Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer, West Africa

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer Palladium grade: Associate Location: Regional Reports to: Regional Manager, West Africa Contract Type: Fixed term project contract, 100% Applications without a tailored CV and cover letter are unlikely to be successful. Applications close 25 November 2026. The Position Palladium is hiring a MEL Officer who will provide support in the design and delivery of monitoring and evaluation of projects and grants supported by IFSLU2 within the West Africa region and who will be a core part of the West Africa Regional team, assisting colleagues in the delivery of the programme MEL strategy. The role will support the delivery of cross-programme and cross-regional MEL functions, including the promotion of GESI mainstreaming. The Officer will also act as Project Officer for designated projects within the portfolio, ensuring effective coordination and implementation. The MEL Officer will gain broad exposure to designing MEL interventions, undertaking monitoring and evaluation activities at project and field levels, and contributing to reports and learning on how forest and sustainable land use projects and businesses have been delivering positive impacts on people, planet and business operations. This will include; supporting grantees in their MEL plans and results reporting; working with their regional team on project selection and impact assessment, learning and knowledge product development and delivery of learning and capacity development activities. The role is offered full time (40 hours) based in our Accra Office. It is expected the person works from the office at least 3 days per week (pro rata if part-time). We have flexible working conditions to enable our staff to balance their work and home commitments. About Palladium Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities. Programme context The Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use Programme – Phase 2 (IFSLU2) is one of the flagship programmes in the Climate, Environment and Natural Capital practice area at Palladium. IFSLU2 is split into three components, this position is primarily focused on Components 1 and 2, with collaboration and coordination opportunities for working with Component 3. IFSLU2 is a grants and technical assistance facility that supports businesses and investment models in which the private sector, public sector and communities can achieve improved returns from forests and sustainable land use whilst protecting existing forest, restoring degraded land and improving agricultural land management and production practices. All this work is focused across the tropical forests belt. IFSLU2 will run for 5 years from 1 February 2025. Depending on performance and subject to funding, the programme may be extended for a further 5 years (up to 2035). The programme is funded by the UK government. Primary Responsibilities MEL responsibilities (approximately 60%, based on programme requirements) IFSLU2 is focused on delivering outcomes in three key areas and the MEL Officer will support regional teams to deliver a programme wide MEL strategy to support the programme delivery strategy. The key indicators that the programme will be using are as follows; Land under sustainable management [outcome]: P4F 2 will reduce deforestation by scaling sustainable land use practices across forest-risk landscapes, supporting farmers, businesses, and value chains to shift away from unsustainable expansion. Indicator: Area of land brought under sustainable management. Sub-indicators: Area of primary forest and natural ecosystem protected Forest under sustainable forest management Area of land in sustainable production / covered by sustainable production techniques Area under ecological restoration Area of avoided deforestation These indicators are based around a range of sources, primarily; FAO’s Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Land Management (FESLM), UNEP Land Use Finance Impact Hub Area of natural ecosystem protected , Area under ecological restoration , Agricultural area covered by sustainable production techniques , Forest under sustainable forest management . Finance mobilised [outcome]: The programme will unlock public and private capital by incubating investable models, designing blended finance tools, and influencing investors to back sustainable, forest-positive businesses. Indicator: Amount of finance mobilised into FSLU models. Sub-indicators. Private investment mobilised Public investment mobilised Supply chain finance mobilised New revenues generated/value of premium payments Volume of investment directed to businesses and finance instruments which are 2X aligned Value of ecosystem services protected/conserved Value of finance catalysed These indicators are based around a range of sources, primarily; ICF KPI 11 (public finance mobilised for climate change purposes), ICF KPI 12 (private finance mobilised for climate change purposes) and the OECD DAC methodologies on mobilisation . Beneficiaries reached [outcome]: P4F 2 will improve livelihoods by increasing smallholder access to markets, finance, and technical support, ensuring inclusive participation in sustainable and deforestation-free value chains. Indicator: Number of beneficiaries reached. Sub-indicators: Number of individuals that are beneficiaries of ICF TA Number of individuals reporting improved livelihoods, measured via: Number of individuals in new or enhanced jobs Number of households with improved yields Number of households receiving premium prices for sustainable products Number of individuals with enhanced access to finance Number of individuals with increased participation or voice in governance or resource allocation decision making These indicators are based around a range of sources, primarily; UNDP Application of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework in Development Projects ), UNEP Land Use Finance Impact Hub Number of people benefitting from increased access to substantive value chain infrastructure , Numbers of jobs created . In supporting the delivery of the programme wide MEL Strategy, key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Working with the regional team on project selection and impact projection assessment. This will include; Supporting colleagues and project partners in a robust set of projected output and outcome level results linked to potential projects; Undertaking periodic assessment and review of those projections; Supporting project level results assessment, verification and reporting for grantees, across all outcome level results areas – land area, finance and beneficiaries. Drawing out any differences in beneficiaries with regards to who is being reached/what is being achieved for women and other marginalised groups. Supporting IFSLU2 projects and grantees in their MEL plans and results monitoring. This will include; R eviewing project level theories of change, supporting grantees in their theory of change development processes and aligning project with IFSLU2 programme level theories of change; Selection of output and outcome level results and associated project level result projections, with appropriate disaggregation across the results framework; Developing project level monitoring plans in partnership with grantees and, where appropriate, undertaking project level MEL activities (including some field level data collection). Learning and knowledge product development. This will include; W orking with regional and central team colleagues on the design, data collection, write-up and publication of case-based results that support learning and knowledge development across projects and the wider programme. This will include focusing in on people and beneficiaries of the programme, how and why women, men and other social groups (for example indigenous peoples) are/are not engaging with and benefiting from the programme. Delivery of learning and capacity development activities. This will include; W orking with regional and central team colleagues in the delivery of training and capacity development in MEL for team members, projects, grantees and other external stakeholders. This includes demonstrating the value of gender disaggregated data (and other forms of disaggregation), building skills so that such data can be analysed, interpreted and used; Facilitate discussions with colleagues to ensure learnings are captured across all areas of the programme to support the team adapting to changing contexts/demands. Designing MEL interventions and undertaking monitoring and evaluation activities at project level, including field visits. This will include; Support with ongoing data gathering and analysis from selected projects and grantees, ensuring beneficiaries sampling approaches enable gender disaggregation at a minimum; V isit selected projects in the field to assess, support, and quality assure their MEL plans and activities. Contributing to reports and learning linked to regional MEL activities and their project portfolio. Assist regional leadership in accessing and applying MEL data and evidence. Other duties as assigned including organising and facilitating meetings. Project Officer responsibilities (approximately 40%, based on programme requirements) As Project Officer, provide support to selected projects as assigned by the Regional Manager. The Associate will: Act as the relationship manager for projects and partnerships in sustainable forestry and land use that are