Job Description

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Consultant

About the Centre



The Centre for Disaster Protection ('the Centre') works to prevent disasters devastating lives, by helping people, countries, and organisations change how they plan and pay for disasters. We focus on disaster risk financing (DRF) to help ensure that money and plans are in place before a disaster strikes, so that the poorest and most vulnerable people are better protected. We are committed to work in partnerships across sectors and geographies to drive more impactful and more equitable disaster risk finance that leaves no one behind. Specifically, through a focus on:

Delivering excellent client outcomes and promoting lasting disaster risk finance expertise. We provide clients with impartial and evidence-based advice, quality assurance and training that meets their needs and drives more effective disaster risk finance. Quality evidence and learning. We work to strengthen the evidence base for prearranged financing and document and share what shows the greatest potential to achieve system change. Impactful communications and global policy engagement. We seek to engage and influence through evidence-led policy and inclusive policy dialogue that bridges both 'local to global' and the humanitarian development climate nexus, targeting the bottlenecks key to effect transformative change of the international crisis financing architecture.

Additionally, we are focused on building effective systems and processes for people and operations that support the Centre to rapidly, yet strategically, scale and grow in a way that supports our people to do their best work through safe challenge, promoting and integrating diversity, equity and inclusion.


The Centre is funded with UK aid through the UK government. Read more about us in our updated strategy (2022-2025) and find out more at www.disasterprotection.org.



About the role



The Centre and DAI are seeking to engage a consultant to provide medium to long-term support to the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Service program of work within the Evidence portfolio. As part of this service, we conduct lessons learned exercises, evaluations, and provide MEL technical support to DRF practitioners, including governments, risk pools, donors, multilaterals, and humanitarian organizations. Our work aims to generate operational insights grounded in real-world delivery, helping clients learn from experience, improve the effectiveness of their DRF interventions, and communicate clear stories of progress, while also contributing, where possible, to the global evidence base.


Tasks and deliverables will be commissioned on an as-needed basis across the Centre's MEL Service program of work. The consultant will work closely with the Evidence team to provide flexible support, which may include independently leading assignments, offering strategic input, or providing technical backstopping, depending on the needs. Given the relatively small but evolving MEL Service program of work, the consultant may be asked to support a wide range of activities.


Core tasks may include:

1. Designing and delivering lessons learned studies and evaluations, including study design, data collection, analysis, and production of outputs.

2. Providing technical support to strengthen MEL systems, such as developing frameworks, refining theories of change, and advising on evaluation design.

Additional ad hoc tasks may include:

3. Supporting the development of new MEL service work, including identifying and scoping opportunities with clients and partners, undertaking outreach, and contributing to the conceptualization and design of new projects.

4. Contributing to the refinement of the MEL Service offer and strategy, for example through client mapping and development of outreach and visibility materials.

5. Contributing to presentations, workshops, or representation at events and conferences.


During the assignment, consultants will report to Chandler Klein, Research Lead.


Required Skills and Competencies

Technical expertise in MEL: Experience in designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems. Proven ability to design and deliver lessons learned studies, evaluations, and/or other applied research products to exceptional standards of quality. Strong qualitative research skills are particularly important, including experience conducting and facilitating interviews and carrying out qualitative data analysis. Sectoral knowledge: Relevant sectoral expertise in at least one field related to DRF (e.g., public financial management, insurance, risk modelling, actuarial science, humanitarian response, disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction, social protection etc.). A strong understanding of the key actors and policy environment of the international development architecture. Facilitation: Experience designing and leading interactive learning processes, such as workshops, reflection sessions, or peer learning events, is an asset. Communication: Ability to communicate complex information in creative, precise, and engaging ways. This includes producing high-quality written outputs, developing compelling visual formats, and delivering clear and confident verbal communication and presentations. Experience with data visualization (such as dashboards, infographics, or visual storytelling) is an asset. Language: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. French or Spanish fluency is a plus. Flexibility: Readiness to respond to evolving requirements and handle tasks arising at short notice. Travel: Availability and willingness to travel to Africa, Asia, and other international locations to collect data and join regional events and conferences is desirable.

Level of Effort



The initial level of effort expected for this role is up to 48 fee days, to be delivered between November 2025 and March 2026. There may be opportunity to extend the contract to provide further support as necessary. Outputs and deliverables (e.g. evaluation reports, learning briefs, MEL frameworks, workshop materials, peer review comments) to be specified and agreed with the consultant in advance of commencing each key activity.


Application Process


Interested applicants should apply via DAI's recruitment portal. All applications must include a concise CV as well as a covering supporting statement (no more than 250 words) along with an example of relevant work.

Any questions about consultancy should be sent to: jobs_centre@disasterprotection.org (please do not send applications to this email address).

The deadline for receiving applications is

11:59 pm (UK time) on 26th October 2025

.


Fee rates and payments



Remuneration will be based on individual experience and skills while, as the Centre is a UK aid-funded project, all rates for consultants and staff are subject to controls.


Payment

Fees will be payable on actual usage of days evidenced by timesheets, subject to completion and approval of key deliverables due at the invoicing point. Any expenses will be paid on actual costs (against receipts) using an agreed invoice and timesheet template.

Correctly submitted invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt of invoice and/or approval of relevant work (whichever is the later).

Negotiation and finalisation of commercial terms

DAI on behalf of the Centre reserves the right to negotiate on any aspects of the proposed costs and payment and is not bound to accept any offer.


DAI Eligibility Criteria



All individual(s) shortlisted will undergo an initial eligibility criteria assessment. This includes vetting of the organisations in line with terrorism checks, company history of improper conduct, any legal acts against the organisation(s) and initial vetting of proposed personnel. Where disqualification factors are discovered, the application may be rejected without notification.

Successful individual(s) will be subject to detailed vetting analysis and relevant reference checks, and, in the case of organisations, also a due diligence assessment through DAI's Management Capacity Assessment Tool (MCAT). This will include an assessment of:

Organisational details Safeguarding policies, procedures and systems Financial management policies, procedures, practises and systems Duty of care Modern Slavery policies and procedures.

Final award of contract will not be confirmed until these checks are complete.

Intellectual property



Any Foreground Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) arising out of the performance of project will belong to the Managing Agent of the Centre for the purposes of awarding to the Centre perpetual, irrevocable licence to use, sub-licence or commercially exploit such IPRs in the delivery of its mission and likewise to the Centre's funder, the UK FCDO. The Management Agent, on behalf of the Centre, will provide the Service Provider right to use such IPRs and other Centre IPRs to the extent needed to perform their obligations under this project. IPRs relating to any background intellectual property drawn upon by the Service Provider in delivery of the assignment shall remain with the Service Provider, who will provide the Centre (through its Managing Agent) and FCDO rights to use such intellectual property to the extent it is integrally required to enjoy their rights to use the results of the Project and the foreground IPRs.