Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor, GRACE Project

About the Program 

Investing in Women: Women in Inclusive Sustainable Economic Recovery (IW) is a multi-country Australian Government initiative in Southeast Asia that seeks to accelerate women’s economic empowerment through increased and equitable opportunities in the private sector, contributing to inclusive, sustainable economic recovery and growth in targeted countries. Our objective is to support women to thrive in the workplace and succeed in business.

Building on the results, partnerships and lessons established under the first seven years of the program, IW’s new phase will extend and deepen Australia’s contribution to advancing gender equality in Southeast Asia through influencing and growing an ecosystem of policymakers, business leaders, capital providers and women’s economic empowerment actors. 

Positioning women at the centre of economic resilience and accelerating their economic empowerment is critical to achieving a wide range of sustainable development objectives in Southeast Asia. As the region recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, gender-sensitive economic recovery strategies will be critical to prevent further deterioration in women’s economic empowerment indicators as seen during COVID-19. Focus on an inclusive recovery seeks to harness the productivity, skills, capacity, talent, innovation, and leadership that women offer, and realise the benefits of women’s economic empowerment for themselves, their families, and their communities.

IW continues the ambitious agenda of advancing women’s economic empowerment through:

• Workplace Gender Equality (WGE), Workstream 1 – We support Business Coalitions that work with influential businesses on shifting workplace cultures, practices, and policy barriers to achieve workplace gender equality, with member companies together employing more than one million people;
• Enabling Policy Reforms, Workstream 2 – We support locally identified reform agendas that promote women’s workforce participation, generate support for the business case for WGE, and build the case for the value and importance of the care economy to business, the economy and women’s economic empowerment; 
• Campaigns and Communities of Practice, Workstream 3 – We support locally driven campaigns in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam that highlight positive examples of gender equality to strengthen public support for women’s economic participation. Through fostering a community of gender equality advocates, IW will continuously build evidence that supports the broader adoption of progressive attitudes and behaviours; and
• Gender Lens Investing, Workstream 4 – We work to increase investment in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that disproportionately benefit women in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. We do so by increasing capital providers’ demand for Gender Lens Investing strategies and products, catalysing the supply of financial instruments available to small businesses owned or led by women, and investing in the growth of SMEs that support women through a ‘fund of funds’ strategy. 

In collaboration with corporations and business leaders, policymakers and implementers, capital providers, entrepreneurs, and advocates, we are working with those who are driving change for women's economic equality in our region.

Investing in Women supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda and the leveraging of private sector investments to achieve the Goals. The SDGs recognise that gender equality is not only an essential human right, but a necessary foundation for peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies. 

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has contracted Abt Associates Australia to implement Investing in Women. Abt Associates Australia is a mission-driven, global leader in research, evaluation and implementing programs in health, social and environmental policy and international development.

Investing in Women’s new phase is anticipated to be up to AUD 80 million in value, initially for four years (from January 2023 to June 2027), with an option to extend for a further six years. Initial countries of focus will be at least Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with some activities engaging at a regional level. Further information about Investing in Women can be found on the website: www.investinginwomen.asia.

 

About the Opportunity 

Workstream 2 is implemented in three countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, with an approach adapted to respond to the local country context. The workstream seeks to strengthen evidence and policy dialogues based on private sector experience and perspective as one of the actors contributing to a stronger, more resilient care ecosystem together with the government and communities.  

IW is implementing the Gender-Responsive Innovations for At-Home Aged Care Initiative (the Initiative) in Vietnam to build the evidence base on gender-responsive, private sector-led solutions that can improve the quality of at-home care for older adults in Vietnam while supporting rebalancing of women’s responsibility for unpaid care work.

IW’s subcontractor, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ho Chi Minh Regional Branch (VCCI-HCM) is leading the implementation of the GRACE (Gender-Responsive Innovations for Equitable Aged Care) project, a collaborative initiative running from June 2025 to December 2026. GRACE brings together VCCI-HCM, Melbourne Polytechnic, Hong Duc Group, members of the Network for the Development of Business Services for Older Persons in Vietnam (NEDESOP), other relevant private sector and social partners. The project addresses the increasing demand for quality at-home aged care services in Vietnam, where caregiving remains largely informal and is predominantly carried out by women, often without adequate support or recognition.

The GRACE MEL Advisor will support the GRACE team and IW in overseeing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) activities in alignment with the MEL plan throughout the project. This role will work closely with VCCI-HCM, IW, and other stakeholders to lead documentation efforts, capture key learnings, and synthesize knowledge. The Advisor will ensure that insights and evidence are systematically collected to inform broader advocacy and policy engagement for GRACE.Key responsibilities include working with the VCCI-HCM team to deliver:

1. Monitoring & Data Collection
   • Develop and implement tools and systems to monitor project activities, outputs, and outcomes in alignment with the Theory of Change and MEL Plan.
   • Provide on-the-job mentoring to VCCI-HCM MEL focal point on implementation of the MEL Plan
   • Coordinate baseline, mid-term review, and endline data collection, including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with caregivers, trainers, employers, and stakeholders.
   • Ensure timely and accurate data collection across all project sites (e.g., HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang).
   • Stakeholder management: Coordinate with training institutions, employer partners, and consultants to align documentation and reporting needs Liaise with IW’s W2, MERL, and communications teams to ensure alignment with GRACE’s learning and visibility goals
2. Evaluation & Learning
   • Lead the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to assess project progress and impact.
   • Support toward the development of monthly/six monthly reports, evaluation, including case studies, reflection summaries, impact stories, and thematic notes throughout the project cycle.
   • Facilitate reflection sessions and learning events with project staff and partners.
   • Document processes and results of training implementation, stakeholder engagement, and employer consultations.
   • Support in gathering feedback from key stakeholders (e.g., trainers, employers, caregivers) to identify lessons and promising practices.
3. Reporting
   • Prepare and provide support in the submission of high-quality MEL deliverables, including:
     • Monthly updates and six-monthly progress reports
     • Evaluation reports (baseline, midline, endline)
     • Full datasets and documentation
   • Ensure MEL reporting aligns with the contract, the Theory of Change, and the MEL Plan agreed for the GRACE initiative
   • Help ensure consistency between on-the-ground implementation and the project’s intended results framework.
4. Data Management & Quality Assurance
   • Maintain secure and organized MEL databases and documentation.
   • Ensure data quality, integrity, and confidentiality in all MEL processes.
   • Track and organize project documentation, including MoUs, reports, training tools, and communication materials.
5. Perform other tasks assigned by the Supervisors.

 

Employment type and location:   Short-Term Personnel (Local Consultant) role based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Duration:   Fifteen months; anticipated to commence in October 2025.

 

About You 

We seek an individual who brings: 

• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and managing MEL systems and tools, preferably in development programs focused on gender, care work, or workforce development
• Strong skills in both quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting, including experience with baseline, midline, and endline studies.
• Proven ability to synthesize learning and translate evidence into practical recommendations for program improvement, advocacy, and policy engagement.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with government, private sector, training institutions, and community partners.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail, ensuring data quality, confidentiality, and timely delivery of MEL outputs.

 

Key Selection Criteria 

For your application to be considered by the Panel, interested applicants must submit a response to each of the following Key Selection Criteria (KSC):

KSC 1.

A university degree in a relevant field such as Social Sciences, Public Policy, Development Studies, Evaluation, Gender Studies, or a related discipline.

KSC 2.

A minimum of five years of professional experience in research, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), or project documentation.

KSC 3.

Demonstrated experience in analyzing data from MEL activities to inform program development, and in documenting reflections and lessons learned from program implementation using the Theory of Change approach.

KSC 4.

Strong skills and experience in qualitative research methods, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions.

KSC 5.

Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines, with proficiency in both spoken and written Vietnamese and English.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement for a position. At Abt Global we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every role requirement, we encourage you to apply in any case. You may be just the right candidate for this or for other roles.

 

How to Apply

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from experienced and capable women.

Please submit your application online.  Upload your cover letter, CV and response to the KSCs.  Submit your CV and KSC response as a single Word or PDF document, and address how you meet the requirements of this role. We are unable to proceed with an application without the KSC statements.
 

Closing Date: 14 September 2025, Sunday, Vietnam Standard Time

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Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews may be conducted before the closing date. IW reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we have identified suitable candidates.

Abt Global-Australia is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation, Environment & Energy, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable social impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3000 staff in over 50 countries.

Equity

Abt Global values individuality and celebrates difference with a strong commitment to all forms of diversity and equality including racial equity, gender, sexual diversity and disability inclusion. We strongly encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this position. We offer flexible work arrangements and a culturally safe environment for staff members from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Safeguarding

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any form, and expect everyone to be treated with respect and dignity.