Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Consultant, LAC

Contract type: Consultancy, part-time - 2 days a month on average and will vary depending on project needs.
Start/end date: Dec 2025/Jan 2026 - Sept 2027

About the Role

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) specialist for a 12-month consultancy. Activities will be carried out on a flexible, as-needed basis according to the project’s planning and evolving needs. The project is implemented in restrictive environments in Latin America. This is a remote consultancy. Please provide your hourly rate in your application. The consultancy involves developing program-specific indicators, creating monitoring databases, conducting evaluations, preparing reports, and applying qualitative and quantitative MEL tools as requested.

For more information on IWPR, please see link.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program MEL Design and Planning:

• Design the program’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning implementation strategy, including the adaptation of tools and the identification of learning milestones;
• Maintain the security of all information generated by the program and comply with all indicated security protocols, considering that the activities take place in restrictive environments in Latin America;
• Incorporate principles of inclusion, equity, and “do no harm” into the MEL strategy;

Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting:

• Lead the design and collection of base line, mid-line, and end-line data;
• Work closely with other team members and partners to collect information for monitoring;
• Analyse data and present reports and evidence to the program team and Country Director/Chief of Party and Global MEL Manager on strategies for improving project effectiveness;
• Ensure compliance with applicable MEL requirements, deliverables, and reporting;
• Develop qualitative participatory evaluation methodologies and tools for data collection;
• Design and execute program mid and final evaluations, thematic case studies, and other research required to enhance program results and its sustainability.

Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Lead on facilitating Pause and Reflect sessions and other learning activities, including Theory of Change workshops and theme-specific sessions, end of activity, mid and final learning sessions involving project implementers and other stakeholders (including donors or beneficiaries as appropriate), in furtherance of the MEL objectives of projects;
• Present MEL findings in an accessible format to staff, donors, and stakeholders.

Knowledge and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (social sciences, international development, journalism, etc.) or equivalent professional experience;
• At least 5+ years of experience leading MEL activities in international development programs, preferably in media or governance-related fields;
• Experience in MEL process for USG-funded programs, including designing MEL frameworks and performance indicators (Preferred);
• Proven expertise in participatory approaches and mixed-method evaluations;
• Familiarity with the regional context of Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in restrictive environments;
• Experience working on multi-country projects and with sensitive data collection in complex environments.

Skills and Abilities:

• Proven ability to design and implement comprehensive MEL strategies, including theories of change, performance monitoring, and outcome/impact assessments in complex and volatile contexts;
• Strong capacity to develop and use both qualitative and quantitative tools for data collection and analysis, ensuring evidence-based reporting;
• Expertise in participatory approaches such as outcome harvesting and capacity building for diverse stakeholders;
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including media outlets, civil society, donors, and local communities;
• Experience collecting and analyzing social media metrics is preferred;
• Excellent ability to present MEL findings in clear, actionable formats for diverse audiences, including technical teams, donors, and non-specialists;
• Fluency in Spanish and English required;
• Ability to manage MEL functions for multi-country, multi-year projects with a focus on adaptive management and evidence-based decision-making.