Position: Monitoring and Evaluation Program Manager- Independent Contractor
Team: Whole Foods Market Foundation (WFMF)
Location: Candidate should be based in a regional travel hub in Africa or Asia
Summary
Whole Foods Market Foundation (WFMF) is a US 501c3 private foundation established by Whole Foods Market (WFM) in 2005. WFMF was born from the WFM core value, Caring About Our Communities and Our Environment, an idea of shared fate with WFM’s global communities. Through the Whole Planet pillar (WP), WFMF provides financial support to partner organizations (including social microfinance Institutions, social enterprises and NGO’s) in global communities. WFMF partners provide entrepreneurship opportunities for financially excluded and last-mile communities. Since 2024, Whole Planet has combined with sister foundations, Whole Kids and Whole Cities. All three WFMF philanthropic pillars now operate under the united Whole Foods Market Foundation umbrella. This position is primarily associated with WFMF’s international portfolio, which is currently referred to as the Whole Planet (WP) pillar.
- WP’s first microfinance projects were launched in 2005, and a large part of its portfolio has historically been dedicated to best practice, socially focused microfinance institutions (MFIs). This means those MFI’s who use responsible lending practices to provide tailored financial services to entry-level clients, the very poor and financially excluded communities.
- WP also supports social enterprises serving low-income communities with entrepreneurial opportunities to increase their incomes and livelihoods. WP is especially interested in scaling up its “agriculture finance” work.
- WP also supports the Ultra Poor Graduation methodology.
- WP seeks partnerships with established and autonomous organizations who share its mission to increase the income and savings of micro-entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers.
- WP exclusively provides no cost capital (grants and 0% interest loans), which can be flexibly allocated across a partner’s implementation of livelihoods programs.
- WP has historically supported projects in 80 countries.
- Visit https://www.wholefoodsmarketfoundation.org
In 2025, WP is hiring a Contractor to strengthen its M&E and increase its portfolio management capacity across our global portfolios. A primary responsibility of the PM will be to execute, reinforce and improve the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our global portfolio. Additionally, the contractor will support the implementation of the regional strategic plans through remote and in person visits with existing and potential new partners.
It is imperative that this person have experience working in rural Africa or Asia with an understanding of the realities faced by people living in poverty - particularly in relation to rural business and economic systems. Knowledge of social microfinance or social enterprises benefiting low-income segments is important. The successful candidate must have a passion for supporting local development that enables people living in poverty to increase their incomes or savings. This requires experience assessing relevant sectors, evaluating organizations’ financial viability, and monitoring the effectiveness of pro-poor social finance and enterprise support services. Experience with agriculture finance, regenerative agriculture, climate change adaptation and value chains would be valuable.
This job requires extensive travel to remote and rural areas; applicants should be excited to travel up to 50% of the time. This will typically be independent, self-led travel to conduct due diligence with active WP partners or organizations that the Foundation is considering partnering with. The candidate will need to independently represent the Foundation during these visits.
The ability to speak and write fluent English is a requirement. Other additional languages, such as French, Arabic, Hindi or Spanish would be a plus.
This is not a Whole Foods Market employee position. This person will be hired as an Independent Contractor and responsible for settling in the region they work out of, obtaining or maintaining all work permits, paying taxes, and any other aspect of working abroad. As a remote-based contract position, there is flexibility in working hours and timing with performance analyzed based on deliverables.
Job Objectives:
- Assist WFMF to carry out rigorous and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of current funded projects across the global portfolio. This includes research, due diligence and financial analysis, funding recommendations and proposal development of prospective and existing partners through remote and in person partner visits.
- Support Whole Planet’s Regional Directors in Africa/MENA/Asia, as needed, who oversee the development and execution of their respective investment plans.
Job Activities and Responsibilities:
Global Monitoring & Evaluation (50%):
- Contracting: Ensure that contracts include consistent presentation of milestones and monitoring plans.
- Quarterly & Annual Reporting: Follow up with partners and field team to ensure accurate and timely ongoing reporting, annual deliverables and compliance.
- Liase between field team and systems administrator to ensure accurate and timely tracking of project progress within the Salesforce system.
- Liase between field team, finance controller and partners to support situations of wind down or similar in the network.
Project management (40%)
- Desk due diligence: Research local market conditions and potential partners that may qualify as a WP partner through remote research, as needed.
- Financial analysis: Review partners’ financial statements and industry standard KPI’s to provide insight and recommendations.
- Field Visits: Execute field visits with current and potential partners to learn about their work, monitor progress in alignment with existing projects, and evaluate alignment for developing future projects.
- Writing Funding recommendations & Proposals: Based on the above research, analysis and field visits – develop requests for releasing authorized funds to existing partners and new project proposals.
Project Logistics (10%): The position will require independent management of all living, travel and communication logistics required to carry out the job. Travel to countries where the Foundation has partners will often require advance logistical planning for the successful execution of site visits and evaluations
Work Environment
- Program Manager’s home base should be out of a regional flight hub. The Foundation is flexible to a preferred base station, as long as it is compatible with conducting extensive travel throughout Africa/MENA/Asia.
- Most of the work will be carried out independently at home or on assignments in project countries. Meetings will often be conducted via remote means. However, in-person meetings with WFMF management will be organized throughout the year, with at least one annual meeting in Austin, Texas.
- The position involves exposure to conditions found in low-income countries and requires complete immunization as recommended by the CDC.
- Additional job demands include a wide range of adaptability to move between areas with extreme poverty conditions, including rural agricultural communities and urban office environments.
Other Requirements - Education/ Special skills:
- Minimum bachelor’s degree in international development, business, economics, or related studies.
- Fully fluent in English with strong writing skills.
- 4-6 years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. This should include a minimum of 2 years of experience working in a grassroots/community-based position in the field.
- Experience with business systems and rural economies in developing countries.
- Experience conducting M&E with international partners.
- Understanding financial statements and basic accounting.
- Strong analytical skills to assess potential partners.
- Ability to interview micro-entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers in the field.
- Self-learner and independent worker.
Preferred qualities:
- Other language skills such as French, Arabic, Hindi or Spanish are a plus.
- Experience with grassroots financial services, smallholder livelihoods, or climate change adaptation.
- Experience managing a regional portfolio of grantee/investees or experience in impact investment.
- Experience using Salesforce for Project M&E is a plus.
Compensation:
Compensation range: $77,111 - $115,000 USD Annual, dependent on experience.
Instructions to apply:
Interested candidates should apply using the form in the link below. Deadline to submit application through the link below: Friday, August 8, 2025
Whole Foods Market Foundation aims to select a final candidate for this role in September 2025, with the expectation that this person would begin in the role in October 2025. This is subject to change.
This position was originally posted by the Whole Foods Market Foundation and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link below. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
