Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (GEF/FFEM Specialist)

WWF International

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is seeking a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist to join the Project Management Unit (PMU) for the GEF Plastics project in Laos. This five-year project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the French Global Environmental Facility (FFEM), aims to reduce single-use plastic consumption in Lao PDR by promoting circular economy approaches and sustainable alternatives. The project focuses on three key urban areas and engages various stakeholders including policymakers, the private sector, consumers, and local communities. The MEL Specialist will be responsible for leading the implementation of the project's M&E system, ensuring data quality, supporting reporting, and contributing to adaptive management and capacity building. The role is based in Vientiane, within the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and will be line managed by the PMU Project Manager.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Environmental Management, Development Studies, Statistics, Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
Minimum 5–7 years of relevant professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, reporting, or project management for donor-funded development or environmental projects.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with international donor reporting frameworks such as GEF, UN agencies, bilateral donors, or international NGOs.
Experience designing and managing M&E systems, databases, and indicator tracking tools.
Experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data.
Experience conducting field monitoring and coordinating with government agencies and development partners.
Strong analytical and data management skills.
Proficient experience in data collection form development both paper based and digital.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and database management systems.
Excellent report writing and communication skills in English.
Strong organizational and coordination skills with attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently under tight deadlines.
Strong people skills and ability to work effectively with government officials, NGOs, communities, and development partners.
Understanding of results-based management and adaptive management approaches.
Commitment to WWF values and environmental sustainability.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an advantage.
Experience integrating gender and social inclusion considerations into M&E systems is highly desirable.
Experience supporting project evaluations and audits is an asset.
Knowledge of data visualization or statistical software is an advantage.
Lao language skills are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, including data collection, analysis, verification, reporting, and knowledge management activities.
Maintain the project Results Framework and Annual Workplan Tracking systems.
Ensure high-quality, timely, and gender-disaggregated data collection.
Support the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project reports.
Work closely with WWF-Laos project teams, technical specialists, government counterparts, co-executing organizations, and external evaluators to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and adaptive project management.
Support capacity building of project staff and stakeholders in M&E systems.
Ensure compliance with WWF-GEF Agency monitoring and reporting requirements.
Lead implementation of the project Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan and Results Framework, including alignment with the Theory of Change, GEF Core Indicators, KPIs, and adaptive learning framework.
Monitor project implementation against approved workplans, budgets, outputs, outcomes, and indicators, including performance tracking dashboards and trend analysis for decision-making.
Design and apply methodologies, tools, and systems for data collection in collaboration with technical specialists and implementation partners, specifying digital tools such as mobile data collection, GIS mapping, or Power BI dashboards.
Develop, maintain, and update project M&E toolkits, log frames, databases, and tracking systems.
Ensure collection, verification, and analysis of accurate, timely, and gender-disaggregated data, including data quality assurance (DQA) protocols and analytical reporting outputs.
Conduct regular field monitoring visits to verify progress and assess data quality against agreed indicators.
Develop surveys, questionnaires, and other information-gathering tools for monitoring activities, baseline, midline, and endline surveys, and mixed-method approaches.
Conduct interviews and verification exercises with beneficiaries and stakeholders to validate reported results, highlighting triangulation and qualitative analysis.
Analyze monitoring information and emerging trends to support adaptive management and project learning.
Identify implementation risks, issues, and data inconsistencies, and provide recommendations to the Project Manager and WWF GEF Agency.
Maintain project risk, issue, communication, and monitoring logs that integrate into the monitoring and reporting system.
Develop and manage a central M&E database for the project that is transparent, accessible, and user-friendly for project partners.
Ensure consistency of data collection methodologies and quality assurance processes throughout project implementation.
Coordinate with data providers and implementation partners on data sourcing, reporting frequency, reporting formats, and data verification procedures.
Maintain effective filing systems, including soft and hard copy records, to support audits, spot checks, evaluations, and quality assurance.
Prepare quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and ad hoc progress reports in collaboration with the Project Manager.
Support preparation of WWF-GEF Project Progress Reports, including narrative progress, adaptive management actions, indicator tracking, project ratings, and lessons learned.
Ensure Results Framework and Annual Workplan Tracking Sheets are completed and updated annually.
Compile and analyze information from external sources relevant to project performance and impact.
Support reporting requirements of GEF, FFEM, WWF, government counterparts, and donors.
Work closely with WWF-Laos project teams, the Department of Environment (DoE), co-executing partners, and technical specialists to strengthen M&E implementation.
Coordinate with government counterparts at national and sub-national levels to improve quality and timeliness of reporting.
Facilitate participatory review and reflection processes to inform adaptive management and project learning.
Organize and support annual reflection workshops and project review meetings.
Provide logistical and coordination support for internal and external evaluations, including WWF-GEF Agency supervision missions.
Deliver training and capacity building for project staff, government counterparts, and stakeholders on M&E systems, tools, reporting, and data quality standards.
Contribute to knowledge management, lessons learned documentation, and institutional learning processes.