MERL Manager

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Date of Announcement: 14 November 2024

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC. Our funding comes from a diverse array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

The Asia Foundation (the Foundation) invites applications from interested candidates to lead designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management of Civil Society and Media (CSM) Program.

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL Manager)

Location: Kathmandu

UNIT: Nepal office

REPORTS TO: Program Director

SUPERVISEE: Senior MERL Specialist

THE ASIA FOUNDATION NEPAL CORE VALUES

At The Asia Foundation, we are committed to the following core values:

1. Caring Trust: To foster and promote healthy relationship among team members,
2. Open Communication: To uphold trust and actively increase it among ourselves and our partners,
3. Inclusive Community: To ensure acknowledgement of and respect for our diversity,
4. Ownership: To provide the freedom to define the right approach and be genuine with each other about ideas, learning and responsibilities,
5. High Quality Effective Work: To work intentionally in the focus areas of our country strategy while maintaining high quality technical and professional standards in our fields with maximum efficiency and agility.

We seek candidates who bring not only the required skills and experience but also demonstrate a deep alignment with our core values.

1. SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Manager will lead designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management of The Asia Foundation’s USAID Civil Society and Media (CSM) Program. With significant experience in working in developing and implementing program MERL frameworks and plans, annual work plans, and organizational and program performance matrices, the MERL Manager will be responsible for ensuring the CSM Program’s robust monitoring and evaluation system in place through performance tracking, designing research activities, and supporting knowledge management and capacity building.

The MERL Manager will lead the MERL team within CSM by closely working with the Senior MERL Specialist and MERL Associates, and collaborate with other program staffs and senior leadership both in the provinces and in Kathmandu. They will also contribute to evidence-based decision-making and will be responsible for CSM Program donor reporting and representation of The Asia Foundation to partner organizations and external stakeholders as needed.

2. RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

Contact with all staff within the Asia Foundation, occasional contact with Pact’s MEL Director and other country offices implementing projects under CSM-STAND.

External

Regular contact with grantees, independent contractors, government, civil society, academic and media stakeholders officials and agencies, bilateral and multilateral development agencies and donors, business sector and civil society organizations, professional organizations, and academic and other local institutions, other CSM-STAND partners.

3. REQUIREMENTS

Education

A Master’s degree in international development, public policy, public administration, political science, sociology, other social sciences, or another relevant field. Additional certifications or training in M&E methodologies is a plus.

Experience

Minimum eight years of relevant professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning in an international development, non-profit or similar organization. Solid experience in qualitative and quantitative appraisal, team building in multicultural environments with a focus on capacity building, and efficient and effective delivery of project milestones. Experience in report writing, strategic planning, supervision, and field-based research experience. Experience with knowledge management and learning, including producing learning materials. Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) experience preferred. Familiarity with USAID requirements will be an asset.

Skills

Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of Nepal’s political, economic, and social context along with the knowledge of civil society, media and education landscape in the country. Knowledge of regional and provincial development, policy environment, local governance, and social initiatives in Madhesh and/or Lumbini Province will be integral to the position and highly valued. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in English and Nepali, and ability to harmoniously interact with people from a diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Proven management, analytical, presentation and research skills, with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Ability to prioritize, critically analyze complex data and present it clearly. Advanced computer skills (MS Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SPSS, Power BI, and/or others). Ability to conduct thorough needs assessments to gauge learning needs of the team and the partners. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. Availability to travel to districts across the country. Ability to work independently and in a team.

4. JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development and Operationalize MERL System

• Lead the MERL team in developing, updating and implementing a MERL framework for the CSM Program.
• Provide leadership in coordinating with the MERL team and any other relevant staff to strengthen planning, implementation, and oversight of CSM Program activities.
• Ensure update and revision of the research, learning, and knowledge management strategy for the program, and its implementation as a critical component of the MERL system.
• Oversee creation of program materials to support knowledge management and learning across the different strategic areas.
• Foster the culture of informed strategic decision-making and continuous learning, drawing from relevant good practices in the wider MERL field.
• Operationalize research planning for data collection and monitoring.
• Ensure data quality and standards of partners’ deliverables including their outputs, and narrative reports.
• Promote evidence-based programming by identifying data and knowledge gaps.
• Support the program team on the program’s periodic progress reports, updates, and briefs to meet the required compliances.
• Plan, design, and execute the implementation of various evaluation studies including formative, summative and developmental evaluation as well as track the implementation process and follow-up evaluation.
• Work closely with MERL team to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation processes with the local partners engaged in creation of knowledge products and provide technical guidance and assistance to support partner organizations in delivering quality reports and documenting the impact of program activities.
• Regular field visits to program locations to help identify issues/challenges and recommend solutions to the team.
• Assist partners to identify best practices and develop success stories.
• Lead desgining and facilitating learning events for the program teams and partners.

Donor Relations

• Ensure that donor colleagues are updated regularly with project progress.
• Respond to donors’ requests as needed.

Human Resources Management/Supervision

• Oversee and manage MERL team and occasionally consultants to implement program activities and maintain program coherence.
• Support the capacity building of the program team and partners through coaching, mentoring and training on monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide supervision to Senior MERL Specialist and technical mentorship to MERL Associates.
• Manage a conducive team and office environment.

Representation

• Contribute to articles, blogs, written materials, and documentation for publication.
• Participate in the Asia Foundation’s and other relevant professional meetings, forums and events with development partners, governments, and civil society organizations, sharing knowledge and experience from within and outside the organization.

Other

• Provide support to other on-going programs and activities of the Asia Foundation as necessary;
• Participate in the Asia Foundation’s MERL Unit, and as a Manager, contribute to MERL leadership in the Unit;
• Support other Program teams to design MERL framework in proposal as well as program implementation stage when required.
• Provide MERL related technical support to any other internal teams as and when required.
• Serve as a focal person for learning to liaise with Pact.
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Director, Deputy Program Director and Country Representative or designate.

Applicants are requested to read through the job descriptions above for the position. Job shall be applied through the Foundation Online Job Application form HERE by December 1, 2024. Please attach your Curriculum Vitae (CV) along with a cover letter describing suitability for the position in the Job Application form. In case of any technical difficulties, queries can be forwarded to country.nepal.jobs@asiafoundation.org Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Telephone calls will not be entertained.

The Asia Foundation is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive office environment. Women and people from economically and socially excluded groups are encouraged to apply.