2024-12-10

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Specialist (MERLS)

Background

The Project VIE/039 – “Finance for resilience – Fostering climate-smart agriculture financial inclusion in Thua Thien Hue to improve resilience of smallholder farmers, especially women” co-funded by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with the duration of two years implementing by the Luxembourg Cooperation Development Agency (LuxDev).

The project aims to enhance the climate and economic resilience of farmers and small businesses in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, with a special focus on empowering women through:

  1. Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices: Promotion of sustainable farming techniques that increase productivity and resilience to climate change.
  1. Strengthening Inclusive Finance and Market Access: This includes:
  • Capacity building for Agribank in climate-smart agriculture finance and gender financing.
  • Enhancing financial literacy, market access, and business management skills for farmers, cooperatives, traders, and aggregators.
  1. Improving Sector Level Knowledge and Awareness: Elevating understanding and practices among regulators, research and training institutions and social organizations through exposure to knowledge-sharing opportunities and international best practices in financial inclusion and climate-smart financing.

 

OBJECTIVES

Support the CTA in the overall Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Communication process to ensure the project’s success.

 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop the M&E plan for the projects, and ensure incorporating smart indicators and tool tailored to gender-sensitive, climate-smart agriculture, market system development, systemic change measurement, value for money principles and approaches throughout the process of:

 

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning System

  • Development and full implementation of the project’s MERL system and practices;
  • Actively contributes to the (initial-detailed) diagnosis, the implementation of a monitoring system and the follow-up of the partners’ monitoring systems for Luxembourg Cooperation and delegated cooperation interventions:
  • Be responsible for the development and compilation of projects activities indicators;
  • Support the design and implementation of annual strategies and performance indicators for the project and its initiatives;
  • Contribute to the development of Management Information Systems and establish mechanism and coordinate routine internal reporting processes related to data collection and management;
  • Ensure that M&E is integrated into project activities and support the successful execution of these M&E processes.
  • Contribute to the preparation of annual, quarterly internal progress reports and to the development of Annual Operational Plans (AOPs)
  • Contribute to the preparation of documents highlighting project achievements
  • Propose composite indicators to enhance institutional and sectoral capacities of development partners, guide the definition and formulation of residual indicators, and contribute to the revision of logical frameworks.

 

Data Collection, Analysis, and Management

  • Establish a framework for ongoing data collection, analysis and maintain a database to ensure that information is accurate and current;
  • Work with project partners to develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks, processes and systems that will provide compatible and quality data that will enable reporting on the overall project outcomes;
  • Ensure key progress information is timely collected from stakeholders, reviewed, and entered into the program database;
  • Undertake occasional field visits to confirm and triangulate reported findings;
  • Collate and analyse monitoring and evaluation data to develop presentations and written reports based on findings;
  • Liaise with M&E expert from ROF/HQ and assist in planning activities to ensure compliance with international best practices;
  • Develop essential information from the monitoring system for projects, steering committees;
  • Ensure that all materials produced by the projects and programmes related to Monitoring are filed

 

Project  Reporting and Evaluation 

  • Provide inputs related to MERL framework, baseline data and monitoring indicators of the inception report;
  • Provide MERL inputs for progress reports, steering committee meeting document and annual work plan;
  • Participate in midline, endline assessments, impact evaluations, and other research studies including secondary analysis of existing data to capture project outcomes;
  • Provide data as required for independent evaluations and ensure findings from the evaluations are incorporated into project interventions as appropriate; and
  • Identify any risks to the achievements of the program and propose recommendations for risk mitigation.

 

Knowledge Sharing and Communication

  • In line with LuxDev guidelines, prepare a comprehensive knowledge management and communication strategy and plan for the projects.
  • Develop/consolidate, in close collaboration with the project experts, good practice and lessons learned for dissemination;
  • Promote adoption and use of knowledge management in the projects through the development and support of communities of practice.
  • Share relevant findings with project components and management in appropriate format to ensure the whole organisation benefits from and applies the learning.
  • Ensure effectiveness of knowledge management initiatives and activities through monitoring and assessment of the initiatives.
  • Facilitate learning amongst projects components, partners and stakeholders through reviews of progress against benchmarks, collecting lessons learnt and best practices and facilitating dissemination of the same.
  • Enrich project’s knowledge repository by actively liaising and collaborating with national and international policy, advocacy and knowledge management experts
  • Actively contribute to the online knowledge management system
  • Actively contribute to the continuous improvement process within the Agency through exchanges of information and communications.

 

A detailed job description can be obtained upon request to the email address: [email protected]  

 

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE JOB

Education

  • Advanced degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, Social Sciences, or related field.

General Experience and Skills

  • Minimum 10 years of relevant experience;
  • Proven experience in developing and implementing MEAL systems for development projects, preferably in the agriculture or climate resilience sector.
  • Experience in design and implementation of research and evaluations, including experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
  • Experience in gender equity and social inclusion principles in project design and implementation.
  • Excellent communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.
  • Familiarity with climate-smart agriculture and financial inclusion concepts is desirable.

Specific Experience and Skills

  • Demonstrated ability to design and implement monitoring and evaluation systems, including developing smart indicators, data collection tools, and analysis frameworks.
  • Proficient in conducting quantitative and qualitative research, impact evaluations, and baseline/endline assessments to measure project outcomes and effectiveness.
  • Skilled in data analysis and interpretation to track project progress, identify trends, and provide evidence-based recommendations for project improvement.
  • Strong research background with experience in designing and conducting research studies related to development projects, preferably in the agriculture or climate resilience sector.
  • Ability to analyze complex data sets, draw meaningful insights, and communicate findings effectively through reports, presentations, and knowledge products.
  • Familiarity with longitudinal studies, value-for-money analysis, and gender-responsive research methods to ensure comprehensive and inclusive data collection and analysis.
  • Proven track record in facilitating learning events, workshops, and knowledge-sharing activities to promote capacity building, best practices dissemination, and continuous improvement.
  • Ability to translate research findings into actionable recommendations, lessons learned, and best practices to inform project decision-making and strategy development.
  • Experience in promoting a culture of learning and innovation within project teams and among stakeholders to drive sustainable impact and systemic change.
  • Excellent communication skills, including proficiency in developing communication materials, strategies, and strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration, build relationships, and leverage partnerships for enhanced project visibility, impact, and sustainability.

 

CONDITIONS:

  • Location: Thua Thien Hue Province
  • Nature of the position: full-time position (renewable);
  • Duration: 2 years;
  • Expected starting date: as soon as possible
  • Salary: will be calculated based on LuxDev salary scale and the experience / qualifications of the successful candidate.

 

How to apply:

Applications can only be submitted via the LuxDev careers website at https://careers.luxdev.lu/job-invite/1712/. Applications must consist of 1) curriculum vitae (including contact details of two referees), and 2) a motivation letter. Only applications received via the LuxDev careers website will be considered.

Deadline: 15 December 2024

   Job Details  
Organisation:
LuxDev
Job location:
Thua Thien Hue
Application deadline:
2024-12-15
Send application to:
https://careers.luxdev.lu/job-invite/1712/
Job Types:
'Programme Officer'   
Sectors:
'National'