Project:  MUKTI (Freedom) South Asia
Position: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager 
Reports to: Project Lead
Duty Station: South Asia Regional Office, Kathmandu, Nepal
Travel: Frequent visits to project sites 
Contract: Fixed for the duration of the project
Effective: May 2023 or earlier if possible.

ECPAT Luxembourg is a non-governmental organization based in Luxembourg. We work to end the sexual exploitation of children. Currently, we intervene in several countries across South and South-East Asia, West Africa and Luxembourg. Our projects focus on protecting children from different forms of sexual exploitation. We ensure that their families and communities are supported so that protection is strengthened in a sustained manner. To do this, we closely work closely with multiple national stakeholders, including governments, to support and complement national efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation.

ECPAT Luxembourg is awaiting final approval of a federal grant from the US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) to implement a 4-year South Asia regional project potentially starting from 1 March 2023. Consistent with the TIP Office’s 2021 programming priorities for the region, project MUKTI South Asia will strengthen anti-trafficking responses by addressing critical shortcomings in protection for victims of child sex trafficking highlighted in the 2021 TIP Report. It will engage state and civil society stakeholders at multiple levels and strengthen their capacities and knowledge to coordinate efficiently to protect and care for survivors of cross-border child sex trafficking. 

The project will cover trafficking source and destination states of Maharastra, Goa, Delhi National Capital Region, West Bengal (Districts of Alipurdwar, Jalpaiguri, Murshidabad, 24 Parganas-North and 24 Parganas-Souths) and Jharkhand (Santhal Pargana region, Sahebganj district) in India. In Bangladesh, it will cover the south-western districts of Jashore and Satkhira along the border with West Bengal, India and close to the Bay of Bengal. Countrywide survivor assistance is planned for Nepal.

The appointment to this post is contingent upon funding confirmation from the J/TIP Office.

Roles and Responsibilities

The MEL Manager will work on the project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research and Learning (MERL) component, be responsible for maintaining the MERL framework and implementing the MERL plan. The MEL Manager will lead efforts to adhere to the project’s theory of change and will effectively support and lead data collection and analysis, manage the data system, ensure data quality and facilitate project performance review sessions with the project team and partner organizations to improve the future performance of project. The MEL Manager is expected to exercise full compliance with organizational rules and regulations.   

The following list of responsibilities is non-exhaustive. The selected candidate will be expected to display flexibility and adaptability to accept other tasks as could be required of this position during the duration of the project.

Design and Execution of MERL Component 

• Design, implement and manage the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research and Learning (MERL) plan and initiative of the project in line with the US Department of State’s J/TIP Office guidance. 
• Coordinate and supervise implementation of the Results Based Monitoring (RBM) system designed for the project and ensure practices are compliant with donor requirements. 
• Provide technical assistance to implementing partners to integrate and implement MERL plans of the project. 
• Set targets for the J/TIP Office’s Common Performance Indicator to feed the RBM plan and report indicator results on a quarterly basis.
• Manage continuous monitoring the RBM system as designed in work-plans.  
• Monitor key project performances indicators throughout the project's duration, ensure timely updating of project results framework, project data and make them available to the project staffs as necessary.
• Organize and facilitate M&E trainings and workshops for project team and implementing partners on key M&E concepts, tools, and processes.
• Lead and manage all planned evaluations, studies, surveys or assessments, including the development of studies that examine higher level outcomes and the utilization of external M&E resources.
• Ensure periodic review of performance metrics with project team to keep track of progress.

Data Quality and Maintenance

• Maintain project database, records, data on key project indicators, assessment findings, reports. 
• Design and maintain indicator tracking tools and develop additional databases and tracking tools as needed.
• Undertake, as required, visits to project sites to collect data and/or oversee data collection efforts.
• Maintain data security, confidentiality and sharing protocols.

Reporting

• Prepare quality monitoring and evaluation reports to feed related sections of donor reports on quarterly basis in collaboration with project team.
• Ensure thorough review and analysis of quarterly monitoring data to identify and resolve variances and include this information in the above reports.
• Ensure quarterly reports also summarize implementation progress, trends and learning.
• Consolidate these reports on an annual basis.
• Work with the project team to develop quarterly performance reports, articles, document lessons learned and all other reports required by the donor.

Research and Knowledge 

• Generate convincing evidence of project impact for policy makers, donors, government officials and related stakeholders.
• Support the team to visualize the theory of change, analyze assumptions and connect the process of change between outputs and outcomes.  
• Identify and document lessons learned, good practices, success stories, achievements and recommendations to be integrated into broader knowledge management, planning and developing strategies.
• Serve as a technical expert/professional resource for project staff by supporting their awareness and use of tools and tips that help to build their performance monitoring and data use skill
• Identify, analyze, and synthesize lessons learned from program implementation and facilitate the incorporation of those lessons into the activity development cycle.
• Design, coordinate and implement quantitative and qualitative surveys, studies or assessments to build knowledge that can be used to inform future initiatives.
• Assist the Project Lead in drafting of terms of reference for all research and knowledge assignments as required.

Qualification

• Master's degree in Statistics or Social Sciences or any other relevant discipline. Certified training in social science, data science, organizational/management studies is a plus.
• At least 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, designing and conducting studies, surveys, assessments and evaluations using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Practical experience in use of data analysis tools, data management and analysis.
• Experience in research and surveys - design of tools, data collection, data processing and analysis.
• Experience in leading planning, monitoring and reporting initiatives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of US State Department standards, branding and marking requirements and compliance requirements.
• Prior professional work experience with NGOs, international contractors, multilateral institutions and/or international cooperation agencies, USAID or US State Department funded projects. 
• Ability to think strategically and integrate diverse information from varied sources; adept at identifying and framing problems, setting priorities, and making recommendations.
• Able to prioritize tasks, manage time and tight schedules, work effectively under pressure, and assist direct reports with prioritization of tasks and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali required, with demonstrated capacity to deliver high-quality donor reports and public presentations. Knowledge of Hindi or Bengali will be considered an asset.
• Experience in child protection or human trafficking at either national or regional level is an asset. 

Behavioral competencies

• Supports diversity in the organization with sensitivity and respect. 
• Encourages team work, co-creates and promotes a consultative work environment. 
• Proactively and constructively resolves conflict or challenges.
• Nourishes the project and team work with strategic thoughts and guidance.
• Displays flexibility and adaptability to change.
• Promotes a continuous learning environment.
• Commits to child protection/safeguarding.
  

Applying Procedure

• Applications which do not provide all requested information will not be reviewed. 
• Applications sent by post will not be reviewed. 
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Telephone and email queries will not be entertained. We apologize for this.