Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Analyst

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.

Building on the results, partnerships, learnings and credibility established under the first eight years of the program, IW’s new phase will extend and deepen Australia’s contribution to supporting women in the region and advancing gender equality through continuing to influence an ecosystem of policymakers, business leaders, capital providers and women’s economic empowerment actors.

Positioning women at the centre of economic resilience and recovery and accelerating their economic empowerment is critical to achieving a wide range of objectives pertaining to sustainable development 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 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 – we support business coalitions that work with influential businesses on shifting workplace cultures, practices, and policy barriers to achieve workplace gender equality;
• Enabling Policy Reforms – we support locally identified policy reform agendas to encourage private sector participation in the care economy;
• Influencing Gender Norms – we support locally driven campaigns that positively shift gender norms that inhibit women’s economic participation; and
• Gender Lens Investing – we work to increase access to capital by women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through partnering with capital providers, increase demand for gender lens investing strategies and product, and catalyse the supply of financial instruments available to growth-oriented small businesses led by women.

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

IW 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 IW. Abt Associates Australia is a mission-driven, global leader in research, evaluation, and implementing programs in health, social and environmental policy and international development.

IW’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.

About the Opportunity

IW is seeking a MERL Analyst  to be based in Indonesia and will serve as a key liaison between IW and its in-country partners. The role plays a central role in cultivating productive relationships and ensuring effective collaboration with stakeholders. They lead a range of critical Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) activities, including alignment with IW’s overarching MERL Framework, data collection and quality assurance, analysis, and capacity strengthening. MERL Analysts support evidence-based learning and promote the strategic use of data to inform decision-making. They also contribute to cross-country MERL efforts, support the development of partner capabilities, and play a pivotal role in shaping IW’s learning agenda and reporting processes.

The MERL Analyst  will be responsible for :

MERL Framework :

Data Collection & Management :

Data Analysis & Reporting :

Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing :

Relationship Building :

Research :

Employment type and location :   A citizen role, but open to others who have legal right to work in country under a local compensation package. Based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Duration :   Up to 30 June 2027; anticipated to commence in August 2025 or sooner.

About You

We are seeking an individual who will bring :

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.

Qualifications and / or work experience in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, statistics, international development).

KSC 2.

Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

KSC 3.

Proficiency in quantitative and / or qualitative data analysis using statistical software (e.g., Power BI, statistical software).

KSC 4.

Familiarity with monitoring tools and methods.

KSC 5.

Strong presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

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 : 20 July 2025, Sunday, 11 : 59 PM, Philippine Standard Time

LI-AUSBRIT

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.