Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Adviser

About PARTISIPA

Australia is working in partnership with Timor-Leste, through the Partnership to Strengthen Village Development and Municipal Administration – known as PARTISIPA – to strengthen policies, systems and skills to improve the delivery of decentralised services and basic infrastructure across the country.

Building on Australia's long-term technical support to the Programa Nasional Dezenvolvimentu Suku (PNDS), we are working to strengthen local institutions, infrastructure, and service delivery at the subnational level (municipal, postu and Suku) with a focus on inclusive governance and community resilience. PARTISIPA integrates support for rural water with a focus on operations and maintenance and roads and road network management.

PARTISIPA mainstreams GEDSI across all components to ensure that government policies, planning and implementation processes continue to increase the visibility, voice, participation and agency of women, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

The Role

PARTISIPA's Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Learning and Accountability (MERLA) Framework is part of the program's broader performance management system, linking up with strategy, planning, coordination, communication and operations processes to inform program management on regular decision making, as well as integrating regular reflection on emerging issues, opportunities and need for program adjustment to adapt to changing context and partner needs. The system includes a number of mechanisms through which PARTISIPA and the Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste can ensure a common understanding of and approach to navigating complex policy and programming issues. Given the extensive range of work areas and the broad scope of the MERLA Framework and Plan, the program requires a dedicated Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Adviser who has a breadth of knowledge about the program's nature, and an understanding of DFAT's reporting requirements to be able to manage processes and resources to implement this.

The MEL Adviser will lead the implementation of the MERLA Framework, managing the MEL team, providing oversight of processes and systems and managing the delivery of MEL products and services.

Location: Dili, Timor-Leste, with travel to municipalities

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the MERLA Framework
• Manage the MEL team
• Provide oversight of MEL processes and systems
• Manage the delivery of MEL products and services
• Quality-assure MEL products including six-monthly and annual reports, quarterly government reports, evaluation products, and technical briefs
• Facilitate internal reflection, planning workshops, and learning processes
• Support donor and government partners in evidence-based decision-making
• Provide high-level technical advice to senior program leadership, donors, and government counterparts

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and/or program performance, management and coordination across complex governance, resilience, or infrastructure programs
• Demonstrated expertise with DFAT M&E Standards, including experience implementing MEL systems for DFAT-funded programs
• Proven experience developing and reviewing program indicators, baselines, targets, and performance narratives, preferably within adaptive, multi-pillar programs
• Strong track record facilitating internal reflection, planning workshops, and learning processes, and supporting donor and government partners in evidence-based decision-making
• Experience providing high-level technical advice to senior program leadership, donors, and government counterparts, including navigating politically sensitive or technically complex program adjustments
• Demonstrated ability to quality-assure MEL products, including six-monthly and annual reports, quarterly government reports, evaluation products, and technical briefs
• Technical experience with knowledge management systems, including the integration of learning, analysis, and evidence into knowledge repositories and program decision-making cycles
• Demonstrated capacity development and coaching experience, especially building national MEL team capabilities in analysis, reporting, outcome measurement, and data use
• Strong understanding of GEDSI integration in MEL, including indicator disaggregation, inclusive MEL practices, and safeguarding-related reporting
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Tetun and English, including producing analytical reports and presenting findings to diverse audiences

Why Join PARTISIPA?

PARTISIPA is a friendly, cohesive and supportive workplace with over 150 staff working as technical advisers, engineers, finance specialists, operations, administration and logistics personnel. The team works directly with national government counterparts and subnational government partners across all municipalities, with staff permanently based in 12 municipalities.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• Your CV
• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

Apply online at: https://lde.tbe.taleo.net/lde01/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=URSAUS&cws=39&rid=4758

Should this role be of interest, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

DT Global is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children in the delivery of our international development programs. We are committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and bribery prevention. DT Global is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage women, men, people with diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities to apply. This program is funded by the Australian Government and managed by DT Global.