ThaiNGO

Position Title

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead

Long Term / Short

Term

Long-Term Position

Position Location

Bangkok

Reports To

Program Director

Job Specification

Role Summary

The MERL lead will be a critical support for delivering the evidence base for the program’s adaptive approach. With support from the MERL STA, the MERL Lead will develop the MERL Framework against the three EOPOs, inform the MIS; ensure guidelines, tools and templates support implementation of the M&E Framework; conduct a Baseline Assessment in line with DFAT Standards and information needs to inform Country Specific and Annual Plans; provide technical support for M&E of program and partner activities; contribute knowledge content for briefings and progress reports; monitor results for discussion at regional program meetings; use MERL products to inform stakeholder dialogue; and oversee the Contractor’s obligations to program review and ongoing quality assurance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop MAP-TNC MERL guidelines, tools, and templates for the effective monitoring of the M&E Framework:
  • Design M&E methods, tools, templates, and reporting guidelines for program, in line with those outlined in MAP-TNC’s SOR.
  • Ensure that MERL system is in place including development of appropriate MERL responsibilities across all level of the project.
  • Review effectiveness of M&E tools and training materials, particularly in the lead up to the strategy reviews and iterative cycles.
  • Liaise with other organisations, institutions, and agencies to obtain access to research, assessments, data.
  • Provide analysis of program data needs and, in collaboration with an STA MIS Specialist, maintain and update a database of program data sets.

• In consultation with the MERL STA, conduct a Baseline Assessment and develop a detailed M&E Framework and costed M&E Plan according to DFAT standards and that reflects the design principles outlined in the program SoR, to support the information needs of both program and partners:
  • Implement program designing inputs from relevant stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive Baseline; coordinate the implementation of this Baseline and other studies through TWGs, program partners, and other stakeholders.

About the Partnership

The Mekong-Australia Partnership on Transnational Crime (MAP-TNC) promotes cross-border cooperation between Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. MAP-TNC focuses on addressing operational and strategic transnational crime threats identified by Mekong countries, such as drug trafficking, child exploitation and financial crimes. The program builds on and leverages Australia's existing relationships with the Mekong countries, its technical competencies, and its long-term relationships-focussed development approaches. The Partnership is led by DFAT and implemented by Australian Public Services Agencies (APS) working on TNC, including the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force and the Australian Taxation Office.

Palladium has been contracted to manage a Partnership Support Unit (PSU) to MAP-TNC. The Inception Phase was from March to end of September 2021, and the Implementation Phase commenced in October 2021. The PSU provides logistics and development support by responding to specific APS agency and MAP-TNC partner requests during the implementation of activities in Mekong countries where needed.  The PSU will support the MAP-TNC partners through the following services:

• Support to scope, identify, develop and prioritise activities in line with aid quality reporting requirements through collaborative workshops, based on agreed selection criteria.
• Support agencies to develop individual and joint agency proposals that lead to development outcomes and integrate Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) and Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) dimensions.
• Engage with DFAT and APS partners as activities are implemented in the subregion,  through PSU country coordinators based in Mekong partner countries and the provision of logistical, monitoring and evaluation, and other support as requested.
• Lead the secretariat support to the Partnership governance systems that will evaluate and approve activities for funding and oversee the overall performance of the program.
• Generate knowledge, analysis, research and learning through a Performance and MERL team and function that contributes to program reporting, performance, and knowledge management and communications, including through a Management Information System (MIS).

The PSU main office is in Bangkok, Thailand, and is headed by a Program Director (PD).  The MERL Lead will report to PD and manage development and implementation of the overall MERL Framework of the program, and the annual costed MERL plan.  This will include providing guidance and advice to the project partners. The position will also facilitate technical and research inputs as requested by the program and approved by DFAT. Analytical and communication skills are key to the success of this position.

Role Summary

The MERL Lead is a critical resource in supporting the delivery of MERL functions across MAP-TNC. The role supports the collection, analysis and utilisation of an evidence base that underpins the program’s adaptive approach including working with APS partners to support them to include MERL in their programs/ activities. An important consideration in this role is to provide technical support to APS partners, look for opportunities to collect information including the development of case studies and provide a whole of government analysis through reporting against the three End of Program Outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review existing and update MAP-TNC MERL guidelines, tools, and templates for the effective implementation and monitoring of the MERL Framework:
  • Design and review existing MERL methods, tools, templates, and reporting guidelines for the program, in line with those outlined in MAP-TNC’s Statement of Requirements (SoR) that are simple and easy to follow.
  • Work with APS partners to support them to include MERL considerations in their proposals/ activities, including the development and use of simple tools and templates as noted above.
  • Review the effectiveness of MERL tools and training materials.
  • Liaise with partners and other organisations to obtain access to research, assessments, and data and maintain a database of program data sets within the program’s MIS.
• In consultation with the MERL Adviser, develop an annual MERL plan that supports the information needs of both the program and partners:
  • Ensure strong collaboration and peer review with PSU advisers and team members, particularly the GEDSI lead, and various technical, strategy and planning advisers.
  • Ensure outcome measurement and reporting coincides with the preparation of  quarterly and annual progress reports; is coordinated with performance assessments as required; and is discussed at Quarterly/Annual program governance meetings and PSU reflection and learning events.
• Provide technical support for monitoring and evaluation of the program and partner activities as required:
  • supports partners to develop simple MERL plans for their proposals and activity plans that meet MAP-TNC reporting requirements and support partners to reflect on and capture lessons learned for program improvement, ensuring alignment with their own internal agency reporting requirements where possible.
  • Assist the PD and work with the Country Coordinators (for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) on data and information collection, analysis and utilisation. The MERL Lead will be expected to lead on Thailand data gathering.
  • Collaborate with implementing partners to support their MERL requirements including for example, the collection of MERL data to ensure compliance with program requirements, quality, timeliness and integrity; undertake appropriate analyses, interpret findings and prepare reports as required.
• Contribute content for briefings and progress reports; prepare communications on program achievements and quality assure outputs:
  • Liaise with stakeholders on requirements for planning and delivery of reporting.
  • Support the PD in organizing PSU quarterly reflection and learning events where requested.
  • Work with the PD on preparation of Annual and Country Workplans, annual progress reports and ad hoc reports and preparation of communications on program achievements and lessons learned.
  • Ensure that program’s learnings are shared with PSU and APS partners.

Reporting

Requirements

• • Reports to, works with and receives strategic direction from the Program Director.
  • Consults with the short-term MERL Adviser, technical advisers and country coordinators, to achieve deliverables.
  • Routinely consults and coordinates with the DFAT MAP-TNC Activity Manager and any other DFAT staff involved in management of the MAP-TNC. This may include consultation with DFAT Canberra’s MERL team.
  • Liaises and engages with APS and regional partners as requested by the PD, to achieve deliverables.

About you

• Experience in designing and implementing MERL in a development program context is preferred.
• Must be analytical with the ability to source information from multiple sources and produce simple and easy to understand tools and reports.
• Working on transnational crime related issues in the Mekong region would be an advantage, with knowledge of justice sector stakeholders in Thailand preferred.
• A communicator, who can sensitively and pragmatically engage with a range of culturally and institutionally diverse stakeholders, and is able to advise and guide colleagues, counterparts and stakeholders on how to apply MERL in a pragmatic and easy to understand manner.
• Strong research and analysis skills.
• Excellent English writing skills