Individual consultant - Mid-Term Evaluator for PS1

Job Description

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Individual consultant (Mid-Term Evaluation of Pentagonal Strategy I implementation)
Sector: Customs, Trade and Investment Climate
Position Type: Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Short-Term
Position Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contractual arrangement: International recruitment

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The CAPRED Facility is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development program in Cambodia, focusing on economic recovery and resilience over the next four years, with a possible three-year extension.

The Facility supports Cambodia in implementing a range of necessary economic interventions and reforms to maintain the country’s economic transition. These interventions and reforms are primarily aimed at encouraging more productive and inclusive public and private investment, which promotes a resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy (RISE). 

CAPRED interventions fall under three technical components including: Agriculture and Agro-processing; Trade, Investment and Enterprise Development and Infrastructure Development; and one Cross-Cutting component comprising: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Climate resilience, and Policy.

CONTEXT AND RATIONALE
The Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I (PS1) is the Royal Government of Cambodia’s flagship policy framework for the 7th mandate (2023–2028), guiding national action toward growth, employment, equity, efficiency, and sustainability, and setting the path to high-income status by 2050. To track implementation, the Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation (CME-PS1) was established under the Office of the Council of Ministers to coordinate and assess progress using the PS1 M&E Framework endorsed in 2024, which includes 39 strategic and reform KPIs.

Monitoring reports for 2024 and 2025 show early results but also highlight system challenges: incomplete or inconsistent data, absence of a shared theory of change to guide causal analysis, and weak coordination leading to fragmented reporting.

The Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) will therefore take a process-evaluation approach, examining implementation mechanisms, data systems, and coordination arrangements rather than long-term impacts. The MTE will address four areas: (i) whether implementation mechanisms function as intended; (ii) coherence between PS1 objectives, sector plans, and resource allocation; (iii) lessons for course correction for 2026–2028; and (iv) institutional capacity needs to strengthen coordination, monitoring, and data use.

CME will lead the MTE, with support from CAPRED and development partners. The international consultant will provide methodological guidance, quality assurance, and alignment with international evaluation standards.
CAPRED has been providing continuous technical support to CME on PS1 M&E, including policy mapping, KPI refinement, MIS development, and early inputs to the MTE concept note. CME formally requested CAPRED to help ensure quality assurance for the MTE and to recruit the international consultant to support the work.

OBJECTIVES OF ASSIGNMENT
The overall objective of the consultancy is to support CME and CAPRED in designing, executing, and ensuring the quality and coherence of the Mid-Term Evaluation of PS1. Specific objectives include:

• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance for the MTE design, evaluation framework, data collection tools, and reporting.
• Strengthen the Theory of Change and evaluability of PS1 priority areas.
• Build capacity of the CME evaluation team and support line ministries to improve data quality and consistency.
• Provide strategic inputs and support for the MTE inception, analysis, and reporting processes.

SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant will work directly alongside CME throughout the MTE, spending part of the assignment in the CME office to guide planning, tool development, fieldwork preparation, analysis, and reporting. CME will lead primary data collection; the consultant will provide close technical guidance, coaching, oversight, and quality assurance.

Specifically, the consultant will undertake the following key tasks:

• Support evaluation design and framework development
• Work closely with CME to prepare the MTE evaluation framework.
• Review the PS1 M&E Framework, monitoring reports (2024–2025), and CME’s MTE concept note.
• Provide technical advice to ensure the evaluation design follows international process-evaluation practice.
• Help CME define the evaluation focus and priority areas.
• Strengthen Theory of Change (ToC) development
• Collaborate with CME to articulate ToCs for selected strategic objectives or thematic areas.
• Ensure alignment between PS1 logic, NSDP, sector strategies, and BSPs.
• Identify data gaps and institutional constraints affecting evaluability and propose practical solutions.
• Integrate GEDSI considerations across all ToC elements.
• Advise on data collection and analysis
• Guide the CME team to design questionnaires, sampling strategies, and interview guides.
• Guide the CME team in planning and conducting data collection (surveys, KIIs, FGDs), ensuring methodological consistency.
• Ensure data quality, validity, and alignment with MTE objectives.
• Provide guidance and work closely with the CME team on data analysis
• Ensure GEDSI considerations are integrated into data collection, including in sampling, so that the evaluation captures the experiences and viewpoints on different groups.
• Institutional coordination and capacity strengthening
• Support CME in establishing and facilitating an MTE Reference Group (CME, line ministries, NIS, DPs).
• Provide guidance on approaches for cross-ministerial collaboration and participatory evaluation.
• Strengthen CME’s capacity to manage evaluation processes and quality assurance.
• Reporting and quality assurance
• Provide technical guidance and review and detailed feedback on the Inception Report, Draft MTE Report, and Final Report.
• Help CME prepare and conduct validation workshops.
• Ensure that all outputs meet international evaluation standards and are actionable for decision-makers.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
1. Inception Note

• Technical approach; evaluation framework; timeline; work plan; roles and responsibilities; mapping of required documents and datasets; Research plan
• Timeline: Dec 2025

2. Literature Review and Tool Development

• Full secondary review of PS1 documents; synthesis note; data collection tools; GEDSI integration.
• Timeline: Jan 2026

3. Interim Analysis & Advisory Inputs to Tools

• Preliminary data analysis; presentation of initial findings to CME/CAPRED; adjustments to tools and methods based on feedback; quality assurance for all instruments.
• Timeline: Feb 2026

4. Draft MTE Report and Validation Workshop Support

• Inputs and technical guidance on the draft MTE report; methodological validation; Inputs for the validation workshop design and slide deck
• Timeline: Mar – Apr 2026

5. Final MTE Report and Technical Note on System Strengthening

• Inputs on the Final draft of MTE report,; technical notes with recommendations on ToC, data flows, coordination, and linkages to the End-Term Evaluation.
• Timeline: May 2026

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in program evaluation, preferably in governance, public policy, or economic reform.
• Proven track record in designing and leading mid-term or process evaluations for complex multi-sectoral strategies (e.g., national development or public sector reform).
• Demonstrated expertise in Theory of Change, evaluability assessment, and mixed-method evaluations.
• Strong familiarity with international practices on mid-term evaluation and application in Southeast Asian contexts.
• Prior experience with Cambodia’s M&E system and/or regional experience in policy evaluation is an asset.
• Excellent skills in stakeholder consultation, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and report writing.
• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in economics, public policy, development studies, or evaluation.

DURATION AND WORKPLAN
1. Design Phase

• Activity: Review, framework, ToC development
• Period: Dec 2025

2. Data Collection Support Phase

• Activity: Guidance on survey tools and sampling
• Period: Jan – Feb 2026

3. Analysis and Reporting Phase

• Activity: Technical review of draft report
• Period: Mar – Apr 2026

4. Validation and Finalization Phase

• Activity: Workshop and final recommendations
• Period: Apr – May 2026

REPORTING AND COORDINATION
The consultant will:

• Report directly to the CME Secretary-General (or designated M&E Director).
• Work closely with the MTE Reference Group, the CME Evaluation Team, and CAPRED team.
• Submit deliverables to CME–PS1 and CAPRED for joint technical review.

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

• The assignment will be financed through CAPRED under DFAT support.
• Logistical and coordination support will be provided by the CME Secretariat with assistance from CAPRED.
• All outputs will be considered joint intellectual property of CME and CAPRED.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please send your CV​​ and cover letter with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees to recruitment@capred.org mentioning the position you apply for in the subject line “Mid-Term Evaluator for PS1”.

Closing Date: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The application process will close once the position is filled, but not before 10 December 2025, 5 PM Cambodia time.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

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.

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 with Cowater International.