MERL Consultant (SCALE Innovative Partnership), Kathmandu, Nepal,13.5 Months, Office based (Open for Nationals of Nepal Only), Req#596376

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Contract Duration: 13.5 Months

Working arrangement: Office Based

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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Education.

How can you make a difference?

Nepal has made substantial progress in expanding access to Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED). However, evidence from national assessments, school readiness studies, and programme evaluations continues to highlight challenges in the quality of early learning experiences and children's readiness for primary education.

Research from Nepal and globally demonstrates that quality early learning opportunities, developmentally appropriate pedagogy, strong teacher support systems, and effective transition from ECED to Grade 1 are critical determinants of children's future learning and educational success.

There is also growing interest in adapting evidence-based approaches, including structured pedagogy, to strengthen teaching and learning in ECED settings while ensuring affordability, feasibility, and sustainability within government systems.

With support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and in partnership with IPA/J-PAL, UNICEF Nepal is implementing the SCALE Innovative Partnership to improve the quality of ECED and strengthen children's school readiness and foundational learning outcomes.

The programme seeks to identify, test, refine, and scale an affordable and government deliverable Structured Pedagogy-Informed ECED Package through a Test-Learn-Adapt (TLA) approach that generates evidence on effectiveness, implementation feasibility, affordability, and scalability.

UNICEF seeks a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Consultant to lead the design, operationalization, implementation, and continuous improvement of the programme's monitoring, evaluation, learning, and research systems.

The consultant will work closely with UNICEF, the Department of Education (DOE), IPA/J-PAL, local governments, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to develop robust systems for monitoring programme performance, generating and synthesizing evidence, supporting implementation research, and facilitating adaptive management through TLA cycles.

The consultant will provide technical leadership in programme monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, political economy monitoring, and evidence utilization.

S/he will ensure that evidence generated through implementation is systematically used to inform programme adaptation, affordability and cost-effectiveness assessments, scale-readiness reviews, government planning and financing decisions, and pathways for institutionalization and scale-up.

The consultant will also support the development of an evidence-informed implementation model that can be sustainably financed, adopted, and delivered through government systems at scale.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of UNICEF's Education Section and in close collaboration with the Department of Education (DOE), Education Review Office (ERO), Provincial Education Training Centres (PETCs), IPA/J-PAL, implementing partners, and relevant government stakeholders, the consultant will provide technical leadership for monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, adaptive management, and evidence use across the SCALE Innovative Partnership.

1. Strengthen the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Framework

• Review and refine the programme Theory of Change, results framework, indicators, assumptions, and learning agenda.
• Develop and operationalize the SCALE MERL framework aligned with programme objectives, TLA requirements, and government decision-making processes.
• Finalize indicator definitions, data collection tools, reporting templates, data quality assurance protocols, and evidence management systems.
• Develop implementation fidelity monitoring tools, including systems for tracking teacher practices, coaching quality, Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) implementation, and uptake of the Structured Pedagogy-Informed ECED Package.

2. Design and Facilitate the Test-Learn-Adapt (TLA) Process

• Develop detailed TLA frameworks, processes, and implementation protocols.
• Refine learning questions, adaptation pathways, scale-readiness milestones, and key decision points.
• Facilitate periodic TLA reviews, pause-and-reflect sessions, and learning workshops.
• Document adaptation decisions, lessons learned, and evidence generated throughout implementation.

3. Lead Monitoring System Development and Performance Tracking

• Design systems for routine monitoring of programme implementation, fidelity, reach, quality, affordability, and scale readiness.
• Develop and maintain programme dashboards, monitoring tools, and performance-tracking systems.
• Establish systems for data collection, management, validation, analysis, and reporting.
• Support regular monitoring of implementation progress against workplans, milestones, and results frameworks.

4. Develop and Manage the Programme Learning Agenda

• Refine and operationalize the programme learning agenda.
• Maintain a learning register documenting assumptions, evidence generated, adaptations made, and decisions taken.
• Coordinate evidence generation to address priority learning questions.
• Ensure learning priorities are linked to implementation decisions, affordability assessments, scalability pathways, and government planning processes.
• Support synthesis of emerging lessons across implementation cohorts and TLA cycles.

5. Lead Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Activities

• Design and coordinate baseline, midline, and endline assessments.
• Develop sampling approaches, data collection protocols, and research instruments.
• Support implementation research, learning studies, and evaluation activities.
• Collaborate with IPA/J-PAL and other partners on research design, evaluation planning, and evidence generation.
• Contribute to the development of impact evaluation approaches and feasibility assessments, as required.

6. Strengthen Evidence-Informed Decision Making

• Develop decision-support products for programme management and government stakeholders.
• Synthesize implementation, research, and monitoring findings into actionable recommendations.
• Produce evidence summaries, adaptation memos, and management briefs arising from TLA cycles.
• Facilitate evidence-based discussions during review meetings and learning events.
• Support translation of evidence into operational, policy, financing, and scale-up decisions.

7. Support Affordability, Value for Money (VfM), and Cost Effectiveness Analysis

• Develop frameworks and tools for affordability, cost-effectiveness, and Value for Money analysis.
• Support collection, management, and analysis of programme cost data.
• Track implementation costs, cost drivers, and cost-efficiency measures.
• Produce evidence on affordability and financial sustainability of different delivery models.

8. Support Political Economy Analysis and Adaptive Management

• Develop and maintain a political economy monitoring framework.
• Track stakeholder incentives, coalition dynamics, policy developments, implementation bottlenecks, and opportunities for reform.
• Ensure political economy findings inform programme adaptation, government engagement, prioritization, financing approaches, and scaling decisions.
• Integrate political economy discussions into TLA reviews and learning processes.
• Produce periodic political economy briefs and decision notes.

9. Support Scalability and Institutionalization Assessment

• Develop scale readiness criteria, monitoring tools, and assessment frameworks.
• Track implementation of the Scaling Roadmap.
• Assess government ownership, financing commitments, implementation capacity, institutionalization progress, and adoption pathways.
• Generate evidence to inform decisions on expansion and integration through government systems.
• Conduct periodic scale readiness assessments and prepare recommendations for institutionalization and scale up.

10. Support Government Use of Evidence

• Support preparation and presentation of evidence for Budget Review Meetings (BRMs), Joint Review Missions (JRMs), SWAp forums, and government review processes.
• Develop evidence summaries and policy briefs for federal, provincial, and local governments.
• Support local governments to use programme evidence for planning, budgeting, financing, and implementation decisions.
• Track and document evidence uptake and use within government systems.

11. Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Strengthen MERL capacity of implementing partners, government counterparts, PETCs, and local governments.
• Develop and deliver training packages on MERL systems, TLA processes, data collection, learning, and evidence utilization.
• Provide ongoing technical mentoring and support to programme stakeholders.

12. Knowledge Management and Evidence Dissemination

• Develop learning briefs, technical reports, evidence summaries, presentations, and knowledge products.
• Support dissemination of programme findings to policymakers, practitioners, and development partners.
• Contribute evidence products for communication, influencing, and scale up activities.
• Maintain a repository of key evidence, lessons learned, and programme documentation.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms of Reference TMC0007259.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in Monitoring and Evaluation, Education, Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy, Research Methods, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, research, and evidence generation in the education or social sector.
• Proven experience in designing and managing MEL systems for FCDO or similarly funded large-scale education programmes or complex donor programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in adaptive MERL methodologies.
• Experience supporting government systems strengthening and institutionalization processes.
• Strong experience in managing log frame, theory of change, cost-effectiveness, Value for Money monitoring framework, and affordability analysis.
• Experience facilitating learning reviews and pause and-reflect processes.
• Familiarity with political economy analysis.
• Experience working with large-scale government systems strengthening programmes.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent written and spoken English and Nepali.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong knowledge of MEL frameworks, results based management, evaluation methods, and data systems.
• Familiarity with foundational learning, ECED, structured pedagogy, school readiness, and education system strengthening.
• Experience with affordability analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, and Value for Money approaches.
• Experience facilitating learning reviews, adaptive management, and TLA-style processes.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.

Desirables:

• Experience supporting FCDO-funded or adaptive programming initiatives.
• Experience with Test-Learn-Adapt, adaptive management, or implementation science approaches.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal TMC0007259.docx
• A detailed technical proposal  Technical Proposal Template TMC0007259.docx