Montrose is an international development project management and consultancy company providing support to clients operating in the developing world. Specialised in the sectors of health, education, rural livelihoods and private sector development, our clients include bilateral and multilateral development agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and other development stakeholders.
Background
Towards Results Education and English (TREE) is a five-year UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) project under the Myanmar-UK Partnership for Education (MUPE) programme, led by British Council in consortium with Montrose, VSO and Open University between 2019 and 2024. MUPE consists of interconnected projects including TREEand Learning Together.
Following the coup d’état in Myanmar on 1st February 2021, the UK Foreign Secretary imposed sanctions on the military regime, ceasing UK-funded work through Myanmar government institutions and work associated with any government reform processes.
In this context the TREE programme has pivoted to a new mode of delivery. The programme has curated and assembled the large body of high-quality TREE materials into a coherent repository of training and self -study materials which are appropriate for a wide range of educators from diverse contexts, and which will allow disadvantaged students, particularly from remote areas, women and girls, to overcome economic and social barriers to remote learning in areas affected by lockdowns and civil conflict. The new TREE approach will be piloted from early-November 2021 through to February 2022 after which the TREE model will be refined for the final two years of the project.
Overview of Montrose’s scope of work for the client
As part of the TREE consortium, Montrose is leading the monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL). The overall MERL approach will involve:
- Monitoring and evaluation of performance and results to guide course correction and help delivery of value for money;
- Operational research to inform wider, positive changes in inclusive, evidence-based teaching;
- Learning and dissemination of evidence to ensure that programme strategies, resources, and wider learning are maximised, and that TREE is contributing to the evidence base, both within Myanmar and internationally.
MERL will aim to provide key stakeholders with evidence-based information related to the impact and effectiveness of the learning outcomes for participants, which will inform policy, programme implementation and teaching practices.
TREE proposes to evidence the piloting and implementation of an online education and training delivery model that can work in emergency/conflict situations and contribute to wider emergency response initiatives such as the Emergency Response Integration Centre (ERIC). The broad approach comprises two main delivery strands:
- Online access to the TREE repository of materials, while piloting varying degrees of mediation and online/offline components to optimise a model which balances the risks and opportunities of online and offline models.
- Technical assistance to support development partners and/or CSO partners working with teacher educators and teachers have the skills, knowledge and support required to ensure effective use of TREE materials.
Purpose of the consultancy
The consultant will serve as the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Lead (MERL Lead) as the focal person within the MERL team carrying out this consultancy and will provide general oversight and leadership to other members of the TREEteam in regard to MERL activities. The MERL Lead will be responsible for co-ordinating MERL of the project. This includes providing leadership to the consortium on the Pilot Study for the post-suspension approach, revising the theory of change, logframe, MERL plan and framework, design and implementation of methodology and data collection tools, data cleaning, verification and analysis, and report writing. The MERL Lead will also provide direction and support for the design and implementation of operational research.
Essential:
- Master level degree or equivalent
- At least seven years working experience in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning.
- A passion for doing development work better, working with various stakeholders, partners, clients, consultants and governments to improve people’s lives
- Exceptional drive, and a willingness to work hard to deliver high quality outcomes
- Strong time management, organisational and communication skills, and exceptional attention to detail
- Ability to work well within a team, and a consortium environment
- Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to write accurate, and relevant reports
- Excellent problem-solving skills, with the experience of seeking creative ways to overcome complex problems
- Ambition, drive, and determination to succeed
- Advanced skills for Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams and Forms)
- Ability to work effectively with all the project time-zones (UK, Uganda, Myanmar)
Desirable:
- Ability to speak local languages
- Understanding of the Myanmar context
How to apply:
How to Apply
If you meet the above qualifications and are interested in this opportunity, please submit your application Here before the 21st of November 2021.
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