Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

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Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (GEF Plastics), WWF-Laos

Position title: Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (GEF Plastics), WWF-Laos

Location: Vientiane, Project Management Unit (PMU) – Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

Background:

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has had a presence in Laos since the late 1980s, when it contributed to some of the first biodiversity surveys that established Laos’ protected area system. The office in Laos was officially established in 2001. Today, our main office for WWF-Laos is in Vientiane Capital, with field offices in multiple provinces.

WWF-Laos works with government, civil society, the private sector and other partners to address the drivers of biodiversity loss and to move towards a greener nature-based future where the people of Laos can thrive and live in harmony with nature.

Our vision is “a vibrant and sustainable future for Laos, shaped by inclusive conservation that protects biodiversity, ensures equitable benefits, and nurtures harmony between people and the environment”. Conservation is WWF’s core work, and our programmes in Laos are implemented under four broad thematic areas: Forests, Wildlife, Freshwater and Circular Resilience. As outlined in WWF-Laos’ 2026-2030 strategic plan, we focus our conservation efforts in three main landscapes, eight priority sites and three cities.

Under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) GEF-8 Integrated Program – Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution, the Government of Lao PDR, in collaboration with WWF-Laos, is implementing a five-year project titled “Promoting Circular Solutions to Single-Use Plastic Consumption in Lao PDR.” The project aims to reduce the use of problematic single-use plastic food and beverage packaging and promote the adoption of sustainable alternatives through inclusive and circular economy approaches.

The project focuses on three key urban areas — Vientiane, Vang Vieng District, and Luang Prabang — and engages policymakers, private sector actors, consumers, and local communities through upstream and midstream interventions designed to reduce plastic pollution and improve sustainable consumption practices. In addition to GEF financing, the project is being co-funded by the French Global Environmental Facility (FFEM) to support the identification and development of potential downstream solutions and interventions. The co-executing agencies and project leads are WWF-Laos and the Department of Environment (DoE), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE).

The overall project seeks to support Lao PDR’s transition toward a circular economy by strengthening enabling policies, increasing the market availability and uptake of sustainable alternatives, and fostering long-term behavioral change. The project integrates principles of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), environmental safeguards, and adaptive management throughout implementation.

To support effective implementation, monitoring, learning, and reporting of project activities and results, the project will recruit a Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) Specialist as part of the Project Management Unit (PMU). The position will be based within the DoE and line managed by the PMU Project Manager.

Major Functions:

Under the guidance and supervision of the PMU Project Manager, the MEL Specialist will lead the implementation of the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system, including data collection, analysis, verification, reporting, and knowledge management activities.

The MEL Specialist will be responsible for maintaining the project Results Framework and Annual Workplan Tracking systems; ensuring high-quality, timely, and gender-disaggregated data collection; and supporting preparation of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project reports. The position will 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.

The MEL Specialist will also support capacity building of project staff and stakeholders in M&E systems and ensure compliance with WWF-GEF Agency monitoring and reporting requirements.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Lead implementation of the project Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan and Results Framework include 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 include performance tracking dashboards and trend analysis for decision-making.
• Design and apply methodologies, tools, and systems for data collection in collaboration with technical specialists of WWF-Laos and implementation partners. Specify 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 as required.
• Ensure collection, verification, and analysis of accurate, timely, and gender-disaggregated data. Ensure 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 to support monitoring activities as well as baseline, midline, endline surveys and mixed-method approaches
• Conduct interviews and verification exercises with beneficiaries and stakeholders to validate reported results. Highlight triangulation and qualitative analysis for deeper insight.
• 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 monitoring and reporting system.

Data Management and Reporting

• 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.

Coordination and Capacity Building

• 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.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Environmental Management, Development Studies, Statistics, Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a related field; Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an advantage. 
• 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.
• Experience integrating gender and social inclusion considerations into M&E systems is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting project evaluations and audits is an asset.

Other Qualifications Required:

• 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; knowledge of data visualization or statistical software is an advantage.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills in English; Lao language skills are highly desirable.
• 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

Working relationships:

• Internal – WWF Laos:  WWF-Laos technical and project teams, Operational team, regional M&E network
• External – Interact on a regular basis with GEF Agency and Plastics Global team, Department of Environment (DoE) and relevant government agencies, Co-executing organizations and development partners, communities, External evaluators, and consultants. 

WWF’s Values and Behaviors:

• Adhere to WWF’s values: Courage, Respect, Collaboration and Integrity.
• Demonstrates WWF core value in action of working:
  1. We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  2. We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  3. We honour the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  4. We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

WWF-Laos can offer you:

Contract duration: 1 year initial with possible extension with industry leading benefit and salary package and ample opportunity for professional development. For more information on our work in Laos, please visit:  http://www.wwf.org.la.

How to Apply:

Please find more information and complete the application form by clicking this link:

https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-GB/wwfint/EXTERNAL/jobs/1469

Note: Please indicate your gross salary expectation (including tax) in cover letter and/or CV 

Deadline for applications: 25 June 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WWF does not charge or accept a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

WWF provides equal employment opportunities and affirmative action for all qualified individuals regardless of race, colour, gender, national origin, disability, inclusive, or veteran status and promotes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunities. Please indicate if you require accommodation for the application or interview process to jobs.laos@wwf.org.la