Job Description

MEAL Data Closeout and Evidence External Collaborator - CORN Project

Background

Save the Children Indonesia, in partnership with Cargill, is implementing the CORN Project across maize farming communities in Indonesia using a Market System Development approach. The project works with seed producers, agricultural intermediaries, financial institutions, and offtakers such as PT SEP to improve farmer practices, market access, and household income, while also strengthening Village Savings and Loan Associations and other community structures. The project has generated a substantial volume of monitoring data, evidence, and documentation over its implementation period, including data captured through the Project Management Information System, indicator tracking records, case studies, and supporting evidence such as photographs, attendance records, and meeting notes. As the CORN Project approaches its closeout phase, Save the Children Indonesia requires dedicated support to consolidate, verify, and finalize this body of data and evidence so that it is complete, accurate, and properly archived before the project formally closes. To support this process, Save the Children Indonesia seeks to engage a MEAL Data Closeout and Evidence Consultant to work closely with the REALM Specialist and the CORN Project team during the final months of the project.

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to consolidate, clean, verify, and organize the CORN Project's monitoring data and supporting evidence so that a complete, accurate, and well documented data package is ready for internal archiving and handover to Save the Children and relevant stakeholders at project closeout.

Duration and Duty Station

• Duration: 4 months, from October 2026 to January 2027.
• Duty Station: Jakarta or Surabaya or Sumba Barat Daya, with occasional travel to project areas if required for data verification.
• Reporting to: REALM Specialist / CORN Project Manager.

Scope of Work

The consultant will focus on the consolidation, verification, and archiving of project data and evidence in preparation for project closeout.

Data Consolidation and Cleaning

• Compile monitoring data from the System and other project data sources.
• Clean and standardize datasets so that formats, indicator definitions, and coding are consistent across the project period.
• Remove duplicate entries and resolve inconsistencies between data sources.
• Organize datasets by indicator, activity, and reporting period for ease of reference.

Data Verification and Quality Assurance

• Cross-check reported indicator achievements against underlying source documents and field level evidence.
• Verify farmer and beneficiary data, including Village Savings and Loan Association records and business model tracking data, against original records where available.
• Identify and flag discrepancies, gaps, or inconsistencies in the data, and follow up with relevant project staff or partners to resolve them.
• Prepare a data verification report summarizing findings and the actions taken to resolve identified issues.

Evidence Compilation and Documentation

• Collect, organize, and label supporting evidence, including photographs, attendance records, meeting notes, and documentation from focus group discussions and key informant interviews.
• Compile evidence packages linked to specific indicators and outputs so that achievements can be easily traced and verified.
• Support the finalization of case study documentation and other qualitative evidence materials.
• Ensure all documentation follows Save the Children's file naming and folder structure standards.

Data Ownership, Privacy, and Handover

• Review datasets to ensure that personally identifiable information is handled in accordance with Save the Children's data protection requirements before archiving.
• Prepare a data dictionary explaining variable names, codes, and definitions used in the consolidated dataset.
• Compile the Final Data Package, including cleaned datasets, tools, supporting documentation, and the data dictionary, ready for handover to Save the Children.
• Support the preparation of a documented handover record confirming what data and evidence have been transferred and archived.
• Upload the Final Data Package to Save the Children's official data storage system, ensuring it is accessible for future reference beyond the consultant's individual files.

Coordination and Reporting Support

• Coordinate with the REALM Specialist, Project Manager, and relevant CORN Project staff to gather outstanding data and evidence.
• Provide data inputs and summaries to support the preparation of the project's final report and any donor facing closeout documentation.
• Escalate any unresolved data quality issues or missing documentation to the REALM Specialist in a timely manner.

Support Closure Support and Handover to Partners

• Check and document the resolution status of feedback and complaints recorded through the Feedback Response Mechanism, and escalate any unresolved or sensitive cases to the REALM Specialist and Project Manager.
• Upload the Final Data Package and supporting evidence to Save the Children's official data storage system in accordance with the organization's data retention requirements.
• Prepare a Data Closure Checklist confirming that all datasets and evidence have been consolidated, verified, and archived, for sign off by the REALM Specialist and Project Manager.
• If requested by the Project Manager, compile summary data on farmer participation, business model achievements, or other relevant indicators for sharing with partners such as seed producers, offtakers, or financial institutions as part of the project's exit process.
• If needed, support to prepare data summaries, key achievement figures, or simple visual materials to support the project's closing ceremony.

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following over the course of the assignment.

• A consolidated and cleaned project dataset covering the full implementation period.
• A data verification report identifying discrepancies found and the resolutions applied.
• An organized evidence package containing photographs, attendance records, notes, and other supporting documentation, linked to relevant indicators.
• A data dictionary describing variables, codes, and definitions used in the consolidated dataset.
• A Final Data Package ready for archiving and handover, including datasets, tools, and supporting documentation.
• A short handover record confirming the data and evidence transferred at the end of the assignment.
• Monthly progress updates submitted to the REALM Specialist.
• A documented status update on Feedback Response Mechanism cases relevant to project data and evidence.
• A signed Data Closure Checklist confirming completeness of data consolidation, verification, and archiving.
• A partner facing data summary, if requested by the Project team, to support the project's exit process with relevant partners.

Data summaries or supporting materials for the project's closing ceremony, if needed. All deliverables must be submitted on a monthly basis unless otherwise agreed, with the Final Data Package and handover record due at the end of the assignment in January 2027.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 2 to 4 years of experience in MEAL, data management, or data quality assurance.
• Experience working with monitoring data in agriculture, livelihoods, or rural development programs.
• Strong skills in data handling and cleaning using SharePoints, Excel, Google Sheets, KOBO, or similar tools.
• Experience verifying data against source documents and organizing supporting evidence.
• Good understanding of data protection principles, including the handling of personally identifiable information.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication and coordination skills with project staff and partners.
• Willingness to travel to project locations if required for verification purposes.