technical expertise, on-the-ground presence and public/private partnerships to unite economic growth with social innovation. Together, we are ushering in an era of equitable market systems that combine profitability with the power to address urgent challenges in poverty, malnutrition, and gender inequity.
Overview
In 2022, Tanager partnered with the John Deere Foundation to pilot the Imbewu Farmer Development program that would transition smallholder maize farmers from subsistence farming to commercial production. Derived from the Zulu word for “seed,” Imbewu symbolizes growth and potential—values central to the program’s mission. Building on the success of the first program, Tanager and John Deere Foundation are proud to launch the second phase of Imbewu from November 2024 – October 2028. Imbewu II will expand efforts to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity, minimize post-harvest losses, and enhance overall profitability, driving sustainable agricultural development.
Imbewu II offers a continuum of services to support farmers as they progress from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Key components include digital extension, on-farm training through demonstration plots, improving access to finance and markets to maximize block farming initiatives, and more tailored support to commercial-level farmers. Across all activities, the program emphasizes climate-smart approaches, digital extension, gender and youth empowerment, farming as a business, and access to finance. Building on its initial work with 2,760 smallholder maize farmers, Imbewu II aims to support 6,576 farmers, increase yields by 37%, and increase incomes by 68%.
Pursuant to its mission, Tanager is seeking experienced and talented professionals for the position of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer. Under the direct supervision of the MEL Manager, the MEL Officer is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of the Project’s MEL framework and learning agenda. This role involves supporting data collection and analysis, learning agenda activities and contributing to project documentation and reporting processes towards achieving the set goals of the project This position will be based in Mthatha, Eastern Cape2, South Africa.
The term of the contract is annual with the possibility of extension based on a satisfactory performance review.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Data Collection & Management (40%)
- Support the MEL Manager in the design and implementation of the Imbewu II, MEL framework to track and assess project performance and outcomes.
- Under the guidance of the MEL Manager, lead and support data collection processes to ensure accuracy, reliability and consistency ensuring adherence to data quality standards in compliance with Global Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
- Contribute in the development, deployment and maintenance of Client and Activity Tracking database system to collect, process and analyze project data including client related data.
- Conduct regular field visits to verify data quality and gather beneficiary feedback.
Analysis & Reporting (40%)
- Conduct regular data quality reviews and implement data cleaning processes, including regularly providing refresher training to project technical staff on data entry procedures and requirements.
- Under the guidance of the MEL manager, analyze and synthesize project results data for use in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reporting cycles.
- Contribute to the preparation of donor reports, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, patterns, and insights relevant to project objectives.
Learning & Adaptation (10%).
- Contribute to the regular tracking and review of the Theory of Change (TOC) and provide input towards refinement of the TOC Contribute to learning sessions and workshops to promote project adaptation and improvement with internal project staff and key project partners.
- Support the implementation of the project’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approach.
- Contribute to the documentation of lessons learned, best practices and success stories.
Contribute to Resource Mobilization/New Business Development (10%)
- Support the Country Representative and the Tanager leadership team to identify, pursue, and secure new growth opportunities both with existing donors, and new and non-traditional donors and investors, including the private sector.
- Support technical review of selected Tanager proposal efforts focused on MEL components of concept notes or proposals.
Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in statistics, development studies, project management, gender studies, nutrition, public health, Agricultural economics or any other relevant field required.
- Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in supporting Monitoring and Evaluation components of development programs in Agriculture.
- Demonstrated ability to apply analytical methods practically in the complex setting of the day-to-day lives of project beneficiaries highly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience collecting, organizing, and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data.
Skills and Capabilities
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Xhosa.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required. Ability to build relationships and rapport with teams, staff, and clients and navigate challenging or unexpected circumstances with creativity, calm, and positivity.
- Excellent facilitation skills that guide learning participants to think and contribute to answering key learning questions that generate lessons for projects.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data sets and present findings in an easily understandable format, including visualizations
- Ability to communicate effectively with people on all levels both inside and outside the company on issues that could be complex or sensitive in nature.
- Adaptable and innovative. Collaborative and open to feedback. Able to work independently and in a team setting.
- Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize objectives, and coordinate resources efficiently
- Strong written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.
- Demonstrated computer skills operating in a Windows-based environment including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel and other relevant research and analytical programs
- Fluency in English and Xhosa written and oral, required.
To Apply
Please submit your resume to southafricarecruitment@tanagerintl.org by or before 20th December 2024. Please include the position title in the subject line of the mail. Please submit the resume and related application documents as a single attachment. Please include your long-term employment history and any relevant short-term consulting work. Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone. Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted. Tanager is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply. Please be aware that Tanager does not charge any fee at any step of recruitment.
