Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Adviser

Background
AusAID’s Indonesia Program is strengthening its performance management approach consistent with broader AusAID efforts to increase aid effectiveness and report on results. The Indonesia Program manages Australia’s partnership with Indonesia–outlined in the Australia Indonesia Partnership Country Strategy 2008-2013. Australia’s program of support is large and complex. The total program is currently valued at over $400 million per annum and includes a range of initiatives and use of different aid delivery modalities. The scale-up to this level has occurred only in recent years and further scale up of the program is a possibility.

We are seeking a full-time Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser to work with Jakarta-based staff to improve the quality of M&E across the program portfolio, help further develop and institute the required systems and build staff capacity to use the systems that will result in better managed programs and evidence based reporting on achievements. The person selected will be required to work closely with Canberra based Indonesia staff and as well as parts of the agency.

Key responsibilities include:

• Work closely with country program teams responsible for delivering the Indonesia to resource, monitor and improve the quality of M&E systems at the project (initiative) level – ensuring they are consistent with the new country program performance assessment framework and management systems being developed for the program
• Help establish strong linkages between initiative/activity M&E frameworks and sector and country level frameworks
• Build the capacity of program staff to improve M&E products throughout the initiative cycle including:

1. at concept and design stages to ensure M&E considerations are included and M&E frameworks assessed to ensure they are appropriate and user friendly
2. developing effective ToR for evaluations (and reviews)
3. effective management of performance, including evaluations
4. improve reporting on program achievements, with particular attention to quality at implementation reports and annual
5. program performance reporting.

• Develop a strategy to enhance M&E systems, including the quality of reporting, of AusAID counterparts as appropriate, including contractors, donor implementation partners, NGOs and whole of government partners.
• Assist in work related to implementation of Paris and Accra Aid Effectiveness agenda and particularly to enhance coordination of AusAID M&E systems with GoI systems as appropriate and relevant.
• Review how AusAID is using Government of Indonesia M&E systems in our programs and assess whether this meets AusAID’s performance assessment needs. Recommend ways in which AusAID can support development of GoI M&E systems especially in relation to our Program.
• Engage with GOI senior officials where appropriate to interpret evaluation results to formulate new policies.
• Contribute to broader portfolio analysis as required and to the annual program performance assessment.

Attributes
We envisage engaging an advisor who is keen to join Australia’s largest overseas aid program and to work in Indonesia. The adviser will have people skills and a breadth of technical and practical operational experience necessary to raise the quality of initiatives undertaken and performance management of staff. The adviser would possess the following core characteristics:
(i) understands quantitative methods and can work with large-scale data sets;
(ii) understands and uses mixed methods evaluation;
(iii) understands project management information systems
(iv) can write TORs
(v) can summarize results and present them clearly;
(vi) can engage with senior GOI and GoA officials on M&E policy discussions

Working with the AusAID Indonesia Program team
The M&E Adviser will be contracted to and managed by the AusAID Jakarta Office. Office space and support will be provided. The Adviser will report to the Chief Operations Officer. The position is for 24 months with a possible extension with a 12 probation period. The Adviser will also work closely with the Performance Section in Indonesia and East Timor Branch in Canberra.
An attractive senior remuneration package will be negotiated commensurate with experience and qualifications.

For more information on AusAID, please visit our website http://www.indo.ausaid.gov.au
Applications addressing the selection criteria and written in English should be received before close of business on Monday, 15 June 2009, and should be addressed to: Recruitment Officer at the following email address: hrindo@ausaid.gov.au.

Due to the volume of applications, AusAID will not be able to respond to inquiries about application status and will only contact short listed candidates. Applications lacking the job title or using the wrong email address will not be considered.

Please include the following title in the subject line Reference: M&E Adviser.

Your application should include:

• a curriculum vitae (resume) of no more than 2 pages
• a statement (no more than half a page per selection criteria as listed above) in support of your application. The statement should outline your skills and abilities that relate to the criterion you are addressing and should briefly describe how you consider yourself suitable. You should use the Selection Criteria as headings. Eg. 5. Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field. In addressing the criterion you should think broadly about the different experiences you have had and how they would be advantageous to the position you are applying for. Responses should be clear and concise.
• Also include the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least two referees. Should you be successful in gaining an interview, the Selection Committee may require you to obtain referee reports from current and former supervisors who are able to comment on your work performance.

NB: All AusAID employees demonstrate a commitment to the APS Code of Conduct and Values, as well as to workplace diversity, occupational health and safety and employee participation principles and have appropriate cross-cultural sensitivities.

Job Category: NGO