Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist – Project Preparation at Allied Talent Partners

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

21 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

23 Nov, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Data Management, Analytical Skills, Reporting, Sustainable Development, Energy Transition, Project Preparation, Collaboration, Data Visualization, Technical Assistance, Organizational Skills, Qualitative Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Performance Indicators

Industry

Professional Services

Description

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist – Project Preparation Department: Strategy Employment Type: Contract / Temp Location: South Africa Reporting To: Lead Consultant – Project Preparation Description Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact. High-Level Overview Client is an organization supporting national efforts to enable an inclusive and sustainable transition to a low-carbon economy; whose implementing partner has identified a need for targeted project preparation support to strengthen governance, financial readiness, and alignment of community and sectoral projects with funder requirements. This assignment focuses on improving the structure, quality, and fundability of projects in an existing portfolio, thereby enhancing their ability to attract both domestic and international financing. The MEL Specialist will support project tracking, learning, and reporting for the portfolio of initiatives receiving preparation assistance. Working closely with the Lead Consultant, Technical Consultant, and Project Finance Specialist, this role will ensure the consistent documentation of activities, outcomes, and lessons learned, enabling data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across the project pipeline. The ideal candidate will combine strong analytical and coordination skills with experience in monitoring and evaluation, data synthesis, and reporting. They should be comfortable working across multiple workstreams, consolidating qualitative and quantitative information, and translating findings into clear, actionable insights. Role and Responsibilities Role: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist – Project Preparation Direct Report: Lead Consultant – Project Preparation Candidates Required: 1 Key Deliverables: Development and implementation of a light-touch MEL framework to track project preparation activities, outputs, and readiness outcomes. Maintenance of up-to-date records of project-level technical assistance and funder engagement activities. Compilation of data and feedback from consultants, project proponents, and funders to assess progress and performance. Preparation of interim tracking updates and contributions to project progress summaries. Consolidation of final lessons learned, portfolio-level insights, and contributions to the Final Recommendation Report. Identification of best practices and improvement areas to inform future project preparation support cycles Requirements Experience Required: Demonstrated experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning for development, climate, or investment-related programmes. Proven ability to collect, organize, and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data. Experience supporting reporting processes for multi-stakeholder or donor-funded initiatives. Understanding of results frameworks, key performance indicators, and outcome mapping. Familiarity with sustainable development or energy transition project contexts (advantageous). Technical Requirements: Strong analytical and data management skills. Proficiency with common MEL and reporting tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, or equivalent). Ability to synthesize complex inputs and produce clear, actionable insights. Experience designing or applying light MEL systems for technical assistance or advisory projects. Specialized MEL training or certification (preferred) Other Skills: Strong organizational and coordination skills. Excellent writing, data visualization, and presentation abilities. Ability to manage multiple workstreams with attention to accuracy and detail. Collaborative mindset, with the ability to engage constructively with technical and non-technical team members Working Arrangement Location: South Africa (Hybrid/Remote) Travel: Occasional in-country travel for review meetings or learning sessions. Terms of agreement: Start Date: January 2026 Contracting Period: 6 months

Responsibilities

The MEL Specialist will support project tracking, learning, and reporting for initiatives receiving preparation assistance. This role will ensure consistent documentation of activities, outcomes, and lessons learned for data-driven decision-making.