Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist – BASIN Program

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Employee Contract Type:

Job Description:

JOB PURPOSE:

The Regional MEAL Specialist for BASIN Program will design and lead the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) plan for the BASIN project. The specialist will be ideally based in Laos and work closely with Field Office teams in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam and implementing partners in the region and in Australia. The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight of key MEAL deliverables and ensure timeliness on tasks such as MEAL Plan, budget, needs assessments, baseline, mid-term review and end evaluation in line with DFAT & WVI MEAL standards & requirements.
• Oversee procurement and management of consultants and internal teams during the collection and analysis of data on program activities, outputs, and outcomes to track progress against MEAL indicators.
• Lead the preparation of regular reports for DFAT and other stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability in program delivery and respond to ad hoc donor requests relating to MEAL.
• Coordinate MEAL tasks and travel in the region to support MEAL related tasks field studies, capacity building, trainings, and participate in events in the Mekong region.
• Ensure that key lessons and insights from the evaluation are shared within the team and with stakeholders, promoting a culture of continuous evidence-based learning, ensuring adaptive management is embedded into the program.
• Provide capacity building support to field staff including M&E & technical officers & lead/facilitate multi-country reflection and learning workshops with key staff/stakeholders
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration with DFAT, other donors, and local partners, keeping them informed of program progress, challenges, and learning.
• Provide strategic insights for collaboration/partnership opportunities in regional platforms to facilitate achievements of outcome 3, in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney and Evidence Building Advisor, World Vision Australia
• Lead/contribute to production of evidence-based knowledge products and/or research agenda
• Participate in regional fora to disseminate programs findings, lessons learned and/or knowledge products with regional stakeholders

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

MEAL System Design & Implementation

• Develop overall MEAL Plan framework aligned with DFAT’s  & WVI Design & MEL Standards
• Design and oversee data collection tools, methodologies, and reporting systems to track key indicators in all three Field Offices
• Ensure integration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles into MEAL processes
• Ensure consistency in data collection systems so the processes are aligned meet the reporting requirements of World Vision

• Ensure findings from mid-term evaluations and real time learning inform program improvement, and learnings be disseminated to key partners.

• A robust MEAL system is in place, ensuring accurate, timely, and relevant data collection.
• GEDSI considerations are effectively embedded in all MEAL activities.
• Continuous learning and improvement based on data insights, improving program effectiveness.

Data Collection, Aggregation, Analysis & Reporting

• Manage recruitment of consultant and timely completion of the market systems assessment
• Lead and/or manage baseline, midline, and evaluations of BASIN project incorporating OECD criteria and relevant standards of DFAT.
• Apply quantitative and qualitative research methods, utilizing tools such as Excel, KoBo, and QualKit for GEDSI.
• Establish results chain monitoring to measure market system changes as detailed in the project requirements.
• Faciliate semi-annual review meetings and real time learning events to support regional knowledge building and sharing.

• Ensure timely submission of donor reports and evidence-based recommendations for program improvement.

• High quality market system assessment report
• High-quality reports generated for the baseline, mid-line and evaluation, following participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement.
• Data insights drive evidence-based decision-making across project outcomes and contribute to quality improvement through real time learning.

• Knowledge-sharing events contribute to regional learning and best practice sharing.

MEAL Capacity Building

• Identify the ongoing capacity gaps in the country offices and develop a project wide capacity building plan to be embedded into the project plan.
• Support in building capacity of MEAL staffs in all three Field Offices in collaboration with East Asia Regional MEAL and World Vision Australia’s MEL Advisor.
• Provide training and mentorship to Field Office MEAL teams and partners on routine data collection, using systems and tools, and impact measurement.
• Ensure BASIN MEAL framework is well understood by all the BASIN project staff.

• Build capacity of all staff in Programme Accountability Framework, including collecting and acting on feedback and complaints.

• A well-structured and contextually relevant capacity-building plan is integrated into the project plan
• MEAL staff across all country offices demonstrate improved competencies in data collection, analysis, and reporting, leading to enhanced MEAL processes across BASIN project
• All BASIN project staff have a clear understanding of the MEAL framework, leading to consistent implementation and improved accountability

Learning, Knowledge Management & Policy Engagement

• Lead the BASIN learning agenda, synthesizing findings from iMSD (Inclusive Market Systems Development) approach, Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE), and climate resilience initiatives.
• Collaborate with research institutions, policy networks, and subregional platforms to generate and disseminate evidence.
• Support Technical teams to develop policy briefs and advocacy materials to influence regional and national policies by providing data and evidence.
• Ensure MEAL systems foster evidence-based regional dialogues for resilience-building.

• Facilitate subregion-level coordination and amplify project successes to create opportunities for scalability and replicability of successful, contextually relevant solutions.

• Research findings and policy briefs supported with quality data and evidence.

• Regional platforms utilize BASIN’s evidence for advocacy and best practices sharing.
• Knowledge sharing contributes to scaling up and replicating successful models across the subregion.

Accountability & Feedback Mechanisms

• Ensure Programme Accountability Framework (PAF) is streamlined in BASIN project interventions
• Establish community feedback and complaints mechanisms in communities to ensure inclusive participation and accountability.
• Develop digital tools to track and monitor feedback & complaints.
• Ensure feedback and complaints are collected and responded to within the standard timeline.
• Programme Accountability Framework (PAF) is implemented in the project.
• Contextualized community feedback mechanisms are functional and timely responded.
• Digital tracking tools improve efficiency in managing feedback and complaints, enhancing responsiveness.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

Required Educational and Professional Experience

• Master's degree in international development, social science, management, or relevant thematic areas
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL)
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a MEAL position for multi-country program(s) essential
• Experience in any programmatic role/consulting for DFAT or similar institutional donor funded program in livelihoods, economic empowerment and/or inclusive market systems’ essential
• Knowledgeable in gender equality, disability inclusion (GEDSI) and climate resilience programming.
• Proven analytical, reporting programmatic insights experience, ensuring adaptive learning and data-driven decision-making.
• Strong expertise in developing and executing capacity-building initiatives, including training and mentoring MEAL staff and partners.
• Proven experience with data collection and analysis tools, including MS Excel, KoBo, Powerpoint and MS Word.
• Demonstrable experience in stakeholder engagement, including coordination with donors, government agencies, research institutions, and implementing partners.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Desirable experience

• Experience in communicating evidence-based research to influence policy dialogue and/or advocacy to technical/non-technical audiences preferred
• Professional or lived experience in the Southeast Asian context

• Experience working with/in the private sector

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Fluency in one regional language preferred (Khmer, Laos, Vietnamese)
• M&E certification or field of research would be preferred.

Applicant Types Accepted: