CSO-led Monitoring Pilot Lead

Job Description

KEY INFORMATION

• Programme: FCDO MEL Facility - Ukraine
• Duration: 4 years (2025/2026 - 2030)
• Positions: CSO-led monitoring Pilot Lead.
• Location: Based in Ukraine or remote with potential travel.
• Contract type: Consultancy (long-term assignment, part-time).

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The UK Government (FCDO) is launching a new Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) facility to provide independent evidence, third-party monitoring, and assurance across its expanding portfolio in Ukraine. The facility will cover humanitarian support, governance, energy security, anti-corruption and reform, political inclusion, economic and social recovery, and infrastructure reconstruction.

Operating in a highly complex and fragile environment, the facility will generate credible data and insights to strengthen accountability to both the British taxpayer and Ukrainian citizens, while ensuring adaptive learning and robust oversight of FCDO-funded programmes.

A key innovation under VERITAS will be the piloting of a Civil Society Organisation (CSO)-led model of TPM. This pilot will test whether local CSOs can effectively deliver monitoring functions, enhancing transparency, accountability, and localisation of aid oversight.


SUMMARY OF THE POSITIONS
The CSO Pilot Lead will be a designated member of the Core Team, responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing implementation of the CSO-led TPM pilot in the first year of the contract, and for advising FCDO on its feasibility for wider application. This role will be central to ensuring that civil society networks contribute meaningfully to monitoring, verification, and learning, and that the pilot strengthens accountability to affected Ukrainian communities.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the design and roll-out of the CSO-led TPM pilot during the inception and first year of implementation.
• Identify and engage relevant Ukrainian CSOs for participation in the pilot, ensuring transparent and inclusive selection.
• Develop capacity-building approaches and provide technical support to CSOs for data collection, verification, and reporting.
• Provide clear and evidence-based advice to FCDO on the feasibility, strengths, and limitations of the CSO-led monitoring model.
• Ensure that CSO-led monitoring follows inclusive, conflict-sensitive and gender-responsive MEL approaches.
• Oversee pilot deliverables including inception design, quarterly progress updates, and final recommendations report.
• Collaborate with the broader VERITAS Core Team (TPM Lead, Portfolio Evidence Lead, Team Leader) to integrate CSO-led insights into overall programme evidence and learning.
• Producing high-quality reports, analysis and presentations for FCDO, government counterparts and partners.
• Advising on adaptive management, safeguarding, and fraud/aid-diversion risk monitoring.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Professional experience: At least 10 years of experience in CSO-engagement, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, third-party monitoring, or applied research in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
• CSO engagement in Ukraine: Demonstrated track record of working with local civil society organisations in Ukraine, including capacity-building and partnership management.
• Donor experience: Solid experience working with FCDO or other major donors (e.g. UN, World Bank, EU).
• Thematic expertise: At least one of the following sectors: humanitarian support, energy security, anti-corruption and reform, governance, political inclusion, economic and social recovery, infrastructure reconstruction.
• Technical skills: Understanding of MEL methodologies, adaptive programming, participatory/community-based monitoring, accountability to affected populations (AAP), conflict sensitivity, and GESI (gender equality and social inclusion).
• Leadership skills: Ability to design and manage pilot initiatives, oversee partnerships, and communicate results clearly to donors and stakeholders.
• Languages: Excellent written and spoken English (essential). Ukrainian (desirable).
• Availability: Flexibility to work in-country or remotely with potential travel across Ukraine.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply by 26 September 2025.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

About the Organization

ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.