Job offer: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning Consultant

The Asia Foundation is looking for a Cambodian-based Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) consultant for the national component of AMPLIFY: Amplifying Women’s Peace Actions in ASEAN.

Location: Location (Phnom Penh) hybrid work arrangement of both in-office and remote work.

The AMPLIFY: Amplifying Women’s Peace Actions in ASEAN is a 5-year regional initiative of The Asia Foundation and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) aims to mitigate the disproportionate impacts of conflict and insecurity on women in ASEAN and to strengthen peace actions through women’s participation and receipt of benefits.

1. ASEAN and ASEAN Member States demonstrate meaningful commitment to women, peace, and security and advance knowledge and dialogue.
2. Civil society organizations in ASEAN influence women, peace and security commitments and delivery of commitments.
3. Women meaningfully participate and lead in peace and security actions in areas vulnerable to insecurity so that responses are informed by women’s voices and mitigate insecurity.

Reporting to Senior Program Officer for AMPLIFY in Cambodia and working closely with the Cambodia country team and regional MERL Specialist of AMPLIFY, the MERL consultant will design, manage, and implement monitoring and evaluation systems for the program in Cambodia. The MERL consultant will work with the Cambodia country team, partners, and regional team to collect data from activities and prepare regular reporting on MERL in Cambodia.

Duration of contract :

• The MERL consultant will be part-time 10 days per month and/or 120 days per year with a one-year contract (with possible extension).

Duties

• Under the regional MERL framework, design a country level Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning plan that measures and track progress towards outputs and outcomes outlined in the logical framework of the project.
• Adapt and develop MERL tools required to collect necessary MERL data for the project;
• Update and refine internal tracking systems to maintain MERL data in an organized, secure, and easy to understand way;
• Oversee project’s MERL systems to ensure effective use of data to measure indicators and track progress towards results.
• Provide MERL capacity building and technical support to partners grantees;
• Support the collection, verification and reporting of MERL data from key partners, grantees, mentors, and technical specialists required in the MERL plans in compliance with donors and internal data quality and reporting requirements.
• Input all required MERL data into the system on an ongoing basis for country and regional consolidation and reporting against the project indicators.
• Hold periodic and regular review and reflection exercises with partners and prepare data and insights for country and regional quarterly and other periodic reflections and review exercises.
• Coordinate with partners and grantees to ensure their timely submission of MERL data, reports and examples of project impact that meet TAF’s and donor’s standards for quality, transparency and contribution.
• Support design and implementation of flagship research activities and other research studies under the Amplify program.
• Assist program lead, director supervisor, and other staff in producing regular, timely and accurate narrative reports including MERL data for internal and donor needs.
• Be responsible for quality assurance of partners and country team activities and projects and that these meet minimum data quality standards as outlined in the regional MERL Framework.
• Respond to requests from donor and regional team regarding MERL activities and data and ensure accuracy and transparency of information. Support production of program communication material, most significant change stories, follow up surveys and interviews with beneficiaries, in coordination with program staff as required;
• Other relevant MERL duties as assigned;

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, development, or related field OR equivalent professional experience in relevant fields with professional training in MERL is required;
• Proven professional experience in the field of performance management for social development activities;
• Experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative data collection and using MERL databased systems;
• Experience in using relevant MERL tools including spreadsheet/excel, Kobo etc.
• Experience in managing research and evaluation conducted by consultants and contractors;
• Detail oriented with strong analytical and management skill;
• Fluent in Khmer and English (analytical writing skills English is an essential requirement)
• Willingness to travel to project target areas as required;
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team in remote locations.