Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist

Terms of Reference
Position Title:	MONITORING, EVALUATION, RESEARCH AND LEARNING (MERL) SPECIALIST
Location:	Hanoi with frequent travel in provinces as required
Period of Assignment:	12-month contract (with possibility of extension through end of project in June 2027)
Reporting To:	Senior MERL Specialist
Background:	ABOUT COWATER INTERNATIONAL Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. and has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. ABOUT THE GREAT PROGRAM GREAT, a 10-year ﬂagship initiative of Australian Government, managed by Cowater International since 2016, focuses on women’s economic empowerment in Vietnam’s ethnically diverse north-west region. Utilising a market systems development approach, it primarily beneﬁts women in Son La and Lao Cai provinces, particularly targeting ethnic minority communities, which are home to twelve and twenty-six ethnic groups respectively. The objectives of the GREAT Program are: Objective 1: Women, particularly ethnic minority women living in Son La and Lao Cai provinces have improved economic beneﬁts. Objective 2: Women, particularly ethnic minority women living in Son La and Lao Cai provinces, have increased conﬁdence and social status, including more balanced workloads and greater decision making within the home, workplace, and community. Objective 3: Women, particularly ethnic minority women and household members living in Son La and Lao Cai provinces beneﬁt from more gender responsive, inclusive, and eﬀective provincial and national policies, plans, strategies, and programs. The program is in its second five-year phase and GREAT 2 will continue its focus on agriculture and tourism, identifying specific sectors that lend themselves to opportunities for women’s economic empowerment and work with multiple stakeholders to address constraints, generate opportunities, drive market growth and increase productive value of the sector. A limited number of agriculture sectors will be targeted, in addition to tourism. Cross-sector strategies such as women, access to finance, digital transformation, policy advocacy and behaviour change will complement the sector strategies. Cowater is recruiting a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist to support GREAT 2 Program activities.
Statement of Duty:	The MERL Specialist will work under the supervision of the Senior MERL Specialist and contribute along with the MERL team to effectively implement the MERL Plan. This includes conducting and coordinating MERL activities to support the development and implementation of a responsive and robust MERL system for the Program that generates evidence used for reporting, communication and knowledge dissemination. Following guidance by the Senior MERL Specialist and MERL Manager, the MERL Specialist will contribute to carrying out quality checks of collected data and evidence through MERL system, MERL products and providing support and guidance to partners to implement MERL activities. The position will also be required to conduct data analysis and data consolidation to generate timely Program level information. The MERL Specialist will be expected to be a self-starter and work independently based on overall guidance and strategic direction provided by the Senior MERL Specialist and MERL Manager. This will be especially important when engaging with and supporting stakeholders at the central level (such as National Assembly); contributing to planning and organizing the MERL tasks at sector or GREAT level; and supporting and providing required data to PMUs in two provinces.
Specific Duties:	GREAT level activities: Contribute to carrying out quality assurance for relevant MERL products including consolidating partner targets to obtain GREAT level targets with the support and guidance from Senior MERL Specialist and MERL Manager Conduct data analysis to generate evidence for the GREAT Program and project level learning, planning and decision making. Train partners and coach POs, GEDSI team members and PMUs on M&E and MIS as necessary. Contribute to the MIS development and operations. Participate and/or coordinate project level baseline and endline assessments; conduct data quality assurance and provide feedback on quality and required improvements of the deliverables submitted by service providers Provide inputs to planning and the organisation of and participation in the thematic monitoring and case study activities in the field; preparing brief summaries of the findings and recommendations after the trips Provide inputs to planning and the organisation of learning activities such as the Reflect and Refocus workshops. Provide inputs to planning and the organisation of Joint Monitoring Missions and conduct data quality assessment trips. Provide data and inputs to GREAT level reports and other documents when required. Collect necessary local data as required. Contribute to GREAT level workplan development for MERL. Partner level activities Monitor and implement MERL tasks, including as focal point in engaging and supporting stakeholders at the central level during the implementation of MERL tasks of the central level project to generate required MERL products, data and evidence on project progress and learning Contribute to developing and updating the annual workplan of projects in collaboration with technical, finance and GEDSI teams Monitor and support partners to execute the project level M&E plans. Contribute to preparing project level progress report in collaboration with POs and lead partners of projects Contribute to development of project design, results framework and M&E plans for new projects. Monitor progress generate data on project progress and provide support to partners to improve MERL and data related issues throughout the project management cycle Contribute to the modification of project intervention logic and M&E plans for partnership agreement modification. Encode relevant data into the MIS when required Prepare progress data and templates for partner annual workplans. Review and appraise partner annual workplans and provide support to partners to make improvements, particularly for setting relevant targets. Synthesise partner workplans to generate GREAT level targets. Support partners to prepare quarterly reports, assess the quality of quarterly reports, and synthesise information from them. Carry out data quality assessment and measurement for data quality assurance; and Collect necessary local data as required.
Required Qualifications:	Tertiary qualification in a relevant area such as evaluation, economics, statistics, development studies, or any other relevant social science; At least 5 years of experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation or social research in the international development sector; Knowledge of M&E and aid effectiveness concepts; Sufficient experience and skills in data collection, analysis, and management; Sufficient monitoring and reporting skills and knowledge and experience in program/project management; Ability to manage multiple demands and prioritise tasks, work effectively, flexibly and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and support other team members as needed; Ability to understand the data needs of a broad range of users; Experience facilitating and maintaining relationships with stakeholders at all levels (government, international and local NGOs, and at community level), including training, coaching, and mentoring staff, partners, and relevant counterparts on MERL tools and procedures; Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gender-related issues and women’s economic empowerment concepts (highly preferable); Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of M&E for market system or private sector development (highly preferable) Have a good level of critical thinking and systemic thinking; Willing to work in a high paced and highly adaptive environment; and Fluency in Vietnamese, and sufficient working knowledge of English.
Application process	Candidates are encouraged to apply by sending applications to [email protected] no later than **5pm Hanoi Time (GMT+7) Wednesday 20^th August 2025. Please indicate in the subject “MERL Specialist”. We thank all applicants, however, only those making the shortlist will be contacted. Applications must include:** A cover letter responding to the selection criteria. A Curriculum Vitae. Contact details of three referees. Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. For more opportunities, please visit our website at https://equality.aus4vietnam.org/career/