Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Specialist
· Based in Bougainville (Buka or Arawa) with occasional travel to Port Moresby
· 90% of inputs will focus on the Bougainville Partnership (BP) and 10% on the Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP)
This position may be an LTA or STA with extended in-Bougainville inputs. DFAT and Abt encourages and offers the opportunity for less experienced professionals to gain relevant, diverse experience across a broad spectrum of development activities to further their career in MERL.
Overview
The Bougainville Partnership is framed around the objectives of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Strategic Development Plan (SDP). As per ABG policy, the SDP is the principal reference for development in Bougainville and guides donor investment consistent with its objectives and priorities. The Bougainville Partnership is organised around three Pillars, each with a long-term development outcome and together targeting an overarching Goal.
The design (to be updated) reflects long-term development outcomes as aspirational statements in the Results Framework and suggests they are both beyond the timeframe of the Partnership (July 2016-April 2022) and are unlikely to be solely attributable to the BP. In this context, the Partnership is focused on documenting the achievements of outputs and short-term and intermediate outcomes through to 2022.
Role Summary – Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Specialist
The BP Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MERL) Specialist will work to the BP Director and Team Leaders (Buka and Arawa) to provide a range of essential technical services in Design and MERL, aligned with the strategic priorities of the Partnership. In addition, the MERL Specialist will work to the KIP Director and Senior Program Manager to provide quality assurance technical services in MERL aligned with the strategic priorities of the KIP. This will occur principally by mentoring and coaching the KIP MERL Coordinator.
With the completion of the Bougainville Referendum in late-2019, this role offers an exciting opportunity to support the design and implementation of Australian and New Zealand government’s support in the post-referendum context.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Provide high quality technical services for all aspects of MERL in a way that balances accountability, rigour and program flexibility.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with BP and KIP MERL teams.
• Ensure strategic coherence and iteration of BP and KIP MERL plans and performance narratives at all levels.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Provide high quality technical services for all aspects of MERL in a way that balances accountability, rigour and program flexibility.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with BP and KIP MERL teams.
• Ensure strategic coherence and iteration of BP and KIP MERL plans and performance narratives at all levels.
• Conduct/Manage beneficiary surveys/focus groups to provide objective evidence of progress and achievements.
• Develop the capacity of relevant BP staff and the ABG Directorate of Strategic Planning & Policy Coordination (DSPPC) to collect, compile, analyse, report and reflect on evidence, including conducting field surveys and case studies.
• Support the review and modernisation of BP, KIP and DSPPC MERL systems, including increased digitalisation and automation of tools, processes and reporting.
• Establish and maintain data management processes, ensuring compatibility with relevant Abt PNG Management Information System (MIS).
• Collaborate with the Facility MERL Lead Adviser and team to ensure all BP performance reports and data is provided on time, at a high quality and in accordance with DFAT requirements (KIP M&E Coordinator will do this for the KIP).
• Promote learning, iteration and reflection across BP and KIP.
• Develop a collaborative rapport with the Facility MERL and other research stakeholders to ensure long-term evidence and research feeds into policy development and program management.
The successful candidate will bring:
· Post graduate qualifications in a development field; social science; monitoring and evaluation; or, other relevant discipline.
· Minimum of 6 to 10 years’ professional experience
· Demonstrated experience in the application of performance frameworks and evaluation design.
· Experience in identifying and delivering innovative approaches to MERL for flexible and adaptive aid programs.
· Familiarity with the ‘Doing Development Differently’ or ‘Thinking/ Working Politically’ agendas.
· Proficient analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated experience leading preparation of high-quality reports and professional documents for donor and government audiences.
· Proficient knowledge of MERL software and tools, with experience in modernising MERL systems and processes.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds, gender and people with disabilities.
http://www.abtassociates.com.au/careers/job-search/
Go to ‘Apply Now’, ‘Aus/UK Postings’ and by searching ‘By Country/ Region’ for Papua New Guinea, you will find this and all other roles currently being advertised for Abt Associates in PNG. Applications should be submitted online and should include a current CV, cover letter and a response to the key selection criteria, including questions of due diligence.
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 11 October 2020, (midnight, local time).
We welcome and thank all applicants, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
About Abt Associates
Abt Associates is a recognised leader in the international development sector. Working with our many partners, Abt Associates implements bold innovative solutions to improve the lives of the community and deliver valued outcomes for our clients. We provide a comprehensive range of services from policy to service delivery in the public and private sectors contributing to long term benefits for clients and communities. Operating in remote and challenging environments, we offer innovative solutions, extensive experience in the region, strong technical capacity, and a proven project management track record. We are committed to gender equity in our employment strategies and encourage applications from capable women. Abt Associates is a child safe organisation and promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.
