MERL Consultant (SCALE Innovative Partnership), Kathmandu, Nepal, 13.5 Months, Office based (Open for Nationals of Nepal Only), Req#596376
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them reach their full potential. We are committed to our mission, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal growth within a passionate and inclusive culture. Join us to make a difference for children worldwide.
Job Purpose
UNICEF Nepal is implementing the SCALE Innovative Partnership to enhance Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) quality and improve children's school readiness and foundational learning. This consultancy aims to identify, test, refine, and scale an affordable, government-deliverable Structured Pedagogy-Informed ECED Package. The MERL Consultant will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the programme's monitoring, evaluation, learning, and research systems. This role is crucial for generating evidence on effectiveness, feasibility, affordability, and scalability, ensuring that insights inform programme adaptation, government planning, and pathways for institutionalization and large-scale adoption.
Responsibilities
The MERL Consultant will provide technical leadership for monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, adaptive management, and evidence use within the SCALE Innovative Partnership. Key responsibilities include strengthening the MERL Framework by reviewing and refining the programme's Theory of Change, results framework, indicators, and learning agenda. This involves developing and operationalizing the MERL framework aligned with programme objectives and government processes, finalizing indicator definitions, data collection tools, reporting templates, and data quality assurance protocols. The consultant will also develop tools for implementation fidelity monitoring, tracking teacher practices, coaching quality, and the uptake of the Structured Pedagogy-Informed ECED Package. Furthermore, the role entails designing and facilitating research activities, supporting the analysis and synthesis of data, and ensuring evidence utilization for adaptive management, cost-effectiveness assessments, scale-readiness reviews, and informing government planning and financing decisions for sustainable scale-up.
Work Experience
A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) for development programmes, with a focus on education or child development. Experience in designing and implementing MERL frameworks, conducting qualitative and quantitative research, and working with government systems in developing countries is essential. Experience with innovative pedagogical approaches and adaptive management is an asset.
Skills
MERL Framework Design and Implementation, Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods, Data Analysis and Synthesis, Adaptive Management, Early Childhood Education (ECED), Stakeholder Engagement, Report Writing and Communication, Evidence Utilization, Programme Monitoring, Capacity Building, Project Management, Knowledge Management