Purpose of the role
Provide technical support that strengthens the organization’s monitoring and evaluation systems, improves the quality and use of data and builds practical capacity for consistent evidence collection, analysis, reporting and learning.
Key responsibilities
Inception and systems review
- Review existing results frameworks, indicators, data collection tools, reporting templates and information flows.
- Consult relevant staff to understand current practices, gaps, priorities and decision-making needs.
- Prepare an inception note with the proposed approach, workplan, deliverables and required inputs.
- Recommend practical improvements suited to the organization’s size, capacity and operating context.
Results frameworks and indicators
- Review or develop clear theories of change, results frameworks and indicator reference sheets.
- Define measurable indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, collection frequency and responsible persons.
- Ensure indicators are relevant, feasible, disaggregated where appropriate and aligned with reporting requirements.
- Develop guidance that supports consistent interpretation and use of indicators.
Data collection tools and systems
- Review and improve quantitative and qualitative data collection tools.
- Develop practical registers, forms, trackers, feedback tools and reporting templates where needed.
- Support clear data flows from collection through verification, storage, analysis and reporting.
- Recommend secure, accessible and proportionate approaches to data management and documentation.
Data quality, analysis and reporting
- Develop or strengthen data quality assurance procedures and routine verification checks.
- Support analysis and interpretation of outcome, output, feedback and implementation data.
- Develop dashboards or summary formats that make findings easy to understand and use.
- Support preparation of evidence summaries, evaluation findings and donor-facing results sections.
- Document data limitations, assumptions and recommended corrective actions.
Learning and adaptive management
- Design or facilitate reflection, learning and after-action review processes.
- Support teams to identify lessons, patterns, risks and improvement actions from available evidence.
- Develop practical mechanisms for tracking decisions and changes arising from learning.
- Promote ethical and responsible use of community feedback and lived experience.
Capacity strengthening and handover
- Train relevant staff on indicators, tools, data quality, analysis, reporting and evidence use.
- Provide user-friendly manuals, templates and standard operating guidance.
- Offer coaching during initial implementation of improved systems.
- Complete a structured handover of tools, files, recommendations and outstanding actions.
Expected deliverables
- An inception report and approved consultancy workplan.
- A review of the existing monitoring and evaluation system, including prioritized recommendations.
- Updated results frameworks, indicator reference sheets and measurement plans.
- Revised data collection, quality assurance, analysis and reporting tools.
- A practical monitoring and evaluation manual or standard operating guide.
- Staff training sessions and supporting materials.
- A final report summarizing work completed, key findings, remaining gaps and recommended next steps.
Required qualifications and experience
- Advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, statistics, economics, public health, development studies, social sciences or a related field.
- At least five years of relevant experience designing or strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Demonstrated experience with results frameworks, indicators, mixed-method data collection, data quality and reporting.
- Experience developing practical tools, guidance documents and staff training materials.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to present findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience in nonprofit, development, public health, education or social impact settings is an advantage.
- Proficiency with suitable data analysis, visualization and digital data collection tools.
Core competencies
- Strong technical knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.
- Excellent analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.
- Ability to design practical systems that teams can maintain.
- Strong attention to data quality, ethics, confidentiality and safeguarding.
- Clear communication and collaborative stakeholder engagement.
- Ability to work independently, manage deliverables and meet agreed timelines.
- Commitment to inclusive, participatory and evidence-informed practice.
Ideal candidate profile
The ideal consultant is a practical and collaborative monitoring and evaluation specialist who can assess existing systems, simplify complex requirements and leave behind tools that staff can confidently use. The consultant should combine technical rigor with clear communication, sound judgment and a strong commitment to ethical data practice and organizational learning.