Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager

Terms of Reference

Position Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager

Location: Hanoi

Period of Assignment: March 2018 to February 2019 (plus possible 3 year extension)

Reporting To: Team Leader

Background: CowaterSogema is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager to support a socio-economic development initiative in Vietnam.

The Program aims to increase women’s economic participation and decision-making through improved access to markets and more effective engagement in the agriculture and tourism value chains in ethnic minority regions of North-West Vietnam.

In Aus4Equality, the purpose of collecting, collating and analyzing data is three-fold:

1. to be accountable for DFAT funds and related outcomes;
2. to generate evidence base for program management decisions; and
3. to provide evidence-based data for implementing partners to use in activity level iterative-adaptation.

Statement of Duty:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager will report directly to the Team Leader and will provide advice and support to program partners and DFAT in managing the implementation of the program. The MERL Manager will lead MERL activities to support the development of a responsive and robust MERL system for the Program, including a MERL Strategy, MERL Framework and data collection approaches. They will also serve as a resource person in areas of data analysis, management, and reporting as well as conducting special projects and other duties as required.

Specific Duties:

• Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning System
  
  • Development and full implementation of the Program’s MERL system and practices; and
  • Conduct and contribute to cross-cutting MERL program activities, including data collection, analysis, management, and reporting.

• Data Collection, Analysis, and Management
  
  • Development and maintenance of a program database to ensure that information is accurate and current;
  • Ensure key progress information is collected from partners, reviewed, and entered into the program database;
  • Undertake occasional field visits to partners to confirm and triangulate reported findings;
  • Oversee follow-up interviews after key outputs and record results in program database;
  • Ensure tracking of alumni program beneficiaries to contribute to the measurement of the Program’s long-term impact;
  • Oversee all data collection activities in the field to support program research and evaluation, including case studies in target provinces, and market and
  • community assessments;
  • Develop and implement methodologies and standards for monitoring and evaluating project activities and improving data quality. In addition, s/he will also develop presentations and written reports based on findings;
  • Collate and analyse monitoring and evaluation data from partners and other sources and provide reporting on the program outcomes;
  • Analyze larger trends by linking and analyzing data from a variety of sources, including activities and outputs from related initiatives in the region;
  • and
  • Train and mentor program partners throughout the life of the program.

• Program Reporting and Evaluation
  
  • Finalize all inception phase deliverables, as per the requirements and schedule outlined in the program mobilisation plan;
  • Lead the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and reporting for the overall program;
  • Prepare external reporting including annual reviews, program-specific reviews, briefings for team members, and the project completion reports;
  • Provide data as required for independent program evaluations and ensure findings from the evaluations are incorporated into program activities and policies as appropriate; and
  • Lead evaluation research on the effectiveness of programs including secondary analysis of existing data.
  • Work with program partners to develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks, processes and systems that will provide compatible and quality data that will enable reporting on the program outcomes; and
  • Identify any risks to the program’s ability to report on the achievements of the program.

• Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building
  
  • Ensure that the information needs of other Program areas are supported with specific research studies or through other M&E methods;
  • Work with the MEL Adviser to synthesize monitoring information from partner reports, identify key issues and communicate findings to the MERL team and the wider Program Team;
  • Assist partners and sub-partners in using monitoring information and applying monitoring techniques by providing technical support where required;
  • Organize workshops, participatory analyses, reflection meetings, and other learning events to develop internal and external M&E capacity and ensuring policy and procedure awareness and compliance; and
  • Work with the Communications and Learning Officer to package quality and accurate program reports, output results, stories of change, and other Communications and Learning pieces, for wider dissemination.

Required Qualifications:

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
The MERL Manager will have the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation or social research in the international development sector;
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant area such as evaluation, economics, statistics, development studies, or any other relevant social science;
• Knowledge of evaluation concepts and procedures, in particular the monitoring and evaluation of social interventions;
• Strong experience and skills in research, data collection, analysis, and management;
• Strong monitoring and reporting skills with excellent knowledge and experience in programme management;
• Experience in organizing and facilitating training and learning sessions;
• Ability to manage multiple demands and prioritize tasks, work effectively and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and support other team members
• as needed;
• Ability to understand the data needs of a broad range of users;
• Extensive work experience in Vietnam, fluency in Vietnamese, and working knowledge of English; and
• Enthusiasm, commitment to learning, and excellent interpersonal skills.

Desired Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

The MERL Manager will preferably have the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• Fluency in English
• Experience working with government and on donor-funded projects/programs;
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gender-related issues and women’s economic empowerment concepts;
• Strong knowledge of data visualisation tools and graphics software; and
• Experience with participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) methods.

How to apply

Send a two (2) page written document responding to the “Required Qualifications” as outlined in the Terms of Reference along with your current CV. Your application should also include names and contact details of three (3) referees.

Please send your application to [email protected]  by 5pm, Friday, 9 February 2018