A key outcome of the assignment will be supporting the MEL team in the development of an internal MSD MELtoolkit, consisting of tested templates, practical guidance notes, and examples fromprogramimplementation. The toolkit will serve as an institutional resource to support consistency, knowledge retention, onboarding ofnew staff, and future market-based programming.

The assignment is expected to contribute to the establishment of a sustainable MSD MEL practice within theprogram, enabling the team to generate meaningful insights, support adaptive management, and assess the potential for sustainability and scale of MSD interventions.

This translates into four strategic priorities

1. Team capacity assessment and identification of group and individual capacity strengthening needs and plans

1. Practical Learning SessionsonFoundations of MSDMEL

1. Tailored individual andsmallgroup capacity strengthening based onidentifiedneeds

1. Tailored technical supportapplyinglearning into concrete programmatic deliverables and application oflearning into practicebased on the DCEDstandard

Activities of the Consultant

The consultant will deliver this assignment through an iterative, flexible approach that adapts to program priorities and emerging needs. Activities will be closely coordinated with the MSD Capacity Strengthening Consultant to ensure coherence between technical MSD implementation and MSD MEL systems. The consultant is expected to engage across program teams, supporting an integrated portfolio-level approach while ensuring practical applicability within individual programs.

The consultant willbe responsible forprovidingtechnical guidance, coaching, and capacity strengthening support to the MEL team to enhance their ability to design and apply MSD-oriented monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptive management approaches.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Conduct MSD MEL Capacity Assessment and Develop Capacity Strengthening Plan

1. Conduct aparticipatory MSD MEL systems and capacity review , combining:

1. Existing survey findings

1. Consultations with team members and managers

1. Review of current MEL systems and practices (including institutional MEL and tech platforms)

1. Identifygroup and individual capacitystrengths andgaps, with a strong focus on practical application.

1. Develop a prioritized, resource-conscious capacity strengthening planthat integrates training, mentoring, and systems development throughout the assignment.

1. Deliver Practical Learning Session(s)on Foundations ofMSD MEL

1. Design andfacilitateapplied learning session(s)thatestablishesa foundationalunderstandingMEL for MSDIntroduce and explorecore MSD MEL concepts aligned with the DCED Standard, including:

1. Systemic change and results chains

1. Market actor performance and incentives

1. Adoption,behaviorchange, and sustainability pathways

1. Adaptive management and evidence-based decision-making

1. Providecoaching and mentoring (individual and small group) tailored toidentifiedgaps

1. Supportprioritizedkeystaff to apply MSD MEL approaches directly to ongoingMSD interventionsand programs, including:

1. Troubleshootingreal challenges

1. Strengthening confidence in using MSD MEL frameworks and tools

1. Using learning questions, evidence generation, and structured reflection processes to support adaptive management and evidence-based decision-making.

1. Ensure capacity strengthening is contextualized across the portfolio, including:

1. Direct business development support

1. MSDintervention

1. Emphasize improving measurement of spillovers, incentives, and system-level effects to support better strategic planning.

1. Provideongoingtechnical advisory andoperationalsupportto apply systems in real time, troubleshoot implementationchallengesandstrengthen consistency and quality of MEL practice.

1. Providehands-on support to design, adapt, and operationalize MEL systems and tools, ensuring:

1. Alignmentwith DCED standards (pragmatically applied)

1. Integrationwith MC Ukraine’s institutional MEL systems and technologyandapplicable across the full program portfolio

1. Support development and refinement of practical deliverables, including:

1. Results frameworks,resultschainsand key performance indicators

1. Measurement and management systems for partnerships and systemic change

1. Monitoring and learningtools embedded in program workflows

1. Guidecreation of an internal MSD MEL Toolkit, including:

1. Adapted templates, that enable teams to apply MSD MEL approaches in practice

1. Practical guidance notesthat clarify how to measure and interpret system-level and attributable change

1. Tested examples from implementationthatcan support future programming and staff onboarding

Consultant Deliverables:

1. MSD MELSystem andCapacity Assessment and Capacity Strengthening Plan

1. Review ofMEL systems and practiceswith action planbased on the assessment, includingsteps to be taken beyond the assignment.

1. Rapid assessment of MEL team capacities

1. Capacity strengthening plan outlining

1. Existing strengths and areas for development;

1. Group and individual learning priorities;

1. Proposed learning and coaching approach;

1. Proposed workplanand engagement schedule, includingschedule of learning sessions and coaching support;

1. Recommendations for continued capacitystrengtheningbeyond the assignment.

1. MSD MEL Learning Sessions

1. One-two(to be jointly) agreedpractical learning sessions focused on key MSD MEL instruments and methodologies

1. For each session, the consultant will provide supporting materials, practical exercises, and recommendations for application within ongoingMSD interventions.

1. Tailored coaching and mentoringfor key staff

1. The consultant will provide ongoing coaching and technical advisory support tokeyMEL staff throughout the assignment, including scheduled coaching sessions, review of draft tools and products, and guidance on applying MSD MEL approaches in practice.

The consultant will developabrief summaryof coaching sessions, key recommendations, and agreed follow-up actions.

1. Technical Assistance

1. Specificsupport todesign, adapt, and operationalize MEL systems and tools, as agreed

1. Practical deliverables, as agreed

1. Internal MSD MEL Toolkit

The consultant will develop a report with an overview of technicalassistanceprovided withkey recommendations and agreed follow-up actions

All deliverables will be co-developed with Mercy Corps Ukraine teams to ensure ownership, usability, and sustainability. Outputs are expected to contribute not only to individual program needs but also to the establishment of portfolio-wide MSD MEL systems, tools, and practices that can be consistently applied and adapted across current and future interventions.

Timeframe / Schedule:

The consultancyis estimated tospanup to50workingdays, concluding no later than31March 2027

The Consultant will report to:

Kateryna Ponomarova,Program Quality, Evidence and Learning Director

The Consultant will work closely with:

The Consultant will work closely with Mercy Corps Ukraine’sprogramleadership,programteams, and the MEL team to provide targeted mentorship and technical support for MSDinterventionimplementation.In addition, the consultant will engage across multiple program teams to support an integrated, portfolio-level approach, contributing to the development of country-level systems and practices that can be applied across programs while allowing for contextual adaptation.

The MSD MEL & Adaptive Learning Consultant willfurtherwork in close collaboration with the MSD Capacity Strengthening Consultant (technical counterpart) to ensure alignment across technical implementation, adaptive management, learning, and results measurement efforts. The respective MSD MEL and technical capacity strengthening plans should be developed in close consultation, with opportunities for cross-engagement, referral, and adaptation between the two roles throughout the consultancy period.

Required Experience & Skills:

• Advanced degreein Monitoring & Evaluation, Economics, Business Administration, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.

• Minimum 7 years of experience in MEL, adaptive management, and learning systems for developmentprograms.

• Demonstrated experience with Market Systems Development (MSD), private sector engagement, economic development, financial inclusion, or livelihoods programming.

• Provenexpertisein MSD results measurement, including results chains, learning agendas, intervention validation, adaptive management, and partner performancemonitoring, applying the DCED standard

• Experience designing andfacilitatingcapacity strengthening initiatives, including training, coaching, and mentoring of MEL andprogramteams.

• Strong ability to translate technical MSD and MEL concepts into practical tools, templates, and guidance forprogramimplementation.

• Experience developing MEL frameworks,monitoringtools, learning products, and knowledge management resources.

• Excellent facilitation, communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able toleveragethe collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyonecontributestheir perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognizethat diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning,listeningand evolving to become more diverse,equitableand inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We arecommitted to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engagingcommunities as equal partners in the design,monitoringand evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and valuesat all timesand in all in-country venues.