SUMMARY OF POSITION
Based in Manila, the MEL Lead will provide technical direction and oversight to ensure accurate and timely reporting of outcome and evidence-based results and value-for-money for SPRING, and support the Philippine Government, DFAT and the SPRING team to make evidence-based improvements in program effectiveness and performance. This includes supporting the SPRING team to monitor and report on activities; overseeing and quality assuring MEL-related activities; building MEL capacity within the broader SPRING team (including subnational teams in 3 provincial locations); managing technical inputs into SPRING reporting to DFAT; and managing evaluation of SPRING where required. The MEL Lead will also play an important role in fostering organisational learning across SPRING, including by designing and managing appropriate learning and reflection processes that support critical thinking and maximise coherence and the sharing of lessons across SPRING.
 
With a focus on outcomes and impact, a key deliverable will be the design, maintenance and ongoing systematic review, through participatory approaches, of a robust SPRING Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework (MELF) that ensures GEDSI is mainstreamed throughout the approach to SPRING MEL, providing balance between quantitative and qualitative data collection and enabling analysis and synthesis of data to provide a clear picture of SPRING strengths, challenges and learning points. The MELF should map to relevant indicators from the Philippines Development Partnership Plan Performance Assessment Framework, and wherever possible, relevant Philippine Government plans and reports.
 
The MEL Lead will also coordinate and manage independent evaluations and utilise relevant tools, methods and approaches to capture learning for continuous improvement to SPRING program implementation and the achievement of outcomes. The MEL Lead will manage annual SPRING reporting processes to ensure that the effectiveness of SPRING is measured and that implementational successes, risks and challenges are highlighted.
 
The MEL Lead will develop, maintain and manage a SPRING learning strategy / agenda that promotes learning within the program as well as the social protection sector more broadly.
 
The MEL Lead will oversee a MEL team that will include a Knowledge Management & Communications Officer, a national MEL Officer, and 3 sub-national MEL Officers, and will be supported by an international Short Term MEL Adviser.
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Mobilisation and Inception Phase (September 2024 to March 2025)

• Establish and maintain an overall work program for MEL in cooperation with the Team Leader and short-term international MEL Adviser.
• Develop the SPRING MELF and MEL Plan/system, ensuring alignment with DFAT MEL policies and guidelines, international social protection standards and frameworks, and guidance from the SPRING design document. This will include:
  • A strong focus on GEDSI throughout, including disaggregation of data for different excluded, marginalized or vulnerable groups, and ensuring do no harm principles are mainstreamed throughout MEL approaches
  • Consideration of how MEL will be undertaken of downstream partners to ensure standardization across activities
  • An evaluability assessment
  • Identification and development of key SPRING indicators and basic minimum data sets through which the high-level objectives of SPRING will be measured and analysed, including disaggregated data (wherever possible) to maintain the ability to report on outcomes for women and girls, persons with disability and indigenous peoples.
  • GEDSI-sensitive tools for data collection and performance tracking, including:
    • Six-monthly program outcome and delivery monitoring, leveraging Philippine Government data sources where possible.
    • Case studies, Stories of Significant Change / Significant Policy Change, and outcome harvesting.
    • Annual Partnership Reviews/Health Checks (in collaboration with the international Partnerships Adviser)
    • External analytics, evaluations and reviews.
    • Steering Committee and TWG meetings and dialogues.
    • Short, focused thematic reviews.
    • Regular meetings with other development partners.
    • Data required from multilateral partners who will contribute to SPRING overall objectives.
  • Assist the international MEL Adviser to co-design a Performance Assessment Framework with DFAT that promotes a strong performance culture in SPRING;
  • Assist with establishing the monitoring system and associated MIS;
  • Support the drafting of the Inception Report;
  • Ensure all MEL mobilisation and inception phase deliverables are delivered on time and to a high standard.

 
Delivery Phase (March 2025 to March 2029)

• Manage, maintain and review the implementation of the overarching SPRING MELF and MEL Plan, including:
  • Supporting the SPRING team to forecast, track and report against key indicators and targets identified within activities.
  • Regularly reviewing the MELF from a GEDSI perspective and ensuring GEDSI responsiveness in how data is collected and reported on;
  • Reviewing and providing feedback on MEL related deliverables from activities (including MEL frameworks, regular monitoring reports, evaluation reports and activity completion reports).
  • Establish regular communication channels with provincial MEL staff and partners to ensure that data and information is continually channelled into the overarching SPRING MELF.
  • Maintaining the SPRING Management Information System (MIS), including ensuring clear linkages between the MEL framework and the MIS, grievance system and processes for quality assurance (spot checks), day-to-day feedback, and change management;
  • Annually updating the SPRING MELF and MEL Plan.
• Build a strong MEL culture within the SPRING team, including:
  • Act as the main point of contact for the SPRING team for all aspects of MEL design and implementation.
  • Develop TORs and assist with recruitment of subnational Planning, Research, Data and MEL Officers, and ensure a capacity building plan for these staff is implemented and documented;
• Conduct ongoing MEL related training and capacity building with the broader SPRING team to ensure that they can effectively monitor, reflect on and report on impact.
• Provide MEL-related advice and support to the SPRING implementation team (including subnational teams) and program partners, as required.
• Implement a quality learning, reflection and adaptation cycle, to ensure that Program implementation is informed by a regular process of learning and adaptation. This will include:
  • At least six-monthly review and reflection meetings for SPRING implementing teams and partners, with a particular focus on shared learning and on GEDSI-related lessons.
  • An annual learning workshop to bring together partners and other stakeholders to share their work and reflect on their collective impact (including representation from LGUs).
• Support evaluation of SPRING, including:
  • Procuring independent assessments, evaluations and studies as required, including annual procurement and management of an independent Technical Advisory Group
  • Supporting the design, implementation, and/or management of activity-specific evaluations or reviews.
• Collaborate with the Senior Management Team and Knowledge Management & Communications Officer to support strategic communications and knowledge management activities, including:
  • Collation of program MEL data, reporting and communications products.
• Supporting team members to translate MEL findings to easily digestible reports, communicating findings back to SPRING partners, and providing strategic advice to the Team Leader;
• Development of feature reports and significant changes stories, which would feed into SPRING’s knowledge products and dissemination.
• Identification and development of strategic communication and knowledge products.
• Reporting progress on MEL related work to the Team Leader.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as reasonably requested by the Team Leader.

 
JOB REQUIREMENTS
The MEL Lead will have the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

• Postgraduate qualifications in social sciences, evaluation, management, public policy, or other relevant discipline (research and methodological experience encouraged).
• Minimum 12 years’ experience in M&E, including in both qualitative and quantitative analysis and utilisation of a range of monitoring tools and approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in DFAT MEL implementation and reporting requirements will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience of ensuring MEL frameworks and systems support program GEDSI objectives.
• Skilled in interpreting complex data to identify patterns, trends, and insights and in reporting findings as clear narratives for non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to make data meaningful and actionable for the program and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with program teams or other stakeholders to develop and/or refine program theory, theories of change, and/or program logics.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, modifying, or contextualising M&E tools or approaches for use within specific programmatic contexts: experience with data visualisation tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI, etc.) and familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g. SPSS, SAS, etc.) are preferred.
• Ability to manage competing tasks and work independently and to tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience managing support staff.
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate organisational learning processes and to quality assure learning processes and systems designed and facilitated by sub-contractors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in written and oral English and Filipino.
• Knowledge and awareness of the different needs of traditionally disadvantaged population groups, such as women, the elderly, ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and people with disabilities or special mobility needs.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 25, 2024. This is an ongoing recruitment, and candidates will be reviewed before and leading up to the deadline. 
 
For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.
 
Please send your cover letter addressing the position selection criteria and CV with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees to nathalie.maggay@springphilippines.org, mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line “SPRING MEL Lead” or apply online.
 
Women, persons with a disability and Indigenous Peoples are highly encouraged to apply.
 
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. Persons with disabilities may send a request for reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process to  nathalie.maggay@springphilippines.org. 
 
Cowater International adheres to the highest standards of protection of children and vulnerable adults in the delivery of programs and services. Cowater is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. 
 
Cowater International upholds standards of ethical conduct and has zero tolerance against fraud and bribery. Prior to any offer of employment, applicants will be subject to appropriate background checks.
 
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.  
 
ABOUT US
 
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International 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. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017. 
 
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.