Short-term Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser – MEL System - To’os Ba Moris Di’ak Program (TOMAK)

STA Terms of Reference 

 
Job title: Short-term Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser – MEL System
Dates & duration: Up to 10 days between 18 April – 30 June, with possibility of extension
Location(s): Dili and/or remote/home-based (travel to Timor-Leste is not required)
Reports to: TOMAK M&E Specialist
ARF Discipline Category and Job Level (if applicable): C2/3
TOMAK Contract Representative: Tammy Theikdi, TOMAK Program Manager
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Background
The To’os Ba Moris Di’ak Program (TOMAK) is a 5-10 year agricultural livelihoods program implemented in Timor-Leste with funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Its goal is to ensure rural households live more prosperous and sustainable lives. Since 2016, TOMAK has worked with key partners (including the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL)) to implement a range of interventions which aimed to:
Establish a foundation of food security and good nutrition for targeted rural communities;
Build capacity so these communities can confidently and ably engage in profitable agricultural markets. 

Throughout Phase 1 of TOMAK (2016-2021) TOMAK implemented two component streams of activities, with gender and social inclusion (GESI) embedded in the planning, implementation and monitoring of activities across the program. 

Component 1 (Food Security and Nutrition) promoted nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) approaches to improve the availability and utilisation of nutritious food. Component 2 (Market System Development) promoted the development of commercial agriculture following a market systems development approach, focussing on selected higher-potential value chains.
The primary target area for Phase 1 covered inland mid-altitude suku (villages) with reasonable agricultural potential, located in Baucau, Bobonaro and Viqueque municipalities. Program management and technical leadership is provided from a central office in Dili (located within the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)), with three regional offices currently operating in Baucau, Bobonaro and Viqueque. 

Phase 1 of TOMAK concluded in May 2021, with the program entering a period of transition ahead of the design of TOMAK Phase 2 (which is due to be completed in May 2022). Throughout the transition period, TOMAK has continued to provide support to Government partners (especially MAF) as well as select farmers, while also undertaking a variety of reflection, assessment and research activities in preparation for Phase 2 inception. 

The Assignment
As the transition period required to develop the Phase 2 design has been extended to June 2022, TOMAK Phase 2 will be a four year investment. In order to maximise the potential for long-term activity implementation within this four year second phase, TOMAK intends to accelerate its inception activities and rapidly develop a Program Guiding Strategy (PGS), which will form the foundation of the program’s annual workplan in FY22-23 and subsequent years. 

Concurrently to the development of the PGS, TOMAK will begin the development of a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) system that will be utilised in Phase 2. The foundations of the system will be developed during this period, with more detailed inputs expected in the early stages of Phase 2 implementation.
To achieve this, TOMAK is seeking a highly experienced M&E Adviser to support the TOMAK team in developing the MEL system for Phase 2. While the TOMAK team will lead the process, the M&E Adviser will provide strategic guidance and feedback throughout the process, both through sharing insights and discussing ideas and through the review of draft documentation. The key components of the MEL system that the Adviser will contribute to are the preparation of the MEL Plan and MEL Framework including the development of indicators and indicator definitions and the setting of targets, the design of planning and reporting templates, as well as the design of learning and reflection processes. 

The TOMAK Phase 2 MEL system will adhere to DFAT M&E standards and guidelines, and it will embrace principles of learning and adaptation. The system will monitor and evaluate programmatic approaches/activities focussed on institutional strengthening, gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), food systems, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, agricultural market system development, and social behaviour change. It is expected that the successful candidate will have a background in designing and implementing program MEL systems that focus on one or more of these thematic areas.

 

Assignment responsibilities:

• Review relevant documentation (DFAT M&E standards, Phase 1 MEL documents, key Phase 1 evaluations and reflection documents, draft PGS, etc.);
• Review the proposed workplan for the development of the MEL system;
• Discuss and share insights on the different components of the MEL system;
• Provide feedback on templates and outlines of the MEL system documents prepared by the TOMAK team;
• Develop outlines for discussions/workshops with TOMAK staff on the development of select sections of the MEL system (to be facilitated by the TOMAK team);
• Review and provide technical inputs on drafts of the MEL documents prepared by the TOMAK team.

Skills and experience required:

• Seven years’ experience or more designing and implementing MEL plans and activities in a development setting, ideally in Timor-Leste;
• Demonstrated technical M&E capacity, including experience in the design of MEL frameworks and plans;
• Strong technical M&E experience in agricultural value chain/market systems development and/or nutrition and GEDSI;
• Extensive experience working on DFAT-funded investments, with solid understanding of associated M&E processes.
• Exceptional writing skills (in English) – ability to synthesise inputs in clear, concise narrative.

This position is open to international and national applicants who meet the skills and experience levels specified above. Adam Smith International is an equal opportunity employer and applications from a diverse range of candidates including from women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged. 

To apply:
For further information or to submit your application please contact Tammy Theikdi at tammy.theikdi@adamsmithinternational.com

 
Applications close 3 April 2022.
Applications should include a brief cover letter describing knowledge and experience relevant to the role and a CV (no more than 3 pages).