Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Consultant) – IKI SAGU Project

Context 

 The Tenggarong-based Project Management Unit (PMU) is established to support the implementation of Kemitraan’s field-level programs in East Kalimantan. While the PMU currently manages activities under the International Climate Initiative (IKI)–supported Western Pacific Sustainable Peatland Management (SAGU) Project, it is intentionally structured as a multi-project unit capable of administering IKI SAGU now and additional projects in the future as program needs evolve. 

The SAGU Project is a multi-country initiative implemented across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea, aimed at halting or reducing peatland ecosystem degradation. It addresses systemic challenges such as limited peatland data, unsustainable land-use practices, inadequate monitoring capacity, and low community engagement. Key intervention pillars include strengthening peatland mapping and monitoring, improving policy and planning instruments, expanding community education and outreach, and promoting sustainable peatland management and livelihood innovations. These efforts contribute to countries’ broader commitments to integrate sustainable land management and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

Indonesia hosts both lowland and upland peat ecosystems and has established important regulatory frameworks for peatland protection and restoration. However, issues such as wildfires, drainage, land conversion, and agricultural expansion persist—particularly in West and East Kalimantan. Under SAGU, the PMU supports interventions that include improved peatland data integration, strengthening subnational planning instruments such as RPPEG Kutai Kartanegara and district-level management plans, and diverse of village and community level activities on sustainable peatland management such as: community-centered rewetting–revegetation–revitalization (3R) approaches, participatory mapping, peatland rehabilitation, and community livelihood development. The project also enhances institutional capacities, supports participatory village-level planning, and improves fire management preparedness through strengthening community fire brigades (MPA). 

Kemitraan acts as one of the core implementing partners in Indonesia, collaborating with CIFOR-ICRAF (consortium lead) and partner organizations including SNV, GEC, ITPC, and YLBA. In East Kalimantan—particularly the Tenggarong area—the PMU plays a central role in facilitating field implementation, stakeholder engagement, policy harmonization, community facilitation, and MPA strengthening. The PMU also ensures that Indonesia’s local-level implementation contributes to SAGU’s multi-country monitoring, learning, and reporting mechanisms, including biannual and annual reporting to the IKI/BMUV donor. 

For its current mandate, the PMU team—including the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist—will lead field-level MEL for KEMITRAAN’s SAGU portfolio: develop MEL plan/tools, train project staff, manage baselines/endlines, maintain databases, ensure quality evidence, support reporting, surface issues for remedial actions, and promote learning (success stories, best practices, lessons learned). The role collaborates with CIFOR-ICRAF’s PMEL structures and ensures Indonesia’s data contributes to cross-country analysis, scheduled PMEL workshops, and biannual/annual donor reporting. 

As the PMU may support additional environmental, governance, or community-based projects in the future, these functions are designed to be adaptable across multiple program portfolios. 

Key Functions and Tasks

MEL system design and planning

• Refine the project’s theory of change (ToC) and logframe in collaboration with SPKM and technical teams to ensure coherent outcomes, indicators, and assumptions. 
• Develop and maintain the MEL Plan, including indicator performance indicator reference sheets (PIRS), baselines, annual/semester targets, data sources, collection frequency, responsibilities, and data flow. 
• Design/adapt data collection tools (digital where feasible) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for monitoring, consent, safeguarding, and data protection. 
• Integrate gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) dimensions into indicators, disaggregation, tools, and analysis plans. 
• Plan for MEL resourcing (budget lines, timelines, roles) and ensure MEL requirements are reflected in procurement and consultant ToRs as needed. 

Performance monitoring and data quality assurance (DQA)

• Coordinate routine monitoring of activities and outputs; maintain up-to-date indicator tracking sheets (ITS) and evidence repositories. 
• Conduct periodic data quality assessments (DQAs) and spot checks (accuracy, completeness, timeliness, consistency, and integrity), and implement corrective actions with responsible teams. 
• Undertake field monitoring visits with program teams and partners; prepare visit notes with follow-up actions and deadlines. 
• Prepare and maintain database of project, ensuring version control, metadata, and secure storage consistent with data protection standards. 
• Identification of problems encountered in project implementation and inputs for remedial actions 

Reporting, learning, and adaptive management 

• Compile monthly performance updates and dashboards for the Project Manager, consolidating narrative, indicator status, and risk/issue logs with evidence links. 
• Prepare high-quality donor progress inputs (narrative and indicator annexes) aligned to templates and submission schedules; coordinate reviews with SPKM and relevant units. 
• Support the Porject Manager and contribute for preparation of final project report, with an analysis of progress towards expected results as defined in the project document and subsequent work plans and budgets. 
• Facilitate periodic reflections (After-Action Reviews, pause-and-reflect sessions) and document learning briefs that inform adaptations to plans and implementation. 
• Maintain a well-organized evidence library (photos with consents, attendance, tools, datasets, and analysis files) to ensure audit-ready documentation. 
• Collect and develop project knowledge and learning (success story, best practice, lessons learned). 

Evaluation, studies, and accountability 

• Coordinate baseline, midline, and endline studies and/or special assessments; draft/quality assure evaluation ToRs, sampling frames, and data collection protocols; manage consultants and schedules as required. 
• Support ethical and safeguarding standards in all studies (consent, confidentiality, referral pathways) and ensure triangulation of qualitative and quantitative findings. 
• Coordinate the Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism (FGRM) at project level; track cases, ensure timely resolution, and report trends and corrective actions. 
• Prepare management responses to evaluation findings and track implementation of agreed actions. 
• Provision of assistance to the project staff, auditors, evaluation team for conducting regular project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and donor missions to monitor the implementation of ongoing programs/projects at national, provincial, and local level  

Coordination and capacity strengthening 

• Coordinate with SPKM (organizational MEL) to align frameworks, tools, quality assurance, data standards, and reporting calendars. 
• Provide coaching and training to project staff and implementing partners on MEL tools, indicator definitions, data quality, safeguarding, and use of digital data collection. 
• Work with finance and program teams to link financial performance (burn rates) with results and to support value-for-money analysis. 
• Collaborate with procurement and communications to ensure MEL requirements (e.g., data collection services, visibility evidence) are properly specified and documented. 
• Train and disseminate M&E Plan and tools to project staff. 

Deliverables 

• Approved project MEL Plan (including ToC/Logframe alignment, PIRS, tools, DQA plan, and reporting calendar) finalized by end of Month 1. 
• Six-monthly performance update packs (Months 1–6): dashboard, narrative progress, indicator sheets, risk/issue log, and evidence index. 
• MEL sections for biannual/annual reports; DQA notes; learning briefs per quarter. 
• Functional FGRM at project level with monthly tracker and summary; ≥90% of cases closed within service level timeline by Month 6; at least four DQA/spot-check notes with corrective actions implemented. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)-proposed 

• On-time reporting: maintain donor and internal confidence. A 100% target reflects disciplined planning and coordination across units. 
• Data quality compliance: progressively improve data credibility. Corrective actions from DQAs are tracked to sustain ≥90% pass-rates from Month 3 onwards. 
• FGRM timeliness: demonstrate accountability to stakeholders. Timely closure and trend analysis inform risk mitigation and service quality.

Competency

Core competencies

• Integrity and accountability: uphold ethical standards, safeguarding, and Do No Harm principles in all MEL activities. 
• Results orientation: plan work against measurable targets and follow through to deliver timely outputs of high quality. 
• Communication: convey technical findings clearly to diverse audiences; tailor messages for decision-making. 
• Teamwork and collaboration: work constructively across program, finance, procurement, communications, and SPKM. 
• Problem solving and adaptability: use evidence to anticipate risks and propose practical, timely adjustments. 
• Gender and social inclusion: apply GEDSI lens to indicator design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Technical competencies

• Project MEL frameworks: ToC/Logframe alignment, PIRS development, and MEL planning. 
• Data collection and management: digital tools, version control, metadata, and secure storage. 
• Quantitative and qualitative methods: sampling, survey design, FGDs/KIIs, and mixed-methods analysis. 
• Data quality assurance: DQA methods and corrective action planning; evidence management for audits. 
• Data visualization and reporting: dashboards and clear narratives (Excel/Power BI or similar). 
• Evaluation management: drafting ToRs, managing consultants, schedules, and quality control. 
• FGRM and accountability: case tracking, analysis of trends, and integration into risk management. 
• Compliance literacy: understanding of donor reporting standards and organizational SOPs related to MEL and safeguarding. 
• Capacity building: designing and delivering practical MEL training and on-the-job coaching. 

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning in development or humanitarian projects. 
• Demonstrated experience in indicator design, data collection and management, DQA, analysis, and reporting for donor-funded projects. Strong analytical and reporting abilities. 
• Experience coordinating evaluations/studies and managing consultants/field teams. 
• Proven facilitation and capacity-building experience with staff and implementing partners. 
• Experience integrating gender and social inclusion and managing accountability mechanisms (e.g., FGRM). 
• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, social sciences, development studies, environmental science, or a related field; a Master’s degree is an advantage. 
• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia (required). 
• Good working proficiency in English (required); local languages/dialects are an advantage. 

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application, including a CV and cover letter outlining relevant experience, to the button below before April 7, 2026. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further selection processes.

Lamar Sekarang