Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Languages
Affiliations
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic
Evelyn Mvalo

Evelyn Mvalo

Lilongwe,Malawi

Summary

A Dynamic and results-driven development professional with over 10 years of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) expertise, I bring comprehensive experience in data analysis, data management, and the implementation and oversight of MEL plans. Skilled in report writing and ensuring compliance with rigorous donor requirements, I have a proven track record of success in both governmental and non-governmental international development sectors.

As an accomplished project manager and leader, I excel at guiding multicultural teams to achieve measurable results, combining strong written and verbal communication skills with effective stakeholder engagement. A proactive and adaptable self-starter, I am equally adept at working independently or collaboratively within a team setting, fostering productive and cohesive work environments. Recognized for my outstanding contributions, I proudly received the Tetra Tech ARD MEL Superstar award in May 2022.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Director Cross Cutting Programs, MCHF Project

Tetra Tech ARD
Lilongwe
07.2024 - 03.2025
  • Overseeing MEL, Communications, and Grants components of a US$22M USAID/FCDO Co-funded MCHF project. My responsibilities include managing implementation of the MCHF AMELP, Communications Strategy and Grants Manual.
  • I ensured the Communications Specialist developed and disseminated communications products and disseminate MCHF achievements.
  • Ensured effective implementation of the grants management process, including monitoring grantee performance and ensuring compliance with USAID guidelines
  • Supervise MEL Officer and provide MEL guidance to MCHF staff to ensure collaboration and productivity.
  • Preparing annual, quarterly and monthly reports and oversee the accuracy and relevance of data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  • Organize learning workshops, pause-and-reflect sessions, and other team trainings.
  • Strengthening stakeholder relationships such as grantees, project beneficiaries and sub-contractors
  • Ensuring grantees and partners compliance with USAID/FCDO requirements.


MEL Director, MCHF Project

Tetra Tech ARD
Lilongwe
01.2024 - 06.2024


  • Direct MCHF MEL activities in collaboration with project component leaders and partners and ensured systematic and standardized data collection, analysis, and interpretation for all performance indicators.
  • Lead technical support for MCHF project staff, subcontractors, and grantees, ensuring effective use of performance management tools to enable timely data reporting.
  • Provided concise reminders to project leaders regarding their AMELP responsibilities and track project indicators under their management, aligning progress with established targets.
  • Design indicators and multi-sectoral study frameworks to effectively evaluate and communicate project impacts.
  • Offer expertise in knowledge management systems or databases to enhance project performance tracking.
  • Maintain thorough understanding of USAID indicator definitions and data collection protocols, ensuring tools and guidelines adhere to AMELP requirements and MEL best practices.
  • Developed comprehensive M&E training resources for staff and partners.
  • Supervised the MEL Officer, defining tasks, setting performance goals, and ensuring accountability.
  • Maintained the MCHF Performance Indicator Tracking Table, managing input of primary source data into the MEL system.
  • Oversaw quality control for data collection, analysis, and reporting using Tetra Tech's approved systems.
  • Ensured secure storage of primary data in both digital and physical formats.
  • Delivered regular monitoring and evaluation updates to project leadership, including quarterly staff workshops or presentations.
  • Guide the development of the MCHF Annual Work Plans and Activity Reports.
  • Collaborated with the MCHF Communications Specialist to craft compelling success stories rooted in MEL data.
  • Coordinate with Tetra Tech ARD's T4D team for geospatial analysis, creating data-driven maps and visuals for project communications and learning events.
  • Prepare USAID-compliant MEL reports, meeting all documentation requirements.
  • Organize capacity-building initiatives to enhance MEL skills among project partners and stakeholders.
  • Oversee MEL operations, ensuring robust data collection and processing methodologies, including web-based systems.
  • Act as a liaison with USAID and FCDO on indicator reporting.
  • Provide training and oversight in GIS applications for spatial analysis and mapping.
  • Manage evaluations and conduct Data Quality Assessments (DQA) to uphold high standards.
  • Support other project needs and initiatives as assigned

MEL Specialist, MCHF Project

Tetra Tech ARD
Lilongwe
10.2019 - 12.2023
  • I supported project start-up operations and programmatic initiations for the five-year $17 million USAID and FCDO co-funded MCHF project which aims to promote sustainable forest management and energy options to maintain forest cover and to reduce land-based emissions in Malawi, including leading the development of the Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (AMELP)
  • I assisted in organizing and facilitating inception work planning workshops and subsequent work planning events, supported the development of annual work plans
  • Led the learning and adaptation component such as planning and facilitating pause and reflect workshops
  • Coordinated systematic and standardized data collection, collation, analysis, and interpretation of performance results as well as conducting data verification exercises
  • I develop monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, support M&E processes and maintain the M&E database
  • My role also involved planning and delivering M&E capacity building for staff, subcontractors, and grantees
  • Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCHF) project
  • Website: [Tetra Tech](https://www.tetratech.com)

MEL Specialist, PERFORM Project

Tetra Tech ARD
Lilongwe
05.2016 - 09.2019
  • I managed the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (ME&L) systems for the five-year, $14.9 million USAID funded Protecting Ecosystems and Restoring Forests in Malawi (PERFORM) project, which aimed to advance REDD+ readiness and enhance low-emissions development capacities and land use opportunities
  • My role included ensuring comprehensive understanding and compliance with the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (PMEP) through quarterly reviews, facilitating training and coaching for field staff, and effectively communicating M&E processes and results with project leadership to inform management decisions
  • I coordinated the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data for all performance indicators, including GIS spatial mapping and Data Quality Assessments
  • Additionally, I designed learning workshops, compiled data into the ME&L tracking system, developed project learning surveys, designed baseline surveys for behavior change activities, and organized ME&L activities with project partners to ensure national strategy alignment
  • My responsibilities also included collaborating on monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to USAID, and assisting the Grants Specialist with pre-award surveys and closeout reports.

Part-time Parliamentary Monitor

Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG)
Cape Town
10.2013 - 06.2015
  • I monitored parliamentary committee meetings, including those related to education, women, rural development, land reform, and social development
  • I prepared and published reports on the PMG website for distribution to the social justice sector, NGOs, civil society organizations, and the general public in South Africa
  • I trained four new monitoring employees on report development and liaised with parliamentary staff to ensure effective ME&L systems were applied to committee meetings, ensuring all transactions were reported, recorded, and accessible to the public

Investigations Officer

Anti-Corruption Bureau
Lilongwe
03.2006 - 02.2012
  • I investigated allegations of corruption within local government institutions and NGOs, preparing detailed investigation reports and making necessary recommendations.
  • Utilizing data collection tools from the Corrupt Practices Act, I ensured uniformity in interviews
  • I oversaw logistics and team coordination to meet monthly targets of three investigation dockets, conducting necessary interviews and data analysis despite challenging conditions
  • I facilitated the flow of ME&L requirements through effective information sharing and communication between departments
  • Additionally, I conducted surveillance operations, arrested suspected criminals, and testified in court
  • I collaborated with the Corruption Prevention Department in joint corruption prevention activities prior to Agriculture Inputs Programme distribution
  • I participated in Spot Checks during the administration of the Malawi National Examinations
  • Participated in planning and implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Day.


District Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Malawi Red Cross Society
Nkhotakota
10.2005 - 02.2006
  • I supervised a team of four Food Aid Monitors, ensuring the proper utilization of data collection methods during M&E activities for an emergency response program during the 2005 drought in Malawi
  • I verified community beneficiary registrations to mitigate fraud and trained monitors on compliant distribution techniques for food aid questionnaires
  • I prepared monthly status reports to ensure project compliance, facilitated capacity-building trainings, and administered food security surveys
  • I coordinated with the District Executive Committee to determine household reach and ensure ME&L flow through local organizations
  • Additionally, I collaborated with local NGOs and private-sector partners in Nkhotakota to cross-reference food aid distribution and prevent duplication among beneficiaries, contributing to the successful disbursement of food aid to targeted households
  • Emergency Response Program
  • Website: [Malawi Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org.mw)

Research Assistant

Malawi Human Rights Commission
06.2005 - 07.2005
  • I administered questionnaires and facilitated focus group discussions with twelve traditional authorities composed of women, men and youth
  • I assisted with data management, analysis and manually mapped common cultural practices of each traditional authority to better determine rates of human rights violations among women and children in Malawi

Intern Investigations Officer

Malawi Human Rights Commission
Lilongwe
02.2005 - 05.2005
  • I received and investigated allegations of human rights violations as well as facilitating mediation between disputing parties, effectively managing conflict resolution, and fostering constructive dialogue
  • Additionally, I prepared comprehensive investigation reports

Education

MA - Development Studies

Institute for Social Development, University of the Western Cape
01.2013 - 09.2015

Bachelor’s Degree - Social Sciences – BSOC (Sociology and Development Administration)

University of Malawi, Chancellor College
01.2000 - 01.2004

Skills

  • Strong writing skills
  • Strong Excel skills
  • Project management skills
  • Leadership Skills
  • Financial management/budgeting skills
  • Great communication skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Fluency in English
  • Ability to work independently
  • Team player

Languages

English
Fluent

Affiliations

  • Gardening

Accomplishments

Belgian Government Scholar and received a Tetra Tech Super star Award for Adaptive Management


References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Director Cross Cutting Programs, MCHF Project

Tetra Tech ARD
07.2024 - 03.2025

MEL Director, MCHF Project

Tetra Tech ARD
01.2024 - 06.2024

MEL Specialist, MCHF Project

Tetra Tech ARD
10.2019 - 12.2023

MEL Specialist, PERFORM Project

Tetra Tech ARD
05.2016 - 09.2019

Part-time Parliamentary Monitor

Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG)
10.2013 - 06.2015

MA - Development Studies

Institute for Social Development, University of the Western Cape
01.2013 - 09.2015

Investigations Officer

Anti-Corruption Bureau
03.2006 - 02.2012

District Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Malawi Red Cross Society
10.2005 - 02.2006

Research Assistant

Malawi Human Rights Commission
06.2005 - 07.2005

Intern Investigations Officer

Malawi Human Rights Commission
02.2005 - 05.2005

Bachelor’s Degree - Social Sciences – BSOC (Sociology and Development Administration)

University of Malawi, Chancellor College
01.2000 - 01.2004

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Evelyn Mvalo