Coordinator: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) at University of the Western Cape/Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is one of the research-led teaching and learning universities in South Africa, with the capacity to produce and advance new knowledge and the translation of this knowledge into societal benefits through innovative endeavours. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue higher education and emerge as agents of change.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides financial, social and academic support to a diverse range of talented undergraduate and postgraduate students who are financially and socially impeded, with a focus on young women, refugees and displaced youth, persons with disability and young men, from South Africa and other parts of the African continent.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of the Western Cape invites applications for the position of Coordinator: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). The incumbent will be pivotal in managing, analysing, and coordinating the monitoring and evaluation activities related to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The successful candidate will coordinate the collection and management of implementation evidence, facilitate the ongoing improvement of M&E plans, and the gathering of appropriate data to support accurate and timely reporting of information. The incumbent will also support decision-making processes related to monitoring, evaluation, and where applicable, the need for adjustments/realignment of the Program.

Accountable to the Program Director: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and reporting to the Program Director and the Institutional Planner the Coordinator: Monitoring and Evaluation’s responsibilities will include:

• Establish and coordinate strong monitoring and evaluation systems and plans for the activities and programmes of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC;
• Design and implement data collection tools and capturing templates;
• Implement quality assurance procedures to support the Program’s monitoring and evaluation mandate;
• Coordinate data collection across various programmes and activities within the Program;
• Ensure quality assurance of the monitoring and evaluation data;
• Coordinate logistical/administrative arrangements related to data;
• Regularly analyse quantitative and qualitative data and prepare monitoring and evaluation progress reports in the format required;
• Provide alerts to the Program Director, including feedback, on emerging trends identified through M&E of the Scholars Program data to inform the need for interventions and/or realignment of the Program;
• Stay abreast of the latest monitoring and evaluation trends to support ongoing improvement of the Program;
• Compile, together with the Program Director, UWC’s monthly and quarterly reports on monitoring and evaluation for submission to the Mastercard Foundation.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Requirements (Qualification and Experience)

• A Relevant Bachelor’s degree at NQF level 7 or an Equivalent Qualification.
• A minimum of 3 years of recent and relevant work experience in managing monitoring and evaluation processes

The undermentioned would be an added advantage:

• A postgraduate qualification (NQF level 8) with a focus Monitoring and Evaluation

Required competencies (skills, knowledge, and behavioural attributes):

• Strong organisational skills with a keen focus on detail.
• Excellent inter-personal relationship building skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work independently by taking initiative, trouble-shooting and being solutions-focused whilst also being a strong team-player. 
• A broad understanding of the South African public higher education sector and key trends in higher education internationally.