Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Adviser

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Adviser – Thomson Reuters Foundation

Join a team which has unique expertise combining the power of journalism and the law to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s (TRF) programme portfolio has grown in size and complexity in recent years. Along with this growth, so too have our needs for more considered and impactful programme design, systematic tracking and measurement of impact, and learning processes to promote the use of evidence to inform decision making and programme design. To respond to these needs, TRF has initiated the design of a MEAL strategy, system and processes, including standards, guidance materials and capacity building for staff that will guide the way in which TRF and its programmes approach MEAL.

We are seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Adviser to join a busy Programmes team in London to support our international programmes. Our programmes provide training for journalists and CSO and organisational development support to newsrooms on a range of thematic areas such as illicit financial flows, mis and disinformation and modern slavery amongst others. You will play a key role in providing hands-on MEAL support to programme managers and partner organisations, including supporting the roll-out and implementation of TRF’s MEAL approach and MEAL standards.

Please note, this is two-year fixed term contract.

About the Role

As a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Adviser at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, you will:

• Play a key ‘hands-on’ role in leading and supporting MEAL on a large and diverse portfolio of programmes to enable the Foundation to better measure, track and assess the quality, performance and effectiveness of our programmes. This will involve leading on and conducting the full cycle of MEAL, from designing the MEAL architecture and data collection processes and tools, collecting the data and analysing it, to ensure that progress is tracked and measured with appropriate methods, tools and processes.
• Facilitate learning and uptake of evidence, supporting colleagues and partners to identify learning on an ongoing basis, to inform programme design and adaptation.
• Capacity build and support colleagues and partners on MEAL, for instance to use data collection tools and report to donors against programme indicators.
• Support and quality assure progress reporting to donors.
• Contribute to programme proposals, helping colleagues develop Theories of Change, Result Frameworks and MEAL Plans.
• Contribute to other Foundation-wide MEAL processes.

About You

To be our Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Adviser you will likely have:

• At least five years of MEAL or research/analytical experience in the international development sector (experience of and interest in media development programmes would be ideal, but not essential), supporting programme staff on MEAL/research in a hands-on capacity.
• Experience of working on programmes funded by institutional and corporate donors.
• Experience in designing Theories of Change, result frameworks, MEAL plans, and data collection tools, such as surveys, interview guides, analysis tools and databases.
• Experience of reporting to donors, analysing and utilising data from multiple sources to produce succinct and clearly written reports.
• Excellent analytical skills, and a good theoretical and practical understanding of different quantitative and qualitative MEL /research approaches and methods, having applied these in practice.
• Good understanding of ToC development process, and its use for programme design, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Excellent communication and writing skills; good facilitation skills would be an asset.
• Knowledge of media and social media monitoring tools and familiarity with Salesforce or other similar customer relationship management platforms would be ideal.
• Intellectual curiosity, and a flexible approach required to work in an organization where processes and systems are emergent.
• Comfortable juggling competing tasks and projects to meet deadlines in a cross-functional, cross-cultural and remote team environment.

Please note, the deadline for applications is 26 February 2024 at 11.59pm UK time.

What’s in it For You

At the Thomson Reuters Foundation, our people are our greatest assets. Here are some of the benefits we offer for your personal and professional growth:

• Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair and informed.
• A Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class; we combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
• Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.
• Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
• Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and convening initiatives, we combine our unique media and legal services to drive systemic change.