Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist (based in Asia)

Job Summary

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI, and demonstrating the core values in their day to day operations.

The field-based Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist is primarily responsible for providing support to IRI field offices throughout Asia as they implement their MEL systems. This position will not be based in Washington, DC. It will be based in any country in the Asia region, preferably one where IRI currently has an office in the country, in order to meet the needs of IRI staff working in Asia time zones. Such support will seek to ensure that the programs are accountable for work done, support data collection and analysis efforts to identify results achieved, communicate results to IRI’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, and assist programs in utilizing and learning from data collected. The field-based MEL Specialist will also contribute to IRI’s capacity building efforts for IRI staff and partners, particularly in designing and conducting trainings on monitoring, evaluation and learning for IRI staff and partners in Asia.

Position Requirements

• Undergraduate/graduate degree in political/social science, international relations or related field.
• Minimum three years of professional experience in the international development sector.
• Demonstrated understanding of the program theory-based approach to program design, monitoring and evaluation.
• Familiarity with common MEL elements of projects including but not limited to: logical frameworks, performance monitoring plans and indicator matrices.
• Strong organizational skills, execution of tasks, and attention to detail required
• Ability to manage diverse activities and to meet deadlines required.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, coordinate and effectively meet program goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, other languages a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience working on democracy and governance projects required.
• Experience with USG-funded projects required.
• Familiarity with qualitative data collection and analysis required, familiarity with quantitative data analysis preferred.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Liaise regularly with members of the DC-based Evidence and Learning Practice
• Provide technical support for IRI’s monitoring, evaluation and learning efforts, primarily to field-based program staff, especially related to project implementation and closeout.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of MEL plans for IRI projects and partners in Asia, in particular, the various indicators, tools and systems required to remain compliant with them.
• Work closely with IRI program staff in relevant field offices and Washington, DC to design and implement data collection tools that meet program needs, including but not limited to pre- and post-tests, scorecards, interviews, surveys, observation protocols and content review protocols.
• Assist in project-level data collection for reporting on activities and associated output, outcome, and impact (as appropriate) level results.
• Assist in the data analysis and data storage efforts underway in IRI Asia field offices to ensure that they meet IRI and funder standards.
• Conduct regular internal spot checks to help field staff ensure that documentation and storage of field office data meets funder standards.
• Support field staff through Data Quality Analysis processes
• Mentor MEL staff based in the various IRI Asia field offices, including providing training, guidance, regular consultation and real time support for their MEL needs in order to develop institutional MEL capacity.
• As requested, provide guidance and assistance in data collection and data analysis on assessments and evaluations conducted by IRI Asia field offices.
• Assist field offices in implementing their learning strategies, including collaboration, learning and adaptation initiatives, after action reviews and reflection sessions, to ensure that data is both reported and used to improve Asia programs.
• Support Asia field offices in engaging with donors, including USAID and the US Department of State, on MEL issues
• Design and conduct trainings on monitoring, evaluation and learning for IRI staff and partners.
• Work with other members of the Evidence and Learning Practice as a team to complete projects, achieve organizational goals.
• Performs other duties as assigned.