Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation, and Learning (MEAL) Manager, BSEA Programme

Job Description

Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation, and Learning (MEAL) Manager, BSEA Programme

Company Name: The Asia Foundation

Vacancy: --

Age: Na

Job Location: Dhaka

Salary: --

Experience:

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): Development Agency

• Masters

• Master’s degree in international development, public administration, public policy, or a related field.

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): Development Agency

• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in a MEAL position on a complex, multifaceted governance programme, including at least three years in a managerial or lead role on complex, multifaceted governance programmes.

• Demonstrated experience applying adaptive management approaches to MEAL.

• Experience working on FCDO-funded programmes is strongly preferred.

• Solid understanding of Bangladesh’s government administrative systems, structures, and practices.

• Familiarity with digital tools for data management, analysis, and other MEAL applications.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Bangla.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh (with limited travel)

Reports to : Deputy Team Leader, BSEA Programme

Reportees / Supervision : MEAL Associate

Working days / hours : 37.5 hours per week

Job purposes:

he Asia Foundation (TAF)-Bangladesh seeks an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation, and Learning (MEAL) Manager for its Building State Effectiveness and Accountabilty (BSEA) Programme, undertaken in parntership with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

BSEA will enhance the capacity of select public institutions and government officials to deliver public policy with greater efficiency and accountability and to help advance national development goals. The programme will be guided by a locally driven approach that seeks to empower government officials to lead and deliver reforms that they themselves prioritise. BSEA will facilitate enhanced cooperation among government officials working within individual public agencies and institutions; across multiple agencies and institutions that share responsibility for policy delivery in particular sectors; and between government officials and non-state actors, tapping their respective competencies and experience. The programme will also provide targeted technical support and capacity building for select government institutions and help generate an evidence base that informs policy decisions.

Position Summary: Reporting to the BSEA Deputy Team Leader, maintaining close working relations and information sharing with members of TAF’s headquarters and Asia-based Evaluation and Learning Unit (ELU), and working closely across the BSEA programme team, the MEAL Manager will lead the implementation of BSEA’s MEAL strategy, ensuring that results monitoring, collaboration, learning, and adaptation are embedded across the programme. Strong background in qualitative methods and analysis and experience in the design and implementation of MEAL for complex, adaptive, and multifaceted governance programmes is required, with demonstrated ability applying iterative learning, thinking and working politically, political economy and GESI analysis, and/or other adaptive management approaches to MEAL and codesigning MEAL tools and processes with multiple stakeholders.

I. Main duties and responsibilities

1.Support effective programme implementation by leading the iterative development of BSEA’s MEAL strategy, systems, tools, and practices, with a strong focus on evidence-based decision-making, continuous learning, and adaptive management.

2. Ensure alignment across the various elements of the BSEA MEAL strategy (e.g. theory of change, logical framework, indicators and targets, data collection methods, and related functions) to support effective and donor-compliant documentation of and reporting on programme results.

3. Convene regular review and reflection sessions to revisit the theory of change and assess intermediate progress throughout programme implementation; update the MEAL framework according to discussions, changes in context, and other observations about what program interventions are or are not meeting expectations.

4. Design and execute tools to assess and document changes in context, process and outcome indicators, observations, and learning systematically.

5. Closely collaborate with the BSEA programme team, members of TAF’s ELU team, FCDO counterparts, consultants, and downstream partners involved in data collection, analysis, and monitoring, ensuring timely and complete data collection.

6. Build the MEAL capacity of the BSEA programme team, downstream partners, and other BSEA stakeholders to develop and implement appropriate MEAL frameworks and methodologies.

7. Identify innovative approaches and effective practices across the BSEA programme, including with downstream partners and government stakeholders. Channel this information into the BSEA learning agenda to facilitate knowledge sharing.

8. Contribute to the regular donor reporting and lead the Annual Review Process.

9. Develop and implement feedback systems across the BSEA programme that receive, handle, and address feedback in accordance with FCDO policies and procedures.

10. Improve using MEAL-generated and other evidence-based information to inform adaptive management.

11.Facilitate the creation of MEAL products that communicate findings to a broad audience; and

12.Ensure compliance with FCDO processes and guidance.