Job Description
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager, Impact Private Sector Partnerships Program - Australia
Project Overview and Role:
ARF Classification: C2 or C3 depending on level of experience
Position(s) vacant: One
Duration: through December 2024 . Full-time level of effort, although part-time flexible arrangements of at least 0.6 LOE will be considered
Location: Canberra preferred, remote locations considered
Reporting to: Team Leader
Direct Reports: None
Impact Private Sector Partnerships Program
The Impact Private Sector Partnerships Program (IPSP) is a five-year aid investment (2020-2024) implemented by Palladium and supported by the Australian Government. The IPSP’s goal is to enable Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to serve as a catalyst to unlock private sector-led solutions to development and climate change challenges and contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Indo Pacific region.
The IPSP enables DFAT to engage with the private sector through two component activities:
- The Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) supports direct partnerships between the Australian Government and businesses to advance Australian priorities and deliver development and climate impacts. The BPP is currently in its second phase, following a first phase from 2015-2019. By partnering with sustainable and inclusive businesses, BPP partnerships are catalysing more than AUD 46 million in private sector finance and resources to support scalable business models to help drive transition to a greener, more inclusive economy. More on the BPP is available at website: thebpp.com.au
- The Business Engagement Support Unit (BESU) is DFAT’s internal resource for advice and leading industry expertise on private sector engagement. The BESU was established to provide DFAT with the tools, information, expertise and networks to more effectively engage businesses across Australia’s international development program. The BESU HelpDesk provides rapid, quality advisory services to support DFAT staff. BESU services are available on-demand, and can connect DFAT to a network of global experts across a wide-range of sectors including climate finance, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, as well as geographic and country-specific sector specialists.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
The Impact Private Sector Partnerships Program is seeking a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) manager to implement the program’s MEL framework.
The IPSP is in the fourth year of implementation and has a MEL framework and strategy in place. It is founded upon the principles of the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) standard (e.g. using results chains, developing indicators and designing surveys/ methods to capture results) and DFAT MEL standards.
The MEL team includes a part-time strategic MEL advisor, as well as several locally-based MEL consultants. The MEL manager will work closely with IPSP team and core advisors, including partnership Relationship Managers, the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor, Partnership Advisor and Communications and Knowledge Manager.
The MEL manager will be the main point of accountability to ensure that data is collected, analysed and presented in ways that inform decision making and wider learning - both in IPSP and DFAT more widely.
Responsibilities will include the following:
- Support the IPSP’s overall MEL framework, including providing feedback to improve or enhance the program’s M&E processes, tools and indicators, and providing M&E advice to DFAT and the IPSP team.
- Ensure that quality data is collected, managed, analysed and presented in a timely manner.
- Liaise and collaborate with the Communications and Knowledge Manager to develop quality learning materials, such as learning briefs and case studies, and communicate portfolio progress and impact.
- Manage impact measurement software with external consultants.
- Develop creative data presentation methods to provide insights for management, DFAT and business partners and partners.
- Support production of periodic program reports and respond to requests for data and synthesis.
- Support the BESU team to assess and analyse results on the quality and relevance of services provided to DFAT.
- Provide technical assistance to BPP partners to develop and implement MEL plans that link into the broader MEL framework for the IPSP. Support data collection techniques within these plans that are pragmatic for business use and sensitive to GEDSI issues.
- Liaise with the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion indicators are reflected across the IPSP and analyse outcomes for different target groups utilising disaggregated data.
- Provide in-country support to BPP partnerships as required, including periodic monitoring and validation visits, and coordinate the same through the program’s consultants and staff.
- Provide capacity building and mentoring to program staff to actively conduct MEL at the BPP activity level in real time, including analysing information to determine program strategy.
- Provide guidance, training materials and coaching to IPSP staff and other advisors to ensure consistency of approach.
- Support training and capacity of DFAT staff in active BPP Posts to understand the MEL framework and be able to proactively monitor initiative progress.
Selection Criteria:
- Knowledge of, or experience with best practices in monitoring, evaluation and learning, especially DCD or similar theory of change approaches. Knowledge of DFAT MEL standards is desirable.
- Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Highly developed communication and time-management skills.
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing monitoring, reporting research and learning strategies.
- Knowledge and understanding of DFAT aid policies and strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgroundsand perspectives, and a professional commitment to promote a culture of gender equality and social inclusion.
- An understanding of private sector and inclusive business engagement to achieve development and climate outcomes.
- Prior experience supporting MEL in gender equality, climate or development in Indo-Pacific countries is desirable.
- Experience with participatory monitoring methodologies and adaptive programming is desirable.
- Excellent cross-cultural communication skills, both oral and written.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills and adaptability.
To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter which address the above selection criteria. Applications should be uploaded before 5pm Friday, 31st of April 2023 AEDT.
