Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor

Company Description

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands in 1965, we have built a long-term country presence in over 24 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses, and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services - empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995, and currently has over 50 national and international staff. SNV Vietnam’s team works hand-in-hand with communities, government agencies, and businesses in more than 40 provinces, including the remotest and poorest areas of the country. We operate from a country office in Hanoi as well as project offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Tra Vinh, Da Lat and Buon Ma Thuot. Our work focuses on three sectors – Agri-Food, Water and Renewable Energy.

The RESTORING LANDS AND LIVELIHOODS IN VIETNAM program (RESTORE project) aims to restore degraded agricultural and forest land, while improving smallholder farmers (SHFs)’ livelihoods through the market-driven promotion of agroforestry and forestry-based sustainable land management practices. The project is also expected to sequester carbon dioxide and generate carbon credits, which will be distributed among the project funder, the participating communities and the project leader. Moreover, the project will improve biodiversity and green corridors in the landscape by connecting mixed agricultural crops/trees, buffer zone and enriching core zones of protected areas (special-use forests). The project is designed to be implemented in Lam Dong and Son La provinces.

SNV Vietnam is now seeking a dynamic and highly motivated Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (“MEL”) Advisor to support the inception phase of the Project in Lam Dong and Son La province.

Job Description

Objectives

Under the supervision of the SNV Project Manager, the Advisor will be based in Hanoi office and responsible for supporting the monitoring, evaluation and learning activities that benefit smallholder farmers, private sector, donors, project stakeholders and the wider public. The individual advisor is expected to perform the tasks mentioned below in close cooperation with project staff (including Agrifood Sector Leader, National Project Manager, project consultants and team members as well as project partners and local level facilitators).

The assignment is expected to comprise the following tasks and responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) is crucial for the high-quality design and implementation of projects and the development and evidencing of our approaches. MEL facilitates data-driven decision-making by showing whether results are coming about as expected, and whether adjustments to project design, strategies, assumptions, and our approaches are needed. RESTORE’s MEL approach is based on a set of quality criteria that support teams to complete the design of the project, use MEL throughout the project life cycle, from design to closure, to test project strategies, inform potential adjustments and learn what impact the project is having. In practice, MEL means constant analysis, reflection, and improvement of our work – enabling successful tailoring of approaches to local problems and contexts and full transparency for our donors and partners. The RESTORE Project team will develop a full Theory of Change, Result Framework, MEL Plan and Learning Framework, to support the evidence generation and learning during the 5 years of project implementation.

Under the leadership of the Project Manager, and in collaboration with the Global MEL expert, the MEL Advisor will be responsible for the following key MEL activities:

• Review and define the systems to inform the monitoring and evaluation (MEL) framework by September 2024.
• Develop a MEL framework (comprising of a Results Framework and MEL Plan) in October-November 2024.
• Refine the Theory of Change and MEL workplan in November-December 2024.
• Set up progress tracking table for the project in December 2024.
• Set up the MEL structure and data in LogAlto in late December 2024.
• Develop a Learning Framework for the project between October and December 2024.
• Develop a work plan for both quantitative and qualitative data collection to ensure data sufficiency and compliance with donor and SNV standards during the implementation phase.
• Foster participatory planning and monitoring by involving primary stakeholder groups in the MEL efforts.
• Prepare MEL milestones be integrated to overall Project reports template.
• Take lead in selected activities of developing the project MEL Plan that include baseline, commune level milestone reporting, country and project level progress discussions, project validation process.
• Perform other tasks related to MEL as required.

Reporting: the position will report to Project Manager.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Development, Agriculture, Forestry, Social Sciences, Sociology, Economics or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in development sector (NGOs, UN, CSOs, etc.), with at least 5 years of full-time experience with M&E tasks, preferably with a technical understanding of forestry/agriculture tree planting, inclusive agriculture-forestry value chain development projects.
• Strong knowledge of M&E systems (result chain, logical frameworks, learning frameworks, MEL plans, indicators tracking, database management, etc.), as well as quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis skills (including baseline, midline and endline experience).
• Demonstrated capacity with data analysis and to produce concise reports for a diverse audience.
• Good understanding of the agro-forestry business and private sector.
• Very good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Very good written and spoken English and Vietnamese.

Additional information

Application Deadline: Until 5PM, June 24th, 2024
Contract Duration: 4.5 month contract with the option of extension based on performance and budget availability
Duty Stations: Hanoi
Desired Start Date: July 2024

How to apply?

Join our team by applying today! If you are passionate about making a difference in people's lives and possess the required qualifications, we encourage you to submit your application, together with an indication of your current salary and compensation package to this LINK until 5PM, June 24th, 2024. At SNV, we value your privacy, and rest assured that all your information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Applicants will be requested to provide us with the contact details of three people who are willing to act as a reference. We will only contact these references after your explicit permission.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should SNV wish to proceed with your application, two interviews with a Selection Committee will take place.

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Working at SNV:

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org/careers.

SNV strives to be an inclusive employer, thriving on the diversity of its people and does not discriminate on the base of disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation, etc.

At SNV we prioritise safety and security for all employees. We conduct thorough background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.? 

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

Working at SNV

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer an exciting work environment with opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working space. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: snv.org/work-at-snv.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Reference & vetting check

We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people who are willing to act as a reference.  We will not contact these referees without your explicit permission.

SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.? 

* We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.