Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research Specialist

Terms of Reference

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research Specialist

Location: Hanoi
Assignment duration: 1 year with possibility for one-year extension
Level of Effort: Full Time
Start date: August 2019
Reporting to: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research Manager
Deadline to apply: 5pm, 9 August 2019

ABOUT US

With more than 30 years of experience, CowaterSogema 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.

BACKGROUND

CowaterSogema is seeking to recruit a highly qualified professional as Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research (MERL) Specialist to support the Aus4Equality|Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program.

The GREAT Program is a flagship initiative of the Australian aid program in Vietnam – it commenced in November 2017 and will run for five years (2017 to 2021). 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, while an overarching emphasis is placed on the inclusion of women from ethnic minority communities as these provinces are home to twelve and twenty-six ethnic groups respectively.

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: Market system development (MSD), Partnership, Adaptive Management, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Innovation and Women’s Economic Empowerment.

The program will work with approximately 50 partners to deliver results, including private sector actors, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and research institutions.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The position focusses on leading the knowledge management and dissemination activities for GREAT including preparation and coordination of the annual Knowledge Management Plan. The position will also support data collection, analysis and management and GREAT Program reporting evaluations and quality assurance. As a part of the MERL team, the position will contribute to an effective implementation of the MERL framework of the program.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge Management and Dissemination

Develop an annual Knowledge Management and Learning Plan. This includes systems for capturing, organising and disseminating information and learning to all stakeholders and the public.
Develop a “knowledge tank’ and keep it updated to capture relevant global studies and reports that can inform the Program. This includes to document relevant evidence collected from various sources
Conduct reviews/assessments to document the lessons learned gained through the program and project implementation, when necessary
Manage interactive joint-learning activities, networking events and thematic workshops as required.
Plan and organize learning activities including internal learning sessions and partners’ forums
Work with the Communications Specialist to package quality and accurate program reports, output results, stories of change, and other communication and knowledge management products, for wider dissemination.
Work with the MERL Manager and/or Adviser to synthesize monitoring information from partner reports, identify key issues and communicate findings to the MERL team and the wider GREAT Program team.

Data Collection, Analysis, and Management

Contribute to the development and maintenance of the GREAT Program database to ensure that information is accurate and current.
Undertake monitoring visits to partners to confirm and triangulate reported findings.
Ensure that key findings and recommendations from field trips are followed up.
Support the MERL Manager in routinely ensuring the quality, accuracy, and completeness of information and data collected.
Contribute to analysis of larger trends by linking and analysing data from a variety of sources, including activities and outputs from related initiatives in the region.
Work with consultants in project level and GREAT level assessment activities as required

Program Reporting, Evaluations and Quality Assurance

Prepare data for internal and external reporting including 6 monthly progress reports.
Support the MERL Manager and other members of the Senior Management Team to provide data as required for independent Program evaluations and ensure findings from the evaluations are incorporated into Program activities and policies as appropriate.
Work with partners and relevant GREAT staff and coach them in relevant MERL activities to ensure quality of collected data
Work with the MERL team to develop a data quality assurance system and conduct data quality assessments (DQA) with implementing partners.
Work with the MERL team to facilitate the semi-annual aid quality check (AQC) process and reflect and refocus activities.

REQUIREMENTS

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

At least 5 years of experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation or social research in the international development sector.
Strong experience and skills in knowledge management and knowledge dissemination activities.
Experience in organising and facilitating training and learning sessions.
Strong experience and skills in research, data collection, analysis, and evaluation of social interventions.
Strong knowledge of data visualisation tools and graphics software.
Ability to manage multiple demands and prioritise tasks, work effectively and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and support other team members as needed.
Strong analytical abilities
Strong communications skills in Vietnamese and English.
Tertiary qualifications in a relevant area such as economics, statistics or development studies.
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gender, market-based systems and women’s economic empowerment concepts is highly preferable.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to send an application to aus4equalityrecruitment@gmail.com. Please indicate in the subject “Application for Aus4Equality MERL Specialist”.

Applications should include: