Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator

Job Description

Position Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator: Mekong Regional Water Governance Project
Supervisor: Mekong Regional Water Governance Project Manager
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, or other Oxfam offices in the Mekong region.
Contract Type: Fixed Term to 31 August 2019 (with possibility of extension)
Category: C-2 National
Salary: In line with Oxfam values & according to location
Starting Date: March 2018

Oxfam is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity within the workplace.

Context

Oxfam is an international confederation of 20 organizations networked together in 97 countries. As part of a global movement for change, we are working together to end world poverty and injustice. We work with thousands of partners in countries around the world, and employ staff in a wide variety of posts. We work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to enable the most marginalized to improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.

Working at Oxfam is so much more than just a job. As an Oxfam employee, consultant, or volunteer, you will join a team of dedicated and passionate professionals working to save lives, help people overcome poverty, and fight for social justice.

Program

As the next step in the Oxfam 2020 regional transition, the Asia Water Governance Program is a new organisational cluster building on three existing projects: the Mekong Regional Water Governance (MRWG) Program* (unrestricted: 2013-19 and including some aspects of PEM** ), the Inclusion Project (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade -DFAT funded: 2014-19) and TROSA (Swedish Government funded:2017-2021) that are aligned with the Asia Regional Strategy. Combined, the projects cover 9 countries in the region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Bangladesh) with an annual budget USD 5 million FY18/19.  Although at different stages of implementation some synergies and shared project activities are already being implemented and this cluster will facilitate more to be identified with the ultimate aim by 2019 of one Asia Water Governance Program with a range of multi-country and trans-boundary projects. Building on the existing structures in Phnom Penh, a consolidated Regional Project Management Unit (PMU) will be developed.

The MEL Coordinator position will primarily deliver on the existing Mekong Water Governance and Inclusion Project MEL frameworks and build alignments with the TROSA Project MEL framework with a view to a shared Asia Water Governance MEL framework by 2019.

The aim of the Mekong Inclusion Project is to increase participation by civil society in water governance in order to influence changes in water resource governance at community and civil society level as well as policies and practices at the national and trans-boundary level. The project objectives are achieved by facilitating:

1. Increased civil society participation and engagement in water resource governance
2. Promoting more open, inclusive, accountable and effective water resource governance.

Project activities are conducted under three components:

1. Gender and women’s leadership in water resources;
2. Strengthening civil society capacity to participate in water decision making;
3. Convening and promoting policy and project dialogue.

Purpose

The position is responsible for coordinating and leading on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) for the Mekong Regional Water Governance and Inclusion Project, ensuring it is compliant with Oxfam’s Common Approach to MEL and Social Accountability (CAMSA) and DFAT performance standards. Working closely with the TROSA MEL Coordinator, s/he will develop an Asia Water Governance MEL framework to be introduced in 2019.

The position will be part of the Mekong Regional Water Governance Project team. S/he will work closely with other members of the regional PMU and national coordinators to establish and advise on processes to collect and analyse project and program data; for them to monitor and record activities and evidence of outcomes in the relevant program areas (including outcomes in gender, women’s leadership, civil society capacity, community capacity, and the practice and policy of targeted actors in government and the private sector). Based on this monitoring, the MEL coordinator will propose, coordinate, and write relevant case studies and reports to document project outcomes.

The position will work closely with the Communications team and other project staff to ensure that clear messaging and evidence of project results are demonstrated in a range of communication outputs consistent with the Communications Strategy and MEL framework for the project.

The MEL Coordinator is a member of the Asia Water Governance team with a focus on the Mekong and Salween and will coordinate work across the three component areas contributing to the two objectives outlined above and link to the frameworks of the three other pillars. The MEL Coordinator will report to the Mekong Regional Water Governance Manager and will work with the Water Governance Finance Manager to ensure quality reporting. S/he will liaise with the TROSA MEL Coordinator to identify synergies and maximise efficiencies.

The position requires significant Mekong regional travel with a focus on production of ample quantity and quality of products across the program.

Core Responsibilities:

Project Specialty

• Ensure the MRWG Project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework continues to be used and useful by leading the implementation and periodic revision of the M&E framework ensuring the framework is effective and relevant to context at each level (national and regional) and compliant with DFAT and Oxfam International MEL standards and guidelines
• Coordinate between regional and country level M&E frameworks to ensure coherence.
• Work closely with the project team and partners to ensure that all M&E activities adopt a capacity strengthening approach that balances capacity development for partners and staff and delivery of project outputs, outcomes and impact.
• Provide leadership in managing all aspects of the project information management for accurate and accessible filing and record-keeping of all data collected in the projects
• Ensure scientific and statistically valid use of a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools and methodologies to measure the project and program outputs, outcomes and impact and provide leadership in managing all aspects of the project information management for accurate and accessible filing and record-keeping of all data collected in the projects
• Provide advice to project management staff on the analysis of data and effective integration of monitoring activities into project activity plans and field management work ensuring that all project staff contribute to and assist in implementing the M&E activities.
• Lead on developing and commissioning tools and documentation for the exit/closing plan of the inclusion project
• Make monitoring and support visits to the project sites and work with the project team to analyze the project progress against the milestones and provide support to the project teams, partners and stakeholders in effectively meeting the requirements of the M&E framework.
• Ensure that project MEL links to and informs communications in the project; aligning MEL and communications visits and information gathering and, where possible, produce case studies and blogs for the program communications based on field visits and contributing to the MRWGP and Inclusion Project Communications Strategy
• Develop an M&E focus on all components for the project (gender, women’s leadership, CSO strengthening, policy dialogue); in addition to leading on identification of relevant measures for other program standards such as disability inclusion
• Work closely with the Basin Manager, Policy Coordinator, Partnership and Grants Coordinator and technical advisors to strengthen the process and analysis of the collected data to develop program learning materials including case studies, contextual analysis, evaluations and policy briefs
• Coordinate the learning activities and processes within the program; supporting national events and coordinating regional and project wide events.
• Support and identify communication strategies to disseminate program learning to staff, partners and other stakeholders.
• Identify, plan and implement learning and review events for other program functions (training, policy dialogues) as part of the M&E frameworks.
• Coordinate with TROSA MEL to leverage learning and identify opportunities for alignment towards an Asia Water Governance MEL framework to be implemented in 2019.

Business Services

• Advise on project budget development to ensure adequate resourcing for M&E and learning activities and manage the respective budgets.
• Identify and manage the procurement of consultancies for baselines, training, research and evaluations
• Lead on the regular reviews of the MRWGP and Inclusion Project and contribute to external reviews by DFAT or other funders and play a key role in designing the exit/closing plan for inclusion
• Manage and ensure the integration and compliance of Oxfam’s policies and relevant sector codes of good practice.

Management

• Accountable for the MEL aspects of the projects; including providing oversight to national level MEL processes and events
• Accountable to the Mekong Water Governance Project Manager.
• Contribute to the implementation and compliance of health, safety and security policies and frameworks;
• Provide recommendation relating to improved local procedures and processes;
• Mitigate against risks and report incidents to supervisor.

Representation and Relationships

• Determine, in collaboration with key staff in project team at regional and national level, partners and stakeholders, the content and systems to manage and share knowledge across and outside the organization.
• Liaise with and communicate with government officials and DFAT project team as agreed with Project management
• Attend relevant Oxfam and external meetings and provide technical backstop support to the senior management on an as needs basis
• Build networks and collaborate with local and international organizations working in the same scope of work.
• Build the linkages with the TROSA MEL framework and lead on identifying joint training activities etc.

Professional Attributes:

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team and set own work-plan, meet deadlines and balance competing priorities.
• Ability to balance capacity strengthening and delivery.
• Ability to communicate project learning and evidence base to diverse stakeholder group
• Ability to translate complex issues into simple messages able to be understood by a range of individuals.
• Ability to work to deadlines with colleagues and manage both upward and downward accountability.
• Ability to network and represent Oxfam to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to achieve results by working alongside staff and inspiring teams to deliver to a high standard
• Capacity to work under pressure, recognize and manage personal stress
• An understanding of and commitment to Oxfam’s values and to promoting diversity and gender equality
• Ability to spend significant periods of time in the field.
• Ability to coach and mentor staff.
• Ability to balance organizational and program needs and priorities.

All staff attributes:

• Problem Solving: Uses clear and innovative thinking to solve problems and ensures supervisors are made aware of any risks.
• Continuous Learning: Demonstrates a commitment to own professional development by actively participating in continuous learning.
• Self Awareness: Is aware of own strengths and development needs and seeks to improve style, skills and performance including cultural and gender sensitivities.
• Adaptability: Adjusts approach and thinking to work effectively in a variety of situations and with different people.

Skills and Experience:

• At least 5 years relevant experience working with INGOs/NGOs in conducting effective program monitoring, evaluations, and learning (MEL) activities in comparable organisations and program contexts.
• Experience in selecting strategic and timely MEL methods and activities to gather relevant information and evidence, and to communicate findings effectively to inform project decision making and improvements
• Experience in building the capacity of colleagues and partner organisations in MEL frameworks, data collection, reporting and use of MEL for program design and improvement
• Understanding of qualitative and quantitative data gathering methodologies.
• Research skills required in gathering information and learning through a variety of channels for specific topics.
• Strong influencing, negotiating and networking skills, conceptual and analytical skills with a practical perspective.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evaluation and impact assessment methodologies and how to translate these into practical tools and processes.
• Experience in applying MEL concepts in a wide range of thematic areas including gender, capacity strengthening, advocacy and policy
• Team player but able to work independently and with self-motivation
• Diplomatic skills with cultural and political sensitivity.
• Experience in promoting evidence-based programming.
• Experience in data collection and analysis, including developing or maintaining databases.
• Experience in working effectively at different levels and with different actors that have different approaches such as donors, Oxfam affiliates, partners etc.
• Experience in promoting gender equality through the development and implementation of MEL systems.
• Excellent communication skills both in written and verbal with strong proven skills in English language.
• Proven analytical and decision-making skills in a challenging context.
• Experience working in environments with political sensitivities
• High level financial management skills and able to understand and explain budget and financial reports
• Relevant computer skills, which include experience in using project management software tools, PowerPoint, Word and Excel and other quantitative and qualitative data analysis software

Applying

Please send your applications for this position by email to [email protected] before the deadline on March 6, 2018, 4.00 pm Cambodian time.

Please send your CV and a cover letter stating your motivation and relevant skills and experience for the application. Please do not send copies of diplomas/certificates, recommendation letter etc.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Oxfam is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. We absolutely need women and people from diverse groups to apply for this position.

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* Including Salween Basin Myanmar
** PEM; People Protecting their Ecosystems in the Lower Mekong: 2016-2018