MEL Lead Verified listing

Background of the role:

The MEL Lead is a core team position responsible for the production, budgeting and implementation of the programme's Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) strategy. The MEL strategy must set out the approach to data collection, management and analysis; evidence use and generation; use of innovation and technology; Value for Money (VFM); and dissemination — and must align with the Theory of Change, logframe and VFM monitoring for the overall GOAL programme.

The MEL Lead will report to the Team Lead, working closely with the Technical Assistance Lead to ensure MEL evidence informs technical decision-making, and with the GESI Specialist to ensure GESI-disaggregated data collection and analysis.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead production of the programme's MEL strategy covering data collection/management/analysis, evidence use and generation, use of innovation and technology, VFM, and dissemination, aligned with the Theory of Change, logframe and VFM monitoring for the wider GOAL programme.

• Propose and apply MEL methodologies and methods capable of capturing progress in systems thinking and Thinking and Working Politically (TWP) — for example Developmental Evaluation or Systems Thinking MEL, using methods such as outcome mapping or process tracing — rather than relying on conventional summative M&E alone.

• Lead development and updating of the programme's logframe and maintain the change log recording all logframe amendments throughout the life of the contract.

• Establish required quantitative and qualitative baseline data before the end of the inception period, in collaboration with SED Punjab, ESED KP and other GOAL component partners, drawing on existing B-TAG, ILMpact, DARE-RC and RSPN knowledge products rather than starting from scratch.

• Design monitoring activities that are real-time wherever possible, use community-driven modes of monitoring and appropriate technology, integrate into government systems rather than creating parallel ones, and remain accessible and easy to understand by all partners.

• Ensure the MEL system can track plausible contribution pathways to FCDO's wider education portfolio milestones — for example, the Foundational Learning milestone of a 5% increase in Grade 5 reading in Urdu and English in KP and Punjab by 2029 against the 2023 ASER baseline — using agreed indicators and available data sources including Annual School Census data, ASER and relevant provincial/national assessments.

• Propose an incremental, additive approach to evaluation that builds up a picture over the life of the contract, rather than relying on a single summative report at the end of the TA.

• Own the evidence base for KPI 5 (acting on lessons learnt), ensuring lessons from partners are systematically captured, analysed and reflected in quarterly reporting and adaptive management decisions; contribute quality-assured MEL and logframe products that support KPI 2 (quality of implementation deliverables).

• Lead preparation of the annual MEL Strategy document and annual Results KPIs reporting, and contribute the MEL sections of the Exit Plan (first drafted in the inception phase, updated annually, finalised January 2029) and of quarterly Progress Reports to FCDO and to SED Punjab/ESED KP/SELD Sindh.

• Ensure MEL data collection is disaggregated by gender, disability, poverty and geography, working closely with the GESI Specialist to identify and target the most marginalised children.

• Track and report on Value for Money, supporting the Team Lead's quarterly financial and progress reporting and the programme's fee-retention/KPI-linked payment model.

• Build the MEL capacity of provincial government counterparts as part of the programme's systems-strengthening approach, consistent with the ToR's expectation that TA strengthens government routines rather than substituting for them.

• Advanced degree in monitoring and evaluation, statistics, social science, education, or a related field.

• Substantial senior MEL leadership experience (indicatively 8-10+ years) on FCDO- or similarly funded, complex donor programmes, ideally involving adaptive, politically informed programming.

• Demonstrated expertise in adaptive/developmental MEL methodologies (e.g. Developmental Evaluation, Systems Thinking MEL) and methods (e.g. outcome mapping, process tracing), rather than conventional logframe-only M&E.

• Strong experience developing and managing logframes, Theories of Change, and Value for Money monitoring frameworks nested within a wider programme logframe.

• Experience with KPI-linked, fee-retention payment structures and donor reporting requirements, ideally FCDO's.

• Experience with education data systems and sources (e.g. EMIS, Annual School Census, ASER) in Pakistan or a similar context strongly preferred.

• Experience building MEL capacity within government counterparts.

• Excellent written and spoken English; Urdu and/or other relevant regional languages an advantage.