Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist

Terms of Reference
Position Title:	SENIOR 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:	Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager
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 Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist to support GREAT 2 Program activities.
Statement of Duty:	With the oversight and strategic guidance from the MERL Manager, the Senior MERL Specialist will contribute along with the MERL team to effectively implement the MERL Framework aligning with the already established system. This includes conducting and coordinating MERL activities that generate evidence used for reporting and collaboration, learning and adaptation. Duties will include quality check of relevant MERL products, conducting data analysis and data quality assessments and providing support and guidance to partners to implement MERL activities. While being proactive and ensuring consultation to get consensus on the key directions and methods with the MERL Manager to maintain efficiency of the process of key MERL activities below, the position will oversee, facilitate, coordinate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to plan and implement project level M&E activities and capacity building on M&E for partners. The position will proactively discuss and consult with the MERL Manager to ensure the plans and implementation of MERL activities at the project level is aligned with the overal directions and approaches of the MERL section and GREAT’s strategic direction. The position will provide supervision of and guide the MERL Officers in two province and MERL Specialist in Hanoi in operation of the assigned MERL tasks after agreeing with the MERL Manager on the requirements and process.
Specific Duties:	Project level activities: While being proactive and ensuring consultation to get consensus on the key directions and methods with the MERL Manager to maintain efficiency of the process of key MERL activities below, the Senior MERL Specialist will oversee, facilitate, coordinate and collaborate with relevant GREAT colleagues and stakeholders internally and externally to Develop plan and implement project level M&E activities and capacity building on MERL for them. Develop and implement plans, tools and providing support to partners to monitor project progress and measure project-created changes. Review and adapt partner M&E plans as a part of the AWP adaptation Monitor progress, generate data on project progress and provide support to partners improve MERL and data related issues throughout the project management cycle. Contribute to the process of development and adaptation of project design, intervention logics and M&E plans for new projects if required Collaborate with Project Officers and Portfolio Managers to update project intervention logics, AWPs and M&E plans when needed; including encoding them into the MIS. 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 project level AWPs to generate GREAT level targets. Support partners to prepare quarterly reports and assess quarterly reports to ensure quality; and synthesise information from quarterly reports. Carry out data quality assessment and measurements for data quality assurance, Collect necessary local data as required, GREAT level activities: Contribute advice and ideas to strengthen the MERL system and practices and promote learning at GREAT level as well as across partners. Synthesise and share lessons learned and detect issues from supporting partner M&E activities and monitoring partner progress. Carry out quality assurance of MERL related products before submitting them to the MERL Manager for a final review. Contribute to GREAT level workplan development for MERL. Contribute to the development of MERL guidelines and training materials. Conduct data analysis to generate evidence for the GREAT Program’s and projects learning, planning and decision making Contribute to MIS development and operations Participate and/or coordinate project level baseline, midline, endline assessments. Lead project level assessments, including endline assessments. Contribute to the organisation and implementation of the thematic monitoring and case studies. Contribute to the learning and adaptation activities, including preparation of GREAT’s knowledge products. Carry out relevant studies/reviews/assessments if required to collect evidence collaboration, learning and adaptation. Participate and organise learning activities such as the Reflect and Refocus workshops and other learning activities. Contribute to organizing and conducting Joint Monitoring Missions and conduct data quality assessment trips. Provide data and inputs to GREAT level reports when required; and Supervise and support staff (MERL Project Officers and MERL Specialist).

Required Qualifications:

Tertiary qualification in a relevant area such as evaluation, economics, statistics, development studies, or any other relevant social science;
At least 10 years of experience including taking senior roles in the field of MERL in the international development sector;
Strong knowledge and insights on management for impacts, MERL, aid effectiveness and value for money;
Have strong critical thinking and systemic thinking;
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of M&E for market system or private sector development
Ability to lead and facilitate stakeholders
Ability to manage multiple demands and prioritise tasks, work effectively, flexibly and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, and support other team members as needed;
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 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);
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gender-related issues and women’s economic empowerment concepts (highly preferable);
Willing to work in a high pace 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 “Senior 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/