TERMS OF REFERENCE 

Position Description 

Background  

Three decades after ASEAN was established, ASEAN Leaders recognised that: there remained inadequate shared prosperity, ASEAN awareness and contact among people of ASEAN.  

It was of this concern that ASEAN Leaders established the ASEAN Foundation during ASEAN’s 30th Anniversary Commemorative Summit in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on 15 December 1997.        

After its establishment, the ASEAN Foundation has been tasked with supporting ASEAN’s community-building efforts by promoting greater awareness of the ASEAN identity, human resource development, people-to-people interaction, and close collaboration among the business sector, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders in ASEAN.  

We continue to complement ASEAN priorities. To date, we work to strengthen the ASEAN Community.  

We work in four thematic areas: education, arts and culture, environment, media development, and community building. We provide support through community projects, trainings, scholarships, fellowships, internships, and exchanges. We also organise meetings, conferences, roundtables, and workshops in support of the ASEAN Community. 

Position Summary 

Reporting to the Project Manager for AI-related Programme, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Officer will be responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive framework to track progress, measure impact, and generate valuable knowledge throughout the project lifecycle. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a groundbreaking initiative focusing on introducing and enhancing AI literacy among underserved youth, educators, and parents across the ten ASEAN countries. This pivotal role is integral to achieving the initiative's objectives, including training individuals, facilitating policy dialogues, conducting research, and spearheading a regional awareness campaign. 

The ideal candidate must be a highly motivated and results-oriented professional with a strong background in monitoring and evaluation. He/she should demonstrate expertise in designing and implementing MERL frameworks and have proven experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting.  

Functional Relationship 

Develop and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with the following:  

Internal (within Post)  

Executive Director 

All Official Staff of the ASEAN Foundation 

External (outside Post) 

Implementing partners; 

NGOs; 

Media; and 

Others. 

Roles and Responsibilities  

• Work closely with the AI-related Programme Team in the development and implementation of the MERL framework, detailed implementation plan, performance indicators, and targets embedded in the work plan.  

• Develop and maintain data collection tools and instruments to capture project progress and impact and ensure that data is collected in a timely and accurate manner. 

• Monitor project activities against established plans, budgets, and timelines.  

• Work closely with AI-related Programme Team to monitor project progress and achievements. Identify key issues, lessons learned, and best practices to document and publish. 

• Coordinate with Project Manager, Senior Project Officer, and Project Officer for AI-related Programme and local implementing partners from the ASEAN Countries to ensure effective data collection and knowledge sharing.  

• Work closely with the AI-related Programme Team, local implementing partners, and master trainers to share results and best practices and coach stakeholders regarding methods to improve project implementation and effectiveness. 

• Support the research activities related a regional study on AI literacy and ethics landscape in ASEAN.  

• Support the Project Manager for AI-related Programme in preparing regular reports on program progress, challenges, and outcomes for stakeholders and funders. 

• Prepare monthly situation reports summarising project progress, achievements, and any challenges encountered. Submit these reports to the ASEAN Foundation Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Officer. 

• Collaborate with ASEAN Foundation MERL Officer on developing and maintaining effective information database(s) on projects, providing resources and necessary support for programme inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact data. 

Education and Experience 

Essential Qualifications and Skills: 

• Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, statistics, economics, education, sociology, or a relevant field; a master's degree or training/certification in Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, and Reporting a plus. 

• Experience: A minimum of 3 years of of experience in designing and implementing MERL frameworks for development projects. 

• Proven experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting using quantitative and qualitative methods.  

• Strong understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles and best practices.  

• Knowledge of the ASEAN region and development context (a plus).  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.  

• Technical Proficiency: Adept in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 

Desirable Skills: 

• Experience working on projects with a focus on technology and innovation (preferred) 

• Proficiency in another ASEAN language, in addition to Bahasa Indonesia, is a plus. 

Personal Qualities: 

• Work Ethic: Ability to work independently and as part of a team.  

• Sensitivity and Adaptability: Effective at communicating and working in a culturally sensitive manner with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. 

• Resilience and Flexibility: Flexible, creative, and responsive, with the capacity to remain organised and make informed decisions in dynamic environments. 

Additional Considerations: 

• Travel Requirement: Willingness to travel internationally, up to 10% of the time. 

• Public Relations: Proven experience in communication and public relations is essential. 

• Attention to Detail: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. 

• Multi-Tasking: Comfort with managing diverse and simultaneous tasks. 

How To Apply 

Any interested candidate must send an application email with the most updated CV/resume and a motivation statement letter (including salary expectations and a list of references) attached to [email protected] with the email subject: MERL – AI-related Programme.  

Note that we will ONLY contact the shortlisted candidates who proceed to the next stage of application. If you don’t receive an email from us regarding the results of your application by 31 August 2024, this means that you are not shortlisted for the next stage of application.   

Deadline 

Friday, 9 August 2024, 23.59 Jakarta time