Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research Specialist (Senior)

Terms of Reference

With more than 30 years of experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development. We have managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe for clients such as DFID, DFAT Australia, the World Bank and Global Affairs Canada. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, economic and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017 and 2018.

Cowater is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research (Senior) Specialist to support Aus4Equality/Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program in Vietnam. The Program seeks to promote women’s economic empowerment (WEE) in the ethnically diverse north-west region of Vietnam. The primary beneficiaries are women living in the provinces of Son La and Lao Cai with a focus on economic inclusion for of women from ethnic minority communities. The objectives of the Aus4Equality|GREAT Program are:

• Objective 1 – Empowering local women: Women living in local communities have increased capacity, space and choices to beneficially engage with agriculture and tourism businesses.
• Objective 2 – Inclusive businesses partnerships: Selected private sector actors within the agriculture and tourism sectors innovate to profitably and sustainably trade with more women entrepreneurs and operate in gender sensitive ways.
• Objective 3 – Improving sector governance and policy: Government agencies reinforce policies, and enact plans, regulations and services that enable more inclusive socio-economic development.

Key approaches applied by the Program include: Women’s Economic Empowerment, Market Systems Development Adaptive Management, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Innovation. Approximately 50 partners, including businesses, government agencies and NGOs, implement activities and deliver results, to strengthen markets for ethnic minority communities, particularly women, in two provinces in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam.

Statement of Duty:

The Senior MERL Specialist will contribute along with the MERL team to effectively implement the MERL Framework. This includes conducting and coordinating MERL activities that generate evidence used for reporting and collaboration, learning and adaptation . Duties will include quality check of relevant MERL products, conducting data analysis and data quality assessments and providing support and guidance to partners to implement MERL activities. The position will take a leading role in the oversight and implementation of partner level M&E activities and capacity building on M&E for partners. Close consultation with the MERL Manager will ensure the implementation of MERL activities is aligned with GREAT’s strategic direction. The position will manage provincial based MERL Officer/s.

Specific Duties:

• Lead and oversee the implementation of partner-level M&E activities and capacity building on M&E for partners.

• Lead the process of developing plans and tools and providing support to partners to monitor project progress and measure project-created changes.

• Lead the process of reviewing and the adaptation of partner M&E plans.

• Lead partner level assessments, including midline and endline assessments.

• Monitor progress generate data on project progress and provide support to partners improve MERL and data related issues throughout the project management cycle.

• Monitor and support partners to execute the partner level M&E plans.

• Collaborate and coordinate with other teams to develop project design, results chains and M&E plans for new projects.

• Collaborate with Partnership Managers to modify project results chains and M&E plans when needed; including encoding revised results chains, indicators and updated work plan into the MIS.

• Prepare progress data and templates for partner annual workplans.

• Review and appraise partner annual workplans and provide support to partners to make improvements, particularly for setting relevant targets.

• Synthesise partner work plans to generate GREAT level targets.

• Support partners to prepare quarterly reports and assess quarterly reports to ensure quality; and synthesise information from quarterly reports.

• Carry out data quality assessment and measurements for data quality assurance,

• Collect necessary local data as required,

• Contribute advice and ideas to strengthen the MERL system and practices and promote learning at GREAT level as well as across partners.

• Synthesise and share lessons learned and detect issues from supporting partner M&E activities and monitoring partner progress.

• Carry out quality assurance of MERL related products before submitting them to the MERL Manager for a final review.

• Contribute to GREAT level workplan development for MERL.
• Contribute to the development of MERL guidelines and training materials.
• Conduct data analysis to generate evidence for the GREAT Program’s and projects learning, planning and decision making
• Contribute to MIS development and operations
• Participate and/or coordinate project level baseline, midline, endline assessments.

• Contribute to the organisation and implementation of the longitudinal study.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the knowledge management plan and collaboration, learning and adaptation activities, including preparation of GREAT’s knowledge products.

• Carry out relevant studies/reviews/assessments to collect evidence collaboration, learning and adaptation. Participate and organise learning activities such as the Reflect and Refocus workshops and other learning activities.

• Organise Joint Monitoring Missions and conduct data quality assessment trips.

• Provide data and inputs to GREAT level reports when required.

• Supervise and support staff (MERL Project Officer/s) and mentor MERL and GREAT team members.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 7 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.
• Knowledge of M&E and aid effectiveness concepts and procedures.
• Strong experience and skills in data collection, analysis, and management.
• Strong monitoring and reporting skills with excellent knowledge and experience in program management.
• Ability to manage multiple demands and prioritise tasks, work effectively, flexibly and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and support other team members as needed.
• Leadership experience and skills.
• Ability to understand the data needs of a broad range of users.

• Experience maintaining relationships with stakeholders at all levels (government, international and local NGOs, and local communities).

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gender-related issues and women’s economic empowerment concepts (highly preferable).

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of M&E for market system or private sector development (highly preferable).

• Have a good level of critical thinking and systemic thinking.

• Willing to work in a high pace and highly adaptive environment.t.

• Fluency in Vietnamese and working knowledge of English.